Large Fierce Mammal

Yes, I know an apple isn't a citrus fruit, but this is a bushcrafty article and the picture has a couple of items in it that might come in handy on a camping trip.

YouTube is a cornucopaea of tutorials, and just as a picture speaks a thousand words, watching somebody do a thing beats reading about it pretty much every time.

My interest in bushcraft combined with my propensity for serendipity led me the subject of today’s post and, while it’s not about a skill exactly, it presents a novel use for something I’ve never even considered as a fire lighting material – citrus rind.

Much LFM gratitude to Sean, The Silver Fox!

One of the things I find most disturbing about federal elections is how willing the general population is to swallow the meaningless bullshit that gets served. It’s almost like none of this has ever happened before, or at least nobody in the voting public remembers it. Politicians trot out promises for things they claim to understand are near and dear to the hearts of Canadians, but that they somehow never get around to providing before an election is called and while the government is still in business. Not ever.

Some mental illnesses are characterized by repetitions of a failed behaviour, always in hope of a different outcome, and today I think I’ve found a medical explanation for this relentless appetite for bullshit. I mean, isn’t everything definable as a syndrome these days? It’s called Pica (pronounced “PY-ca”), and it presents as an appetite for substances that are not normally considered food … like dirt for example. Or, in the case of Election Induced Pica (EIP), bullshit, and lots of it.

If you think you, or someone that matters to you, is suffering from this terrible election induced disorder, see your medical professional immediately. Before you do though, check his or her diet first. Browning of the nose and teeth are the first warning signs.

My first article in this three part series, titled Bullshit Alert – Since 11 March 2011, If You’ve Ever Even Heard of Japan, You’ve Been Exposed dealt with my observations on the ass covering passed off as public information releases that have been streaming out of Japan since the 11 March earthquake and subsequent tsunami shut down backup power systems to a number of nuclear power generating stations. My second article, Radiation – Let’s Get It Straight, dealt with clarifying the facts of “radiation” – what it is, what it isn’t, and how it works. If you haven’t yet read those two pieces I strongly suggest that you take the time to read them both, in the order they were published, before going ahead with this one.

Nuclear reactors are built for a variety of reasons, but the ones affected in Japan exist for the purpose of generating electrical power, so it’s that function we’ll focus our attention on here.

Electrical power generating facilities fall into two categories:

1. Those that capture energy from natural sources existing within the environment, converting it either directly into electrical energy, or initially into mechanical energy by using it to turn a turbine connected to a generator which produces electrical energy; and
2. Those that liberate energy from consumption of a concentrated potential energy source, a fuel, use it to create thermal energy (heat) which is used to turn water into steam which is then converted to mechanical energy by using it to turn a turbine connected to a generator which produces electrical energy.

In the first category we have hydroelectric, tidal, and wind turbine stations, each of which employ means to capture the kinetic energy of moving water or air. In this category we also find photovoltaic generating stations which employ what are generally referred to as “solar cells” to absorb and convert energy radiated by the sun directly into electrical energy.

In the second category we have electrical power plants that burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas; and then of course, we have nuclear power plants which employ the thermal energy released by controlled nuclear fission.

Plants that burn hydrocarbon (fossil) fuels, like those that exploit the energy released by the slow, controlled breakdown of nuclear “fuel”, require that the fuel source be replenished periodically to replace fuel consumed. Like your car, a hydrocarbon burning plant needs its tanks refilled as fuel is burned. Similarly, the “fuel” used in a nuclear reactor will eventually become depleted to the point where it can no longer sustain a fission reaction of sufficient intensity to generate the required thermal energy output. This takes far longer than it would for a hydrocarbon plant of the same electrical output capacity, and hence the allure of nuclear power. (more…)

“The birch was obviously very special to your Father in Law, and the fact that you found the bark tells me that he was also very special to the birch. The next time you’re out in the woods, take an offering of some kind to the birch tree.” ~ Laurie Lacey

Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and they will learn that death is stingless indeed, and as beautiful as life. ~ John Muir

The twenty-fourth day of March marked the seventh anniversary of the death of Mrs. LFM’s father, Ryszard Kleszczynski. Much has been written here about Ryszard, but today I am inspired to tell yet one more story because this year’s celebration of his life came with a depth of meaning previously unseen. (more…)

Seven years ago today, my father succumbed to the ravages of cancer. I think of him throughout the year, almost every day, but especially on the days of his birth and his death.

My dad and I were always very close. He was understanding, encouraging, sympathetic, inspiring and above all, loving. He pushed me to work hard, but comforted me if I felt I failed. Unfortunately, the last two years of his life were very rocky for us. He didn’t approve of the direction my life was taking, or my choices. Despite this, I regularly visited him in the hospital on the days he was there for dialysis. My visits never ended well, but I kept going, hoping one day he would understand my decisions.

His health took a turn for the worse in November 2003. He went into a coma and the doctors tried pushing my mother to let nature take its course. She refused and told them to do whatever it took to keep him alive. She called me and Randy and we rushed into Halifax from Lunenburg, preparing for the worst. By the time we arrived, my dad had already come out of his coma and, fearing his time had come and that he would never see me again, wrote me a letter. Among other things, my dad asked for my forgiveness for being a “stubborn old goat”. Laughing and crying I told him there was nothing to forgive, it was forgotten.

My dad stayed with us for four more months. Four months that I tried cramming years into. I will always cherish them while simultaneously cursing that we didn’t have more time.

My grief today spilled out into creativity. It’s not my best literary work, but it’s from the heart.

With every passing year,
The pain recedes;
Yet still there are days
When my heart bleeds.

Maybe what happened
Was meant to be.
That doesn’t mean
I’m no longer angry.

I hate that cancer
With all my might!
To take you so soon
Just doesn’t seem right.

Precious months wasted
Because we argued.
What a stupid time
To have a feud.

There was still so much
Left to say and do,
I’m just happy you left
Knowing I love you.

So until the day
When again we meet,
My thoughts of you
Will be bittersweet.

A fond farewell to Ryszard, a true lady’s man. If you click the picture it will get bigger, but never as big as he was.

A stone monument makes a powerful statement, but it stays where it is so those of us to whom it matters must show our respect by going where it sits. That is a fact of necessity, but it doesn’t make a physical monument better than the ones built out of words and feelings.

Over the years I’ve erected a few monuments of my own, to fellow creatures who have touched my life in meaningful ways, and placed them here for people to find. Two years ago today I erected one to a man who played a vital part in bringing into my life all that is best in it.

I’m taking the day off from my usual beaten path and spending it instead with Mrs. LFM, our Dogs, my mind, and all that’s in it. While that’s going on, dear reader, whether you’ve done it before or not, please take a moment to visit one of today’s significant monuments by clicking here.

I’m also proud to announce that today Mrs. LFM has erected a monument of her own, right here along with mine. Please visit it by clicking here.

Yesterday’s article, Bullshit Alert – Since 11 March 2011, If You’ve Ever Even Heard of Japan, You’ve Been Exposed, introduced this and the article that follows, and explained my motivation for writing both. If you haven’t yet read my intro, please go and do so now before coming back here and moving forward.

Media coverage of the recent nuclear reactor explosions and linked disasters in Japan has not taken the science of the situation with anything approaching the degree of seriousness it deserves. My own take on this is that, as usual, ratings aren’t built on truth – they’re built on hype and tension so people keep watching for the latest update.

While all this is going on, an atmosphere of apprehension builds, even among people who have nothing to fear from the situation. Why? For the usual reason – fear of the unknown. (more…)

As the late unpleasantness in and around Japan continues to unfold, I’m seeing more and more media coverage that has a net information content of zero. On at least two cases, rather than informed, I actually felt stupider after listening to it.

The constant soothing wordage and disclaimers like “slightly radioactive material” and “a small amount of radiation was released” are meaningless and simply calculated to assuage the fears of a justifiably suspicious audience that even now, after so short a time, is hearing what is not said far louder than what is.

The King James Bible quotes John 8:32 as, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Ironically, that passage is the motto of the US Central Intelligence Agency, inscribed right there in stone for all the world to see, in the foyer of CIA headquarters. That speaks volumes about the way governments define “truth”. (more…)

I could paint a poem on your back
With a Chinese brush and India ink.
And then, with a razor or pin or sliver of bamboo
And a stolen hotel towel (to daub the blood and excess black),
I could make it Permanent.
I have seen this done before in my dreams.
But You would never allow this violence of obligation,
This enduring itch of commitment.
You could never abide my words on your skin.

Tattoo by Timothy Main (more…)

While representing a bottomless pit of unreality, the internet can still be relied on as a source of Reality and Truth for those prepared to unflinchingly see Nature as She is, and not filtered through rose coloured glasses. The only way the lion will ever lay down with the lamb is so it can be comfortable while eating its dinner.

As unrepentant carnivores, we approve this message.

Image source http://p90x.iamcanadian.org/?p=484