While sitting in a chair, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise                         circles.

Now, while doing this, draw the number “6” in the air with your
right hand.

Your foot will change direction and there’s nothing you can do about it.

This from www.HumaneWatch.org and I could not agree more…

The Humane Society of the United States has been indignantly complaining in the media recently about an auction that occurred on Saturday. The Dallas Safari Club auctioned off a permit to hunt a black rhino, an endangered species, in Namibia for $350,000.
Sound troubling? At first glance, probably. But consider the situation:

• A few rhinos a year are shot by the government of Namibia as a part of population management;
• The rhino will be older and not capable of breeding;
• Older, non-breeding rhinos can harm younger, breeding rhinos;
• The money raised is going towards anti-poaching efforts (poaching is a major threat to the rhinos). Read more

After  a brief, one-year hiatus, the Ram 1500 Mossy Oak® Edition is  returning to the truck brand’s model lineup.

Updated  for 2014, the Mossy Oak Edition will now be available for the first  time with the RamBox cargo management system, in both 6-ft.-4-in. and  5-ft.-7-in. bed lengths.

Originally  introduced to the Ram Truck family in 2011, the Mossy Oak Edition is  designed for enthusiasts who are passionate about the great outdoors. Read more

At 3:40 am and all liquored up, a young lady called 911 for help after wandering to an elevated tree stand unable to negotiate her way down.  In frigid temperatures, she was fortunate to be located by rescue workers before things got worse.  Details here…

With the early arrival of arctic temperatures this winter, ice has already formed on many of Michigan’s inland lakes and rivers. The Department of Natural Resources reminds ice fishermen and snowmobilers of its mantra: No ice is safe ice.

“Just because a lake or stream looks frozen doesn’t mean the ice is safe,” said Lt. Andrew Turner, marine safety and education supervisor for the DNR Law Enforcement Division. “By following some guidelines on how ice looks and feels, you can avoid your day of ice fishing ending in a life-threatening incident.”   Read more

WEST POINT, MS – Mossy Oak ProStaff member, Todd Lodwick, earned a spot in his sixth Winter Olympics by winning the nordic combined competition in the U.S. trials in Park City, Utah on December 28.

At age 37, Lodwick will become the first American athlete to participate in six Winter Games. Lodwick was part of the U.S. team that won silver in Vancouver four years ago. Lodwick’s first Olympic appearance was in 1994 at the age of 17.

The 2014 Winter Olympics are being held in Sochi, Russia February 6-23.

To learn more about Todd Lodwick, visit http://nordic.usskiteam.com/athletes/todd-lodwick.

By Glen Wunderlich

Our utility company has indicated that the recent ice storm was the most devastating in its 126-year history.  Judging by the number of people and businesses reportedly affected across the nation, there appears to be no argument.  Heck, who has time to debate; we are still without power from the grid a full week later.

That’s enough time to analyze our level of dependence on “big power” and to develop plans to deal with the next outage.  Warming centers may be a solution for some folks, but for those of us who are not afforded paid time off for anything, we must keep working in spite of the elements.  Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

I had to laugh years ago, as I was being driven home by business associates after a meeting in Frankenmuth.  One of the passengers – a city dweller from Chicago – wondered aloud, as we neared my rural residence:  “Aren’t you afraid living out here/” Apparently, the lack of street lights, convenience stores, or basic amenities of city life struck him as being rather threatening.

Even though only a few miles away are fast-food joints and gas stations on every corner, there is still a level of self-sufficiency required to live the country life.  Although it’s comforting to have good neighbors, country folks don’t typically rely on help from others.  Rather, they prepare for power outages, floods, blizzards and other natural calamities so that they can ride it out.

However, what some people fail to realize is how winter weather events can have a way of bringing preparedness, or a lack thereof, to reality when traveling.  I recall in the late ‘70s, when I-75 was abruptly closed near the Ohio border by deep snow and thousands of motorists were stranded for days in their vehicles.  The National Guard came to the rescue, but not before motorists were forced to fend for themselves.

With this in mind, I solicited advice from outdoor enthusiasts from across North America and here’s a list of items you may wish to consider to take along on your next outdoor excursion.  Depending on your level of adventure, some of the gear may be unnecessary for your needs, but it’s better to have it and not need it, than to not have it and need it.

Read more