There are many things in this world that are strong and powerful. But more specifically, there are certain animals that have an amazingly strong bite. Statistically, the Tasmanian devil has the strongest bite to size ratio.

Others on the list include the Alligator, the Grey wolf, and the Hyena. Number 8 on the list is the Brown Bear. It can puncture metal cans and crush bones with ease. Living in Alaska, these strong jawed bruins are frequently seen, and are prevalent on the Alaska Peninsula. Especially when there is a fresh moose kill involved, which is what we had at the end of a successful Moose hunting season. We were packing up, and  I had unknowingly left my Nalgene bottle at the lodge as we closed down for the winter.

Upon arrival at the lodge the following spring, we found that it was broken into by bears. They had torn apart and bitten into everything, including all of the food cans and propane bottles. Along with all those items was my trusty Nalgene bottle. It also got bitten. However, unlike the propane bottles that were burst and punctured, my bottle survived. Although it got five punctures from the bears jaws, only one hole managed to break through only slightly. I was amazed at how well it held up. I still use it today.

The Nalgene water bottle is a staple on all outdoor adventures and daily treks alike, and now I understand why. They pride themselves on functionality and durability, and I believe them whole heartedly.

Thanks Nalgene for making such great products.

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Although many of those may never hit the top, or even make millions, there is an amazing 574,607 apps available for download. So with so many options out there, I have found several that have helped me out in many ways. Some to manage tasks, some to view files, some to just pass time. But i figured I would share some of my top picks, that maybe you have heard of, maybe you haven’t. Even if you do not use iPhone, many of these apps are available on android and other platforms as well. I am always looking for new apps and insights though, so please comment or share some of your favorites as well.

Wunderlist & Wunderkit

When we can stay on task, and Get Things Done, we are productive and our mind is free to think and dream. But many times we do not make use of the great tools out there to help us do this because the tools are not practical enough or they are too complicated to actually be of any help. 6 WunderKinder set out to solve this with Wunderlist. The app just reached 2 million downloads, on a free platform has helped people manage tasks that sync between desktop, online, and mobile. Although the features are very limited, it is functional, and good looking. They recently released Wunderkit, which takes the task management to a new level, while still keeping its elegance and good looks. They are both worth a try, even if just to gaze upon their color schemes and design. But strangely enough, that fact keeps me using both, which in turn helps me get things done.

Mint.com

Setting up a budget and keeping track of money has never been so easy, or good looking. Mint.com is not only an iPhone app, but it is also online accessible from anywhere. It uses the same security of top level banks to keep your info safe, and although it does not allow you to make any changes to your bank accounts from the app itself, it allows you to track your spending, and establish budgets. Although it may not be something we enjoy doing all the time, our finances are important and this app makes it fun, and free.

Soundhound:

Have you ever been in a restaurant, and wondered what song was on the radio? Well as the saying goes, there’s an app for that, actually there’s several. It is not the first app of it’s kind, but I have really come to like Soundhound. Although not as commonly known as Shazam, it has great features that give you the option to buy the song on iTunes, send the song to others, and view the lyrics. And of course it’s free.

Full Fitness:

It amazes me when other people can do what seems like hundreds of different work outs, and remember how much weight they would lift for each one, how many repetitions or sets, and what each workout entails, I guess it comes with time. Me on the other hand, am pretty new at this whole fitness and work out thing. This last year was the first time joining a gym and really focusing on staying in shape and building muscle. But when I found out about this app from my brother I was blown away. You can do so many things with it, from designing your workouts, selecting exercises based on a specific muscle group, to tracking your progress over time. So for those out there like me that want to stay on track but can’t do it in their head, I suggest this app. Almost like a personal trainer, it will do it all for you, except get you out the door and to the gym, that’s still up to you.

Craigslist Mobile:

I spend a good chunk of time on Craigslist, not only searching for good deals, but also selling items, even more than ebay, since it’s free. Thanks to this app, my time spent shopping and selling is more productive, and easy. You can search for a specific item, filter it by categories, and when you get the long list of items it gives a picture preview of what you are looking at and highlights the price on the right side. This eliminates you having to click on every ad to see if it is what you are looking for. Another great feature is the option to star an item to your favorites. That way you can narrow it down to exactly what you are looking for and then go back through your favorites. And when it comes to posting items, the process is simplified and allows you to add pictures from your phone and manage your posts. All in all it is extremely useful. Even though it does remind me of something in the 70′s.

Photosynth:

You may think of a word that you learned years ago in biology class, but this is so much more than that. Basically this app allows you to take panoramas, except you are not limited to the number of pictures, so you can create a picture of your entire surroundings. It does all of the stitching for you. just point and start clicking, covering as much area as you want, and afterwards crop it to your desired size. I would say this has got to be one of the best things Microsoft has put out, and there is only one version, and it’s free, don’t know how they pulled that off. So check it out, you can even post the pictures to bing maps and share them with others, but that would just be another extra feature they decided to add that no one wants to use.

Anyway, I hope you found these interesting and gave you some ideas of apps that could stand testing. Please comment and let me know what you think, and share your own App-titude. I am sure out of the half a million out there, there are some jewels still waiting to be found.

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1.     Getting Things Done, By David Allen

a.     This book has brought a huge change in the way I think about project management, and accomplishing the ever growing list of tasks that seem so prevalent in our lives. I actually got the book in audio form, in 2009, (thanks to a great friend Caleb Brown), and had begun to listen to it and apply it that year, but it was good enough that I listened to it a few more times in 2010, just to get reacquainted and back on track. The basis of the book is approaching a way to get things done by always evaluating what the next action is to move the project forward. The system it uses to manage this process has been widely used with many software programs designed to help you get organized and accomplish tasks. The book talks about how to get things off your mind, and collecting everything into a trusted location so as to not have unfinished items floating in your mind. So many times when making to do lists, we focus on what the main things are that we need to do, without taking the time to outline exactly what actions those things require and the steps it takes to accomplish them. There are many things attached to accomplishing actions, such as filing, keeping an inbox of incoming items that require attention, and handling time, which are all covered in this book.

b.     What I got out of this book was a different mindset when it came to managing tasks, and to do lists. We have to focus on the small things within the tasks that require action and outlining what that actually is so we can then do it. I have also been able to go into business meetings, with a better understanding of what to point out and clarify,  making sure that everyone leaves with clear “next actions” to move forward. Meetings tend to accomplish a lot more when they are clear and aimed at equipping those involved to take action and gain needed information from the meeting. I think that a lot of the practices and methods listed in this book are important and can be applied into almost any situation. I highly recommend it.

2.     The Mulligan, Nathan Jorgenson

a.     I received this book from one of my clients that I had the pleasure of guiding successfully on a Dall Sheep hunt in the Brooks Range. The author of the book and the client i guided were both from the Midwest and since I had relatives in the Minnesota area, he figured that connection, combined with the theme of fishing, would be a recipe for me enjoying the book. It took me a good while to “make the time” to read the book, but once I did, I could not put it down. The book tells the story of a dentist who hates his job, and the life that he lives, and decides to leave it all behind in search of the life that he missed out on. Along the way he makes many friends, and ends up traveling west, and working for a big cattle ranch and a fly fishing guide company. All along he finds that the more he is out of his element and in new experiences, the happier he is. He was able to see success that comes from growing and learning and not just financial wealth. Since the character was big into golfing, the book compares the story to a “Mulligan” in golfing where he is given second a chance to redo his life.

b.     I was not really sure that I would enjoy the book at first, since it started out so depressing, with a sad story of a broken marriage and despair at work. But the journey that he embarks on changed all of that and brought hope and life in the midst of difficulty. It really shows how the determination of one man can change the course of his life, and allow for growth through trials. Although I do not agree with his view about religion and the need to have to find oneself in material things, the ideas and concepts behind his journey were thought provoking. The part I enjoyed the most about the story was the fact that the main character works as a fishing guide and talks about the enjoyment and challenges that come with that position. I could relate and it made the story that much more believable. It is a serious story, filled with comedy, despair and adventure. I was pleasantly surprised and look forward to reading the other book by Nathan Jorgenson called “Waiting for White Horses”.

3.     In the Presence of Mine Enemies, By Gracia Burnham

a.     Having lived in the Alaskan Bush for a few years, I have become accustomed to doing without certain luxuries that some people take for granted, such as constant electricity, unlimited amounts of hot water, and driving down to the store to purchase food. However, after reading this book, I realized how much I had it easy compared to most missionaries around the world. Not only that, but also how safe we are in the US, and how many things we have the freedom to do, without any threat to our well being. Not so for this family.  Martin and Gracia and their 3 children were stationed with a missionary organization in the Philippines. Not only did they give up the easy life for the life of missionaries in a foreign country, but Martin and Gracia went through some of the worst experiences imaginable after they were captured and held hostage by Islamic Terrorists for a whole year. Gracia tells their story, not only about being captured and their near death experiences, but also how they managed to keep faith and hope during the hardships and struggles. Martin was killed in the raid that lead to the release of Gracia, although she was also wounded in the leg, but they survived through many gun fights and hunger to demonstrate what people can do with God’s help and the miraculous power of prayer. This other blog also has a great review of the book.

b.     This book was so intense that it was difficult to put down, and kept me on the edge the whole way through. You feel their pain and see their hurt through Gracia’s words, and you get to see the experience through their eyes. Every time I think that I have it rough or begin to doubt God’s sovereignty, I remember this book and what the Burnham’s endured and experienced. I try to remind myself of the reality out there, beyond our borders and even within, where people are going through much more than I can even know. This book was not just heart felt and moving, it was inspirational, and challenged me to rethink my priorities and also to remember to pray for those that are going through so much, sacrificing their lives to see those around them changed. An eye opener for sure and a great read.

4.     The Shack, William P. Young

a.     I was a bit late to the big shake up in the Christian and non Christian realm about this controversial book, so I did not get around to reading it until this last year. Since It is a fairly small book, I read it over a few days, and was glad that I did. The basis of the book follows the main character, written as a narrative, through his experiences with God over a week end, at a shack. His daughter had been abducted and had been followed to the run down shack in the middle of the woods, where there were signs of his daughter’s death. The book discusses many current topics within Christian circles that are controversial, and even the portrayal of the trinity has gotten people talking. The book is fiction, but is written from the aspect of fact, and is referred to as the modern day Pilgrims Progress, which was deemed heresy in that day. This book has also been claimed as such, on the basis of doctrine.

b.     Although I have not seen all of the opinions and arguments about this book, Creating Home Journal Blog seems to do a very good job of stating my input on the whole subject. However, I will say that although I agree that if you take the book as fact and apply it as doctrine then it is false, I still think it is a good book to read and enjoy as fiction. I think some of the parts that talk about love and God’s love for us is done with great analogies. However, it is still difficult when so many things are in it that can change one’s thinking in the wrong direction if it is allowed to. So I think it is great if you would like to read it, and yes, it does challenge you to think differently, but I would filter it with the Bible before changing your belief system because of it.

So those were a few of the books that I was able to divulge in this last year, and I am planning to continue and expand that list to even more this year. I encourage you to pick up a book and read, because when you read, your knowledge grows, your thinking is stretched, and your creativity can expand. And remember, you may not have time to do it, but you can “make time”.

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So, most everyone enjoys making movies, watching movies, or being in movies. Which ever is your fancy, Movies, Film, and Theatres are a huge part of our culture these days. Whether we are watching them on our ipods, televisions, DVD players, computers, or big screens, our eyes are consumed with movies a-lot. It is such a huge moneymaker in this and many other countries, and some people end up in the industry to make a living. Unfortunately those wrapped up in “Hollywood” usually end up being exposed by the media for every little thing, and get followed and photographed at any possible moment. It is amazing how the lives of movie stars become so much like a soap opera, and it is a shame that the movie industry is so caught up in the fads and basically anything that will sell a ticket or a DVD. Sex sells, and it embarrassingly true. There is nothing that is off limits for film anymore, and so many movies are watched, even ones deemed G rated or kids movies that should never see the light of day.

Now people get on me for being a movie critic, and I don’t say that I am sorry, because I am not. That is because when I look at a movie, I do not look at the cover, or the action, or just that everyone says that it is good, but I look deeper.  I do not believe that you have to make movies that follow the trends of the times, and the wants of the people, because many of those wants and desires are appalling. I believe that you can show love without nudity and sex, I believe that you can make movies that are appealing to different generations, and that their does not have to be an F bomb thrown every other word to make it cool. I spend quite a bit of time behind a camera, and you could say I have an eye for film. I have a creative mind and try to portray that creativeness to the screen.

I am not saying I am an expert by any means, but I am saying that through my experience I have learned to pick up on other things that make a movie worthwhile that many people may not consider. These are -

1. Cinematography. This phrase is not commonly used in describing a good movie, but it is what I am looking for. Creative camera angles, artistic shots, beautiful scenery and compilations, really make or break a movie. You can have a great actor, but if the shot is not set up well, then things just get boring. It is really hard to describe what I am talking about in words, but it is just something that catches the eye, and plays itself out to the eyes, like a symphony plays to the ears. Something that goes along with this is action and suspense. Filmmakers spend millions on stunts and explosives, and it really takes a lot of big booms to thrill us these days, but action can get over done as well, and unless it is supposed to be a fictional movie, I prefer the more realistic aspect of adventure.

2. Acting. It is so terrible when you have a great movie idea, but bad acting involved. Movies require emotion and the act of an actor or actress becoming one with the person they are portraying in the film. You would think that those who get paid so much, and make a living in front of a camera, would be able to perform better on a regular basis. A film should be believable, and be something to make you a part of the story.

3. Plot. I am one who really enjoys movies that have an intricately woven plot, that makes you have to think to figure out the movie, but this can be over done. I am also not one for having happy endings all the time either. Thought provoking movies, and ones that drive one to action really hits it home for me, and even though it is all acting and screen work, it should have an impact on you that will last much longer than the film. So what are you taking with you when you are done watching it?

4. Script. There are people that write and write, script after script, and the amount of them that actually end up becoming a movie is quite small. However, this does not mean that there are ones that become a movie and are still not film worthy. Cheesy lines, and predictable quotes can really put a movie on the bottom of the scale for me. It is not always the actor’s fault when there are words coming out of their mouth that shouldnt be. Yes, the 10 minute long motivational speeches are okay, when used sparingly, but really, when does that actually happen in real life. Yes it is a movie, but if it is not believable then keep it in the fiction category.

5. Clean. Believe it or not there are actually some movies out there that have no sex scenes in them, and that are actually good movies. Yes, there are some movies that require certain elements to portray the whole picture, but if it that means dirtying it up then I will just not see the movie. It is a shame that we become numb to all of the cussing and swearing and scantly clad women, and we say it does not effect us, but is that 100% true? What is going on on the inside?

This list could go on and on, but it gives you an idea of what goes through my head when some one asks me if a movie was good, or what I thought about it. Videography is one of my passions, and I enjoy the opportunity to share that passion with others through the videos I make. I may offend some people in this article, but someone needs to go against the grain of society and the film industry, and show that there is a different standard to judge things by. So next time you go to a theatre, or sit down in front of the “Tube” think twice. I am not saying don’t watch movies, but be a critic, if you so choose, and you may find your enjoyment in entertainment get just a bit better.

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In my line of work there are many pieces of equipment that never leave my side, that are crucial elements to create an ideal trip and experience. Not that you need these items to have a great experience, but for me they are important. Some of these are old fashioned and have been proven through many years of use. Others tend to get replaced or upgraded frequently. One of these items is my Camera. I never like to be too far from my camera, for several reasons. For one I am very photogenic, and like to remember a moment or capture a special event or happening. Second I love photography, and videography. It is one of my many passions, and I cherish the chance to capture this great world of ours, to share with others, and to remember the great experiences that I have been blessed to experience. I guess you could say I have an eye for it. That being said, I really have only began taking pictures of any substantial quality when I came up to Alaska in 2003.

I purchased a 35mm camera before coming up, and before then had only taken a few pictures with other peoples cameras, or with disposable ones. Not really aware of how to take good pictures, or the quality of the photography I was producing. After spending a summer up in the North country, and being instructed by Preston Cavner and others the basics of taking pictures, I began to take those skills and apply them to every day situations, and began to enjoy photography more in more. It was quite a bit earlier in Life however that I began to take a liking to Video and editing. When I was younger My brother, our Friends and I would make videos of all sorts, good acting and bad. It didn’t matter we loved doing it. From Comedy, to Action, to COPS, we tried our hands at it all. Most of our equipment was borrowed from parents or friends parents, and we even made our own sound effects and played music in the background to liven them up. The lack of proper editing equipment and computer usage limited the quality of the production, but that didn’t matter, we just had fun, and did our best. All of this time and energy led to my love of video and photos, and I began incorporating that love into my job in Alaska.

After the first two years of using a film camera for my photography, and hoping the shot was just right, I bought my first digital camera. It was a Kodak, and a good little 4 mega-pixel camera. I started with 64 megabyte card, and very quickly required more memory, and more space to store them. The amount of pictures I took increased daily. From hunting trips, to social events, I was always the one called upon to take a picture, or was emailed later wanting shots from this or that. Along with the rate of pictures, the quality continued to increase, as I began experimenting with editing programs on the computer, and trying different angles and perspectives that usually get missed by others. The Kodak lasted a couple years, but as it is with all electronics and technological advances, I needed something better, and my camera was easily outdated. I began researching a camera to buy, but was quite over whelmed. The amount of cameras that are available to the modern day shopper is amazing. I was not just wanting a point and shoot, I needed something with a bit more to offer, in manual controls and quality produced. I also was not ready for the jump to a digital SLR camera, which part of me would love, but the other part of me needed portability, and light due to the excessive traveling and light weight packing my job involves.

I finally settled on a Casio, Exilim, EX-Z850. Although the name in cameras was somewhat new, I was sold on several things. Battery life was phenomenal. Several people I knew had a Casio, and really liked it. It had a built in light for video at night, and had good quality video. It used the same SD cards that I was currently using in my Kodak. And it was a slim design 8 mega-pixel camera. Which really was more than I needed, but all in all it seemed to be a good buy at $300. Another source that influenced my buying was an online review site, http://www.dpreview.com , that reviews all of the latest cameras, and gives in-depth insight into every camera available. This site had many good reviews for the Casio I was interested in, so I made the purchase. I did some price comparison shopping at www.pricegrabber.com , which give a very thorough and accurate prices from all of the top sellers online, found the cheapest and well rated one, and ordered it.

I was somewhat limited in my time when researching this camera, because of the upcoming Moose season, so I maybe could have looked a bit further, but when it arrived in the mail I was pleased with my purchase. It took very good pictures, decent video, and lived up to its high battery rating. I used this camera quite heavily for about a year, with good results, until this past summer. I was on a boating trip in the north end of Lake Clark, when I unintentionally went into the water with all my gear, including my camera, which was not in a waterproof bag, and got soaked. Right away it didn’t work, and I was very dis hearted. However after returning from this outing, I placed my camera inside a Ziploc bag along with a with a small amount of baking soda wrapped inside a coffee filter. I had read some where about using baking soda to pull moisture out of electronics. So I set it in the sun, and sure enough In a few days it was usable again. however a few of the buttons were not working properly, but did not hinder the general functions. So I continued to use it.

My bad luck however did not improve, and on another outing, on a fly out float trip, we were in the process of getting pictures of a huge Grayling that I had caught, when once again my camera went for a swim. It was very unfortunate, and I was not very pleased, but once again I used the plastic bag and baking soda trick and returned it to partial use again. However I ended up dunking it again on a kayaking trip, but that time it did not get completely submerged, so I was saved once again. I figured that my bad fortunes with my camera were over, but no, yet again, during the Dall Sheep season in the Brooks Range, while carrying my camera in my pocket, I ended up crushing the screen with some sharp object yet to be identified. It was just not meant to be. I continued to use the camera however, because it was equipped with a visual view finder, and enabled me to salvage it once more. Needless to say, my camera was by this time in very bad shape, but I was able to get by with that crippled one, and my old Kodak, for some time, until this spring, when I purchased another camera, which is the one I am currently using and loving very much.

The camera I settled on this time was a Panasonic, TZ5. Again I consulted http://www.dpreview.com , for info and comparisons, and also got recommendations from friends that had the same camera, but older models, all of them raved about it, so I was convinced, but I was also sold on its features once again. It has a 10x optical zoom, image stabilization, 28mm wide angle Leica lense, 3 inch screen, and wide-screen video capabilities. This time however I went through a Store, for better customer service and warranty. I went to best buy, found the camera, got a back up battery, accessories, and a 3 year warranty. I figured I would be safe then, in case of any accidental water encounters. It lasted through the spring Bear season, and into the summer, beautifully. I was very happy with its performance, especially the excellent quality video, since portability and money had prevented me from purchasing a good quality video camera. However on the same fateful river of my Casio’s demise, I dropped my Panasonic into the drink, and it was shot, even though it was still in its case. I tried the old bag and soda trick once more, but it failed this time, and I was without a camera for about a month, which nearly killed me, because of my love for photography, and I had to get by with using other peoples cameras.

I had one last hope however, the warranty. I went into anchorage, on my way to The Brooks Range, to redeem my money well spent and get my camera replaced or fixed. I was informed however that the warranty covered everything except submersion in water. And that they had to send it in for evaluation, and it would take at least a week. Dis hearted I departed for the guiding season without one of my most important pieces of equipment. Thankfully all of my clients had good cameras and I was able to get pictures from all of them, so I made it through that time, but just barely. After returning to Anchorage I visited the Best Buy store, and to my joy I found that they junked my camera, due to the inability to fix it, and gave me a brand new one, right at the store. I was so happy, and thankful that I purchased the warranty. I also bought a waterproof case for the camera from a great online camera and technology resource, www.bhphoto.com , so that I will no longer have the problem of letting my camera go swimming.

to be continued, Video Camera tips, Tricks and Reviews…

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