F-N-F | Friday Night Film | August 12, 2011

A 2 hour documentary by Andrew Johnson

originally posted on Vimeo on August 19, 2010

Crop Circles: A Mystery in the Fields

A documentary on the Crop Circle Phenomenon and some theories as to the the possible creators of them.

Evidence of Uncontacted Tribes In Amazon

Footage Released  For the First Time, February 2011

I first learned about this from a client and meant to post it back in Febuary.

This particular tribe is located on the Peru – Brazil border.  It’s amazing that in this day and age that there is actually still indigenous people on the planet.  They must wonder what sort of mysterious metal birds jets are…. Or in this case – what the helicopter was. I wouldn’t be surprised if their eyesight was good enough to spot the people inside the chopper and thought, who are these people of the sky?

What’s an urgent concern is logging companies are getting closer and closer to these people and if they are allowed to continue the pillaging, these people will lose their home and most likely their life as they know it. That would be a shame.

I know what certain people of the western world might think. “What can little ole’ me possibly do?” Or, “big deal, there’s nothing we can do about it. Not my problem”  Or, “who cares? Those people are savages anyway and need to get some clothes on and start shopping at Walzmart.”

Now for some related intellectual commentary:

I read an article back in October 2010 that stated a new species was being discovered every 3 days in the Amazon for the last 10 years. Species like a baldheaded parrot, a blue-fanged tarantula, and bright red catfish. One in 10 species is found in the Amazon. Such a rich source of life doesn’t deserve to be turned into mono-crop bullshit for our endless hunger for cheap meat. (that’s grain crops grown to feed all the cattle that we in turn scarf down).

Yup, cattle ranching is largely responsible for the destruction of the rainforest. We’ve lost 17% of it in the last 50 years.  That is SERIOUSLY effed up.  So again, I ask, how arrogant and/or apathetic are we?  Who are we to think we can keep doing this and be allowed to live on this planet?  This brings up a good argument for going vegetarian.

Breakdown of recorded discoveries from 1999 to 2009:

• 637 plants
• 257 fish
• 216 amphibians
• 55 reptiles
• 16 birds
• 39 mammals

These aren’t all that’s there – just the ones we noticed and not counting all the species we knew about before.

Tying this altogether – don’t you think that if. . .  oh hell, who am I kidding? I mean WHEN we decide to make contact with these people, that once communication barriers are overcome,  they could teach US so much about all the animals and plants in the rapidly disappearing rainforest?  I think from a selfish standpoint, that’s a worthy reason to try to save them.  After all, that’s the sort of argument that might hold water to those in power who see them as a nuisance and just want to take the resources for their own gain.

Read more @ http://www.uncontactedtribes.org/brazilfootage

Survival is launching an urgent campaign calling on the Peruvian government to expel all loggers working illegally on the land of uncontacted Indians in Peru

Oh, and here’s a good 20 minute TED Talk on Indigenous People presented by Wade Davis

This sounds good so long as you don’t step on something sharp and rusty.

Western runners, of whom 90 per cent suffer injuries every year, would be better off leaving their sneakers at home, and running barefoot. Science and sceptical runners are catching up with something the Tarahumara Indians have known for ever: your naked feet are fine on their own.

According to a growing body of clinical research, those expensive running shoes you’ve been relying on may be worse than useless: they could be causing the very injuries they’re supposed to prevent.

Out here in the non-Tarahumara world, where we have access to the best in sports medicine, training innovations and footwear, up to 90 per cent of all marathoners are injured every year. The Tarahumara, by contrast, remain spry and healthy deep into old age.

I saw numerous men and women in their seventies loping up steep, cliffside switchbacks on their way to villages 30 miles away. Back in 1994, a Tarahumara man ventured out of the canyons to compete against an elite field of runners at the Leadville Trail Ultramarathon, a 100-mile race through the Rocky Mountains. He wore homemade sandals. He was 55 years old. He won.

So how do the Tarahumara protect their legs from all that pounding? Simple – they don’t. They don’t protect and, most critically, they don’t pound. When the Tarahumara aren’t barefoot, they wear nothing more cushioned than thin, hard sandals fashioned from discarded tire treads and leather thongs. In place of artificial shock absorption, they rely on an ancient running technique that creates a naturally gentle landing.

Unlike the vast majority of modern runners, who come down heavily on their foam-covered heels and roll forward off their toes, the Tarahumara land lightly on their forefeet and bend their knees, as you would if you jumped from a chair. This ingenious, easy-to-learn style could have a profound effect on runners, not to mention the multi-billion dollar running-shoe industry.

Personally, my feet feel constricted when I have to put shoes on. That’s why you’ll find me in a nice pair of sandals most of the time.

Maybe it’s living in a warm climate here in Florida or the fact that I feel more grounded when barefoot. Sure, there’s risks of stubbing toes, cutting feet on things that a shoe would avoid, not to mention keeping them clean. But I’m not saying walk around on hot asphalt in your bare feet either.

I’ve instinctively tried this method of running and found it to be easy on the feet and fast.

Maybe save your money on those expensive running shoes, eh?  Oh, and move to the music at 180 beats per minute

You know, after reading this article, it reminds me of a book on tantric breathing I read years ago.  Proper breathing technique goes hand in hand with your running technique if you want to go the extra mile(s).  The tantric book talked about monks that could run from one village to another non stop – often 50 to 100 miles away and get there in the same day – in part because of the way they breathed.

READ FULL ARTICLE SOURCE

The other day I saw an ad on TV for Disney. They are offering anyone a free ticket to one of Disney’s theme parks in exchange for volunteering for a day at one of the approved foundations.  Sounds like a win-win situation for everyone.

Here’s the lowdown:

Dedicate a Day of Service and Get a Free Pass to Disneyland®

Beginning January 1, 2010, when you sign up to volunteer a day of service with a participating organization (and your service is completed and verified) you will get a one-day admission to a Walt Disney World® or Disneyland® theme park, FREE!

Here’s how it works:

• SEARCH & SIGN UP: Beginning January 1, 2010, search and sign up for a volunteer opportunity from a participating organization.
• VOLUNTEER: Complete your service for the volunteer opportunity you selected.
• CELEBRATE: Once your service is verified, receive a voucher to redeem your Disney theme park ticket.

You must sign up through the Disney Promotional Site to volunteer and complete your service at an eligible volunteer opportunity in the fifty US states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or Canada to receive a ticket. Ticket quantities for this program are limited.

You must be at least 18 years of age to sign up, and you may sign-up up to a maximum of eight additional members of your same household. Children must be at least 6 years of age to volunteer under this program and receive a theme park ticket. Children ages 6 -17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when volunteering. Other age restrictions may apply to certain eligible volunteer opportunities.
Program begins January 1, 2010 and continues until all tickets are distributed or until December 15, 2010, whichever occurs first. You may only sign up a maximum of 8 members of your household. Please visit the Give a Day – Get a Day site for complete program terms and conditions.

Do a search by zipcode and you will see there are TONS of places needing your help so it should be easy to find something you can do.  Who knows, if you’ve never been much into volunteering before, this could open a whole new world of giving for ya.

I live in Florida near the Magic Kingdom so I’ll probably go to Epcot, MGM Studios, the Magic Kingdom or the Animal Kingdom.

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Still not helping? How about giving something unique and special and make a gift.

If you are artistic, you could record a song, paint a picture or make jewelry.

Or go in a completely different direction and forget exchanging gifts and instead volunteer your time and money for the less fortunate by working with a charity or foundation or church and help needy family have a better holiday.

Or you could take a trip. One growing popular vacation is cruising during the holidays.

Cruises are a great way for the whole family to enjoy the holidays and no one has to entertain or host and no arguing over who is going to visit who.

With the Winter season approaching and snow skiing vacations on many people’s list, this is a great time to tell everyone about a most wonderful discovery of a natural treatment for avoiding high altitude sickness. Heck, this is painless adjustment to high altitude in a bottle.

North view of Rio Grande outside Taos, NM

On a recent trip this summer out to Santa Fe and Taos, my friend and I experienced the effects of high altitude on our bodies as we were coming from sea level in Florida which we are accustomed to.

At 6000 to 7000 feet above sea level, I’m told the oxygen levels are about 20% less than at sea level.  Doesn’t sound like much, but it can get to you in the form of shortness of breath, headaches and nausea and worse.

The change in altitude affects the pressure on the kidneys and fluid buildup in the lungs and brain. To make up for the decrease in oxygen, the body needs a few days to acclimate by increasing red blood cells which are your body’s oxygen transporters.

The first day we are hitting the ground running around Santa Fe feeling good.  Gorgeous weather and tons of stuff to see are distracting us from thinking about the change in altitude.  But later in the  day I notice I feel a little winded and my friend is faring much worse. She feels weak and nauseous and has trouble catching a breath.  Concerned, we call a pharmacy to find out we are suffering from altitude sickness and my friend probably needs diuretics.  Not ones for popping pills, we search to see if there are any oxygen bars in town.  We find one but it’s closed.

We consider homeopathic remedies and stop in a Whole Foods market.  After explaining the situation, an employee leads my friend straight to a bottle of green stuff.  I am a little skeptical of this being some sort of miracle elixir, but I figure it can’t hurt.

The product is ChlorOxygen – a chlorophyll concentrate made from stinging nettle put out by Herbs Etc, a local Santa Fe supplement company.  On the packaging, it reads:

• builds red blood cells
• increases oxygenation
• boosts energy levels
• facilitates high altitude acclimation.

I doubt it’s a placebo effect, but my friend and I can both personally attest that everything the label says is true.

You use it by putting 18-36 drops in a bottle of water and have it once or twice a day.  Being concentrated, it can stain easily and green teeth and tongues can be a bit disconcerting.  ”Me HULK… Me Angry!”

My friend wastes no time and grabs a bottle of water in the store and mixes up the concoction right there and starts drinking it.  It turns the water a dark green color. As for the taste, they say it has a mild grassy flavor. It also comes in a mint flavored version.

Personally, I like the taste and find it VERY mild… If you’ve ever had a shot of wheat grass, I can tell you this is NOTHING like that.  I find wheat grass hard to drink as it’s soooo strong.  This stuff isn’t.

I am amazed at how quickly it works.  My friend starts feeling a bit better within minutes and before the day is through, she is good to go.  We both end up drinking the stuff the rest of the time we are in New Mexico.  I swear it gives us a nice energy boost too  - and not a harsh ‘wired’ one like mass marketed energy drinks can do.  Along with regular water, it makes it very easy to stay properly hydrated the whole time we are there.

We both like the benefits so much that we even use it daily back in Florida. We share the tip with everyone we meet too.

I have to warn you, we did experience one of the ‘side effects’ too – green poo which smelled like grass fed cow variety.  This seems to go away after you’ve been taking it for a while and your body adjusts to it.

I really like that ChlorOxygen doesn’t require refrigeration and has no icky preservatives. At about $10 for a 1oz bottle [60 18 drop servings], it’s a very cheap solution to solving the problem of altitude sickness.

I like the Mint Flavored version myself – available here: Herbs Etc – ChlorOxygen Mint Flavored – 1 fl oz

ChlorOxygen, don’t leave for your mountain vacation without it!

**Save $5.00 on your order at www.iHerb.com use code IHE882**

If Apple was in the aerospace industry, they couldn’t have done a better job of designing a GOTTA HAVE IT! MUST HAVE IT!

I think of it as the Macintosh of sports planes. . . On my wish list to Santa. Drool….

I’ve had my eye on this baby since it’s inception. The Icon A5 amphibian light sport aircraft.

Price: $139,000

Deposit: $5000 fully transferrable if you have buyer’s remorse.

Beautiful simple design – like a cross between a jet ski and a spaceship.

The interior is simple and sleek like a fine sports car with a stick in place of a steering wheel.

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All this is made possible by the FAA avaiation rule change in 2004 by creating a new catagory known as light-sport aircraft.

A mere 20 hours of flight school instead of the 40 hours needed for your standard private pilot license and you’re qualified to fly this baby.
If you don’t already have your pilot’s license, flight lessons will cost you around $5,000 in training fees.

First delivery is expected Q3 2011 plenty of time to get some flying in before 2012, lol.
Powered by a Rotax 100hp engine has a range of about 300nm and speed of 120. 100hp.

Damn, there’s SeaDoos with more horsepower than that!

Due to the aircraft’s class restrictions you’ll have to decide between a rocket safety chute (one, please) or automatic wing folding.

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Come on, put a little muscle into it.  Hey, I’ve got hand cranked windows in my truck and I’m cool with that.

One less thing to break.  Besides, I’ll take safety over convenience any day.

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If you really can’t wait and want to be first in line, you can plop down 100K deposit and be one of the first to get delivery.

“The first 100 ICON A5 customer deliveries will be exclusive A5 Limited Edition (A5 LE) models.

Reserving an A5 LE, and thereby joining the ICON 100, requires a higher deposit of $100,000 USD.”

Coolness:

Take off and land on land or WATER!

As new planes go, price isn’t in the stratosphere

Easy to fly

Awesome design

Bummers:

Have to wait for a while before they’re ready for delivery

A few rules of the sky:

Fly below 10,000 feet

Only day flying with clear skys and stay away from busy airports.

The coolness factors WIN

Now where did I put my checkbook?

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Icon: southern california manufacturer of light sport aircraft Icon A5.

Founder: Kirk Hawkins, 41, former F16 fighter pilot with degrees in engineering and business from Stanford.

A friend sent me these pics shot by photographer Clark Little.

He usually gets wiped out getting the shot while in the green room…

Scroll down and you’ll see why