Friday, May 11
Web site wandering
Every so often I peruse the Web search engines for new outdoor and walking content.
Why? I've plenty of links stored away in my favourite's list already (approx 1,500 at the last count) of which 5% are visited at least once a month.
I really must get a life. But then again I'd rather be on here reading people's thoughts and observations on their lives and experiences rather than (rant mode ON) watch the animated pap that's commonly referred to as British TV these days - and that includes the digital channels that really ram home the potential abuse of my dwindling mental faculties (rant mode OFF). Harrumph.
So coming across the StumbleUpon site was rather like letting a kid loose in a sweet shop, or from our viewpoint more like a walker in Ambleside with a free credit card for the day and a couple of vans standing empty in anticipation.
"StumbleUpon uses ratings to form collaborative opinions on website quality. When you stumble, you will only see pages which friends and like-minded stumblers have recommended. This helps you discover great content you probably wouldn't find using a search engine"
A different approach from the increasingly commercially centred big search engines with the pay-to-list skewed returns. Here's a few that perked my interest and may be of more off-beat interest. But it's worth bookmarking the site just to drop by occasionally and see what's new.
Backpacking - Make you own gear
No, not a Blue Peter fan site. Ideas on self build, or adaption for backpacks, shelters, stoves, cookware (food dehydrator!), sleeping and accessories. All at the cost of your effort and a bit of lateral thinking. I think I'll be trying the condiment container ready for my next trip.
"Alternatives to expensive and/or heavy gear".
Fancy a pair of 'One Ounce Camp Sandals' using that pair of new walking boot inserts thrown to one side in favour of Superfeet? Sneaky.
"Generate a custom packing list for any journey"
I've only played with it a little so far, but its a fun alternative accompanied by comments, ideas and anecdotes. Groovy.
GMaps Pedometer
What is known (or so I believe) as a 'Google Map mash-up'.
Plot your route on the map, and it calculates the route length, as well as count calories. Again a bit of fun, but maybe something more? Read the instructions first though - and it should all fall into place.
Walking meditation
"Walking meditation is meditation in action. When we do walking meditation, we are using the physical, mental, and emotional experiences of walking as the basis of developing greater awareness. Walking meditation is an excellent way of developing our ability to take awareness into our ordinary live"
An alternative explanation of those heightened perceptions & feelings, from a Buddhist/meditative perspective. Recognise any of the symptoms or ideas?
Labels: blog media
Why? I've plenty of links stored away in my favourite's list already (approx 1,500 at the last count) of which 5% are visited at least once a month.
I really must get a life. But then again I'd rather be on here reading people's thoughts and observations on their lives and experiences rather than (rant mode ON) watch the animated pap that's commonly referred to as British TV these days - and that includes the digital channels that really ram home the potential abuse of my dwindling mental faculties (rant mode OFF). Harrumph.
So coming across the StumbleUpon site was rather like letting a kid loose in a sweet shop, or from our viewpoint more like a walker in Ambleside with a free credit card for the day and a couple of vans standing empty in anticipation.
"StumbleUpon uses ratings to form collaborative opinions on website quality. When you stumble, you will only see pages which friends and like-minded stumblers have recommended. This helps you discover great content you probably wouldn't find using a search engine"
A different approach from the increasingly commercially centred big search engines with the pay-to-list skewed returns. Here's a few that perked my interest and may be of more off-beat interest. But it's worth bookmarking the site just to drop by occasionally and see what's new.
Backpacking - Make you own gear
No, not a Blue Peter fan site. Ideas on self build, or adaption for backpacks, shelters, stoves, cookware (food dehydrator!), sleeping and accessories. All at the cost of your effort and a bit of lateral thinking. I think I'll be trying the condiment container ready for my next trip.
"Alternatives to expensive and/or heavy gear".
Fancy a pair of 'One Ounce Camp Sandals' using that pair of new walking boot inserts thrown to one side in favour of Superfeet? Sneaky.
"Generate a custom packing list for any journey"
I've only played with it a little so far, but its a fun alternative accompanied by comments, ideas and anecdotes. Groovy.
GMaps PedometerWhat is known (or so I believe) as a 'Google Map mash-up'.
Plot your route on the map, and it calculates the route length, as well as count calories. Again a bit of fun, but maybe something more? Read the instructions first though - and it should all fall into place.
Walking meditation
"Walking meditation is meditation in action. When we do walking meditation, we are using the physical, mental, and emotional experiences of walking as the basis of developing greater awareness. Walking meditation is an excellent way of developing our ability to take awareness into our ordinary live"
An alternative explanation of those heightened perceptions & feelings, from a Buddhist/meditative perspective. Recognise any of the symptoms or ideas?
Labels: blog media
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