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immaculate weather... but... waves?

Halfway into my wetsuit this morning i received a call from a friend who said it was pretty shitty. I talked myself into climbing back into bed. The prospect of warm sheets and sleep wonderful sleep seemed so inviting that i couldn't turn it down. It's most likely spinning sweet glassy inner-bar barrels while i write this??

Yesterday afternoon the beast had somewhat awoken. Ugly, lurching overhead power-slabs marched toward shore and exploded sweet bejeebus all over the place. A small crew braved the maelstrom in the middle of the beach and i tip my hat to em. It didn't look like an easy after-work stroll in lala wave land. More like dodging evil grenades and life-threatening missiles as you march half-blind through some thick jungle night. I saw one decent ride.

Reading "Jimi Hendrix, the man, the magic, the truth." by Sharon Lawrence right now. I just got to the part where jimi dies. Heavy and absolutely tragic. He took 9 strong pain killers that this girl kept from an earlier operation. Jimi read alot about numerology and thought that his special number was nine. Based on the author's account (she was a friend of his) it looks like he tried to commit suicide, or at least threw his fate to the wind that night, russian roulette style. Lawrence describes the toxic, embattled legal and financial webs spun around Henrix by some evil people. Ugly. Lawrence also describes his poverty-stricken and tough childhood with a dad who was basically a total dickhead and a mom who was an alcoholic and very promiscuous. Jimi was a mix of black, white and Cherokee. His mom died when he was 15. He had a bunch of siblings and half-siblings, many of whom were raised in foster homes. His father was never supportive and later constantly requested money from his son, even asking at one point to be assigned the main beneficiary in Jimi's will. Hendrix was bummed about his dad. There are some uplifting, enlightening parts of the book too. Jimi jams with Roland Kirk at one point and describes his total awe and amazement with the blind jazz maestro. It's cool to read about his days as a paratrooper in the army at age 19, then about his tours on the "chitlin circuit." It seems that Little Richard was a complete bastard. It's also interesting to read about when he moved to NYC in '66. He first moved and hung around up in Harlem, but then was attracted to the open, accepting beatnik scene down in the Village. He basically made this transition from a backup guitar player in predominantly black bands to a frontman for white audiences in the newly emerging hippy movement. Then he was "discovered" by the old base player from the Animals Chas Chandler and whisked to London, where the Experience was formed and Jimi famously wowed Clapton, the Stones, the Beatles, Jeff Beck, the Who and the rest of the london crew with his unprecedented guitar wizardry and surreal, hypnotic stage presence.

anyway.. it's an OK read, i hope there's a better biography out there about Hendrix. I really dislike the author, especially when she breaks the narrative to interject her own thoughts or memories. "And then Jimi called me and told me such and such, he really respected and needed my friendship. I'm so great and professional and awesome blah blah blah" Grrrr!!! She's annoyingly strait-edge and so ignores any detailed descriptions of Hendrix's foray's into LSD, women or abstract philosophy. I've found myself grimacing in frustation about her and i've been semi-tempted to write an angry letter.

but.. hendrix seems rad. he's the fricken man!

Been listening to this Live at Berkeley show from May 30, 1970 and also the Isle of Wight double CD with some wicked versions of Machine Gun and also an awesome "Freedom" which we tried to cover last night at band practice. fucking radical song! Thank you Jimi!!

Fillmore, SF

Looked pretty raw out there this am...

Posted by: Q at August 31, 2005 10:13 AM

is raw bad?

Posted by: raw talent at August 31, 2005 10:22 AM

Old Surfer's Journals are the shit.

Fishy, glassy, squirty fun this morn.

Posted by: Hb at August 31, 2005 10:29 AM

That's for you to figure out...

Posted by: Q at August 31, 2005 10:31 AM

yeah looked pretty nasty out there this morning, hoping for an after work session

Posted by: bbr at August 31, 2005 10:32 AM

Caught a few this morning. Not as raw as yesterday evening. Wish I could've escaped the cube earlier yesterday around low tide. Had one really fun ride at VFW last night--long wall. Kept sucking up and opening up. Pretty strong currents too. Warbly waves this morning. Dishevelled fun. Definitely one of those squirrelier surf days. Probably better at a more protected spot. Terrific sunset yesterday evening. Foxy laadies, too. MMmm, Foxy.

Posted by: amigoism at August 31, 2005 10:32 AM

Blogger Faces Lawsuit Over Comments Posted by Readers

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/0,,SB112541909221726743-_vX2YpePQV7AOIl2Jeebz4FAfS4_20060831,00.html?mod=blogs

In a legal case being watched closely by bloggers, an Internet company has sued the owner of a Web log for comments posted to his site by readers.

Traffic-Power.com sued Aaron Wall, who maintains a blog on search engine optimization – tactics companies use to get themselves to appear higher in searches at Google, Yahoo and elsewhere – alleging defamation and publication of trade secrets. The suit, filed in a Nevada state court earlier this month, also listed as defendants several unnamed users of the blog.

At issue are statements posted in the comments section of Mr. Wall's blog, SEOBook.com. Many blogs allow readers to post comments, often anonymously, and Mr. Wall's blog included several reader submissions that blasted tools sold by Traffic-Power.com.

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 10:35 AM

this is a rad comic book about jimi if your into that sort of thing. waves looked bad. sun is nice.

Posted by: bagel at August 31, 2005 10:37 AM


Morrison, Joplin, Hendrix --Why is it that people kept trying to get more f'd up...people, people, people you're already high you can't get any more high.

"if the sun refuse to shine i don't mind"

Posted by: snake at August 31, 2005 10:39 AM

you can always get more high! whoooooo!!!

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 10:41 AM

Surfed this am.

Basically a training session for the upcoming Season.

Surprizingly easy paddle out considering I brought the more floaty fun board.

Doof's last ride was better than mine. He rode the bucking bronk almost all the way to the shore before bellying it into a pearl dive.

Mine was one of the lamer waves of the set. Bowled up only on my drop then mushed, but pushed me long enough to be stuck inside. Worked on my stroke for the next two sets. Then, "well screw it. I got my paddling in."

Watched Doof's last from the shore.

Saw no great rides while I was there.

Posted by: friend #1 at August 31, 2005 10:43 AM

nice danny barley hurricane swell pics yesterday. not such great pics coming out of new orleans.

Posted by: Fiona at August 31, 2005 10:45 AM

thanks friend #1! thanks for playing it down even if it was epic. Makes us cube dwellers rest easier.

Posted by: e at August 31, 2005 10:45 AM

thought i would pass this along from a friend in brazil ...

Dear friends,

Many of you have been to Itacare (Bahia, Brazil) and will have good memories
of the beautiful beaches in and around the town.

Sadly, there have recently been several cases of illegal closure of paths
and fees being charged for access to various beaches in the Itacare area.
The people responsible for this are the owners of luxury resort hotels,
residential condominiums, and private land surrounding the beaches.

The closure of the beaches is a direct contravention of Brazilian Federal
law, which states that free public access to all beaches in Brazil must be
guaranteed (Brazilian Federal Decree Law 5.300, December 7, 2004, Article
21, Paragraphs 1 to 4).

A group of surfers, environmentalists and worried residents of Itacare have
formed the action group SOS-Itacare, in order to present a legal challenge
to each of the landowners involved. We are currently preparing civil legal
action together with other environmental and social action groups.

Our lawyers have recommended that we present a petition as part of our
evidence of support. We are therefore currently collecting signatures
locally and have also created an online petition. We want to demonstrate
that there is widespread international support for our legal challenge to
the landowners.

We would like to ask you to please show your support for this cause by
adding your name to the online petition at
http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/sos-itacare/. We would also greatly
appreciate it if you could forward these details to more people around the
world who might be interested.

Please do feel free to get in touch if you have any queries, suggestions, or
comments.

Thank-you for your support.

Aloha!

Benjamin Kromayer
SOS-Itacare

Posted by: tumult at August 31, 2005 10:53 AM

for any of you who didn't get out to the beach, rest assured that it was nothing great. i was there but passed - partly due to injured shoulder, but mostly because there were so few rideables and the currents seemed to be cranking. lovely day tho

Posted by: loon at August 31, 2005 10:59 AM

day ain't over yet.


the 6-10 day forecast ain't got a cloud in it. nor does the 1-5 day forecast.

http://www.weather.com/weather/extended/USCA0987?par=yahoo&site=www.yahoo.com&promo=extendedforecast&cm_ven=Yahoo&cm_cat=www.yahoo.com&cm_pla=forecastpage&cm_ite=CityPage

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 11:02 AM

ditto on all the comments regarding surf/weather.

draft of purple haze

this guitar gave it's life for the entertainment of the masses

Posted by: j at August 31, 2005 11:04 AM

Driving Pattern:
Up 101
Sloat
Cruise the beach
VFW
Sloat
Pacifica

Enough said.

Closeout - don't go
Closeout - go
Closeout - don't go
Closeout - don't go
Closeout - don't go
No closeout - can't get in the wave
Closeout - go

Posted by: Kaiser at August 31, 2005 11:14 AM

Funeral of James Marshall Hendrix

Who da white boy - second on the right?

Posted by: snake at August 31, 2005 11:15 AM

Danny Partridge?

Posted by: ? at August 31, 2005 11:15 AM

Took the self made board for a ride again today.

Didn't find the channel I was originally looking for and despite being in the H2O before Friend #1, he beat me to the line-up, consarnit!

The board worked well enough, but I really noticed the minimalist approach I used while waxing the board.

Lots of paddling to find the right entry point, of which I didn't find too often.

Did find a few though and discovered my too thick and too narrow in the tail board rode reasonably well, though I have to surf it from the middle to get any real speed, and in this morning's chop, it makes it far more challenging than it should have been.

Overall, nice to get out and start preparing the body for things to come.

Posted by: Mr Doof at August 31, 2005 11:26 AM

Anyone have hurricane surf pics from Katrina? There's gotta be some mad surf shots from all that.

You know what I wanna do? I wanna go down to New Orleans and drive around, I mean FLOAT around, and play that song by the Scorpions really loud: "HERE I AM! Dun - DU NUH NUH! ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE!"

Posted by: MSG at August 31, 2005 11:31 AM

you know how good it feels to hear those words. had early meetings the last to days and have been jones'n hard to surf. i thought for sure it would be awesome out there with the lack of wind and all. might have to paddle out in the arvo though no matter how bad it is. it may be junky but at least there are waves.

more hurrican wave pics please!

Posted by: lerm at August 31, 2005 11:37 AM

In the midst of one of the worst tragedies in our nations history and we're talking about Hendrix. Wake the fuck up.

Posted by: Betty Duball at August 31, 2005 11:41 AM

Betty, I think there is an E's Disaster Blog out there somewhere.

Bodega Bay to Big Sur - that is the damage area equivalent here.

Now back to the regular program.....

Posted by: Kaiser at August 31, 2005 11:48 AM

9am checked a couple places, both of which didn't look too promising, but went in anyway and somehow got a bunch of fun rides--mainly a little play-time on a fast wall before it closed out, but also some nice peelers. There were even some makeable tubes, not that I made any (saw one stand-up barrel and one bigger, but unoccupied barrel worked me on a paddle). Not as much energy as yesterday, I think, but waiting for sets paid off.

Posted by: kloo at August 31, 2005 11:50 AM

17th street levvee brok so lake pntchatrain and flood waters will keep levels RISING in downtown N.O. even though the storm has passed.

In 1995 the feds, La. stateies and N.O. loc's guv'ts all started workiing together to avoid this exact disaster.

But in early 2004 the fed's cut their contribution by 80% 'cause they needed money for the war on terror and homeland security.

locals were upset they couldn't finish the levees and pleaded that is was their security issue? but to no avail.....

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 11:54 AM

Hey, this is pretty fucked up:

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050830/480/ladm10208301530

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050830/photos_ts_afp/050830071810_shxwaoma_photo1

If it's a black person, it's called looting, if it's a white person, it's called finding shit. WTF???

Posted by: MSG at August 31, 2005 11:54 AM

Betty Duball why dont you move there and go help than? what do you have to say about it? not funny to make light of it either, MSG, but squaking on a surf blog about it is just about the same, SF PC Mother Terrisa.

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 11:56 AM

Nice find MSG, excellent example of institutionalized racism. I am going to share this with my class.

Posted by: mexi at August 31, 2005 11:58 AM

Betty, I donated to the red cross already. I can't do much else but send positive vibes. Sorry.

Little Wing is one of my all time favorite love songs. I think everthing I need to learn on guitar is in that one song. Jimi never enough praise for him. Stratocasters fuck yea!

Posted by: 3to5setsof7 at August 31, 2005 12:02 PM

yeah, go warp their minds some more, mexi.

what do i have to say about it?

- aruba is jumping for joy
- no help from rest of world (despite tsunami relief)
- gas will hit $5
- thousands dead
- country thrown back into recession
- housing bubble pops
- one of the best US cities never the same

Posted by: Betty Duball at August 31, 2005 12:06 PM

The world is a tough place. Let's be pissed and complain about it!

Beautiful day in our neighborhood today. Be thankful that the ground didn't shake.

If it did, what would Betty do?

Posted by: Kaiser at August 31, 2005 12:11 PM

damn MSG, that shit is f'ed up!!

betty,
-the rest of the world NEVER never helps the US, wake the fuck up. we're unique in that we give w/o asking for return.
-the housing bubble pop will have nothing to do with the hurricane. in fact, if i had money i'd invest in home depot, home builders, etc. as someone is going to have to rebuild NO.
-the top 10 metro areas in the hurricane ravaged parts of the US account for something like 1.3% of our economy. don't see that sending us into a recession.


Posted by: j at August 31, 2005 12:13 PM

My first day off after quitting my job, and I cruised a few beaches but didn't pull the trigger anywhere, came close at the Ramones beach, but there needs to be a couple feet less water...

Hope to see some of you tonight. Victoria Theater, 16th/Mission, 7:15, 9:15p, "The Bruce Movie", FREE. Rippa shreddas, surfacabra. Tix at Aqua or the door.

http://aquasurfshop.com/images/events/events.html

Adios, amigos. Thanks for the forum, e.

Posted by: bandini at August 31, 2005 12:13 PM

Betty save your enlightenment for people who don't want to talk about Hendrix and surfing.

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 12:19 PM

Went to the beach to get an avro sess last night and oddly felt that warm tingly sensation when seeing the 4-7 rows of whitewater marching towards the shore. I didn't think that any waves over 2 ft would ever come back to OB. Although I immediately regretted not working out my paddling arms all summer, I somehow managed to get to the outside. Waves were breaking all over the place. The line up was scattered - one guy in front of me 30 yds, one guy behind me 30 yds. It felt so good to make big drops, arching top turns and race past sections again. Nice to change out the fat summer fish for the slim 6'7". Only managed to get a couple before heading in. STOKED!!!

Regretting never making it to New Orleans. Kinda the same feeling I have about never seeing the Grateful Dead ;(

Posted by: traut at August 31, 2005 12:20 PM

Just back from a late morning surf check.
Solid overhead sets. Pretty consistent / lots of waves, but mushy and kinda backing-off in the high tide. Nine or ten surfers in the water. I only saw 2 decent rides in the hour I was there. May get better when the tide drops - as long as the wind stays off it.
The paddle definitely looked challenging at the particular section of beach I was watching. Churning inside, with lots of south pull. The rips didn't seem to be giving much help until well past the mess inside. I saw a couple of surfers get denied - two actually suited up and walked to the water's edge, only to turn around and get back in their car(!?) But I watched one plucky dude get swept south/denied/walk a little further north; get swept south/denied/walk still further north; get swept south/denied/walk even still further north and finally make it out. What a guy!
All and all pretty interesting for August.

Posted by: Jimmie at August 31, 2005 12:29 PM

America will donate plenty to aid its own. Just look at 9/11, where before 2001 was done, money had be raised to over $800,000.00 per family of firefighters/policement dead. We do not need aid from other countries.

We often hear it said that "America is the most generous nation on earth." But when it comes to foreign aid, America is the most stingy nation on earth. Many years ago, the United Nations set a target for development aid of 0.7 percent of Gross National Product. A handful of developed nations—Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden—meet or surpass this very modest target of giving 70 cents in every $100 dollars that their economy produces to the developing nations. Most nations fail to reach it, but no developed nation fails so miserably as the United States, which in 1999, the last year for which figures are available, gave 0.1 percent of GNP, or 10 cents in every $100, just one-seventh of the U.N. target. That is far less in actual U.S. dollars than Japan gives—about $9 billion for the United States, as compared with over $15 billion for Japan—although the U.S. economy is roughly twice the size of Japan's. And even that miserly figure isn't really aid to the most needy, as much of it is strategically targeted for political purposes. The largest single recipient of U.S. official development assistance is Egypt, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is tiny, but gets more aid from the United States than India does. (These figures come from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, as of July 23, 2001.)

Some will say it is misleading to focus on official aid, because the United States is a country that distrusts government more than most other nations do. If private aid sources were also included, would the United States not turn out to be more generous in its aid to other nations? Yes, a higher proportion of the total aid given by the United States is nongovernmental aid than is the case for other nations. But nongovernmental aid everywhere is dwarfed by government aid, and that is true in the United States too. So, adding in the nongovernmental aid is insufficient either to get the United States off the very bottom of the list of developed countries or to make the total sum given, in actual dollars, match the amount given by Japan.

Posted by: friend #1 at August 31, 2005 12:44 PM

sloppy this a.m. followed the sose plan to
the south. same story.

close out - no go.
close out - go. drop, pull in, get covered, bounce
off bottom. hooray.
close out - no go.
shoulder? paddle like hell pull in and get two turns,
then close out. OR
shoulder, spin drop and have someone else drop in.
YAY!

cheers to the red board hooded dude with goatee
who even though he totally shut me down, apologized
profusely and was really cool.

weather is here. waves PLEASE follow.

as per the hurricane....the devastation is unbelievable.
but if you have a city that is a dozen or so feet BELOW
sea level...and you get a 20ft+ storm surge. you do
the math.

hey betty read the control of nature by john mcphee,
section on the mississippi. handwriting has been on the
wall for a while. then read the l.a. part and start your fund
for the BIG ONE here.

Posted by: korewin at August 31, 2005 12:45 PM

Red states gonna feel the pain of they choices. War. Gas prices. Budget cuts in infrastructure and social services. :(

The bed you make you must sleep in. Sorry guys.

All this and the Army now has agreement with day labor temp services to recruit the poorest of poor. Stare down the barrel of finacial ruin or stare down the barrel of a gun.

What would Hendrix say about that bro.

Posted by: MxRxHx at August 31, 2005 12:48 PM

i have a contrarian opinion friend #1...

if we get walloped in NO by katrina only
half way thorugh hurricane season, then say...
an earthquake here, plus another 4 or 5 cat 3+
hurricanes...our over leveraged federal gov't
will go belly up. that or the chinese will come
calling on the bonds they own. either way pray
that nothing else catastrophic happens this quarter.

Posted by: korewin at August 31, 2005 12:48 PM

When did Lindy become a secret spot??? lol

Posted by: flap at August 31, 2005 12:57 PM

chinese are already strategically planning that bond buy back...fill yer gas tanks today and take the bus tomorrow...

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 12:58 PM

It's gonna be an empty line up when no one can afford to drive to the beach

Posted by: MxRxHx at August 31, 2005 12:59 PM

All our castles made of sand, melt into the sea, eventually. -Hendrix

I worked at a shipyard in Mobile, AL and made the 2 hour treck to New Orleans every weekend when I was 19. That was my first job, first time living on my own, and New Orleans is always kinda a special place to me. Interviewing for a job in Pascagoula at 22, I went back to New Orleans, and it wasn't the same...it seemed so much different, not because the city changed, but just because that city more than anywhere (except maybe vegas) seems to accept any projection placed upon it, and each time you go, it's a special city that belongs to that moment in time, never existing again. It will be rebuilt as were the bombed out cities of WWII or San Francisco rebuilt after 1906. And I think because of, not despite of it's geography, it'll keep that transient quality of a city inevitably sinking, but living in the moment on the ride down.

Gas prices are gonna go up from the refining capacity knocked out...we might want to think about niceness carpools to the waves.

Posted by: Andrew in Alameda at August 31, 2005 01:05 PM

nice words andrew.

Posted by: e at August 31, 2005 01:10 PM

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 01:17 PM

gas prices go up...stoked i just moved
to walking distance from the beach. YAHOO!!!

Posted by: korewin at August 31, 2005 01:19 PM

Posted by: LOVE & HATE at August 31, 2005 02:12 PM

If you think we have problems now, wait til the sun turns into a red giant.

Posted by: Dennis at August 31, 2005 02:14 PM

<laughing/>

Posted by: Burnt Reynolds at August 31, 2005 02:22 PM

"unoccupied barrel". Nice one, Kloo! I'm gonna appropriate that phrase for all of my screw-ups. It sounds a heck of a lot cooler than the other reality.

Posted by: s.s. sharkbait at August 31, 2005 02:23 PM

Thats gonna suuuuck!

Posted by: bagel at August 31, 2005 02:24 PM

"the rest of the world NEVER never helps the US"

j, that is possibly the stupidest thing I've read today.

WWII Pacific-many many countries gave their sons helping the US.
Korea-same thing
Vietnam-same thing
Iraq v1.0-same thing
Afghanistan-same thing
Iraq v2.0-same thing

Personally, my grandfather served beside US troops in Guadalcanal. And the son of some close friends back home is serving in Afghanistan, right beside Americans.

Or don't they count, being furriners and all?

If you'd been OS during 9/11 you'd have seen a world in mourning for the US, and specialised emergency crews heading for NYC.
Right now in my home country they're gearing up people to get to New Orleans, a 20 hour flight.

If you'd bother to read about or directly experience the outside world you might realise that the US is NOT hated. Misunderstood at times, but loved.
Of course right wingers rely on you thinking otherwise.
Open your eyes dude.

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 02:36 PM

Bad Vibe Betty: hope you're keeping up. Thanks for inspiring some informative posts.

The richest nation on earth should have prevented the very predictable levee-related problems that N.O. is now facing. If you want to read about other preventable levee-related dilemmas that could dramatically affect CA, check out Marc Reisner's A Dangerous Place : California's Unsettling Fate.

But hey, maybe this was not preventable. Maybe there is a god, and he doesn't like what's happening in the south of late? If that's the case, I urge him to check his aim for the next one -- Tallahassee & Jeb are a bit further west.

Posted by: loon at August 31, 2005 02:43 PM

vengeful god! vengeful god! vengeful god!

Posted by: rod & todd flanders at August 31, 2005 02:44 PM

I think in the name of gas, the war and the hurricane everyone should not surf until next April. Thanks!

Posted by: surf strike! at August 31, 2005 02:46 PM

Bah, just kidding

Posted by: (not) surf strike! at August 31, 2005 02:51 PM

Monkey Milk volunteers to be the first scab to cross the tide-picket line in the surf strike!!

Friends surfed Judah yesterday and got whoomped on a few slabby ones. They said it felt a little wintery, especially going backwards over the falls.

-MM

Posted by: MONKEY MILK at August 31, 2005 02:53 PM

Regarding the disaster in Louisiana & Mississippi: I was just listening to a flood control expert from The Netherlands (those Dutch KNOW from dikes and levees). He was saying that there are two main contributing factors to why the levees failed in New Orleans
1) Developement over the last 100 years has reduced the wetlands along the coast in the area which would have absorbed a good portion of the storm surge.
2) New Orleans levees are built to handle a storm the impact of which can only be expected once in every 100 years. In The Netherlands they build dikes to handle storms the impact of which can only be expected once in every 10,000 years!
When asked if that wasn't excessive and expensive, he replied that it is CHEAP compared to the cost of cleanup / rebuilding (not to mention injury, disease and loss of life).

Even though I don't believe in a personified diety or supreme being, I pray for those folks.

Posted by: Jimmie at August 31, 2005 03:04 PM

I think the world hates our government, but loves and admires our culture and people.

On September 11, the world reached out and mourned for us, then our government spat in their faces and used the tragedy to wage a war for oil.

Posted by: mexi at August 31, 2005 03:07 PM

Mexi has it right on.

Soooooo, let's talk more surf and bitch less.

Keep it simple. Remember why you are here. And when I mean HERE, I mean the shit that is in black and white which you are reading right now.

Posted by: Kaiser at August 31, 2005 03:10 PM

Thoughts, prayers, and help($) for sure to the Gulf coast.

Speaking of surf strikes I just ended my 2 month one yesterday evening, surf! Some slammin swell out there- saw all the ingredients starting to come together- broken board, people getting denied on the paddle etc.

Decent free DVD in the new Surfing, some cool Mentawai heli angles and kids surfing waaaay better than I ever will.

Posted by: artifact at August 31, 2005 03:11 PM

Oh, I pick up a new board today STOKED. it is a replacement fish for the one destoyed by the airlines, but this one is for reals, not a homemade job like the last one.

Surfed last night with the masses, OB is back.

Posted by: Mexi at August 31, 2005 03:15 PM

Heats of the Day:

Heat 5:
Luke Egan
Dane Reynolds

- I like Dane

Heat 12
Sunny G
Chris Ward

- Gotta like Ward in that one

http://surf.quiksilver.com/2005/japan/index.php

Posted by: Kaiser at August 31, 2005 03:16 PM

Seems the folks in the Netherlands might be a little smarter than us? Or at least smarter than folks in the south?



Posted by: buri at August 31, 2005 03:20 PM

hey anon, as for stupidest thing you've read today, well you forgot to read the posts by betty. go back up, re-read, and come talk. when someone whines about a SURF BLOG talking about...SURF and MUSIC, than discredits himself further with his obviously firm grasp on the economy...well... do i feel bad for them? you bet your ass. did i send money? yes, and am also in the process of going thru old clothes to give to charity in hopes they make it out there as God/allah/buddha knows people could use help out there.

congrats to your grandpa and the son of your friend. my great-grandfather served, grandpa served (neither of which are from this country), father served and was in the peace corps (now doesn't that sound contradictory), and many of my good friends are currently serving.

as far as reading about and experiencing the outside world, my only experiences were living abroad for 3 years and spending other time in 20+ countries. unlike yourself i wasn't born into this great omniscient position you seem to think is instantly bestowed upon those born outside the US. but, as you mentioned, i'm sucking on the right wing teat and believing everything i see and read, which is in sharp contrast to the ideas presenting in those foreign countries with their unbiased media. i mean we all know al-jazeera is the truth, right?

mexi hit the nail on the head though. what's the old saying about loving one's country but fearing one's government? of course, i can only bitch to a point as i'm not out there trying to make a difference in our gov't as someone with such a firm stance such as anon currently is.

anyways, back to our SURF BLOG. anybody got any T&A pics?

Posted by: j at August 31, 2005 03:21 PM

mexi, did the airlines cover your boards?? i've always wondered how good their insurance is. was it a pain to get anything done?

Posted by: j at August 31, 2005 03:23 PM

So j, you still claim the rest of the world "never helps the US", or not?

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 03:28 PM

At least with hurricanes you get a warning, usually you have ample warning to at least save your and family's life. All the rest of that other stuff can be replaced (although a bummer)

It just reminds me carry little baggage, not get to attached to stuff, and we all have a short time on this rock- because in the end we can't control how we go! So enjoy it...

Posted by: artifact at August 31, 2005 03:31 PM

Oh my god. What is going on? We've had some good surf the last week and you all are bitchin'. Let's surf!

Posted by: Hb at August 31, 2005 03:34 PM

J, I did,'t get reimbursed.

Posted by: Mexi at August 31, 2005 03:35 PM

9 times out of 10, yes. i still believe that the US is MUCH better as saying ok we have differing political views but we will still give you money/aid in your time of need than most of the rest of the world.

Posted by: j at August 31, 2005 03:36 PM

That was the first northwesty swell I've seen in a while riding my bike down the coast today.

Another note, leaves are turning color in the coastal hills. Pretty cold in the morning too.

No need for blakestah.

Posted by: grant at August 31, 2005 03:37 PM

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 03:38 PM

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 03:39 PM

And j, if you really have visited 20+ countries, how on earth did you get that attitude? You must have been really really unlucky to have met so many people that hated your guts.
You really think Al Jazeera is representative of the world's media? Really?

I come back to my point. The world loves the US and is prepared to fight for it, and help it when it calls.
Just like the US has donefor everyone else ever since it's birth.

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 03:42 PM

the attitude comes out when someone acts like a pompous, omniscient asshole. those who know me know i'm probably the most mellow guy if you don't rub me the wrong way.

do i really think al jazeera represents the world's media? you made a statement that sounded like all media is right wing media, i made a contrasting but equally stupid statement.

the point you're coming back to is a point that started with WW2. my WW2 knowledge is admittedly spotty, but i believe that in 1939 we declared neutrality, than in 1941 we were thrust into it. i think a large part of our foreign policy since than has been based on the learnings we got from WW1, and than WW2.

Posted by: j at August 31, 2005 03:51 PM

Southerly wind is building.
Everyone to Lindy.

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 03:53 PM

Peeps... in about 20 minutes this board should take a 4:20 break, check out the latest Surfer Magazine photo issue and RELAX. Thank goodness fall is just around the corner.

Posted by: dano at August 31, 2005 03:56 PM

Thrust into the Pacific in '41, yes. Took another couple of years to help out in Europe.

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 03:56 PM

How the hell does a hurricane knock down a friggin concrete bridge?

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 03:57 PM

That help saved the world.

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 03:58 PM

if the 3:58 anon (i can't keep you all straight. how hard is it to use a handle, hell change it daily if you don't want your 'identity' getting out) is saying that when we went to europe that helped save the world i'd agree.

Posted by: j at August 31, 2005 04:01 PM

Fuel for the fire:

Prattana Nuntaratpun, who works for a Thai TV station, she had not heard of any of the station's viewers calling in to donate or write letters to people affected by Katrina.

"Thai people wouldn't react that way. It's too far from us," she said. "People probably aren't thinking as far as Katrina," she said.

and

VIENNA, Austria - From papal prayers to telegrams from China, the world reacted with an outpouring of compassion Wednesday for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in messages tinged by shock that a disaster of this scale could occur in the United States.

Islamic extremists rejoiced in America's misfortune, giving the storm a military rank and declaring in Internet chatter that "Private" Katrina had joined the global jihad, or holy war. With "God's help," they declared, oil prices would hit $100 a barrel this year.

Venezuela's government, which has had tense relations with Washington, offered humanitarian aid and fuel if requested.

The storm was seen as an equalizer — proof that any country, weak or strong, can be victimized by a natural disaster. Images of flood-ravaged New Orleans earned particular sympathy in central Europe, where dozens died in raging floodwaters only days ago.

"Nature proved that no matter how rich and economically developed you are, you can't fight it," says Danut Afasei, a local official in Romania's Harghita county, where flooding killed 13 people last week.

Throughout Europe, concerned citizens lamented the loss of life and the damage caused to New Orleans, often described as one of North America's most "European" cities.

French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder sent messages of sympathy to President Bush. Chirac, who has famously quarreled with Bush over the Iraq war, addressed this letter, "Dear George."

Pope Benedict XVI said he was praying for victims of the "tragic" hurricane while China's President Hu Jintao expressed his "belief that that the American people will definitely overcome the natural disaster and rebuild their beautiful homeland."

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II also sent a message to Bush saying she was "deeply shocked and saddened" at the devastation caused by the hurricane and expressing her condolences, "especially to the families of those who have lost their lives, to the injured and to all who have been affected by this terrible disaster."

The U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland — a capital at the foot of the Alps hit by flooding last week — said calls were rushing in from Swiss individuals and institutions looking for a way to donate to relief efforts.

"We are getting calls from the Swiss public looking to express their condolences, (and) people are also asking for an account number where they can make donations," said spokesman Daniel Wendell.

The Internet-edition Vienna daily Der Standard had recorded 820 postings commenting on a front-page story on the hurricane. In one of the postings, signature "Emerald" asked where money could be donated to the victims, but the question sparked a debate about whether a rich country like the United States needed such aid.

In response, one posting, from signature "far out," argued that hurricane victims who are poor still needed support.

Amid the sympathy, however, there was criticism.

As U.S. military engineers struggled to shore up breached levees, experts in the Netherlands expressed surprise that New Orleans' flood systems failed to restrain the raging waters.

With half of the country's population of 16 million living below sea level, the Netherlands prepared for a "perfect storm" soon after floods in 1953 killed 2,000 people. The nation installed massive hydraulic sea walls.

"I don't want to sound overly critical, but it's hard to imagine that (the damage caused by Katrina) could happen in a Western country," said Ted Sluijter, spokesman for the park where the sea walls are exhibited. "It seemed like plans for protection and evacuation weren't really in place, and once it happened, the coordination was on loose hinges."

The sympathy was muted in some corners by a sense that the United States reaped what it sowed, since the country is seen as the main contributor to global warming.

Joern Ehlers, a spokesman for World Wildlife Fund Germany, said global warming had increased the intensity of hurricanes.

"The Americans have a big impact on the greenhouse effect," Ehlers said.

But Harlan L. Watson, the U.S. envoy for negotiations on climate change, denied any link between global warming and the strength of storms.

"Our scientists are telling us right now that there's not a linkage," he said in Geneva. "I'll rely on their information."

Posted by: traut at August 31, 2005 04:12 PM

E: check out a book on Hendix by Charles Shaar Murray. He wrote for NME a loooong time ago and is a Hendrix obsessive - he started getting seriously into music writing after watching Hendrix blow apart the Lucy Show on TV. You can find it on Amazon.

Posted by: J at August 31, 2005 04:13 PM

is it inappropriate to ask for pics of hot girls to cheer us up today?

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 04:15 PM

Go debate war and politics at BVBetty.org.

Thanks,

The Rest of Us.

Posted by: Kaiser at August 31, 2005 04:15 PM

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 04:16 PM

Crap, this page is starting to sound like Craigslist Rants & Raves. Lets talk about SURF, booty, ganja and music, and save that other crap for other forums. Thank you!

Posted by: tdog at August 31, 2005 04:16 PM

Same anon actually, 3:56 and 3:58 and earlier.
Not "helped save the world", but "that help SAVED the world".
No question.

Thanks for qualifying the "rest of the world" statement back to "most of the rest of the world", although I still think that's way harsh. But that "rest of the world hates us" attitude (no I'm not saying you said that, but I've heard it many times) is ridiculous. And the left wing is just as guilty of using it to tar anyone on the right for being responsible for some world-wide conspiracy against the US. Fact is, most countries are damn near the same as the US, with the same nice people with the same nice values going about their lives and ready to open their chequebooks the same amount if it'll help, no matter if it'll help Africans or Indonesians or Americans. Charity is universal.

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 04:17 PM

And that's me done on the matter.
Fog is forming. It's all over people.

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 04:21 PM

Pictures are the only way....

I wish I could even think about doing this:

Power Keg:

Right about here, I just sit down and fall off my board because I am going in reverse instead of forward....

Now some from my collection:


Posted by: Kaiser at August 31, 2005 04:30 PM

Travel insurance is the way to go. Covers boards, belongings, and emergency medical costs. I don't leave home without it.

On arrival in Samoa I opened my boardbag and to my horror saw all three boards completely snapped in half! They must've put it at the very bottom of 3 tons of luggage. Tried going through the airline for several weeks and got absolutely NOWHERE. Then I filed a claim with my travel insurance and got a check for $1000 a couple weeks later. Nice.

On a different trip I arrived in Bali and opened my bag to find my videocamera case empty. I know, I should've kept it on my person, but I wasn't thinking. I read the travel insurance brochure and it says you need to submit a police report for theft. So I sat in a VERY lo-tech Balinese police station for an hour while they hand-typed (on a typewriter) a theft report. Submitted it with my claim and got my $400 check without a hitch.

Posted by: Davo at August 31, 2005 04:33 PM

yup, i've been done with it for awhile. i do think that all people are inherently good and that is never reflected by the acts of a few that are the faces for those people.

back to surf, music, T&A, etc.

Posted by: j at August 31, 2005 04:39 PM

$1000 for 3 boards and you were stoked? these days that ain't gonna get ya 3 boards!

damn, i've been posting a lot today. i should probably DO something now.

Posted by: j at August 31, 2005 04:43 PM

Posted by: oh yeah! at August 31, 2005 04:45 PM

new technique?

Posted by: puzzled at August 31, 2005 04:47 PM

Davo...who is your travel insurrance carrier? I want to be prepared in case I ever go anywhere. If anyone else has any recommendations, lemme know. I have neither a car nor home nor renter policy with which to receive a discount. Do your other insurance policies check to see if you made claims on your travel insurance?

Posted by: Andrew in Alameda at August 31, 2005 05:06 PM

Me likee ...

Posted by: flades at August 31, 2005 05:16 PM

I found renter's insurance was cheaper + covers all your stuff lost or stolen anywhere in the world Standard insurance+ MasterCard etc. or DAN or other club memberships etc usually covers med evac. car rentals etc.

Make sure you read the exclusions though, they may not cover gator surfing

Posted by: artifact at August 31, 2005 05:18 PM

hmmm thanks for the cam link

theres a good video on surfline of the hurricane one of the lopez's killing it alot.

Posted by: bagel at August 31, 2005 05:19 PM

try the controls, bagel. Virtual beachgoing for cube monkeys!

Posted by: flades at August 31, 2005 05:21 PM

Posted by: Black Rock at August 31, 2005 05:45 PM

things were taken a little bit farther than planned today but at least you bit. all i was really looking for was an acknowledgement that we are in the middle of the worst US natural disaster of our lifetime. so i threw out some weak facts. sure got you going big boy. talk to you soon. bye for now.
yours -
Betty Duball

Posted by: Betty Duball at August 31, 2005 05:51 PM

I did not send that hurricane to punish gays or blasphemers...that's so old school GOD!

I sent it as a message to sinners that voted for Bush, that boy is as stupid as a pillar of salt!

Anyway...it's offshore and reeling up here in heaven ...gotta go!

Posted by: GOD at August 31, 2005 06:00 PM

How does acknowledgement help the cause?

Posted by: ? at August 31, 2005 06:54 PM

It's onshore and flat here, just like SF in the summer

Posted by: SATAN at August 31, 2005 06:55 PM

Does J rip?

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 07:26 PM

since when did this become deny reality blog? (a la just give me chicks and surf talk to make it go away...). the creator of this forum often emotes about experiences that move him...surfing, music, current events etc...

a major catastrophe has happened and fellow humans are inclined to talk about it. it's that same part of the soul that is kindled by surfing that makes us want to understand why this happened, what can we do to help, what could have/should have been done to prevent this? what are the social factors that created this situation, or environmenta factors? we are all connected to this in some way and we will all be affected by this in some way, whether you want to acknowledge it or not.

my position is that we do need to understand this, to talk about it and consider the lessons that can be learned. the world needs the surfer spirit to pay attention and act; the people that connect to the ocean should speak up and participate in the effort to save the human species from oblvion. surfing is a dynamic activity that requires an understanding and articulating of the connectedness of everything; those that practice it are in a perfect position to spread the word. stay connected.

othewise what the fuck are we doing here besides masturbating about our sessions and crowding up the sandbars along OB?

Posted by: mk1201 at August 31, 2005 07:54 PM

Contrary to myth...

Masturbating is not a sin...

I used to be against it, I had my reasons...

But there are plenty of you now.

Posted by: GOD at August 31, 2005 08:28 PM

Someday, I would like to join a group of surfers in the lineup, and talk about world hunger, poverty, global warming, and George Bush's policies in the Middle East. After the session is over, I would like to join this group of persons for a debate at a local cafe -- you know, just to have an intellectual conversation with an intelligent group of people. Then, I would like to go home and watch the news and see the catastrophic events that are occurring in the world: natural disasters, man made disasters, terrorism, homicides, etc... Afterwards, I would like to sit there and mull about the problems of the world in my mind...

Nah, fuck it. I'd rather play the guitar! Long live Paco de Lucia!

Posted by: MSG at August 31, 2005 08:39 PM

BTW all you punk bitch early morning walk-to-the-beach at dawn fools missed it. It was going off today between 1 and 3 pm. Lawton, Moraga, Noriega. It was Fall out there today!

I got three really good waves plus about 14 more fun ones in 2 hours. Yeahhhh Boyeeee!

Posted by: surfseeker7 at August 31, 2005 09:43 PM

I'd like to teach the world to sing...in perfect harmony...

Yeah, Right! I can't even make that happen.

Posted by: at August 31, 2005 09:53 PM

That was me, btw...nobody's perfect.

Posted by: GOD at August 31, 2005 09:54 PM

Oh...and surfseeker7?

I got infinite amounts of perfect waves may last session.

Time is relative.

And I never wiped out...unless I meant too...which I didn't.

Yeh Boy.

Posted by: GOD at August 31, 2005 09:57 PM

no

Posted by: j at August 31, 2005 10:32 PM

actually, capital J might, but i can speak for myself as lower case j and say definitely NO i do not rip. however, unlike anon, my identity is not ruled by how i perform in the water

Posted by: j at August 31, 2005 10:33 PM

my pitbull is bigger than yours though, and his chain is 24k gold

Posted by: j at August 31, 2005 10:33 PM

mk1201, surfing is an inherently selfish act. It is generally encouraged NOT to share information about places to surf, NOT to encourage others to start surfing, and to encourage people to leave the water wherever you are surfing. Surfers, in general, do not care much about other surfers, and much much less about the problems of the world. Many are surfing to relieve themselves of their own problems, if only for an hour. For these reasons, a great coastline protector once referred to organizing surfers to protect our coastlines to be an act akin to "herding cats".

Face it. Surfing is selfish. And don't be surprised at the lack of compassion for New Orleans. Most people here are more concerned about when the buoy reports will be back.

Posted by: at September 1, 2005 06:22 AM
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