norther wester

Friday Comic

2011-09-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

Good morning world

2009-05-22T18:10:00.004-07:00

We've moved to a place we have named the cottage.

And over the long weekend we swam in the river:

61:The blog

2009-02-19T20:38:00.002-08:00

The winter has been darker than I would have liked...life got a little ridiculous and as a result I have not felt in a blog state of mind--I also realized that it has been a terribly long time since I have gone for a surf. So tomorrow I am heading up the coast and I will be starting the blog again.

62: The Field

2009-01-17T22:34:00.001-08:00

For the last year this album has been playing in our house. I don't think they have made any actual videos so this one is set to some good retro cartoons.

63: Beach Fires

2008-12-08T13:23:00.002-08:00

64: The Decemberists

2008-12-06T07:57:00.003-08:00

I can't say enough good things about this band. In the last few years I have really gotten into concept albums and this group is the king of concept albums. If you don't have the crane wife go buy it. Their new album is going to out in march, but they have recently released a collection of singles called "Always the Bridesmaid"

65: The Splendid Food Issue

2008-11-29T08:05:00.003-08:00

For those of you that know me the one thing I love more than good surf is good food. Nothing works up good food stoke like the New Yorker's splendid food issue. It is on news stands now and many of the articles are on line. Of particular interest is the great article on a small Texan BBQ shack that recently won the honor of best BBQ in Texas.

66: Fresh Fish

2008-11-11T08:47:00.001-08:00

I just recieved a nice wild batch of Salmon and Halibut from my Aunt and Uncle.

67: Nature's Lineups

2008-11-02T22:17:00.001-08:00

See comments from post 68; thanks for the idea Matt.

68: Creative Answers to Everyday Questions

2008-10-27T19:20:00.000-07:00

Surf season is in full swing in the norther wester. It seems fitting that surfers in this part of the world look North for their giants just as the norse looked North for theirs. Lately I have gotten tired of viewing the source of waves as simply a low pressure system and crave a more fantastical explanation. The best thing I could come up with was a large giant stepping on a bellows, I would love to hear any other ideas you have. Happy surf season and be wary of the giant foot.

69: Herman Dune

2008-10-24T07:25:00.004-07:00

Last week my friend gave me the new Herman Dune album and I have been listening to it non stop.It is Quirky, intelligent and mellow. here is the video for the new single.

70: The Great Escape

2008-10-16T20:39:00.001-07:00

A year ago Jasmine and I fled Mexico and started driving towards our new-old life on the island.
It seems longer than a year. I will never forget how good it felt to finally be heading home, Norther-Wester.

71: Ross Bay Cemetary

2008-10-13T18:44:00.001-07:00

The buoy report looked very promising, but I decided to stay in town--just couldn't motivate myself for the drive. Instead I ended up walking around the graveyard with Jasmine. Can't think of a better way to spend a stormy holiday.

72: Michael Pollan

2008-10-12T08:51:00.004-07:00

A few years ago I had the pleasure of reading Michael Pollan's very important book "The omnivores dilemma" It is a wonderful look at the different modes of eating and the state of the global food supply. Pollan is back at it with an article just released in New York Times magazine. It is a letter to the presidential candidates explaining and demanding a revision of their national policy and approach to food. I wonder if he would mind sending one to the Canadian candidates as well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12policy-t.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

73: The Canadian National Film Board

2008-10-11T22:17:00.003-07:00

In honor of Canadian Thanksgiving here is a blast from my past: The Log Driver's Waltz.

74: Feeling Emotional

2008-10-07T21:09:00.001-07:00

Sometimes it is great to feel sorry for yourself. Things at work are a little up in the air--which makes a great opportunity to turn on some great soul music and wallow a bit.

75: Bath houses

2008-10-03T23:08:00.002-07:00

With the onset of cold weather the one thing I really miss about China is the sauna houses. Here is a little piece I wrote a few years ago after accidentally stumbling into my first bathhouse.

That Terrible Mitt

Among westerners that live in China there seems to be a culture of sadistic pleasure that comes from watching new members peel back the onion layers of discomfort and shock that often comes from being a resident here. Although weird cuisine is often a source for this type of amusement it is not the only one. Like moths to a flame most male foreigners at some time end up at a Chinese bath house. Chinese bath houses range in quality and hygienic standards but they all have one thing in common,large numbers of naked Chinese people. Upon my first week in China I started hearing my more experienced colleagues make references to the bath house as an essential and meaningful gauntlet that I must run in order to truly take my place among them. I did not think more about what I must do and proceeded to forget that the bathhouse was there waiting somewhere in the shadows.

About a month later my wife and I were having dinner when my wife told me that over the past few weeks she had really enjoyed getting massages from a "spa" close to the restaurant, she then asked if I would like to go for one together after dinner. She assured me that there was nothing weird about it so I agreed.

Upon arrival at the massage parlor we asked in sign language for a massage The receptionist agreed and ushered my wife into one room and myself into another. Someone came into the room and told me in sign language to take my clothes off. I stripped down to my underwear and when the attendant returned he laughed and insisted that I take off my briefs as well. Having reached a new layer of cultural discomfort I reluctantly agreed.

I was lead down a long hallway and opened the door. As the door opened allowing the steam and smoke to dissipate I became aware of two things--Firstly, a room of naked Chinese Men were staring at me--Secondly and most importantly I realized that the time had come to face the bath house.

Initially all my fears were confirmed. The room was filthy men were brushing there teeth and spiting on the floor, while another was urinating in the corner. The room consisted of for large tubs--each tub was a different temperature and full of Chinese men smoking cigarettes and drinking their choice of Chinese whiskey or green tea.

By the number of stares I was receiving I gathered that this was not a bath house that many foreigners went to. As I was realizing this I noticed a Chinese man wearing a Speedo and a large bristly mitt had entered the room and was heading in my direction had entered the room and was heading in my direction. Before I realized it, I was getting drenched with ice water and having every inch of my body scrubbed (there is nowhere the mitt will not venture). Once I had been scrubbed for a good forty five minutes I was then forced to put on bright pink silk pajamas and go upstairs for my massage. Jasmine was surprised to see me in my new outfit and was beginning to wonder where I had went by some twist of fate she had been able to skip the bath house and go straight to the massage.

76: Felt Pens

2008-10-01T22:21:00.000-07:00

77: New Towns

2008-09-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Discoverd a great little town this weekend. It confirmed the suspician that there might be slightly more to life than surfing.

78: Cold War Kids

2008-09-30T14:29:00.001-07:00

I am not sure if this songs is great or annoying. Regardless I have had it stuck in my head for a while.

79: The Greenhorns

2008-09-23T22:15:00.003-07:00

Sometimes it is so easy to focus on what we don't like about the generations above us, we forget to focus on the positive things that are happening with people in their twenties and thirties. Apparently there is a farm revival occurring among people in their twenties and thirties, this film looks great.

80: The Obsessives

2008-09-21T11:16:00.005-07:00

There is a great slow food site called Chow.com. They have a bunch of great stuff, but my favorite is a series they have been doing about niche food production. People that devote their life to producing one perfect food product. My favorite episodes are the one on seaweed and the one on absinthe. Check it out!

81: TV on the Radio

2008-09-17T23:56:00.002-07:00

I just picked up the new TV on the Radio album. The thing I like about these guys is the way they blend soul/funk falsettos with rocking indie guitars. Just like their last album you can throw "Dear Science" on in the car, and don't need to change the music until you get there. Here is a video from the last album they put out--nothing beats a good rock video that has werewolves in it.

82: Empty Coastline

2008-09-13T18:42:00.001-07:00

It seems that the old question about trees falling in a forest applies to the ocean--The answer of course, is the ocean will always make noise, even if we're not there.

83: Fela Kuti

2008-09-10T13:31:00.002-07:00

The music speaks for itself--enjoy.

84: Roads that bend

2008-09-03T17:56:00.000-07:00

Any surfer will be able to describe that one bend in the road that first shows the coast. The bend in the road marks a transition from leaving the city to almost at the beach. Their are several bends that I love, but one in paticular stands out. If you drive south as far as you can you leave Canada and the United States. At first Mexico is disapointing--dirt towns and failed condo projects abound--don't lose faith, keep going. If you keep going about four hours from the border the road will suddenly bend, once that happens you will realise it was all worth it. Everything opens up and you realise that you are high above the ocean, you can see many headlands and numerous surf posssibilities. To get to the beach from the road can be a bit of a mission, but it is always worth it.

85: Orlo the cat

2008-09-01T22:55:00.003-07:00

This is the picture of the cat that Jasmine and I rescued when we lived in China. She was a small kitten freezing to death underneath a board walk. When we walked over where she was huddled she cried for help--Jasmine, Shreddie and I have been good friends with her ever since. As you can see, Orlo's lot in life has improved significantly. It is strange to think that one meow saved her life, and kept her from being a starving stray, in a Chinese ally. She has traveled the world with us and now spends most of her time in a nice comfortable box on Vancouver Island.

85: Parking lot Swell

2008-08-27T03:45:00.005-07:00

Every once in a while a huge swell comes through that changes ever ones attitude. It is so big that everyone except the exceptionally skilled and the exceptionally stupid decide to stay in the parking lot and simply enjoy the power of the ocean. We were fortunate enough to witness a few of these occasions when we lived down in Mexico. When a really big swell would arrive, the whole town would stop what they were doing, grab some beer or coco frios and watch. The same thing happens on the island, although to a lesser extent. A really big swell seems to strip everyone of their attitude because we simply don't have that many skilled big wave riders. Anyway it is the end of August, prime time for the parking lot swells in southern Baja; but we in the Norther Wester still have a few months to go.

86: My new scanner

2008-08-23T20:19:00.002-07:00

We finally got a scanner, which will allow me to do lots of fun banners--here is a quick black ink sketch of the spot at the far end of the beach.

87: Melodrama (In music not life)

2008-08-20T22:48:00.003-07:00

I'd hate to be the girl on the business end of this song. Nevertheless it is a great tune that has been looping itself in my head as summer wanes. The Walkmen are a great band with that synthy NewYork sound that like a lot of good bands have been somewhat overshadowed by the Killers.

88: The idea that you are what you read

2008-08-16T13:53:00.002-07:00

Just went and bought some books, they will join these favourites on my shelf once I have finished them.

89: The way the moon looks on clean summer swell

2008-08-15T23:20:00.003-07:00

Everything came together, good swell, good weather and time off. Here was the view from my tent.

90: Fresh Corn Tortillas

2008-08-10T15:54:00.003-07:00

A lazy Sunday, has turned into a feast of handmade corn tortillas, homemade refritos , elderberry wine and tunes by Jimmy cliff. I have not been able to find a tortilla press in Victoria, so I have been using a heavy book and a plastic bag--it works great.

91: Kozyndan

2008-07-14T10:15:00.004-07:00

There is a great husband and wife artistic team known as Kozyndan. They are based out of L.A. and do all sorts of cool visual art. This picture is my favorite, but they have lots of great stuff on their site. www.kozyndan.com

92: Boozoo Chavis

2008-07-13T18:16:00.002-07:00

Lately I have been getting into southern cooking. When I am learning a new cuisine I like to have some good tunes to set the mood. I was looking on my Ipod for something that would match good Barbecue and I came across Boozoo Chavis, Hope you enjoy.

93: Recommending music to friends

2008-07-11T08:07:00.002-07:00

I recently was talking to a good friend of mine who is doing the desk job thing and wanted to know what I was listening to these days. The first thing I want to point out is that radio3.cbc.ca a great source of online Canadian indie.
Since everyone misses Matt and it is summer time I have made him a playlist that he can listen to while he works--enjoy.

94: Surfing in Cold Dark Places

2008-07-07T20:58:00.002-07:00

I stumbled across this surfing short from Cornwall and thought it was pretty fun. It definitely got me excited for the west coast winter.

95: The Mustang Chair

2008-07-02T20:29:00.003-07:00

I was checking in with my reader and asking him what he thought 95 should be. He suggested a few mediocre ideas and then hung up--five minutes later he phoned back with a real blast from the past: The Mustang Chair. For those of you that are not familiar with the mustang chair it was a red pleather armchair with wagon wheel arm rests and a large mustang embroidered in the back rest. It graced my basement haunt during during the late nineties. It is clear to point out that I have lead a very tame life, yet this fact has never really bothered me because of the mustang chair. I have never gone to see strippers let alone had a lap dance, yet the fact that for five years I possessed the chair that seems to be the single most perfect chair to receive a lap dance in makes me proud. The mustang chair was my lone but worthy piece of bacheloria and although it made a brief appearance in my married life the Mustang chair refused to be tamed and made its way downstairs to a worthy bachelor pad. Tonight I just got news that the mustang had its leg broken and was sent to the junk yard--rest in peace Mustang Chair.

96: The Dora Myth

2008-06-15T12:34:00.006-07:00

Recently I had the privilege of reading the much anticipated Miki Dora biography "All For a Few Perfect Waves" by David Rensin. For those of you that are not familiar, Dora was an enigmatic Malibu point surfer that left the area in the 1960s and traveled the world looking for another perfect right point until his death in 2002. The interesting thing about Dora was not just his life but the myth and misinformation surrounding his exploits. As I read the biography I realized that yes, Dora has a mythical place in surfing lore, but it is not the one of messiah or king, but that of the trickster. The trickster shows up in most mythologies as a character that breaks both the laws of man and nature. Another function of the trickster in literature is to serve as a rebellion against repressive systems and regimes; this is something that Dora was obsessed with to a fault. Miki Dora deserves to be listed with the likes of Loki, Anansi, Puck and the other great tricksters of the world.

97: Bait Fish

2008-05-22T08:14:00.003-07:00

My Uncle is a consultant in the fishing industry and took this picture in March. The pictures shows a really nice and somewhat known surf spot outside of Sitka Alaska. The large black blob just behind the waves is not an oil spill but millions of herring on their spring run. As ocean people we often give praise and attention to our larger cousins of the sea, but we often neglect the little guys that we and everyone else in the sea love to snack on. It is for this reason that I am including the often ignored but easily digestible "bait fish" in the top 100.

98: Iron Maiden--Run to the Hills

2008-05-14T07:37:00.002-07:00

Recently I have gained an appreciation for metal and of everything I have heard Iron Maiden are the best. This song is absolutely infectious, and the energy of the live performance wants me to put all my Wilco cds in a box and trade them in for a pair of black jeans and leather wrist gauntlets. Enjoy!

99: Race Rocks ( The place not the Beer)

2008-05-11T20:37:00.003-07:00

Up until yesterday the only interaction I had with Race Rocks was the beer. Through a series of unavoidable work related events I found myself on a whale watching boat. I had always cringed at the idea and believed that only tourists went whale watching. After going I still have a lot of concerns about how all those Zodiacs impact marine life--it can't be good. All the negatives aside it was great to finally be able to go out to Race Rocks to see the lighthouse and sealion colony. It was really amazing how wild it felt out there and how much life was boiling under the surface. We never did find any whales but we did find the second oldest lighthouse on the coast of British Columbia. The only part of the compound that is original is the tower. It is amazing and apparently made of Scottish Granite brought over specifically for the light house. I am glad I got to get out there, and I am pleased to add Race Rocks to the top 100.

100: The Opening Credits for John From Cincinnati

2008-05-10T19:20:00.004-07:00

HBO's now defunct drama that focused on surfing and faith was a huge disappointment to many, I would consider myself one of those many. On paper the show had a lot of potential--good surfers, Kem Nunn who is a great writer, and a cool metaphysical bent; unfortunately the show got overly obsessed with religion and forgot one of the surf tribes most treasured things--good story. What came out was a gritty slow moving show that lacked water, but still felt like a slog.

However all was not in vain, the show had a great introduction set to Joe Strummer and the Mescalaro's Johny Appleseed. This introduction is a work of art in itself and hopefully in time will distance itself from an otherwise unmemorable show.

The top 100

2008-05-10T19:16:00.003-07:00

After a few months of no direction, home, or computer, things have finally settled down for Norther Wester. In order to celebrate our new home, my new job, and our new computer, I am introducing my list of 100 things I love. I am not sure how long it will take me to get through, but it should be fun... thanks for your patience Malcolm and anyone else that is still out there--here we go.

Noelle

2008-04-12T08:14:00.003-07:00

A few weeks ago I was working in a media studies class, when some of my students showed me this...
Her name is Noelle the pregnant robot. Noelle is becoming very popular with the medical school crowd! Her and her baby simulate both normal and more complicated pregnancies;my students' found this hilarious, I find it a bit weird and very cool.

Winter 2008

2008-04-07T23:23:00.004-07:00

The season seems to be winding down, but there were some good moments. I feel fortunate to have been able to catch some good summer swell down in Baja Sur and some great fall and winter action in the Northwest. Here is my latest print in kind of reminds me of the feeling I had when I first got back to the island after my travels

The Master

2008-03-19T21:21:00.003-07:00

For the last ten years one of my favorite writers has been Haruki Murikami, he is Japanese and unlike anything I have ever read. I recently read a collection of short stories by him called blind woman, sleeping willow. All the stories are great, but The Seventh Man stands out. It is a story about a rouge waves that takes a mans memory--really haunting stuff for salty types--I am not sure of the legalities, but I found it on line here is the link. Read this story and then go out and buy the whole book. http://www.geocities.jp/yoshio_osakabe/Haruki/Books/SeventhMan-E.html

Finally

2008-03-16T10:32:00.005-07:00

After a long time of drifting, we are getting our old place back. The thing that I am most excited about is having a place to do some art. Last weekend I took a course on basic print making. Here is my first attempt, a bit rough but I am hooked--many more to come.

Mysto Wave

2008-03-02T20:51:00.003-08:00

Ten years ago I had the good fortune of doing a circumnavigation of Vancouver Island on a sailboat. At the time I was just learning to surf, but I saw a great deal of setups that now seem appealing. One day when we were on the remote Northwest Coast of the Island we came upon a really nice A frame wave breaking on an offshore reef. I took a picture of it, but lost the picture shortly after I took it, this was before digital was mainstream. Over the years I have often thought about that wave and wondered if it was real, or if it was as good as my mind had made it over the years. Today while sorting books my wife found the picture I took. It still looks good to me, I doubt anyone has ever ridden it, and there is a good chance that I never will either. But regardless I feel fortunate to have been there to see it break.

Beer of the Moment

2008-02-25T14:52:00.003-08:00

The more I travel the world the more I am convinced that the bee made in the Pacific North West is something special. The latest local beer to grab my fancy is Phillips seasonal beer Blue Buck Ale.
I will spare you all the foody bullshit about the many subtle flavors in this beer (there are lots) and simply tell you to grab some Blue Buck next time you are thirsty!

Dude of Dudes

2008-02-21T23:17:00.003-08:00

In Recent years Bono has gotten a lot of press for all the diplomacy he is involved with. Although I really respect what he has done with his fame, I have never found him that intriguing--maybe I just don't like pleather pants. With all the fuss about Bono, I feel that the most important and dudely rock activist gets over looked. Willie Nelson, also known as the red headed stranger does alot for the people of this planet. He is the one that started Farm Aid, and he has a bio diesel company aimed at getting semi-truck drivers to switch to vegetable based fuels. If I had the opportunity to invite one celebrity over for corn bread and chili hands down I would invite Willy Nelson.

A cry in the wilderness

2008-02-16T07:36:00.004-08:00

After a busy few weeks I finally had time to drive up the coast for a surf yesterday. I was pretty excited because there was a small wave at a spot that rarely breaks but is fun and uncrowded. I had my wetsuit half on and began to zipup when the entire zipper decided to come off and thus make it impossible to surf. Fortunatly we had our gum boots and decided to hike up a creek, so in the end it was a great day.
On a different note here is a band that I have become pretty obsessed with The Mae Shi. It is a fun video the whloe album HllllyH is worth getting.

Salty But Subtle

2008-02-06T10:50:00.000-08:00

As much as I love surfing I get tired of it been used as a means for branding and cool factor. Art and writing that includes the sport of kings falls into two camps, soulful or tacky. I have come appreciate art/music/books that have surfing in the background not the foreground. I like things that imply but don't outright say "surfing".

Art--Tom Killion

Recently my own art is taking the direction of ink lines and colour swaths. I want to head in the direction of print making so was very interested to discover Tom Killion's work in the last Surfer's Journal. Tom Killion blends traditional Japanese print making with coastal Californian content. The result is absolutely spectacular, although it is clear that Killion is a surfer he includes it in a very appropriate and subtle way.

Books--Tim Winton

Australian writer Tim Winton writes novels that take place is rural, coastal, Australia. Winton hardly ever mentions surfing in his books, but he is a surfer and surfing magically exists just off the page and whispers itself to the reader through out the books. My two favorite books by Winton are Dirt Music and Blueback.

Music--Chris Issak

Jack Johnson has been credited with creating the newest wave ofc surf music, very laid back simple songs that border on wimpy. But before Jack there was Ocean beach surfer Chris Isaak. Chris is the first person that has ever been able to make singing in Falsetto manly. Although not appropriate in all settings, and never appropriate in a car full of guys Chris Isaak's Baja Sessions is the perfect soundtrack to an after surf hammock swing...

Girls with mics

2008-01-30T19:48:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been listening to lots of female M.C.'s here are my three top.

1) Jean-Grae

Super smooth, very mellow, better than any guy out there--all her stuff is great but My Crew stands out. I hope you like it as much as I do.

2) Ladybug Mecca

Like many in the mid 1990's I spent alot of time listening to the Diggable Planets. Much to my supprise the planets never kept their music going. Fortunatly ladybug is still at it as a solo act, her ryhmes glide as ever.

3) M.I.A.
M.I.A. is the daughter of a Srilanken freedom fighter that grew up on the streets of London. She is by far the most gangsta of the three. Her album Kala has been widly acclaimed this year, so much so that she was asked to perform her single Paperplanes on Letterman. She caused a big commotion when she insisted on including the shot gun beats in her performance after the network had asked her to exclude them.
I love this clip.

M.I.A. performing Paper Planes on Letterman
Uploaded by dtrip01

The Daily Mammal

2008-01-27T09:34:00.000-08:00

I just found a great art blog called "The Daily Mammal". The artist is Jennifer Rae Atkins and her goal is to draw a mammal a day until she has drawn what she estimates to be about 5000 species, 14 years worth of daily drawings. I admire her commitment to animals and art; her style of drawing is very charming, I have posted a picture of one of my favourite mammals--the red panda. visit her site at http://dailymammal.blogspot.com/.

For those that march to their own drummer

2008-01-23T13:52:00.000-08:00

When I was downtown today I watched a homeless man cross the middle of a very busy street as cars sped and swerved around him, he could not run for he was on crutches, he could not wait to cross the street because he was obviously disturbed; this fact was confirmed by the fact that he was shouting Harry Krishna as he struggled across the busy road. Several people watched his progress not sure exactly what to do, fortunately no one had to do anything because he made it to the other side and continued on his way.
Watching this man got me thinking about rogues those that break from the pack to do something unexpected and often fairly uncomfortable for those around them. We as individuals may not engage in rogue activity ourselves, but like those standing on the street corner watching a man cross the oncoming traffic--we are fascinated by it.Here is my Wednesday list of Rogues interesting rogues, some are nice, some are a bit disturbing, yet the presence of rogues makes the world much more interesting and unpredictable...

1) Rogue Ales

First and foremost we must discuss Rogue Ales, a micro brewery based out of Newport Oregon.
The concept of Rogueshness is more than branding for this wonderful little company. Rogue believes that beer should come in many flavours, Rogue has 60, and that brewing should be done on a small quality controlled scale. Nowadays I suspect that most of us take Microbreweries for granted, it is important to remember that until the 1980's legislation in Canada and the United States made it virtually impossible to brew artisanal beer on a commercial level. The product and packaging reflect Rogue's commitment to moving away from mass produced generic lager and creating something a little out of the ordinary, I would argue that no Oregon surf session is complete without a post wave bottle of Rogue on the beach.

2) Rogue Waves

Rogue waves are large spontaneous ocean surface waves that happen spontaneously. For hundreds of years there was plently of anecdotal evidence from mariners about freak waves appearing out of nowhere, but their existance was always debated and cloaked in stigma. Given the number of ships that mysteriously disapear and the evidence that is now available through satelites, the existance of rogue waves are now excepted by the scientific community.

3) Rogue Elephants

Recently I have become very fascinated with elephants. I think this fascination was sparked when I watched BBC's Planet Earth series and saw the elephants swimming under water.

Unfortunately elephants are not always this serene. It is not uncommon for one male elephant to permanently leave the herd and go on a rampage. Rogue elephants become very aggressive and often attack human settlements. There does not seem to be a clear understanding of what exactly causes elephants to go rogue, but I would suspect that the increasing encroachment on elephant habitat by Humans may have something to do with it. The reading I have been doing on elephants says that they are incredibly sensitive, all you have to do is look into those intelligent eyes and you realise that they feel a wide range of emotions and could easily succumb to grief.

4) Rogue Chef

If punk rock has a culinary equivalent than it is Anthony Bourdain. Part chef, Part writer, rose to prominence when he wrote Kitchen confidential, a gritty expose that dealt with the under belly of American cookery. Although Kitchen Confidential is interesting, Bourdain did not appear on my radar until he released his book and television series A Cooks Tour. The concept involves Bourdain traveling to some of the grittier places on the planet and partaking in some very gnarly cuisine. The thing I really appreciate about Bourdain and his culinary exploits is the honest way in which he approaches food. If he is eating a leg, or testicals or a stomach he does not try and pretend that is pretty or stylish, he just presents it for exactly what it is. Critics often critisise Bourdain for resorting to shock value; but the reason we as North Americans are shocked by these ingrediants is that we have become completely removed from our food, we don't want our food to be real we want it to be clean contained and unrecognizable and in this age of trendy food stylists it is comforting to know that some one out there is using a little punk rock in the kitchen.

5) Rogue States

According to international theory a rogue state is any that has strayed from the international community and posses a threat to world peace. During the Clinton administration the white house replaced this term with a state of concearn. When Bush was elected, his administration quickly readopted the term rogue state and started using it to suit their own agenda. The idea of a rogue state shifted from states that were a threat to peace, to states that were out of favor with the U.S. Although I am in know way saying that the governments of the supposed rogue states treat their people well, it is interesting to watch them challenge the Americans. Of all the rogue states that have existed I am the most puzzeled by North Korea, from an outsiders perspective their actions don't seem to make a lot of sense, but never the less if ever a country fit the profile of rogue it would be them.

Basic Instinct

2008-01-20T23:20:00.000-08:00

Over the last ten years I have become a serious animal lover, it looks like this big cat is proof that affection between people and animals does not just run one way. I can not get over his smile and genuine happiness to see his friend.

The Perfect After Surf Snack

2008-01-15T19:30:00.000-08:00

Today I went surfing and afterwards was able to confirm something I have suspected all fall and winter--Wasabi Peas are the perfect snack after surfing in cold water. There is something so amazing about the intense nasal rush that wasabi brings that matches the feeling you get in your head when the Ocean squirts large amounts of water up your nose. The only difference is that the Ocean is cold and Wasabi is hot, I like to think of it as the perfect balance, Ying and Yang. For those of you that surf in cold water--Wasabi Peas are the perfect solution for those cold sinuses.

Spells and Grooves

2008-01-15T07:54:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while a really special album grabs you. From the first chord you know that you be returning to not just the opening track, but the whole album--That was how I felt when I heard Live at the Annadale: by Life Without Buildings. The band released one album in 2002 and everyone that heard it loved it--unfortunately they never had any major attention. The band broke up after their debut release. Fortunately their record company released their live show as an album. L.W.B. has a unique sound, the vocals are wonderful spoken words that sound like spells, they are backed by wonderfully smooth up tempo grooves. I can't say enough good things about this album--you really have to listen for yourself.

Throwdough

2008-01-10T20:50:00.000-08:00

Today was rainy and dark; the perfect day for making pizza. Lately I have been wanting to take my pizza making to the next level. In an attempt to learn how to spin pizza properly I went online. Although I initially just wanted to find some tips about basic techniques I got seduced into the mesmerizing world of throwdough (freestyle pizza dough spinning). It seems that there is a serious competitive circuit--and the skills these folks have are impressive.

I practiced all day and made a pretty good pizza eventually but no one is a better pizza spinner than Juan...

Books that blew my mind

2008-01-09T22:42:00.000-08:00

I would not consider myself a huge graphic novel person, but I do have a deep appreciation for really good ones. The three listed below were probably three of my favourite books of the year.

1) The Rabbi's Cat--Joan Sfar:

This book was amazing. I read it while flying home from China and laughed out loud several times. It is a great example of the new wave of high quality comics and graphic novels coming out of France. In this book a cat that lives with a Rabbi eats a parrot and gains the ability to talk, the first thing he does with his speech is lie to the rabbi about eating the parrot; the second thing he does is insist on studying the Kaballah.

2) Night Fisher--R Kikuo Johnson

This is a coming of age story that takes place in Hawaii.
Both the story and the art are great, but the art is extremely impressive. It deals with both the light and dark sides of living in "Paradise" and really effectively addresses some of the post colonial problems present in Hawaii.

3) A Thousand Ships--Eric Shanower

All that can be said about this is that it is book 1 of a 7 volume series about the Trojan war. It's focus is on getting as in depth as possible well staying interesting. In my my opinion it is by far the most engaging way to learn ancient history.

A new direction

2008-01-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

I am sitting in a coffee shop and the people next to me are have a sales meeting. I am not sure what exactly they are selling but I think it might be real estate. For some reason I hate them, it might be their pant suits, it might be their mugs of macha, but I think it is the number of times they have used the words growth, share, and incentive. I am not specifically against any of those things however I can not help feel that my home (Victoria) is full of these people) and they are sucking things dry. Lately I have been reevaluating a lot of things, how I want to live, where to live, etc... I have not come to any major conclusions but I have come to a few small ones,

1) Call me judgmental but I do not want to be like the people sitting next to me, I have just managed to figure out that they do not work in real-estate, but they work in pharmaceuticals, I am not sure if that is better or worse.

2) The second thing I am pretty sure of is that I want to live in a Yurt. When people think of Yurts they immediately think of nomadic mongols huddling inside a fur covered tent somewhere near the Gobi dessert. I assure you that although this model works for alot of mongols I don't have enough sheep to make even the smallest yurt, thankfully there are some beautiful yurts being produced in North America by a company called Pacific Yurts (unsurprisingly they are produced in Oregon
It seems that the modern Yurt might offer a good lifestyle in the right rural environment. It seems that a decent sized Yurt can be purchased for between 15000 and 20000, Although this might seem expensive for a tent Yurts can be comfortable lived in year round.

I realise that I am probably a few years away from being able to live in a yurt, however it is something I am seriously considering. Living in a Yurt seems to be a viable option for someone that is concerned about things like their ecological footprint and cost. these things matter to me, and I am tired of the whole realestate scramble. Although you would still have to find a place to pitch your yurt, it seems like that would be alot easier and cheaper than buying a whole house, but who knows?

Urban Madness Part 2

2008-01-08T12:45:00.000-08:00

One of my best discoveries of 2007 was a phenomenal skate movie called Bag-O-Suck. It was put together by a crew of previously unknown street skaters who have since the movies release risen to prominence. What really struck me about this film was the pure joy and skill in which these guys charged the streets. The entire movie is worth seeing but the section skated by Jerry Hsu is unbelievably smooth. Since skateboarding is one of the more common forms of urban expression I thought it was a good time to include it on the blog.

The other notable section of this movie was skated by Louie Barletta. Where Hsu has a smooth catlike style Barletta has a flamboyant gorilla feel, both are fabulous.

The Art of Urban Madness

2008-01-05T19:53:00.000-08:00

The lines between the sane and the insane tend to get blurred in an urban setting. It is something about the pulse of large cities that tends to trigger in many the need to not simply dwell on the hamster wheel but to fling their bodies from it in a dramatic way that sets themselves apart from the masses.

It is easy to feel faceless, nameless, and trapped when in a major city, and although this feeling is one of the worst in the world out of it comes some really intense and amazing feats of human strength and expression. Here are some of the most interesting artistic responses to life in an urban setting.

1) Parkour/Free Running

is an activity with the aim of moving from one point to another as efficiently and quickly as possible, using principally the abilities of the human body. It is meant to help one overcome obstacles, which can be anything in the surrounding environment — from branches and rocks to rails and concrete walls.

2) Buildering/urban climbing

Urban climbing has recieved a fair bit of attention lately. The most visible urban climber is Alain Robert and when you look at the below clip or his website it is clear that he suffers from urban madness.

I am aware that this post just scratches the surface of this topic. I will be searching for and featuring other pursuits of this genre over the next few weeks.