While physics explains the phenomena with angle, spectrum and prism, we simply call it magic. Early sailors called them horses’ manes… Whatever term a person uses for offshore winds, it means one thing to us: Time to Paddle Out !
photo provided by Surfing Nosara
Think hemp’s for smoking? Think again. Hemp is a naturally insect-resistant, anti-microbial crop that requires no herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers to produce. Unfortunately, it’s been tainted by the relationship to its THC-laced cousin marijuana, and has been effectively prohibited in the U.S. since the 1950s—with the recent exception (huzzah!) of Colorado.
But did you know that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp? Ben Franklin once owned a hemp paper mill—and a first draft of the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. The stuff’s as American as apple pie.
Today, “made in America” hemp products are manufactured with imported hemp, but they’re still worth snapping up: In comparison to cotton, hemp requires half the amount of water, produces 200% more fiber on the same amount of land, and needs no pesticides.
The heart-shaped leaves of Philodendron scandens have earned it the rather cutesy name of ‘the sweetheart plant’, and thanks to its tolerance of low light and general neglect, it is well-loved by those with a not-so-green thumb. A natural climber, the name of this hearty tropical plant is Greek for ‘tree loving’, and it will happily embrace the trunk of its chosen suitor up to 20 feet high in the wild. In the 1980s, Philodendron was actually determined by NASA to be one of the most effective houseplants for improving indoor air quality by removing airborne toxins like benzene and formaldehyde, chemicals that can off-gas from furniture and carpets, and are sometimes found in conventional household cleaners. But even though this plant makes a low-maintenance, attractive, and government space agency endorsed household companion, no relationship is perfect: the natural chemicals contained in the Philodendron’s sweet looking leaves can be irritating or even poisonous to dogs and cats. Just a little something to keep in mind when it’s time to consider moving in together.
Photo by Jilia Folsom
The San Francisco-based graphic designer Felix Desroches describes himself as a bit of a “glomad.” Born in Ventura, California, this French Canadian Brit hybrid spent his early years living between Indonesia, Venezuela and Nigeria, followed by stints in Paris, Texas and England, where he studied political science at the University of Warwick. In 2007, he returned to the Golden State for a new job where his unconventional boss told him he’d fire him if he didn’t go surfing with him. Next came his first-ever surfing excursion to Bolinas, a sleepy, hippie town just north of San Francisco in Marin County. “From that day on, it was surfing five days a week for me for an entire year. I was addicted to it,” says Desroches, who now owns more than a dozen surfboards, a mish-mash of long and short boards. Old school long boarding, however, is where his heart lies. While the best wave he’s ever surfed was Malibu, he remains loyal to the frigid, shark-infested waters of Ocean Beach, his local break. “I like surfing brutal Ocean Beach because with waves of consequence, egos tend to dissolve,” he says.
In late 2012, feeling the need to disconnect and ruminate about life, Desroches hit the open road in Duke, his trusty 1982 Vanagon, in which he spent a year zipping across Canada, Mexico and 30 US states, surfing iconic breaks such as San Onofre and Rincon, as well as lesser known East Coast spots like Ogonquit, Maine, and the Outer Banks. He documented it with a photo blog at Dukebec. Next adventure on the agenda? A surfing / motorbiking trip in Biarritz with some surf buddies. “Nobody knows where the journey will lead – least of all myself – but if anything I’ll be moving forward.” Read what surfing is to him below.
Name: Felix Desroches
Age: 30
Where do you live: San Francisco
Years surfing: 7 years
Surfing is: My muse and my torment. It gives me peace and frustrates me to no end, all within the same instant. It keeps me humble, keeps me human, and keeps me longing for more.
Nano is a big buzzword in beauty, especially in sunscreens where this emerging technology has allowed scientists to break down ingredients—like zinc or titanium dioxide—into tiny particles. Problem is, these nanoparticles are so small that they can penetrate cell walls, including organ tissues. Researchers found that inhalation of carbon nanotubes led to mesothelioma—the same kind of cancer linked to asbestos. While the EPA continues to assess the potential dangers of nanotechnology, stay away from nanomaterials in cosmetics, especially sunscreens.
Set up nicely to lean hard on her inside rail, backhand, and project through the looming section ahead. Some summer size, soft light, and a paddler to negotiate- intangibles preceding the moment suddenly coalesce.
photo provided by Surfing Nosara
With its ringed tail and bandit mask, the Raccoon is one of the most interesting and easily identifiable characters in the animal kingdom. This could explain its popularity as a cartoon mascot for everything from car rental companies to real estate developments. Scientifically, that famous mask is thought to reduce glare that may interfere with its nocturnal vision. (Although a more fun theory is that it conceals the little guy’s identity when he’s caught rifling through your garbage, elbows deep in banana peels and old bank statements.) Native to Central America and supposedly first mentioned in the records of a Christopher Columbus expedition, the Raccoon is known in Costa Rica as the Mapache, a word derived by Spanish colonists from the Aztec mapachitli, meaning “the one who takes everything in its hands.” And what amazing hands they are! They have a highly developed sense of touch that is heightened even further when they get wet, which is one reason raccoons are thought to “wash” their food before eating it. The five toes on their front paws can easily manipulate things like trash can lids, doorknobs, jars, and even corked bottles: really anything that peaks their curiosity or stands between them and a meal. The Raccoon’s preferred habitat is forested terrain close to water, where they can forage for fruits, nuts, insects, rodents, and eggs. But these clever animals are highly adaptable and survive well in even the most urban environments, where their characteristic hisses, whistles, growls and snarls can make them just another crazy neighbor.
Take a look at these boards designed by Ammunition—the firm launched by Robert Brunner, ex-Apple industrial designer and the founding designer of Beats—in collaboration with Jason Tilley, a surfboard builder from Oregon.
Made for the travel brand Octovo, the series features five individual board shapes, each made from Port Orford cedar sourced locally near Tilley’s workshop, making the boards look more like a finely grained dining room table. His shaping method is unique as he combines these custom-milled wooden skins with hand-shaped foam.
Working with Tilley, Ammunition oversaw many of the details that helps these boards to transcend the typical foam plank. They created the paint and graphic schemes for each board, and designed and fabricated custom leash cups made from bronze and titanium. Given Brunner’s track record at Apple and with his work on projects for companies like Fuego and Beats, you know these little details will put the boards over the top.
To make sure that you’re transporting your Octovo Tilley boards safely, Ammunition also designed custom board bags. They’re made from Sunbrella—the same weather-resistant fabric found on patio umbrellas—for durability, shock-resistance, and, of course, good looks. The limited-edition boards are $3000. [Octovo]
from Gizmodo
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