Hawaii again

Some days are better than others.

I've been in Hawaii the last week. The weather is, for the most part, beautiful. It's not hot and certainly not cold this time of year. The ocean is still beautiful, with crystal clear water.

Why be depressed?

Really, Hawaii is a depressing place. Its beauty makes it even more so.

Young kids just getting out of school don't have a lot of options here, in terms of career growth - unless you consider waiting tables and other tourist-based industries careers of choice. These jobs come with low pay and no benefits - certainly a package that isn't sought by many.

But, that's all there is.

As folks get older, they move into the homeless business. Obviously, everyone doesn't become homeless - families are still strong here and locals help each other. Still, the number of homeless folks on the street in Honolulu is staggering.

If you're paying attention, you're immersed in the problem. Folks sleeping on the streets, in doorways, in planter boxes - everywhere. Some beg and some scrounge to survive and that's really all they get - survival.

As they sit there waiting for sleep to come, they watch folks walking by who spent more money on their "aloha wear" than these folks had for dinner this month. My tropical shirt doesn't seem so happy now.

I'm one of the folks with "tropical wear" and often walking for my exercise so I can go eat my $20 dinner.

Does that make me (and others) bad? I don't think so. But, it does make me sad.

I'm smart enough not to just hand someone a wad of money. It could, with rampant drug abuse, alcoholism, and violence, make things worse rather than better. But, it's tempting to settle for a smaller meal or just invite one of them to eat with me. I'll be on the lookout for a good group or maybe just buy someone a sandwich.

I have to do something. It's only human.

Rand Paul a closet Democrat

I'm sure it's true - Rand Paul is really a Democrat.

How can I say that? Consider the facts.

First there's the issue of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In an earlier post, I explained how his stand/lack of stand provided conclusive proof that he is either a racist or an idiot...perhaps both.

But the hits just keep coming!

Now, he calls the president of the United States un-American while defending British Petroleum.

He dodged a question on his states minimum wage while canceling an appearance on "Meet the Press."

He even dismissed a mining accident in his own state, saying "accidents happen."

Kids, I'm not fooled. No Republican could make that many mistakes in such a short time. He makes Bush look wise. He's an eye surgeon. How stupid can he really be?

Rand Paul is a closet Democrat. He's trying to make the Republicans look stupid and he's doing a great job.

For one patient's opinion on Paul's competence, we turn to his surgery patient...now known as Patch...

More on Paul...go here.

The oil spill - British Petroleum has the answer?

I admit it...I'm bitter. After all the BS and lies, it simply turns out that British Petroleum hasn't got a clue how to stop the oil spill. Morons like Flush Limburger (Rush Limbaugh) say it's no big deal. A serious number of Americans are still in favor of offshore drilling. Even the president that I worked so hard to elect hasn't gotten indignant about it.

Are we all really that stupid?

People who say we should continue drilling all point out the dependence upon foreign oil as the rationale. Cleverly, they fail to acknowledge that even if we drilled enough to make the Alaskan Barbie orgasmic, we wouldn't dent our dependence. Never let the facts get in the way of a good knee-jerk reaction.

The same idiots who talk about the economy don't discuss the twenty+ billion dollars Florida will lose in the tourist industry this year. Twenty billion dollars in one year and one state and only in one industry. What about tourism losses in the other Gulf of Mexico states? Add them all together and you get..well...the biggest negative impact on the economy since the election of George Bush.

Ah, but we're just getting started. This tourism doesn't just create money...it creates jobs. When folks who work in the tourism business get paid, they buy things from the grocery stores, purchase homes, and even buy cars. So, the "ripple effect" (not to be confused with the drinking of cheap wine) begins. Naturally, the people they (folks in the tourism business) start is passed to their vendors who pass it to their vendors, and so on.

Of course, tourism isn't the only industry affected. Fishing is still a major economic factor in these areas. Fishermen contribute huge amounts of money to the economy as well.

It's starting to be depressing - as in depression.

"Guestimates" of the damages normally talk about periods of time up to a year. It will take years to clean up this disaster. Nice work! We not just screwed now; we're screwed for the next five or more years.

Still, after we destroy our coastlines and the economies that depend upon them, what are we doing about dependence upon foreign oil?

Guess what - the only way to solve that dependence is to use less oil (and gas). That means cars need to be smaller and more fuel efficient and we need to drive less.

There go those inconvenient truths again (thanks Al).

But there could be hope.

Millions of overweight, out-of-shape Americans could start walking and riding bicycles more. We could develop more mass transit options that work. We could require fuel economy improvements on a major scale.

Or, we could just order another KFC Double-down sandwich while we watch our planet die. After all, legacies are overrated and to hell with our children and grandchildren. We've got priorities.

For more on the spill, look here and here.

For someone else's take on BP's efforts, check out Carl Hiaasen's column here.

Tea Bagger - Tea Party candidate waffles on racism

Rand Paul, the recently annointed Republican Tea Bagger Party nominee, has issues with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. When first asked if he would have supported it, he wouldn't give a direct answer. He did say that he was opposed to the section that required businesses to give equal access to all people, regardless of their race.

The next day, under a political firestorm, he finally said he would have supported it, even though he still disagrees with that one premise.

I'm not saying Rand Paul is a racist. I don't have the ability to look into his heart and mind. But, if he's not a racist, he's extremely ignorant.

The reason for equal access is simple. When the act was passed, white people owned virtually all of the businesses. Really.

There was no Oprah...in fact, the only African-Americans on TV played stereotypic roles. Black people were kept out of better neighborhoods and couldn't get into many colleges and universities.

Saying businesses could refuse to serve black people often meant there were no restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, etc for black people to shop.

That provision of the law opened up opportunities to begin the changes that finally led to - yes, our first African-American president. If you told someone in 1964 that, less than 100 years later, we would have come this far, they would have laughed at you.

Is Rand Paul that poor of a student of history or does he just not care. With his Texas roots, surely he knows about Jim Crow laws.

Is the mask finally coming off the candidates and their true side being revealed?

Again, I don't know if he's a racist or an idiot but either should disqualify him from public office - even in Kentucky.

Want to read more about the Tea Baggers? Click here, here, and here or just search for Tea Baggers or Palin.

Can't see the links on Facebook? Go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/2010/05/tea-bagger-tea-party-candidate-waffles.html.

Eat to starve cancer

Cancer is terrifying. Most of us know multiple folks who have died from it. Here, Dr. William Li presents findings on eating to reduce the likelihood of having cancer. Fascinating!

Avalanche safety when snowboarding

For those of us who ride backcountry and sidecountry, avalanches are our biggest fear...or should be. We're living on borrowed time. Training helps reduce the chance of avi but nothing eliminates it.

Beacons make it easier to be found, but being found dead is little consolation.

Inflatable bags are the best solution on the market today. Here's a fascinating story and product test of the BCA Float 30. Because it uses compressed air instead of gas, it can be packed into your carry-on. That's huge. It is expensive ($700) but what's your life worth?

International toilet instruction

Whatever your language, these signs are here to help. While I disagree with the one about standing to pee, I admire it's directness.

For more toilet guidance, look here.

Conservation is profitable and healthy coral is good for everyone

The stories keep coming in - it pays real money to take care of the environment. A 12-year study on coral preservation showed that fishermen, over the long haul, made more money when coral is protected. Who knew that protecting the fish and their habitat would mean more fish?

There are also obvious advantages for tourism, diving, and more. While those have an obvious economic benefit, they were not taken into effect in this study. 

The next time someone says we can't afford to be green, challenge them. They're probably wrong.

Read the whole story here.

Here's another hopeful bit of information about the oceans.

Violent people and guns

Some people say it's because we aren't a religious nation any longer. Perhaps, but I suspect it's because religions are failing us.

They teach hate. I hate that guy, the other side, the other race, etc. Religions, instead of teaching love and respect for folks that we disagree with, teach intolerance and hate. Sometimes they preach it from the pulpit.

So, many folks give up on religion. Others thrive in the atmosphere of fear and distrust that shrouds many religions.

The net effect - the nation and world fall apart and people die.

In Chicago, a man recently shot and killed another man...because the other man's dog peed in his lawn. Here's the link.

Imagine taking another person's life just because of your lawn. What's your religion?

Guns too play a role. Without easy access, this kind of violence is far less likely.  It's quick and easy to shoot people. I know all the right-to-bear arms folks are upset about this but how many people need to die and how many lives need to be destroyed before we ask what matters most - a questionable Constitutional interpretation or human life?

True Christianity would quickly say the human life matters most. Buddhism always puts human life first. Those are the religions I know best but I also know that Judaism and Moslem religions also value human life.

After you kll someone, try explaining to God that it was your Constitutional right. Try ignoring the karma that comes because of your action...because the law was on your side.

What are we really thinking?

For more on guns and their role in society, click here.

Support Matthew Snyder and stop Fred Phelps

Something those on the right and left can agree upon:

Laura Bush endorses gay marriage

She said so on the Larry King Show.

At first, I thought this was kind of cool. It meant someone with some sense was in the White House during the 8 years of ignorance.

Then I thought about it.

This is an important issue. It involves suppressing people because other people don't like them. That's really all the issue is about. Nothing more.

When seen that way, opponents look even meaner spirited than they do at first glance. Just because you personnally don't believe something is good, you don't ban it for everyone. If we made that our operating policy, smoking, drinking, most sex, dancing, bikinis, and lots of other things would be banned.

America is supposed to be a land of freedom.

So, when all of that is considered, Laura Bush's eight years of silence is horrific. She did not say whether she believed women should be seen but not heard but her actions indicate that she did. We all maintain silence for our spouse's career but not on moral issues.

Shame on you. People are suffering because folks won't challenge the haters.

It's time for all of us to stand up.

See the story here.

For a related story on stopping hate, go here. For a specific story about discrimination at a high school prom, go here.

Offshore drilling for oil costs jobs

It just doesn't work well. No matter how well you decorate it, it doesn't work. The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon off the coast of Louisiana threatens the entire Gulf Coast.

Who cares and why?

Obviously, there's a huge loss of recreation. That means fishermen and women can't fish, sunbathers can't tan, surfers can't surf, sailors can't sail, etc. Is that important? It matters, not only to the folks deprived of their stress relief but to millions of folks directly and indirectly dependent upon tourism for their income.

Naturally, the rich bounty that is harvested from the Gulf is also threatened. More thousands of people become unemployed.

Then there's the damage to the marine estuaries. This is where baby fish are hatched. So, the loss of jobs isn't for a season - it's for years.

Just how much oil could we have gotten from that platform and how many jobs did it produce?

For more on this, check out Carl Hiaasen's column in the Miami Herald here.

Jack Johnson surfing - the perfect music video

His music and his surfing are both incredible. Here's what a music video should be!

Lord Jesus Christ run over in Massachusetts

I don't make this stuff up.

A man whose legal name is Lord Jesus Christ was run over by a woman in Mass. She was ticketed. He received minor facial lacerations and lots of publicity for his name...something he probably felt was long overdue.

Many might see that name as a handicap. It's hard to register for hotel rooms and rental cars, I would think. However, as a bill collector or telemarketer, he could be compelling.

See the story here.

Food safety issues

More lettuce recalled. We need a Food Safety bill. Folks are getting sick and sometimes dying from eating food that should be healthy. It's time to act. See the whole story here.

Hope for the oceans

With the toxic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, we can easily surmise that it's all over. Truthfully, the damage done and that will be done is horrendous. Clearly, we need to stop offshore oil drilling. Anyone who's lived on the coast for any time and is thinking knows that. Far more money will be lost trying to restore the ocean than that well ever produced.

However, there is hope. Mike deGruy (filmaker and oceanographer) tells a great story here, along with some amazing footage of octopus. Check it out!

The movie Oceans

Just saw the movie Oceans. While I'm not a Disney guy, this is incredible. The cinematography is breathtaking and the story line compelling. It's a must see on the big screen type movie. Well worth the time.

Snowboarding in Key West?

Okay, there's no snow here but it's a great place to defrost. The seafood is outstanding, the music outstanding, and the vibe most excellent. More to come!

Cowardly gun advocate rally in Virginia

Cowardly gun rights advocates rallied in a Virginia park to protest gun control laws.

Why "cowardly"? If you really believe you need to walk around with a weapon, you're either living a life of fear or you're trying to compensate for other problems. While I would never propose banning hunting weapons, these guys are over the top.

The even had Mike Vanderboegh, a former Alabama Minuteman, as a key speaker. I'll let you speculate on how they chose the term "Minuteman". He's famous for telling people they should throw bricks through the windows of local Democratic Party headquarters. He's a real loser.

In his speach, he said he couldn't get a fair trial in federal court so he'd shoot it out with the Federales if they come to arrest him. Brilliant. Surely we can arrest him for something and show the world that he doesn't really have the er....courage to do that.

Gun control advocate Martina Leinz confronted him after the rally and called him "a small, little bully". H'mmm...small, Minuteman...are we seeing a trend here.

Rational people don't walk around with weapons. Rational people don't support brick-throwing. Ironically, in the 60s the same people were calling for mass arrests of protestors. Amazing.

In the end, someone will get hurt. That's really a shame.

Imagine...you're in a Starbucks and one of these guys is there with a gun on his shoulder. You argue about something...who's first in line, whatever and the moron touches his weapon. What happens next?

It's all bad.

For the record, while I no longer hunt, many of my friends do. And, responsible hunting is good for the environment. This isn't about hunting...it's about...dare I say it...law and order.

My, the times have changed.

Time to stop hate

I wrote about this here once before.

BTW - If you’re reading this on Facebook and want to see the links, go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/.

There's no excuse for discrimination against GLT (gay/lesbian/transexual). Zero. I don't care about your religion or hangups - discrimination and hatred are simply wrong. If you disagree personally, that's okay. But these folks have the same right as anyone to go to school, be happy, work, and live.

If your religion says otherwise, you need another religion. Yours is flawed.

In my high school, I took an African American woman to the prom - okay, the after-prom - I was too cheap to rent a tux. It was (I'm told) the first time a white/black couple attended. Lots of people said it was morally wrong. Today, no one would bat an eye.

It's time we move to that point on GLT issues too.

If you agree with me, sign a petition to move the ball forward. It's here.

Obama promotes Great Outdoors initiative

The outdoors are funny. If you haven't been in the woods, nothing anyone can say makes them seem attractive. It's seems intuitive that watching a TV show about the woods, while in your air conditioned and heated home, is far preferable.

I always felt that way.

BTW - If you’re reading this on Facebook and want to see the links, go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/.
Then I started snowboarding and my connection to the outdoors was forged. Today, I prefer the outdoors to...well, almost everything. I'm concerned as fewer and fewer Americans experience the outdoors and that can lead to our wildernesses disappearing.

So, get outside. Walk a little in the woods, on the beach - go somewhere that isn't overpopulated by anything but wildlife. It's infectious. You can easily become addicted.

That experience, more than anything I write, can explain why Obama's initiative is so important.

Tax cuts

As the Tea Baggers scream at Obama for raising taxes, they neglect to mention - he lowered taxes. Federal taxes went down this year.

Of course, idiots like this don't let the truth get in the way of a good rant.

If you’re reading this on Facebook and want to see the links, go to http://www.snowboardinginjapan.com/.

Dogs, cancer, and finding the cure

For those of us with dogs, they are a vital part of our lives...in fact, an extension of our lives. We miss them when we travel, we get mad at them, we love them...they are our family.

This video talks about the rise in canine cancer and steps to do something about it. It's pretty inspiring.

Thanks to my friend Amy for pointing it out to me.

For more dog stories, check out the Jamaican Dog Sled Team here, a mambo-dancing dog here and a faithful Shiba Ken here.

If you're reading this on Facebook, go to http://www.snowboardinginjapan.com/ to see the links.

More on why we should try not to buy Chinese products

I really believe that, since Burton is manufacturing in China, we shouldn't buy their gear. We have a choice.

Alas, sometimes we don't have a choice and that's unfortunate.

Check out this story on worker mistreatment at the plants making Microsoft products. Of course, like Chinese-manufactured products, it's good to avoid the MS ones whenever possible.

Thanks to Rich for pointing me to this story.

For more on the boycott Burton issue, check this out.

If you’re reading this on Facebook and want to see the links, go to http://www.snowboardinginjapan.com/.

More evidence of global warming

I'm amazed that people still argue this. I read where Arlo Guthrie pointed out the silliness by saying that if you were at the bottom of a mountain and a giant boulder was coming down the mountain to crush you, you wouldn't just stand there and argue about whether it was a natural cause or a person who pushed the rock. You'd do something and get out of the way.

Global warming is the same way. What percentage is caused by man and what percentage comes from nature is far less important than us doing what we can to stop it.

Treehugger posted some Yahoo pics showing before and after shots. Here they are. After viewing these, imagine the effect global warming will have on your snowboarding over the next five or ten years.

If you’re reading this on Facebook and want to see the links, go to http://www.snowboardinginjapan.com/.

Backcountry Magazine wins journalism award

I subscribe to Backcountry Magazine. It's always good and sometimes it's great. If you snowboard anywhere but the park, you should check it out.

Now they won a well-deserved award for journalism from Northern Lights. Check out the story here.

Tea Bagger Nazis are arming themselves

Think you've seen all the Tea Bag Party silliness there is? There's more. Now, along with some Republican members of the Oklahoma legislature, they're proposing a militia to defend the state governments against U.S. power.

For those with short memories, this is the home of the Oklahoma City bombing. Now, they're trying to legalize a militia made up of people only vaguely more rational than the cowardly idiot who blew up the Murrah building.

Intelligent conservatives (y'all need to stand up and speak up now) are as skeptical about this as I am. Yet, some members of the state legislature are saying the legislation will be introduced next year...including one who intends to run for governor.

Once these guys go violent, they move from silly people to criminals and should be treated as such. Just when I'm thinking (we) liberal Democrats are losing, these idiots come along and make us look really smart.

One final note: they say they're only concerned with states' rights yet none of them spoke up when Bush ordered that California had to comply with the much weaker emission standards of the federal government.

If you’re reading this on Facebook and want to see the links, go to http://www.snowboardinginjapan.com/.

What size snowboard should I ride?

I post this every month as it gets a tremendous number of views.

This is the site I send people to  most of the time. It's got a formula that calculates your needs based on a variety of criteria. I'd add 2 - 3 cm if you ride a lot of powder. It even recommends boards. This is a great place to start. But, you're spending a lot of money. Check thoroughly.

Here's a much deeper look at the subject, including (if you go to the bottom) information on board widths. There's some good info here.

Finally, here's the backcountry.com data.

If you’re reading this on Facebook and want to see the links, go to http://www.snowboardinginjapan.com/.

Sweet backcountry snowboarding video

This is an excellent video for what is nearly the end of the season. Great ride and good camera work! Props to thesnaz.com and to Don Watkins for bringing this to us.

Mornin' Glory from Don Watkins on Vimeo.

Right (Fox News) wing liars - and now on purpose

Obama has pushed to get a nuclear non-proliferation treaty to happen.

There are good reasons to support it and good reasons to oppose it. However, there are no good reasons to lie about it.

It isn't the end of our security. It doesn't reduce our security at all. When people say it does, they're just using scare tactics to intimidate folks who don't read.

We will still have enough nuclear firepower to destroy the world 5 - 7 times. Makes me feel secure. The treaty allows for nuclear response if we're attacked with biological weapons. It even allows for nuclear response if we're attacked in any way by a nation who is not in compliance with the accords.

As John Stewart pointed out, he's only proposing a 1/3 reduction - the same as Ronald Reagan proposed.