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cherie_amanda.jpg Our friend Cherie Carswell (who happens to be a designer over at Westbeach) emailed us last week saying that she was going to this "crazy tranny show" that we had to check out. And since we're not the type to back down from anything weird and unusual we said shi*t YES! We had our interns do a little research and found out that it was non other the world renown transvestite Amada Lepore wich according to Soap box prophet (wich we religiously acknowledge) is "the tranny to top all trannies" (ok?) and she would be playing at some bar called the Biltmore. Playing...we don't know what but it sounded freaky and crazy and dammit we wanted in. Instantly we dropped the mounds of paper work, html-codeing and all sorts of other technical internet workings that we do here at gnarcore.com and called gnarcoraspondent and cultural documenter DAVID ROULEAU who happen to already be in Vancouver. View the Gallery to see how his night went.

Published On: 5/11/2008
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It blows my mind that Christian groups in the United States are boycotting "The Golden Compass."  If their beliefs are as strong as they believe them to be then surely they can take a little questioning.
Here is a great read from Mark Moford regarding this issue.
-----

It has become a rule, some sort of law of the popular culture upon which any open-minded human worth her soul can rely with utter and perfect clarity.

It goes like this: If there is a piece of art, a TV show, a column, a book, a movie, a blog, a movement, a wine bottle or sexual position that somehow deeply threatens the various ultraconservative sects of Christian-blasted America to the point where their pale, dour representatives demand boycotts and distribute angry pamphlets to try to stop people from experiencing said hunk of culture because of how negatively it portrays their seething, condemnatory God, well, it's time to break out the Champagne. Or buy that book. Or get very, very naked. Or all of the above.

So it is with the first movie made from Philip Pullman's astonishing "His Dark Materials" trilogy, "The Golden Compass," a complex, mystically gorgeous, spiritually dense, big-budget fantasy epic so far removed from the cute wizardry of Harry Potter and the thin, childish, monochromatic Christian morality of, say, "The Chronicles of Narnia," that it might as well be a Coen brothers movie. On acid.

Oh my God yes - they are protesting. They are pamphleting. From the Catholic League and Focus on the Family to evangelical/fundamentalist Christian blogs from here to Colorado Springs, they are calling on their trembling armies to boycott the film because they believe that Pullman's brilliant books - which, by the way, if I had the power, I would place in the eager hands of every youngish human on the planet, especially the girls - are not only aggressively anti-Christian, but that they also describe, as their grand finale, nothing less than the death of God. This is what they say.

And here is the terrific thing: They are absolutely right.

But let's be a bit more specific, shall we? Because as any fan of "HDM" knows, it ain't really about God, per se. Pullman's luminous novels have nothing to do with rejecting faith or destroying the spirit or inhibiting the exploration of what it means to be divine. They are, in fact, the exact opposite. They relish spirit and the magic of belief and love, are soaked through with divine inspiration of a kind any intelligent Christian (or honest spiritual seeker of any stripe, for that matter) should crave. This is what makes them so incredible.

The nefarious thing the books aim to kill is religious authority. It's about the destruction of dogma. It's about power, about who wants to control and manipulate life on Earth, about the blind, ignorant, even violent adherence to insidiously narrow codes of thought, belief, behavior, sex, desire and love.

This, of course, is the God of organized religion. This is the false deity that promotes numb groupthink, inhibits growth and abhors the feminine divine (perhaps the books' most beautiful, inspiring theme), the same paranoid, dreadful God that votes for George W. Bush because he will smite the icky gays and protect us from vile pagans and Buddhists and Muslims and feminists and frumpy genius atheist British writers. If humanity is to flourish, to get over its addiction to war and guilt and fear, this is the false God that should - that must - die.

Although the books have as their evil antagonist a sinister cabal called the Magisterium (obvious parallel: Catholic Church), they also have a slew of dark characters in service of the Magisterium, various assassins, double agents and robot drones running around trying to annihilate the children's spirit, destroy magic and lock down faith forever. Let us call these robotic drones, oh, say, the Catholic League. Or Focus on the Family. Gosh, no wonder they're a little peeved.

But it's almost too easy, is it not? Even a child can see that these people are so far from true spirit, so far from open consciousness, it's a bit like comparing a lint ball to a cloud bank, a dung beetle to a flower bed. They are spiritual caricatures, the creepy clowns in organized religion's gloomy circus, all scrunched brows and gnarled hands and so much repressed sexuality that it would make a porn star wince. Really, why give their silly protests any attention at all?

For one thing, because these groups have proven that they can be highly dangerous, utterly toxic to the culture as a whole. You already know the list - FCC crackdowns, stem cell research, ultraconservative judges, abstinence education, anti-choice laws, vicious homophobia, intelligent design, the rejection of science - all of which aim for the creation of a fascist theocracy in America.

In fact, director Chris Weitz, who adapted "The Golden Compass" for the screen, reportedly removed any direct mentions of God or religion from the film version, fearing, along with New Line Cinema, some sort of Christian conservative backlash. Fans were, appropriately, outraged. It remains to be seen how much of those vital themes Weitz left intact, but you could argue that the Bible-thumpers have already taken their sad toll.

(But I do look forward to the bloodcurdling screams that will surely come from these groups when they see the third film, which, if the creators hold at all true to the original book, and presuming the movie gets made at all, features a pair of wonderful, immensely powerful, tragic gay angels.)

It might not matter. With any luck, and if "The Golden Compass" turns out to be even half as wondrous as the book, it will hopefully fuel a surge in sales of the "HDM" trilogy in America and, perhaps, inspire a new literary awakening among young readers, darker and more complex and even (gasp) slightly sexual, far beyond the clever but innocuous magic of Harry Potter - which, by the way, had its share of religious bonk-jobs calling for its destruction, as wizardry is clearly the dominion of the devil. We all know what a huge drop in sales that protest caused.

But there is another note of good news from this tale of fear and whining and outcry, and it takes the form of another delightful rule upon which your soul can happily rely, as well as a heartfelt lesson for trembling ultraconservative sects everywhere.

It's this: If your ancient, authoritarian, immutable belief system is threatened by a handful of popular novels, if your ostensibly all-powerful, unyielding creed is rendered meek and defenseless when faced with the story of a fiery, rebellious young girl who effortlessly rejects your stiff misogynistic religiosity in favor of adventure, love, sex, the ability to discover and define her soul on her own terms, well, it might be time for you to roll it all up and shut it all down and crawl back home, and let the divine breathe and move and dance as she sees fit. Don't you agree?



Published On: 12/3/2007
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Recently the AFP reported that China was experimenting on dispersing clouds to prevent rain during Olympic events. Conversely, officials claim that China has already set up an extensive system that may be able to make it rain during the games if needed. Now wouldn't this kind of thing be useful in the winter. Especially after the winter we've just had on the east coast with very little in terms of actual snow fall. A little rain would also be useful in fighting the forest fires that recently ravaged the western United States. On the other hand, this could also turn out to be just another modality to spread disease.

It was August 10th, 2007 when the AFP reported that chinese scientists were "conducting high-altitude tests to eliminate clouds and stop rain [from] spoiling next year's Beijing Olympics."1 This was achieved by dispersing silver iodide and Diatomite into the atmosphere. These two compounds are thought to prevent moisture from forming into rain drops. Silver iodide is used as an antiseptic and diatomite is a naturally occurring, soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock so conventional wisdom would lead us to believe that the process is safe. At the very least, spectators at the 2008 Olympic games have little chance of catching some form of an infection while chinese scientist are pumping the air full of antiseptic. The idea of controlling the weather with chemicals does, however, raise a small red flag in my mind, although maybe I just watch too many James Bond type movie with over the top, megalomaniacal villains.

Give me $1,000,000 or you get no snow!The one thing that I find most interesting about this is that silver iodide, having a crystaline structure similar to ice, can induce freezing to the moisture in clouds when disperssed in the air (in China they use old anti-aircraft guns to shoot cans of the compounds into the sky). The first idea that came to my mind when I learned of this was that this seems like a feasible way of making it snow. I suspect that if done properly, this could also be much more effective than arrays of snow cannons on your favourite hill, or even better, combine the two.

Apparently this technique called cloud seeding is not new which makes me wonder why I hadn't heard of it until now. Had I known about this, I would have focused my energies last year on cloud seeding the skies over Vermont and western Quebec instead of wearing my pyjamas inside out and flushing ice cubes down the toilet (which is commonly thought to be a fundamental part of the snow dance). Perhaps the researchers who study this know something that we don't such as: a) cloud seeding is prohibitively expensive or b) cloud seeding is a potential health hazard. In the first case, I feel bad for the people of China who will have to foot the bill for this when the Olympics come around in 2008. In the second case I feel bad for the people of China who will be exposed to cloud seeding and the side effects of this technique, probably even after the Olympics are done and gone. In either case, it looks like I feel bad for the chinese. In the meantime, I'll be accepting donations to the "seed the clouds to shred the gnar" fund in an attempt to raise money, kind of like a snow insurrance policy, to seed the skies if we are again in dire need of snow this winter. I give you my assurances that this fund will be used only in cases of emergencies, namely on days where I'm snowboarding and can't find any freshies. The governing body of this fund will not be elected for obvious reasons.

So next winter when your hitting the slopes and you notice a little precipitation starting to fall. Look up in the sky, you may be getting a random dose of anti-septic for a few fresh lines. One way or the other, the important thing here is to...

Keep shreddin' the GNAR!


References

  1. China working to make clouds vanish during Olympics, http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070810/sc_afp/oly2008chnweathercloud_070810064642, Fri Aug 10, 2:54 AM ET.


Published On: 9/3/2007
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Just in case you thought the route to sexual bliss was straightforward, here's a list of things to avoid. They're all pretty much guaranteed passion killers for a woman - and if your check list contains more than ten of these, you've got some serious work to do on your sexual etiquette!



1 Going straight for the naughty bits.

You've got to be sensitive to the fact that a woman is more likely to be irritated than aroused when a man dives for her breasts and vulva after a few minutes' perfunctory kissing. While you might get to feel the goods, you're not going to be invited back.

2 Not knowing how to kiss sensitively.

Passionate or sensitive, firm or gentle, good kissing is an art form which lubricates the wheels of sex and gets everyone in the mood for more intimacy. Learn how to kiss, and do it well. That doesn't mean sticking your tongue in her mouth and wiggling it around like you're trying to floss her teeth.

3 Being too rough when you touch her erogenous zones .

Men like a firmer touch than women, especially when it comes to your dicks. So if you touch her clitoris with as much force as you apply to your cock when you masturbate, she's most likely to howl with pain - and then kick you out of bed. Remember: the clitoris has twice as many nerve endings as the penis, in a much smaller area. Treat it with respect. It's the only organ in the human body that has no function other than to provide pleasure.

4 Not stroking and caressing her.

A woman's second biggest sex organ is her skin. (The first is her mind.) You can make your touch on any part of her body into a sexy caress, but you have to focus on what you're doing and put some sexual energy into your fingers while you caress her. That means not thinking about the baseball game while you're giving her a sensuous massage.

5 Locking onto her nipples like a suckling child.

Yes, we know it's fun for you. To her it just feels like she's got a teething infant hanging off her tits. Lick and kiss around her whole breast before you go for the nipple, then flick your tongue gently across the nipple and around the areolae. If she likes what you're doing, you'll know by her moans of pleasure.

6 Biting on her earlobe because you think it's sexy.

She may not agree with you. In which case it will just be irritating for her, not a prelude to her turning into the sex goddess you thought you were summoning up.

7 Leaving a hickey on her neck like a teenage badge of honor.

If you're over sixteen, this is a no-no. If you need to know why, you're obviously under sixteen.

8 Not shaving before sex.

When you're in the throes of passion, having your beard stubble brushing back and forth across her face isn't so sexy, but at least it'll produce a red rash she can remember you by..

9 Not washing your pits and bits before you have sex.

If there's one thing that turns women off, it's a lover whose personal hygiene isn't up to scratch. Even though men have a higher smell threshold than women, keeping yourself clean - especially in the more intimate corners of your anatomy (like under your foreskin) - is not just a matter of courtesy, it's a ticket back to the bedroom.

10 Forgetting she has a sensuous body waiting to be stroked.

Pretty much the same point we already made up above, but worth remembering: touch doesn't just have to be in the bedroom, a prelude to sex. In fact, if you touch her a lot in a loving way during the day, she'll be ready to melt into your arms by bedtime.

11 Trying to get your fingers in her underwear before she's ready.

This is the mark of a gauche teenage lover who wants to get to fourth base just so he feels more accomplished as a lover. Take your time, let things evolve naturally, and apply a little sensuous touch on the fabric covering her vulva before you dive under the elastic. The hint of what's to come is often more erotic than diving straight in there.

12 Dropping the condom on the floor.

Must I say why this isn't the most popular move post sex? Dispose of the condom tidily in a tissue - put it in the bin rather than down the toilet, or it's likely to float there for some time to come as a reminder of your sexual encounter.

13 Going straight for the clitoris during oral sex or masturbation.

Like I said above, most women just find this irritating - and, if you press too hard, bloody uncomfortable too. Your first caresses should be on her labia, the lips of her vulva, then as she gets more aroused, you can work nearer the clitoris itself. But even when she's aroused a soft touch along the sides of her clitoris may be more acceptable for her than any pressure on the head of her clitoris.

14 Breaking off just as she's getting to the point where she wants you to keep going at all costs.

Women often get so lost in their sexual arousal that they forget to give feedback. In reality, the fact that she's lying there quietly may actually mean she loves what you're doing; if so, you should feel her pressing her vulva against your mouth or fingers, or shifting like she wants more touch, rather than giving you a sense that she'd rather be out shopping.

15 Undressing her clumsily.

Listen up guys: you don't have to be able to take her bra off with one hand, behind her back, while kissing her. In fact, in my experience, it's better if you don't try. She probably puts it on by fastening it first and pulling it over her head anyway. Let her take off the garments you don't understand, and whenever you do lend a helping hand, undress her gently and sensuously rather than pulling at her clothes like you're ripping the paper off a birthday present.

16 Undressing yourself inelegantly - which includes taking your socks off after your underwear

Nothing is more comical (or pathetic) to a woman than a man in his socks and pants. Except possibly a naked man wearing socks. If you don't understand why, just accept that it is so.

17 Expecting her to shave for you.

You might like the baby smooth look around her vulva, but she's more likely to see this as a prickly route to itchy stubble. Ask her nicely if you'd like her to go smooth. If she says "no", accept that graciously.

18 Sticking a finger up her vagina before she's ready, willing and able.

In general, women do like to be penetrated just as much as men like to penetrate, which, considering how much men like to stick things up there, is just as well. However, she'll only want you to do this when the time is right - i.e. when she's aroused enough to enjoy it. If you're giving her clitoris attention, there'll be a point where she might like to have a finger or two inside her. If so, be gentle, and start with one finger on her G-spot. Make sure she enjoys this before you put another one up there. Two fingers on her G-spot is probably as much as she will want. And be just as firm with your touch as she finds pleasurable. If you don't know what the G-spot is, then do some Google-ing before you get into bed.

19 Entering her without asking her first.

What is it with men and these dark, wet places? Just keep in mind that she decides how far sex goes, and if she doesn't want to enjoy f*cking then don't press the point. This applies especially to any strategy that involves nudging your dick into position and then pressing forward without her consent, verbal or otherwise!

20 Pecking away around her vagina with your penis if you can't find the way in.

This is, by all accounts, many women's least desired sexual moment. If for any reason you can't get in, don't pretend you're in control and keep trying. Simply ask her to guide you in with her hand. That way you'll save a lot of embarrassment, not to mention time.

20 Pumping away without regard for her pleasure.

When you've achieved your most desired objective, and your penis is inside her, you'll want to show a certain consideration for her pleasure. She may want hard and fast thrusting, but it's best to start slow and shallow. While you're making love, she'll most appreciate your efforts if you're masculine and strong - which is to say, if you act like you know what you're doing, you're considerate and gentle at first, and work up to firm and strong thrusts if she likes them.

21 Expecting her to make love bottom up.

Yes, you probably all enjoy butt sex. But she may be more self-conscious of her butt, she may feel like a sex object, and she may not like the rather impersonal nature of this position. If you really want to do it, and you explain to her why you like it so much (i.e. "It's incredibly exciting to see your gorgeous butt as we make love", rather than "I get so turned on f*cking from behind") she'll probably co-operate from time to time, even if it's only on your birthday and hers.

22 Thrusting too hard.

If you happen to be well-endowed, or she has a short vagina, and you thrust too hard, you may end up banging her cervix. This can make her shriek, though sadly not with sexual pleasure.

22 Coming before she's got excited or begun to enjoy sex.

There aren't many men who can last long enough to really satisfy a woman who enjoys vaginal intercourse and G-spot stimulation. If you can't be bothered learning how to be a long lasting lover, then at least have the decency to keep going for a few minutes so she gets some pleasure. This isn't hard, and there are plenty of ways you can learn to extend sex and not come so quickly. Do some research on Google for "end premature ejaculation".

23 Not coming at all - or losing your erection when you put the condom on.

If you're one of that rarer breed of men who has trouble coming during sex, may I respectfully suggest you see a sexual therapist? You can then deal with this problem, learn to come more quickly, and avoid giving her a numb vagina and an intimate knowledge of the exact shade of color you painted your bedroom ceiling. If you're one of the many men who lose their erection when the condom comes out of its foil wrapper and onto the head of your penis, it's back to Google for a search on, surprisingly enough, "losing erection when putting on a condom".

24 Asking her how it was for her.

This is not the mark of a confident lover, so if you really want some feedback, phrase it thus: "Did you prefer it when I did X or Y?"

25 Not going down on her when she wants oral pleasure.

Since oral sex on a woman is so pleasurable for most men, this seems unlikely. But if it's a question of the smell or taste being a bit much for you, try taking a shower or bath together before sex. If you just want her to give you a blowjob and you simply can't be bothered to reciprocate, then reading these tips isn't going to help you much anyway.

26 Failing to give her pleasure if you come quickly

Remember the motto: "Ladies first!" As a man, you're probably going to lose interest in sex once you've ejaculated - at least for a while. In which case, make sure she comes through oral sex or masturbation before you enter her. That way, she gets her pleasure and so do you. (With the added bonus that it doesn't matter so much if you shoot quite quickly.) Just to enter her, thrust a few times, come, roll over and forget about her is the mark of a boorish lover, and you wouldn't want to be one of those, now would you?

27 Trying to force her head towards your cock.

Let's face it: she's either willing to give you head or she's not. Trying to persuade her to get her lips around your glans by edging her head towards your groin is a bit crass, to say the least. If she doesn't seem to be heading that way as things hot up, just ask her: "There's something you could do that I would really like....."

28 Trying to force her head further down on you cock when she's giving you head.

Yes, once again we know it feels good, but you have to be considerate about it. She's not likely to be a deep throat expert, and there's no reason why she should be, since most of the pleasure of oral sex comes from the action of her tongue on your glans. Keep your hands away from her head unless it's to gently stroke her hair, and you won't feel the temptation to encourage her to go deeper.

29 Holding her head when she goes down on you.

Pretty similar to number 28, but this time, holding her head and moving it up and down on your penis is the no-no. If you think that's acceptable sexual etiquette you've been watching too many of the wrong kind of porn.

30 Coming in her mouth without asking her if it's OK.

The taste of cum is very much an acquired taste; but unfortunately it's one that few woman ever acquire. If she doesn't like it, ask her to keep going until the last minute, then tell her when you're going to come so she can move back and finish the job with a well-lubed hand. You'll get just as much pleasure, and she won't have to gag or spit your cum out. By the way, accidentally forgetting to tell her you're going to come is not permitted.

31 Thinking that a porno movie has anything to do with real life.

Porn is not good for men's egos. Real life isn't like that, OK?

32 Switching on a hard core porn film without asking whether that's OK with her.

Even if you find it arousing, she's not likely to, for the simple reason that much of the porn available today is fairly abusive to women. Ask her first, and if you want to share the erotic thrill of watching people have sex, get hold of some romantic sex movies that will appeal to her emotions as well as her sex drive.

33 Apologizing for the size of your penis.

Just in case you ever feel inclined to apologize for not matching up to the guys in the porn movies, just remember: 98% of women would rather have a sensitive lover than one with a big penis. If you're with one of the other two percent, you need to find a new lover.

34 Answering honestly when she asks you what your last lover was like.

Guys, when a woman asks you if her butt is too big, do you tell her the truth? Enough said. Your current lover is always the most gorgeous, sexy and desirable woman around. Even if she doesn't really believe it, that's what she wants to hear.

35 Asking her if she'd mind if her girlfriend joined you.

Threesomes can be exciting, but they usually just cause jealousy and upset when one partner unexpectedly finds they don't want their partner making out with another person. Needless to say, this usually happens to the woman. So be sure, be very sure, you know what you're doing before you try this one.

36 Making her do all the work.

Changing positions is all very well, but asking her to ride you each time you have sex seems a bit one sided. Vary the positions, have fun, and take equal shares of the work. Don't just settle for one favorite position and flog it to death.

37 Trying to slip it in the back door by "accident".

Anal sex is something that a lot fewer couples have tried than you'd believe from what you read on the internet or see in porn. It's something you might like to try, but you both have to want to do it. She's not likely to respond with warmth if you keep pretending you're poking her a**hole by accident. And she won't believe you if you tell her you just didn't want to ask for directions, even if that's how you are when you're driving around lost, looking for somewhere.

38 Photographing or videoing your lovemaking.

Unfortunately, as many jilted lovers can testify, taking pictures while you enjoy sex is putting power in the hands of the person who has the pictures. A good compromise is to link your video camera direct to your TV without recording the images. That way you can have the erotic thrill of seeing yourself during sex without having to worry about seeing yourself having sex on the internet in a few years' time.

39 Getting into the same old same old routine every time you have sex.

Above almost everything else (except possibly being deeply in love), ringing the changes when you make love is the thing that will keep your sex life fresh and passionate. You'll be surprised just how exciting it can be when you try a new position. This is simply because every position puts a different pressure on the penis and vagina, or gives you a new perspective of your partner's body, or perhaps allows you to see entering your partner's body, and so on. Exactly which sex position feels most pleasurable will depend on the shape and size of your penis and her vagina.

40 Not romancing her.

Women love romance. Men put up with it, or do it to get sex. True or false? Probably true, but the romantic "chase" is deeply rewarding for most men (i.e. seducing and winning a woman makes us feel deeply fulfilled), and romance is an essential part of that process. If you're able to continue being romantic once you're an established couple, then you set yourself head and shoulders above the rest of your fellow men, and you stand that much greater chance of getting regular, passionate sex.

41 Slapping her butt without checking if she's into a little dominance play.

No matter how exciting you may find the idea, don't land a heavy slap on her ass without trying a few lighter ones first and seeing how she reacts. If you do, you may get a slap in the face. Or a kick in the balls. Ouch!

42 Trying to do sex by the book (or the film)

Don't copy the moves you see in porn films. They lack a certain something. Consideration for the woman, that would be.

43 Playing with her anus before she's excited enough to appreciate it.

When you're masturbating her clitoris, and you have a finger inside her vagina, you may find that she responds well to a little anal play. If you have the position right, you can use your little finger to tickle gently at her anus as your forefinger plays with her G-spot. This may well add to her excitement - especially if she's on the verge of orgasm. If you try this before she's really excited and has stopped caring what's happening to her, you might just turn her off completely, so it might not be a bad idea to check it out with her in advance.

44 Deafening her by shouting in her ear when you come.

An easy mistake to make, especially if you like to have sex in the man on top position lying close to your partner, and you like to let the world know when you come. Unfortunately she won't let you do it a second time, so bury your face in the pillow or something if you're prone to uncontrollable vocal ejaculations as well as physical ones.

45 Talking dirty without checking if she likes it.

Generally a little consensual dirty talk between adults adds to the excitement. The first time your partner tells you to f*ck her hot wet c*nt you'll see what I mean. If that hasn't happened yet, and you'd like it to, encourage her to talk dirty to you when you're having sex, and see what pops out of her mouth. You might be surprised. Remember legend has it that the quiet ones are often the most surprising in bed!

46 Lying on top of her without supporting your weight on your arms.

Always remember: a gentleman takes his weight on his arms. Or elbows, or knees, or something.

47 Cuming on her without asking permission.

Coming between her boobs or on her pussy or ass can be incredibly exciting, but it's nice to ask her first. She may see it less a mark of your ejaculatory prowess or manhood than a mess to clear up.

48 Not controlling your ejaculation.

Like I said before, a good lover makes the effort to make sure his partner is satisfied before he is.

49 Not spending some time with her in your arms after sex.

A man who gets up after he's done the business and sets about his daily routine is probably top of most women's sexual dislikes. For her, this is a special time when a woman feels very close to her partner. She takes much longer to come down from sex than a man does, she wants to know she's loved and special, and she wants to feel adored by the man to whom she has just given her most precious asset. The very least you can do is to spend a few minutes cuddling her while you relax after sex, even if you're not going to spend the night with her.

50 Not cleaning up after sex.

And since sex inevitably involves a certain amount of fluids, keep the tissues handy for afterwards. If you feel like being chivalrous, offer her a warm towel to clean herself, especially if you aren't using condoms.

Published On: 5/30/2007
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By Martin Patience
BBC News website, Rehovot

 

Sitting in his book-lined office, Professor Jacob Karni likes to quote the French novelist Jules Verne.

"Yes, my friends," says Prof Karni, director of the Centre for Energy Research at the Weizmann Institute of Science, quoting from Verne's 1874 novel The Mysterious Island.

Harnessing solar energy cost-effectively is the aim of research

"I foresee that in the future, water will be used as fuel... water will be the coal of the future."

The professor enthuses about the French author's vision 130 years ago that the world's reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable.

But he disagrees with Verne, famous for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, in one fundamental respect.

Whereas the French writer saw water as the fuel for the future, the Israeli scientist says the future lies with solar energy.

Suntan

"Even if we were to dam every river in the world and put wind turbines where ever there is wind," says Prof Karni, "it wouldn't be enough to provide for our energy needs. But with solar energy we could meet the world's energy demands."

We will only find the solution when it's really urgent
Prof Karni
For the last 16 years, he has worked with colleagues at the Weizmann Institute, situated in a leafy campus in the Israeli city of Rehovot, to make renewable energy a viable alternative.

The professor, who regularly works a 12-hour day, researches how to harness solar energy in a cost effective way and then transport the energy to the user.

The institute has been researching solar panels that produce a greater yield of energy.

"One of the big problems with solar energy is that the energy is very diluted," says Prof Karni. "It can give you a suntan but not much else."

Snags ahead

But one of Prof Karni's projects has been to use solar energy to produce a non-polluting synthetic fuel that could be used, for example, to power cars.

Environmental activists use solar grill to cook sausages in Moscow
Solar power is finding various other uses worldwide
Last summer, the Weizmann Institute published research that was "a step towards the solution", he says.

Using solar power energy, zinc oxide was heated to 1,200C. The temperature splits the ore, releasing oxygen and creating gaseous zinc, which is then condensed into powder.

When the zinc powder reacts with water, it produces hydrogen that could power a car.

The chemical reaction produces no greenhouse gases and the zinc oxide can be recycled into zinc and the process starts all over again.

Prof Karni says that the research demonstrated that the process is achievable, but problems remain.

For every kilogram of hydrogen gas produced, you would need 60 kg of zinc, which is not feasible on a large scale, he insists.

 

New Manhattan Project?

But with a map of China hanging in his office, Prof Karni insists we have to think big.

"We could put solar panels here," he says, pointing at west China, "and this could provide the energy for the east of China where most people live. We just need to devise an effective way to transport the energy."

The massive consumption in global energy coupled with rising pollution has made finding a renewable energy alternative more important, he declares.

Over 3.5 billion people live in countries where the consumption of energy more than doubled from 1990 to 2003, according to the Energy Information Administration.

If countries were to form a "Manhattan project" for solar energy, employing the best minds and ploughing enormous resources into research, renewable energy could be challenging fossil fuels in five years, the professor believes.

But that moment of reckoning has yet to arrive.

"We will only find the solution when it's really urgent," he says.

NEWS FROM :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4719334.stm
 


Published On: 5/3/2007
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NEWSWEEK/ APRIL 16, 2007  The idea is to suck carbon out of the ambient air or—even more feasible—out of power plants where it's produced, and store it in the deep ocean or in depleted oil and natural-gas fields.
 
--Molecules of carbon dioxide stay in the atmosphere as long as 200 years; yes, carbon dioxide molecules belched out by Model Ts are still up there. As a result, "incremental reductions in CO2 emissions" as called for by the 1997 Kyoto Treaty and legislation pending in Congress "will not stabilize atmospheric CO2 levels," argues climate researcher Wallace Broecker of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, part of Columbia. "They only slow the rate of increase."
RADICAL HUH....Read More...
 


Published On: 4/19/2007
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Yes, Oompa Loompas ARE short...lol
 
Okay, so I was bored again after school...well, more like trying-to-escape-from-all-my-cruddy-homework-due-tomorrow-morning kind of bored...soz...lemme write a lot and procrastinate...
 
Now this one's interesting...its supposed to be for girls, but it's also addressed to guys, so I don't get it...So the instructions are: guys, make your girlfriend take this quiz to see if they love you, etc. etc. But since not all people are honest about this, guys, feel free to take this and answer it from what you THINK is true...here's the link:
 
 
Oh, here's the opposite of that test:
 
 
*Groan* I have so much frickin' homework tonight, it's not even funny! Not only that, I forgot my Social Studies book and the end of section questions are due tomorrow...*starts crying hysterically* THIS IS NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!!
 
11:31 PM
 
OMFG! I'm DONE!!! *pant pant pant* I AM SO SICK OF HOMEWORK RIGHT NOW, I COULD SCREAM! *screams in the background*
 
Telling you about how much homework I had and how bad it sucked isn't gonna help anything, so I'll tell you what I had to do for each assignment:
 
Geometry:
 
Prepare notecards for test on Friday (yesterday was worse, 60 problems for homework RIGHT AFTER BREAK ENDS!)
 
Spanish:
 
Study for an oral test first thing tomorrow. At least half of the words he has mentioned only once...and apparently they were on his web page so we could study it...RAWR! I mean, I'm probably gonna ace it *sorry for bragging...*, but what about everyone else? The vocabulary was so confusing even I had to use a dictionary...so what about the rest of the class?! (Actually, that's less than 10 people...lol) (And yes, I know that I have a TINY Spanish class...but I like it that way :D)
 
Science:
 
Take notes on sections two and three in Chapter 15. Then, do specific research on four certain topics. Take a LOT of notes, and do a good definition or summary; include simple diagrams, pictures, etc. etc.
 
Social Studies:
 
End of section questions! (I HATE these...they're absollutely pointless. They're supposed to reinforce our understanding and stuff, but all it does is ask us about nitpicky details that don't have all that much significance. Not only that, the questioons are so EASY but require lengthy answers to explain them properly...) I had to do it for three sections...so that was 18 questions. Doesn't sound like much, except that some questions have about five parts and take at least 2 minutes to be answered properly..It makes me so mad though...We could not have to do this anymore, but most of the class was too chicken to exchange the end of section questions for an end of section quiz. I mean, really! It's the writing that takes forever. With the time it takes me to answer all the section questions right, I could've read, reread, and reviewed the whole chapter twice or three times over!
 
Health:
 
Tomorrow we have a test about the digestive system. No, it's not THAT hard, but still...consider the fact that the last time we talked about this was at least three weeks ago. The first two weeks were sex ed, and the last week was spring break. Not only that, my notes are pathetic...(that's probably my fault though...lol) And then on the jeopardy review, he was asking questions that he never taught us, like, "What is the opening of the small intestine called?" The only reason I had the slightest idea on what this was is because I had to do extensive research for a project (the answer is: duodenum). Not only that, some of the answers were actually WRONG. He didn't say anything, but I'm pretty convinced that the pancreas does NOT produce bile. I mean, seriously, didn't he say all the time before that the LIVER produces bile?! Sheesh!
 
Overall, that took two and a half hours (almost three, really) to do...I mean, working for three hours during the day is not a lot, but three hours of working STRAIGHT. It's hard to stay focused for three hours when the homework is so tedious... And I must confess that I did NOT focus for three hours...(hah, I'm not THAT perfect...lol. But I bet some people actually did that...) What did I do take a break from the insanity? I messed around with my nails. AMAZING. What? It took a good 15 minutes, and by the time I was done, my mind was actually functioning properly again...yup.
 
So...it's already 11:51 and I should go to sleep...normally, after doing this much work, I would, but I took a nap before dinner, so I'm still really awake. Now what should I do? Maybe I'll surf the internet some more...day dream (I haven't done a lot of that lately...rawr)...or listen to my iPod... ... ... How about all three? Hehe, this is why I like multitasking ;)
 
Thank you for reading this much, ladies and germs (ha, I have my disinfectant! hehe...), goodbye, goodnight, and have a nice day...erm...night :D


Published On: 3/20/2007
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Well, last time I posted on here, I called on volunteers for an experiment to verify the validity of the statement that “forking is better than spooning”. Reviewing various literature (usually hidden behind the cardboard on the top rack of the magazine stand) and peers, there is much evidence to support this notion. Additionally it was suggested that “spooning” often leads to “forking” (thanks Joe). So this mysterious philosophic postulate found on the garment care tag of my Westbeach jacket seems to be well supported but not yet empirically verified. Even though supporting evidence is being discovered daily, the nature of research is such that the more questions are answered, the more questions need to be answered. So the following is a report documenting the progress of this latest useless research endeavour.

This past weekend, I purchased a new pair of Westbeach snowboarding pants. West 49 was having a “Going out of Winter” sale, my trusty Quicksilvers are getting pretty shredded in the bottom, so I thought it was time. I bought a pair of Pit Stop pants with a really loud khaki camo pattern (this is sometimes distracting while riding... no doubt the phrase “I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you my pants are too loud” will be uttered by me before the season is through). Judging by historical precedence, I deduced that some form of philosophic wisdom would be handed out by the garment tag on my new duds. This was in fact a correct assumption, right beneath the French care instructions I found the following: “Save a tree, eat a beaver”.


In the modern age of climate change and CO2 credits, trees are an important part of our enviro-economic reality. The unnecessary felling trees is a burden on both the environment and the economy. This I believe is the message being conveyed by this particular tidbit of wisdom. By saving a tree, we ensure that greenhouse gases are being more efficiently processed to ensure more epic winters to come (this should be evidently important to snowboarders). So “save a tree, eat a beaver” is very topical advice from the cunning linguists at Westbeach. Even if we accept this postulate as being true however, we have to determine what effect the state of said beaver will have when it is eaten. Is there any benefits, other than aesthetic, of eating a shaved beaver? What about feasting at 30,000 feet (affectionately known as the mile high club). Have our brave Westbeach philosophers considered the consequences of red wings? What of pink tacos? These and many other questions need to be answered and more research money will need to be spent. I'm currently petitioning Natural Resources Canada for additional funding for this project.

Here's what we know so far:

  • Garment care tags are a good source of knowledge on topical issues such as climate change and gender roles (The latter is based on discoveries brought forward by Carrie).

  • Cunning linguists and muff divers may inevitably become the saviours of our current climate (so say my Westbeach pants).

  • Laundry, although a tedious domestic chore, has proved to be a great source of amusement. WASH YOUR CLOTHES PEOPLE!

Garment care tag philosophy is proving to be a valuable tool in finding solutions to the problems of our collective day-to-day life. My research budget is drying up however, and this important field of research needs to be explored more thoroughly. If you have any garment care tag philosophies to share, please do so; science shouldn't be bound by budget. Until next time...

Keep Shreddin' the GNAR!

J.



Published On: 2/19/2007
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Researchers from countries as diverse as the United Kingdom, United States, Sweden, New Zealand, and Canada have made some unusual observations about the relationships people have with their cars. This includes what your car colour choices may reveal, and what applying a gender and a name to your vehicle may indicate about you. Even the astrological implications regarding the likelihood of accidents have been looked at.
Seriously folks, it's true.
Colorado State University psychology professor Jacob Benfield and his colleagues concluded in the journal: "Personality and Individual Differences," that about one quarter of people named their cars, and about half thought of their cars as either masculine or feminine.
His study also concluded that people who name their cars and apply a gender to them, "scored significantly higher than non-naming-vehicle-drivers on verbal aggression, physical aggression, driving anger and pejorative labeling/verbally aggressive thinking" – all of which would suggest a higher likelihood of car insurance issues somewhere down the road.
For anyone who occasionally wonders if some researchers have too much time on their hands, consider the following:
From Wikipedia:
  • "A Swedish study found pink cars safest, with black cars most likely to be involved in crashes (Land transport NZ 2005)."
  • "An Auckland, New Zealand study found a significantly lower risk of serious injury in silver cars; with high risks for brown, black, and green cars. (Furness et al, 2003)"
As details are sketchy, one is forced to wonder whether the researchers in the Swedish study applied any equalization to their calculations. Seriously, how many pink cars have you seen lately? Perhaps pink is a more popular colour for cars in Sweden, but we've never even seen a pink Volvo. Also, consider how many black cars there are on the roads. Is this the real reason that black cars appear to be more likely to be involved in an accident? Or are they harder to see at night? We can't say for sure, and apparently neither can the car insurance companies, or else they'd charge accordingly.
According to colormatters.com, the colour you choose for your car gives some insight into your personality. Apparently, if you choose:
  • White: You could be status-seeking and an extrovert.
  • Black: You're somewhat more likely to be aggressive, an outsider or a rebel.
  • Silver: You're probably cool, calm and slightly aloof, - probably ambitious too.
  • Green: It could be an indication of hysterical tendencies.
  • Blue: It's likely that you're reflective, introspective and cautious.
  • Gray: You're dedicated to work, and generally a calm and sober individual.
  • Yellow: You probably like novelty and are idealistic.
  • Red: You move and talk quickly and you're full of zest, energy and drive.
  • Pink: You're probably a kind, loving, gentle and affectionate person.
  • Cream: It could indicate a self-contained and controlled individual.
We have yet to find an auto insurance company that asks what the colour of your car is when determining your car insurance rates, and, thank goodness for that. What would be next? Questions about your astrological sign?
In fact, some researchers in the U.S. and Canada, have gone so far as far as to try to correlate astrological signs with a higher or lower likelihood of auto accidents. Fortunately for us, each study seems to come to a different conclusion.
Imagine the following: "Yes Mrs. Smith, we know that you've had a perfect driving record for the last fifteen years, but it concerns us that you keep referring to your vehicle as "My Black Stallion," and also, we see here by your birth date, that you're a Pisces with an Aries moon and Aquarius rising. The data strongly suggests that your luck simply can't hold out much longer, so, we're going to have to cancel your auto insurance policy."
Thankfully, the actuaries who develop the calculations that auto insurance companies use to determine auto insurance premiums, continue to remain "skeptical" of any apparent correlations, and continue to look to the more traditional, statistically relevant and somewhat more "boring" methods of calculating your auto insurance risk, namely:
  • Your age and location.
  • Your previous driving record.
  • And, the type of vehicle that you drive.
Smart folks those actuaries.
Now if an actuary were giving you advice on your car insurance premiums, they'd tell you to shop around for several quotes before you buy. They may even recommend kanetix as the best place to get your car insurance quote, to save you both time and money. Besides, the alignment of the stars today, suggest that it's a great day for finding a little extra coin in your pocket.
 
 
So if my next vehicle is blue...does that mean I'm going to be a cautious driver?...oh hell no!


Published On: 2/13/2007
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Every once in a while, usually when my friends stop hanging out with me because of the smell, I take the time to do some laundry. Recently I decided it was time to wash my good old Westbeach Sunset jacket. We'd had some good times but it was starting to smell a little too much like the outdoors so it was time to give it the old spin cycle. I proceeded to empty out the pockets in preparation for the washing procedure (faded cash and water logged iPods are not cool).

With my pockets empty (even those secret inside pockets... I didn't find any misplaced money unfortunately ), it was time to get to the washing part. Step one: find the garment care instructions tag. This proved to be a bit of a challenge since it was located somewhere beneath the powder skirt. Once located, I proceeded to read off the instructions:

  • Machine Wash Cold with Like Colour

  • Tumble Dry Low

  • Do not dry clean.

Seems easy enough, but just to double check, I decided to flip the tag over to make sure I didn't miss anything (I only like good surprises). On first glance, it just seemed like the French translation of the afore mentioned care instructions (I love Canada) however, there seemed to be a little extra at the bottom: “Spooning is good but forking is better”. It took a second for this wonderful nugget of wisdom to register, so on second reading it occurred to me that sometimes the deepest of philosophies can be found in the most uncommon places such as garment care instruction tags.


Being a bit of a sceptic, I don't generally take what I read at face value. That being said, this seems like an easy enough postulate to verify. So I'm looking for research assistants to help me confirm that “forking” is in fact better than “spooning”. Compensation is commensurate to my research budget (which is pretty much non existent once condoms and beer are purchased). Willing candidates should send applications to:

The Institute for Useless Research (IUR)
69 Fornikature way
Whorina, Ontario, Canada
IB6 UB9

I hope to be able to further the field of useless social science and build on what I've already learned:

  • Clean clothes make it easier to keep the friends that you have.

  • Wisdom can often be found in the most unexpected places, including washing instructions.

  • Vanilla yoghurt mixed with strawberry pop rocks is a tasty snack and a nutritional paradox (yes I know this has nothing to do with this blog but I like being random).

If interested, feel free to contact me, I'll be in my study (the crapper), or the lab (the chairlift) pushing the frontiers of science. Until next time,

Keep Shreddin' the GNAR!

J



Published On: 2/8/2007
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On Friday, Jan. 27th, I had a biopsy because of elevated PSA reading. You can imagine how that felt. The doctor said to take it easy for two hours then I could do anything. So I went to work for two hours and then went boarding the rest of the day at Timberline.

The following Wednesday the doctor called with the results. I had prostate cancer. Ouch!! I wanted to throw up and get it out but of course thats not possible. It appears they caught it early and he recommended surgery. He also referred me to another doctor who has a very good reputation. That appointment is Feb. 26th.

The exact course of action is yet  to be decided but I want the shi*t out of me as quickly as possible. The consequences of any of the procedures are not all that great but I can live with those as the goal is to survive and thrive and of course to keep boarding.

After doing a lot of research, talking with others who had PC and talking with a few doctors it looks like in my case surgery is the best procedure. That is now scheduled for March 27th. It is called LAPAROSCOPIC RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY WITH A REMOTE CONTROLLED ROBOT. Now thats having faith!!! The procedure offers the same success as full surgery or radiation but with perhaps less side affects. I can even return to boarding sooner although was caution about jumps and bumps.
Doc said to use all the style that a 55 year old can muster.

A couple of final physicals before the surgery, one routine one at the hospital and one at the doctors office. There the young, attractive nurse said to remove everything below the waste. She then ask if I ever had this done ( a cystoscopy a telescopic inspection of the bladder and the urethra) before. Nope can't say I have done that before. First she had to clean me so I was sterile. I had to concentrate to avoid a reaction as she was washing you know what. However that excitement quickly ended when she put some numbing cream into my ureatha. I hope it was as good for her as it was for me. The doctor then came in and did the procedure but admitted the numbing agent only works to a certain point. The good new everything looked good ... no sign of stones or tumors in the bladder.

The big day (Tuesday, March 27th) has arrive and I'm pretty relax and have the ipod going. Probably going boarding 4 out of the last 6 days had something to do with that. They put the mask on and I'm put for several hours. Actually about three hours of surgery and then recovery. When I wake up I notice the catheter is in me, which is a good sign, because of the cancer has spread then they do not take the prostate out and there would be no peeing into the tube. The doctors says the next day everything looked good as the glands were clean, the cancer which turn out to be on both sides of the prostrate was clear of the walls and appear to be contained. Finally got to go home on Friday although still on that liquid diet.

Following orders and just taking it easy, drinking liquids and goings for numerous short walks as I carry my bladder bag. Got the catheter and staples out the following Monday by that same pretty nurse. Doctor showed up and said I could get dress. Immediately after standing up I pissed on the floor just like a puppy. Doc said that was pretty much normal but I would regain control in a few months. Then he discuss penis rehabilitation.  Oh great!!  After this type of surgery old Mr. Happy is not so happy. The process affects a lot of muscles, nerves, etc in that area. So I get the little blue pills and a penis pump to make sure there is no scar tissue. Who needs scar tissue. I'll just do what the doc says.

Improving each day. Started readings e-mails the week after the surgery and then a little work at home. Started back to work part time after two weeks and currently almost full time. Finally got to go boarding last Friday, April 27th. Exactly one month after surgery. Only for two hours but you got to start somewhere. The doc said it was OK as long as you stay away from the bumps and of course jumps. Probably will go again this week after we get some more snow.

Next visit to the doctors is in a month where there will test my PSA again. That will happen several times in the next few years to ensure the cancer is cured.


Published On: 2/6/2007
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Wow so I finally got my bindings, they look kick ass! I was about to mount my palmer plates to my board and I found out they didnt fit it! I have a size 14 boot and I sure as hell need palmer plates or a wide board. I did a little research and I found a new board. K2 Select 158cm Wide. Now the only problem was I had to find this board. So I took my Burton Blunt back to Dicks. When I walked up to the snowboarding section I was looking everywhere for the K2, I was about to give up when low and behold I FOUND IT! I exchanged my burton for the K2 and I was on my way. The K2 was actually 10 bux cheaper. Right when I got home I slapped the Palmers on like nothing, and set up my bindings. Im ready to ride!!! Hopefully in the next two weeks I'll hit up chestnut after this cold front goes through! Ill get pics of my board ASAP.  


Published On: 1/11/2007
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Here's a selection of some recent entries on our blog at GraysOnTrays.com.

Did you know that snowboarding can be good for your brain? OK, so we cheated a little; new research suggests that aerobic exercise is what does the trick. But if you ride fast, or do hiking to earn your turns, doesn't that count?

Some people are skilled riders. Others go beyond that and can teach others how to ride.

Finally, if you can't get to the slopes right now, don't despair. Learn to appreciate spring snow.

Published On: 12/31/2006
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Today my dreams of living in BC were crushed. Now I've always been told that its tough to get jobs in BC as an American, and I always assumed this ment hard, as in you had to work at i a bit. But after extensive research I've found that this means f*cking imposible. It seems that the only real way for Americans to get a job there is to become a resident. So if any of you lovely Canadian women are looking for a husband (at least in a legal sense) hook me up! -Kris

Published On: 12/27/2006
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If you have an email account with Snowboard.com, you are probably having problems logging in to read your email over the last couple of weeks. We have had huge problems with spammers flooding our servers and making them un-usable, as well as many technical issues with our email server. In an effort to fix this we have done alot of research to find out how we can cure this problems for good. Google has allowed us to transfer all of our Snowboard.com email accounts to Gmail (Googles email service). This means you will get to use their great email interface for your email and have a much larger email account. Currently, gmail allows accounts to store more than 2 GB of email. We will be making this move this week and hope to have the email back to a normal state by Friday Dec 22. We appologize for this break in email service and hope this solution will fit your needs.

We will be posting instructions on how to check your new Snowboard.com Gmail account as soon as they are setup. We will still allow you to log into your old email account here (as soon as we get it running again) to grab contacts and old emails until the end of the month.
 
Thank you all for your patience.
 
Snowboard.com


Published On: 12/18/2006
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why do I get so pissed when I see pictures of people in Avalanche terrain with no gear (and most likely no idea). do you know what its like to lose a friend to the white dragon. have you had to dig them out and see first hand an ice mask? In 2004 I lost a childhood friend and experienced mountaineer to avalanche. Why do people still take stupid risks in avalanche terrain? do you think "it won't happen to us". this season I'm taking my level 2 avalanche operations. I make it my business to read papers on the new research that has been done around the world. knowledge is key. if you think you can't afford an avalanche beacon probe and shovel, think you can't afford to take a RAC then you can not afford to go into the back country. the odds are stacking up against you. when that fatal day hits you I pray I'm not in the SAR party that has to dig you out and then have to deal with yet another Frozen face that doesn't leave my dreams.


Published On: 11/9/2006
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Thursday, November 09, 2006

 

DD/Henry Lee/Perry & Alba/Zeddy update.....

Look its DD back in 97.



Scientific fact: after months of research our forensic scientists concur that DD was in fact the first person to 5-0 a ledge on a snowboard.

Most music these days is complete crap but every once in awhile, if you dig for it you'll get lucky and come across something that really hits home.



Tell me about it buddy, tell me about it!

Hey look who I saw at the bar the other night.



Don't tell anyone but Pman and Jessica Alba are doing the nasty...

Zeddy update: Yes finally another Zeddy update. Well Zeddy hasn't been in touch much lately but don't worry he's had good reason. For the last 4 months Zeddy has been hard at work with Jean "his French industrial design Professor" working on a project that is going to revolutionize the action sports industry as we know it. I can't even come close to explaining what they've managed to develop so take a look for yourself.



Of course Jean takes all the credit in this short film but its obvious Zeddy had his hand in the suits sleek transformer style design.

Published On: 11/9/2006
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Daily Journal: Opening Weekend
By: GWARjimmy_b


Aight.  I've been doing some research for this weekend.  With it being opening weekend for lake louise and sunshine, I think we should organize a crew to rip banff a new one on the weekend.  I've checked out various hotels and motels right in banff and to my surprise its kinda of affordable.  To take a room at "The Inns of Banff" or the "Driftwood Inn" it is gonna cost about 100$ a night.  Split that between 4 people and thats only 25$.  Not bad.  I have friday off and I am thinking about ripping friday and staying the night and then ripping saturday.  Let me know if anyone is thinking about ripping this weekend and wants to stay in banff for a night.  It would be quite the tear as Aurora is probably the craziest place I've ever been.  LETS GET A LITTE GREASY!! WOOT!


Published On: 11/6/2006
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For those of you who have been following my blog, you might remember that a while back myself and a buddy were mistaken, by some acquaintances, as being a gay couple (See “Why the Fonz Rides a Motorbike”). This prompted me to stop being lazy and set my mind to finding a girlfriend (paraphrasing Tolstoï to boot). Similarly, my buddy Gurbir (who was also wrapped up in this whole “are those dudes dating” fiasco), set out to find himself a lady friend. This was not directly a result of said fiasco however; he had a few nibbles at a singles mixer we had previously attended.

If you recall, this singles mixer was full of cougars (there were non-cougars there as well, but when they are bat-shi*t insane, the cougars are more entertaining -- see “Cougar Hunting for the Criminally Insane”). In order to deal with these predators, much beer was consumed by me. Which leads to my first meeting of Gurbir's current girlfriend. I don't remember actually meeting her that night (although she did look familiar the next time I did), but apparently in my drunken, stumbly stupor, brief introductions had been made.

A few weeks went by, things between Gurbir and his new dame were moving along quite well. He decided that he should invite her out to one of our weekly Tuesday appy night outings. He felt the need however, to warn her about what may potentially come out of my mouth and not to take anything I say too seriously. This is probably wise as many find my humour somewhat offensive. Well prepared for the worst, Gurbir's new lady friend seemed to be very cool and reasonably tolerant of my jokes. She even commented that my humour was in fact not overly offensive despite the fact that Gurbir had tagged me as the ISO standard for offensiveness.  Swell, I'm now a metric.

The ISO is an international standards body that overseas standard measurement units. To understand what it means to be the ISO standard of offensiveness, one needs to be introduced to the concept of applied commentary. An applied commentary is either an insult or a complement which has a degree of offensiveness measured in Juniors (J). The following is an overview of Junior's three laws of offensiveness and how they apply to the standard measure of one's vexation.

 


The three laws of Offensiveness

Junior's First Law of Offensiveness:

  1. Every entity in a state of uniform vexation tends to remain in that state of vexation unless an external commentary is directed to it.

This is analogous to Galileo's concept of inertia which is often termed simply “The Law of Inertia”.

Junior's Second Law of Offensiveness:

  1. The relationship between an entity's indifference i, it's level of disgust o, and the applied commentary C is C = io. Applied commentary and disgust are vectors (as indicated by their symbols being displayed in slant bold font); in this law the direction of the commentary vector ranges from revolt to delight and is the same as the direction of the disgust vector.

This is the most powerful of Junior's three Laws, because it allows quantitative calculations of dynamics: how do revolt and delight change when commentary are applied. Notice the fundamental difference between Junior's 2nd law and the dynamics of Aristotle: An applied commentary, or insult, causes only a change in level of offence (a degree of offensiveness); it does not maintain its vexatious properties as Aristotle held for velocity.

This is analogous to the difference between Newton's second law and Aristotle's law of inertia. Under Newton, F = ma, but under Aristotle F = mv, where v is the velocity. Thus according to Aristotle there is only a velocity if there is a force, but according to Newton, an object with a certain velocity maintains that velocity unless a force acts on it to cause an acceleration (that is, a change in velocity). Similarly, under Junior's Law, an entity with a certain level of vexation maintains that level of vexation unless an applied commentary acts on it to cause revolt or delight. Applied commentary can be either introspective or external. Introspective commentary is the reason why it can be observed that time heals all wounds; introspective delight is an applied commentary which affects changes in disgust. Introspective revolt is self destructive and stupid.

Junior's Third Law of Offensiveness:

  1. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

This law is exemplified by what happens if we tell a guy his girlfriend is fat. Physical or verbal application of resulting commentary will be proportionate to the degree of offensiveness of the original insult. (Note: This type of behaviour is not condoned by the author of this blog unless the result is humorous or amusing).

That pretty much summarizes the concept of the J units for measuring offensiveness. Here are a few conclusions and observations about Junior's Laws themselves and the method that was followed to elucidate them:

  • Sobriety directly affects one's indifference. The drunker the guy, the less fat his girlfriend should be, 'nuff said.

  • In general, my friends have a very high level of indifference, otherwise they don't remain my friends for very long.

  • Further research should be conducted on the implications of Junior's three laws of offensiveness on the phenomena known as “the awesomeness factor”.

  • Becoming the ISO standard of offensiveness is both flattering and vexing and is a potential obstacle in actually finding a girlfriend.

If you found any of this at all enlightening, or useful, you may want to consider lowering your threshold for indifference. Since becoming the ISO standard for offensiveness, I've had to do just that and reconsider some of the vile things that come out of my mouth. The whole experience has been positive however; since this change in attitude, I've started dating a girl who hasn't run out on me after one or two dates. So until the next instalment of the Daily Barns, think positive thoughts that your favourite retard will rise above and strengthen his inter-personal relationships. Until then, pray for snow.

Keep Shreddin' the GNAR!

J.






Published On: 11/2/2006
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This study takes place Friday, November 3, 2006 in Minneapolis, MN.

 

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Published On: 10/17/2006
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