TAKING IT IN (PEACE & PAIN)

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This past Friday. Two different people, same beach, opposite ends of the day:
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Morning ray.


Evening sun.

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DOG BEACH

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OPPOSITES ATTRACT

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AUTUMN BLIPS

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Sensed a bit of Autumn in the air Tuesday & Wednesday— A couple of those gem days that land on the calender of one season, but really belong to the next season yet to come. Like the first two blips on the radar of transition and change.
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Also, a couple days of pinner waves where slowing down and tuning into the simple elements and subtleties of nature was a reminder of how much more there is to surfing than swell alone.
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ALL IN A GOOD DAY'S WORK

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Jacques: "We've had a good day, François."
François: "Umhmm."
Jacques: "But we must take care not to deplete the stock."
François: "True, we don't want to make the same mistake we made with the beaver."
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INAUGURAL WEEKEND

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P.M. PATTERNS

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A.M. TRACKS

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Coastal, nocturnal, sand beetle of some sort. Daniel, would you happen to know the possible species name?
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DEATH IS BULLSHIT (Sometimes, In Some Ways)

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Recently saw a documentary on PBS about Orca Whales— Their bodies are so full of high PCB levels that a washed up dead one needs to be treated as hazardous waste.
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A large number of the breeding adult males have died due to the effects of the PCBs, whereas the adult famales have not been so largely effected because the PCBs are fat soluble... So the nursing mother Orcas are able to rid their bodies of some of the pollutant through their milk.
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But the those PCBs are being passed on through the milk to the calves. Many of the calves never reach maturity now because the PCBs severely debilitates their immune systems. Along with that, the PCBs cause malformed reproductive systems in many of the calves that do reach maturity.
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All combined, a quagmire that is threatening the future of the species.
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Photo above from August 14, 2008 Seattle Times article, Newborn orca spotted in the San Juans
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PCB INFO LINK
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GUARD DUCK

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DEATH HOLDS BEAUTY (Sometimes, In Some Ways)

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Ironic how sometimes the only way we humans get the chance for a really close, naked eye, inspection of the beauty of a creature is through its death.
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And by the same token, how death sometimes offers the distance needed from something to finally be able to understand, or even appreciate it.
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On the subject of death, I've always found peace in a particular quote, by who and the exact words I don't recall, but it's something like...
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"Death is perfectly safe. It's just like slipping off a tight shoe."
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DEAD MAN

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If you haven't seen the film DEAD MAN by Jim Jarmusch, it's really high on the list of must sees. And it doesn't hurt that it has a beautifully, sparse, raw, crunchy, solo instrumental electric (w/ acoustic during credits) guitar driven soundtrack/score by Neil Young. It's worth noting how Young is able to deliver the grit, tone, and mood of the Old West with an electric instrument that did not exist in that time period, and yet it works perfectly with the film.
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Trailer:

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Scenes intercut with Neil Young working on the score:

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COLOR ENCOUNTERS

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Monday, mid-day surf break:
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Flood of childhood memories invoked by classic sponge on the sand.
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Roadside on the way back to the office responsibilities.
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COME$ & GOE$

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The first three in a series I've been working on:
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Waterfall


Broken Bone

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All driftwood and other objects as found on beach, modified with the inner sides of security envelopes that are provided in never ending bills for sending payment.
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Been intermittently working on the series for six or so months now. Takes a lot of sessions walking cross the beach for a surf before finding another piece that naturally lends itself to the project.
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ONSHORE FLOW PAYS THE BILLS (08-08-08)

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If it wasn't for the wind
I'd never get my shit done
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DON'T DOG THE 'DINES

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Most people back off when you offer them a hit from a can of Sardines. But along with some crackers/chips and a coldie they make for an epic tailgate grind between Summer sessions. And they pack for travel anywhere easy.
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Plus, being really low on the food chain makes for much lower mercury content than tuna, etc. And they're a great source of Omega-3 fats.
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But don't just take my word for it:
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But seriously... first time, try skinned & boneless (as pictured at top). In any case, packed in olive oil is a good way to go.
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SANDALS & CYLINDERS

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Sunset cruise on P.C.H. and BLASTING this from their onboard stereo:
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FIN & FINS

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Waves small. Good for a few lines then a quick swim.
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Good to feel the whole body coursing through water. Always beats taking the time to shower at home.
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LIONS & HYENAS: JUST ANOTHER WEEKEND...

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...AT THE SERENGHETTI BEACH CLUB:
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