Warner, Fox Try to Get Redbox Lawsuits Dismissed; the film studios asked a US district court to throw out Redbox’s lawsuits, saying that it has failed to show any antitrust violations or any illegal agreements with retailers such as Walmart or Best Buy. (Video Business)

Canoe Pushes Back Interactive Ad Launch; after expecting to debut interactive ads before the end of 2009, the MSO-backed company now says it’s on track to launch a request for information next spring. (Multichannel News)

Netflix Envoy Pitches Online Films to Wary Studios; the company is counting on chief content officer Ted Sarandos to cut deals with studios giving Netflix rights to show more films over the Web. (Bloomberg)

D-Link to Introduce iPhone App for Boxee Box; D-Link will showcase the app at CES next month, and make the software available for free from Apple’s App Store. (9to5 Mac)

News Corp to Exit Serbia; Greece’s Antenna Group has agreed to buy a 49 percent stake in the Serbian station Fox Televizija from News Corp for an undisclosed fee. (Broadband TV News)

Mediacom Turns To Mediator To Resolve Retrans Dispute; the cable operator held a negotiation session with a third-party mediator from outside the FCC in an attempt to resolve its retransmission- consent dispute with Sinclair. (Multichannel News)

FiOS TV’s Top 10 VOD Movies for 2009; Twilight takes the top spot, with Taken and Gran Torino close behind. (Verizon FiOS blog)

FCC Preserves Retrans ‘Good Faith’ Provision; the provision prevents broadcasters “from engaging in exclusive contracts for carriage or failing to negotiate in good faith.” (Multichannel News)

project 365 entry for Saturday July 18th, 2009

So, we made it back from our adventure on Monday July 6th. That was in time for my 2nd to the youngest to go on a canoe trip. This was a day outing that her Youth Group put together. She had a blast.

Early this morning she left for summer camp with her Youth Group. It is going to be strange not having her around for the week. I don’t care if she is 11, she’s still my baby. This camp is in WI, quite a distance from home. But, she worked so hard & paid for this camp all by herself. I hope she has a wonderful time!

After seeing her off, I had to rush home because my oldest daughter & I planned a rummage sale. The grand kids made their selves comfy & left the yard sale to us.

As the morning went on, the grand kids and my daughter realized that there was another sale a few houses down. These kids probably spent more of their parents money there than was made at our sale. LOL
Hope I made you smile. Until next time …

I find myself in that slightly awkward but always pleasant bit between Christmas and New Year. In this odd society that puts these major holidays together and where no real work happens in between.

Christmas was good, cracker food and some interesting gifts, of which my (second) favourite was this.

There were also the obligatory and most practical and appreciated socks and deoderant. Well appreciated by some people anyhow.

Much more excitingly on boxing day we managed to get wee Liz out in the canoe and make an attempt on Coney island.

We were thwarted by ice. Yes ice, a big dirty great sheet of it that seemed to run all the way out to Coney Island.

The good ship Pudge is not designed as ice breaker, though we tried all the same. In the end we gave up when the crunching noises became all a bit disconcerting.

Instead we paddled up the Blackwater instead fearing dive bombings by swans. We were fine.

I must say I did like the ice for dragging the canoe back to the car.

[Note my new hat, another cracking pressie]

Paddling slowly,/
One sees and feels more, but risks/
floating back downstream.

Steve & Inga on the Yukon River

“I’m completely bushed”, I said emphatically. We had just spent two and half weeks tracing the Klondike gold rush trail from Alaska to the Yukon, testing ourselves against the elements and spending 14 nights in a micro-mini tent. Our adventure began with a 33-mile ascent from sea to summit on the Chilkoot Trail, followed by a 200 mile canoe trip on Yukon River from Whitehorse to Carmacks, in remote wilderness with limited road access. Ending our trip back in Whitehorse we were ready to pamper ourselves.

Historical Guest House B&B

Instead of usual non-descript, functional hotels we’ve stayed in previously, this time we treated ourselves to the Historical Guest House Bed and Breakfast. This charming B&B, was built with hand hewn-logs in 1907 by brothers Mike and Tony Cyr, who themselves had hiked over the Chilkoot as gold seekers. Tony and his wife, along with their son Laurent lived there for many years. This would have absolutely no significance to the average American, but we had pulled our canoe up on the riverbank to enjoy a sun dappled picnic at the site of Laurent Cyr’s gold dredge a few days earlier and felt a special connection to sleep in the same house as the Cyrs after following in their footsteps and paddles.

Takhini Hot Springs

Feeling chilled to the bone after the last few cool, drizzly days on the river we headed to the outskirts of town to the Takhini Hot Springs for a long soak. Natural hot springs feed a large pool at the deep end which is quite warm compared to the shallow end. We eased into the warm water feeling the aches and pains from the last two weeks of intense physical effort dissolve, and our disposition relaxed.

Klondike Salmon & Rib House

Back in town we were more than ready for our first non-freeze dried meal in many days. We proceeded to our favorite restaurant, the Klondike Salmon and Rib House, where we often eat when we’re in town, sometimes every evening meal. I devoured my first salad in days savoring each crunchy bite of fresh greens, sweet tomatoes and crisp cucumbers lightly coated in vinaigrette. The fresh arctic char, grilled to perfection, was delectable accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes and crisp sautéed vegetables. We washed it down with Yukon Gold ale and had just enough room to share a huge slice of homemade berry pie. We reminisced about the highlights of our wilderness adventure, debating the size of the bears and lynx we saw and made plans to complete the next 200 miles of the river trip from Carmacks to Dawson in two years.

Buckets from the Cyr dredge, Yukon River

Since it was stayed light until 11 pm we strolled 2 blocks over to the river to have another look at the waterway that had provided so many memories and dreams for the future. Returning to town we visited Mac’s Fireweed Bookstore, a place that has absorbed many vacation dollars as they have an outstandingly extensive collection of Canadiana. We selected a few autobiographies to round out our collection of stories of the north, and headed for the Cyr homestead, holding hands and feeling lucky that by sharing adventures we strengthened our connections with the north, and,

Information:

Historical Guest House B&B
5128 5^th Ave.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
(867) 668-2526
www.yukongold.com

Klondike Salmon & Rib House
2116 2nd Ave.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
867.667.7554

Takhini Hot Springs
Km 10/Mile 6 Takhini Hotsprings Road
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
1-867-456-8000
http://www.takhinihotsprings.yk.ca

Photos by Inga Aksamit
Published in Romantic Traveling, Fall 2009, Vol 19, No 4.

Sunset over the Yukon River

Changes to the Olympic Canoe Sprint programme were revealed in December’s newsletter from Paddleaway. For London 2012 there will be the addition of a women’s K1 event at the 200m distance. Paddleaway have quoted Jacque Rogge, the IOC President, as saying the addition of the Women’s 200m to the Canoeing Event will be “more spectacular”.

Canoing adalah hobi batik yang baik ditambah bentuk besar latihan. Saat Kerajinan ini semakin banyak orang semakin terpancing ke Canoing terutama dengan menggunakan kano solo. Sebuah perahu solo memungkinkan seseorang untuk mendayung perahu dan menikmati pengalaman ruang dan Canoing tanpa memikirkan teman-teman Anda. Tapi sama Batik Solo seperti hobi lainnya solo kano discriminately harus dipilih.

Memahami sampan

Yang paling penting untuk memahami dengan perahu solo adalah goyang. Kursi goyang mengacu pada lambung sampan. Jenis kursi goyang menentukan kinerja sampan dan bagaimana ia dapat tampil dalam kondisi berangin dan berombak.

Jenis

Ada berbagai jenis solo sampan. Ini adalah

Hari Flatwater turis – ini lebih untuk mengayuh Batik rekreasi terutama di danau. Mereka adalah – meter panjang dan hingga inci ke arah permukaan air. Mereka telah moderat rocker baik untuk kecepatan. Seni

Freestyle solo – ini memungkinkan Anda untuk menyesuaikan diri dengan sejumlah dayung berbeda kecepatan dan stroke. Ini Batik Madura juga memiliki rocker moderat menyala sisi dan mendayung menggunakan posisi berlutut.

Extended turis – dirancang untuk jarak jauh padding dan untuk kondisi air kasar. Batik Madura Ini juga bisa menangani beban berat. Ini terbuat dari bahan-bahan berat seperti fiberglass polietilen dan serat karbon.

Whitewater – dirancang untuk arung cepat mengayuh. Ini adalah badan air yang memiliki air yang mengalir cepat. Ini datang dengan tali untuk mengamankan dayung melawan arus kuat.

Ingat

Ketika membeli Baju kano solo Anda harus terlebih dahulu menentukan apakah Anda akan menggunakannya. Menentukan tingkat air dan jenis air akan mempersempit pilihan Anda dalam memilih sebuah kano. Juga pilih rocker yang tepat bagi Anda perahu yang juga tergantung pada kondisi air Anda Canoing on. Akhirnya batik pilih yang sesuai untuk sampan panjang.

Vote Here>>> and let us know!

Check out what other people have written about the two areas. I think you will be surprised!

Go Virginia!

Here is an excerpt from what one person wrote:

Jared Surasky-

“I thought so hard about this I got a headache! I have lived in Charleston SC, Asheville NC, and Charlottesville VA and I have to say that all are uniquely amazing when it comes to the outdoors. I have seen sunsets kayaking in the Ace Basin that would make your cry, hiked all over Western NC and seen beautiful things that would inspire a simple man to think profound thoughts (not that I’m simple), and climbed all over West Virginia, which is an endless playground of challenging routes! So, which is the best? I guess I will just have to be comfortable knowing that I won’t ever be able to answer that question. I can’t wait to see the results from this poll though!”

From SIGG water bottles to baby products, the great BPA (Bisphenol-A) debate is raging right now. But fewer people are aware of another plastic unpleasantry known as EA. That stands for estrogenic activity, and it refers to any chemical that either blocks or mimics estrogen in the human body.

According to some researchers, nearly all plastic bottles leach an EA chemical, which are cited in studies to alter human growth rates, change behavior patterns, reduce sperm count, increase cancer rates and do other ugly things.

Hydrapak has partnered with an outfit called PlastiPure to create the PureBot, a sports bottle launched in November that is touted as EA-free.

The PureBot does not contain Bisphenol-A or EA chemicals. Besides being free of two highly debated compounds, the Hydrapak PureBot is a normal 24-ounce bike water bottle with a large screw top lid. It’s currently available for $10. www.pure-bot.com

—Ryan Dionne

a list!

(I know the last thing we need is more STUFF, but these are some appealing  little objects that I think we could get used to having around)

a bike bell that makes pedestrians smile.

a measuring cup/juicer because making a little cup of orange juice on a freezing Sunday morning is a necessity masquerading as a luxury

hoodie

fancy dustpan for the nerd herd.

a candle that conjures up wintertime cinders and I never get tired of sniffing.

a design book that is definately ubiquitous, but incredibly beautiful, and yet another example of how the Japanese are actually a more intelligent life form, just  pretending to be like us

the best teapot in the world.

a smart collator to encourage the art of anal retentiveness

a beautiful book about food because you can never have too many

a heavy jar of soft almond scented hydration (for obvious reasons)

and a new kitty bed, because they are already spoiled, what’s the harm?

oh yeah, and for delicious one-pot meals year after year…

the ultimate cast iron pot.

]]> http://jotm.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/the-seardh-continues/ Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:41:33 +0000 jotm http://jotm.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/the-seardh-continues/

As this quest for a suitable place to build proves to be a rather tough one, I had decided to open this one up a bit and invite others to contribute to a Google Wave on the subject. Unfortunately I found out the necessary wavr plugin can only be used on privately hosted weblogs using WordPress.org software, not on weblogs hosted on WordPress.com.

“Dommage!”, as the French would say.

In time this might mean I will have a go at putting it up on a small webserver myself, but not just now. For the moment the focus in spending my spare time must be on finding a building shed.

Wish me luck!

For the last couple of years I have been contemplating on building a small boat for sailing. Trials with our two little girls in the 2008 and 2009 seasons have resulted in narrowing down the options of choice to a canoe or canoe-like boat.
So here’s the main obstacle to overcome: where to build it?

Penghemat Bensin

Sebuah perahu motor mount adalah alat yang digunakan dalam mengamankan perahu motor. Biasanya dipasang pada port kano atau sisi kanan dan tahan lama terbuat dari kayu atau logam memasang motor berbagai ukuran. Beberapa bahkan mungkin terjepit kano Penghemat Bensin amp s gunwales dan digunakan untuk motor listrik.

Jenis

Sebuah perahu motor mount biasanya muncul dalam dua macam aluminium dan kayu. Aluminium motor gunung terbuat dari aluminium tugas berat. Mereka adalah jenis motor mount yang diinstal baik pada sisi kanan atau pelabuhan dari kano Penghemat Bensin Motor dan digunakan untuk mengamankan Penghemat Bensin motor yang memiliki hingga pemberian peringkat daya kuda dengan memanfaatkan mekanisme yang menjepit. Aluminium motor gunung yang terbaik untuk gas dan motor listrik dan akan cocok dengan merek paling kano. Motor kayu gunung di sisi lain biasanya terbuat dari kayu abu dan paling baik digunakan Alat Hemat Bbm untuk motor listrik sampai tenaga kuda Penghemat Bbm peringkat. Sementara sebagian besar adalah kayu bagian mereka mereka juga memiliki bagian-bagian baja serta tombol-tombol phenolic digunakan untuk menjepit mount Penghemat Bensin ke kano amp s gunwales.

Tips membeli

]]> http://cumbrianvixens.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/enter%e2%80%a6-the-dragoness/ Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:42:53 +0000 cumbrianvixens http://cumbrianvixens.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/enter%e2%80%a6-the-dragoness/

Good evening to you all, it’s Motoko blogging tonight, and before I say anymore about the topic in the title I want to talk about the weather.

The weather is at last coming to its senses and it’s stopped pouring it down now which means that the lane is slowly becoming less flooded and is still dropping. By the end of the week the flooded lane will just be a normal lane again, although it will need to be swept clear as I am sure that a lot of silt and rocks will be on the bottom of it. It’s still deep enough to canoe on still which is our only way to get away from the stables at the moment, as not even my Jeep will able to drive thought it at the moment. Below is a screen shot of the forecast for a small area of Cumbria, less rain so it’s all good. Looks like it will be a little bit gray though but its better than more flooding.

Now I will tell you what the blog title is all about. The Dragoness is my very good friend called Esumi, and she is also a member of Dark Cherry, but not any old member of Dark Cherry. She is the top model and is a figure heard of the club, so she is well known in the club, which if you don’t know Dark Cherry is in Kyoto in Japan. She arrived a few days ago but due to the flood stayed in a local Bread and Breakfast for a night and then the day after got a taxi to drive to edge of our flooded lane and then we canoed to her and picked her up and took her to our home. She is here for two weeks and already she is helping out at the stables so she is also very useful. We have already done a small fun shoot army style directed by Esumi, not for my Dark Cherry profile but a fun shoot for my personal blog on the Dark Cherry’s website. Esumi also was the bringer of my favourite brand of green tea, which I am hooked on. Pictures of my favourite green tea brand are pictured below. Esumi is now a physical education teacher at school in Kyoto but before that she was a member of Japan Air Self-Defence Force, her nickname was Dragoness and she has carried across that nickname for her Dark Cherry profile and model name.

For all of thoughts who would like to know the area where I grew up in I have taken a few photographs to show you. I love Kyoto but I love Cumbria more so, I wouldn’t give up Cumbria for anything in the world.

Below is the week’s weather forecast for Kyoto, very different from Cumbria!

If you wish to learn more about Kyoto click my banner I made below.

Final Fantasy XIII is at long last made real and the date for release is 2009-12-17 of course that is the Japanese date for release. The English copy of the game is out on 2009-03-09, which Jenny has reordered, but sadly for her my Japanese copy will be here just after Christmas. Jenny also can’t fully understand Japanese so looks like she will be jealous while I play it in front of her. Below is a video of Final Fantasy XIII.

While we are on the subject of Christmas Me and Jenny should be going out to Kyoto but this may not happen due to the resent flooding and so on. We shall have too see, and if we can’t go out to Kyoto we will do what we do every year which is have a nice small joint of beef and spend it together with no one else. Eat the dinner in front of our log fire and then snuggle up and red a good book and have some nice background music on. Must remember to stock up on log as soon as the flooded lane is fully clear, as we can’t fit all the logs we need into our canoe *laughs*

Work at the moment is a little less hectic and things are starting to go back to normal now at last I can say with great relief. Once the lane is clear our customers will return and we shall get the part time staff back in as well to work. This means that me and Jenny will have our days off totally clearly as at the moment we are still working the mornings on the days we have off. But all the staff here has been really supportive and helpful and I can’t fault their gallant efforts at all, they are a good team. Jenny’s sign on the gate is still up and always make me laugh when I think of it, although the paint has ran slightly but you can see what and read it. With my friend Esumi lending a hand she had ti be kitted out of our work uniform and she borrowed some of my stuff including a pair of coveralls, which are slightly too big for her but looks funny. Coveralls are photographed below, red is not that bright its just the light =^.^=

Also I am still supporting the RNLI for all the good work they have done in our small English paradise that is Cumbria. So please support them and click on the banner below. Also see a video below of the RNLI in Cumbria.

That’s it for now!

Jenny and Motoko Carter

Our Online Gaming Playstaion 3 ID

by Donald B. MacGowan

South Point's Justly Famous Green Sand Beach is a Popular Hiking and Snorkeling Destination, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

There area many places on the Big Island of Hawaii that have undeserved infamous or unsavory reputations for one reason or another–the reputations of the road to South Point and Saddle Road come immediately to mind.  Once difficult, even dangerous, to drive, they have been more or less tame for decades–yet the reputation remains, passed on to unsuspecting visitor’s who trust what they are told.  Recognition of this must be balanced with the sure and certain knowledge that in the same breath they condemn the South Point road, someone may tell the same visitor of the hazards of, say, the road to the summit of Mauna Kea or The Road To The Sea in South Kona–both of which can be truly dangerous roads requiring skill, good weather and four-wheel drive to negotiate.

Looking Past the Kaomoa Wind Farm to South Point from Ocean View in South Kona, Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

We here at Tour Guide have endeavored to collect and present the most up-to-date information on visiting over 500 locations on the Big Island, coloring the material with our decades of personal experience living on the Big Island.  Today, you may access that information here on this blog or by renting our GPS unit which shows location aware video presentations about all these sites.  Recently, we have released a version of our tours downloadable to iPhone and iPod Touch that covers more than 50 areas of island, highlighting the popular and the uncrowded, the famous and the secluded, the adventurous and and the relaxing.

Fishermen on the Cliffs at South Point, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Our goal is to insure you have the most fun, most interesting and enjoyable vacation here in Hawaii–that you are provided with all the information you need to decide where to go and what to see, and that you are not burdened with out-dated or incorrect information…

So, let’s talk about going to storied South Point on the Big Island which, despite what you may hear to the contrary, is a delightful drive and an amazing place to explore.

Hawaii’s South Point

Visitor's Contemplate the View South from the Actual Point at South Point. Many People Drive All the Way Out Here, Take Pictures at the Point, and Then Drive Back, Never Dreaming of the Rich Tapestry of Wonders That Await Even Casual Exploration: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Haunting, windswept, wild, empty, beautiful. Imagine the gratitude and wonder of the first Polynesians who, after voyaging at sea without sight of land for more than a month, finally made land here at Ka Lae. This sweeping landscape arches openly and inviting from the tumultuous shore break at Ka Lae to the icy heights of Mauna Kea’s summit almost 14,000 feet above.

South Point's Guardian Trucks at Kaulana Boat Launch, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

South Point is the farthest point south in the entire United States…not Key West Florida, as some guidebooks claim. The road to Ka Lae from the Hawai’i Belt Road is infamous, but has been greatly improved in recent years, although it’s still only 1-lane wide in many places. Even today some rental agencies admonish you not to take their cars down this road. Relax. The road is fine, although blind turns and hills command your attention and should curb your desire to speed. Also, all the roads, beaches, boat launching facilities and parking are free and public, despite what some signs and unsavory characters might try to tell you. Just don’t leave valuables in your car, and be sure to lock it up (there also is no “Visitor’s Center”, contrary to the sign).

A lone cow contemplates Kamoa Wind Farm at South Point, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Along the road to Ka Lae are the brooding and dilapidated wind turbines of the Kamaoa Wind Farm. This wind farm, when all of the turbines are operating, can generate enough electricity to power 100 homes; unfortunately, usually 1/3 to ½ of the turbines are out of service at any given time. The surreal setting on the green plain with the cows grazing unconcernedly, coupled with the eerie, “sci-fi” sound of the generators makes this a unique place to stop, look and listen.

The Actual South Point at South Point, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

At South Point proper are a number of dilapidated structures and foundation ruins. The Army had a barracks here during World War II; the paved road was built in 1955; during the sixties, the Navy built a missile tracking station which the Air Force later took over and renamed South Point Air Force Station, which closed in 1978.

Although There is Some Disagreement on the Interpretation, These South Point Petroglyphs are Believed by Most to Represent the First Three Polynesian Voyaging Canoes to Reach Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

History: The Polynesian pioneers who first reached South Point routinely made incredible voyages that put European seafaring and exploration of a millennium later to shame. More than a thousand years before Columbus, in tiny, twin-hulled canoes that were entirely of carved wood lashed together, using no nails or wooden pegs and employing sails made of tree bark, Polynesians embarked on a voyages that were thousands of miles farther than those of Christopher Columbus, and without the aid of a compass or charts with which to navigate. Using the stars, currents, patterns of migration of the birds and fish, patterns in the waves, water temperature and the color of the undersides of clouds, these explorers navigated, explored, sailed and paddled all across the Pacific spreading their culture, language and peoples at the time when the Roman Empire was crumbling and centuries before the Age of Vikings.

It is thought that voyagers from the Marquesas first landed on Hawai’i, at South Point, quite early in the fourth Century AD; certainly the earliest archeological artifacts found in the Hawai’ian Islands are found here. At Ka Lae the Polynesians established a thriving colony based upon the incredibly rich fishing grounds just offshore. The colony was connected to the rest of Polynesia by trade routes to the Southern Islands and regular trade and travel between the Marquesas, Marshals, and Tahiti continued for centuries. Evidence of their colony can be found at Kalalae Heiau, just below the light tower at the Point.

Kalalae Heiau, South Point, Ka'u Heiau: Donald B. MacGowan

The small, but extremely well-preserved, Kalalae Heiau is classified as a ko’a, or fishing shrine, to the god Ku’ula. Just below the shrine and in the rocks to the west, one can find grooves and holes cut into the rock. These are attachment and guide points for anchor lines for ancient fishing canoes. The currents at Ka Lae are so strong, and flow uninterrupted to Antarctica, that Hawai’ians could not fish and keep their canoes from being driven away simultaneously, so they fed ropes, secured to the rocks out to the canoes, to keep them from drifting away with the currents.

Kalalae Heiau has numerous sacred standing stones. On the main platform outside the heiau is a pohaku amakua referred to as “Kumaiea” which means “female”. On the smaller stone terrace just north is another standing stone associated with the god Kanaloa and referred to as “Kanemakua” (male). Inside the heiau wall is a stone called “Ku’ula” after the patron god of fishermen; north of the structure stand Makaunulau (named for a navigational star) and ’Ai’ai (a dependent or ward), south is Wahine hele (“place from where the women leave”): Photo Donald B. MacGowan

Like most animists, Hawai’ians invested worship and respect and intuited spiritual power in a range of natural objects and phenomena: rain, volcanic eruptions, the sea, sharks, fresh water springs, the surf and rocks, among many others. Pohaku O Kane, or sacred rocks, were among the most common spiritual objects of worship, whether they were naturally occurring in the landscape (pohakuia loa), or set on platforms (pohaku amakua) or carved (pohaku iki). Kalalae Heiau has numerous examples of the former two. On the main platform outside the heiau is a pohaku amakua referred to as “Kumaiea” which means “female”. On the smaller stone terrace just north is another standing stone associated with the god Kanaloa and referred to as “Kanemakua” (male). Inside the heiau wall is a stone called “Ku’ula” after the patron god of fishermen; north of the structure stand Makaunulau (named for a navigational star) and ’Ai’ai (a dependent or ward), south is Wahine hele (“place from where the women leave”). Examples of pohakuia loa include the Pohakuwa’a Kauhi (literally “canoe rock by the shrubs”) right at the shoreline, which was used to focus meditations before long canoes journeys, and Pohakuokeau (“stone of the currents” or “stone of the years”), which stands offshore. The name Pohakuokeau reflects the Hawaiian belief that the stones would turn over when there was a political change in government.

Body Surfing at the Justly Famous Green Sand Beach, South Point, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo Donald B. MacGowan

Hike to Green Sand Beach: Absolutely unique to the island of Hawai’i, beautiful and strange, are the handful of green sand beaches composed of crystals of the semi-precious mineral olivine (also known as peridot). The green sand beach at South Point is the best known, largest and most accessible of these.

Afternoon sun on bathers at The World Famous Green Sand Beach, South Point, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

The sand grains on this beach are formed from olivine crystals weathering out of the lava and cinders from the cone over an eruptive vent that has been partially breached by the sea. The beach lies in the interior of the cone, and the somewhat protected cove formed by the remnant of the cone makes for a wonderful swimming/snorkeling spot. Be very wary of currents and do not go out far nor in at all if the surf is high or there are strong winds. The bizarre color of the water shrieks for color photographs, particularly underwater photographs taken while snorkeling.

Hikers on the trail to the Green Sand Beach at South Point, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

To get there, turn left onto a signed, patchy-paved and dirt road immediately when you arrive in the Ka Lae area following signs to the Kaulana boat launch. Proceed down the road and park just to the left (south) of the Kaulana boat launch, where there is a dirt road that leads to the green sand beach; there is gate ¼ mile down this road. The gate is almost always locked and the road primarily provides access for hiking, ATVs or mountain biking: private vehicles are prohibited. Hiking distance is 2 ¼ miles each way along rolling tropical prairie (and if you cannot envision that, you really need to do this hike). Despite the multiplicity of dirt roads, you really cannot get lost as you are never out of sight of the shore.

Hiking down the cinder cone to the Green Sand Beach is much easier than it appears, South Point, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

When you reach the end of the trail, you are a hundred or so feet above the beach on the rim of the remnant of the crater. Look closely for the faint track to scramble safely and easily to the beach (there is occasionally a blue trash barrel to mark this spot, but always there is a cairn of rocks). There is one sort of tricky spot where you have to inch your way over a 3-foot ledge, but almost anybody from senior to child can negotiate the hike to the beach. One can also easily scramble down from the middle (easternmost) of the cone where there is a short ladderway at the top, but this can be slippery. Although tricky to spot on the way down, from the beach looking up, either way back to the crater rim is easy to follow.

Cliff diving at the Green Sand Beach is popular with locals. We do not reccomend it--the rip tides and currents around the rocks are very strong, the water is shallow and divers must be experienced and have perfect timing to hit the waves just right, South Point, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Cliff diving at the Green Sand Beach is popular with locals. We do not reccomend it--the rip tides and currents around the rocks are very strong, the water is shallow and divers must be experienced and have perfect timing to hit the waves just right, South Point, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

Snorkeling: The waters at South Point are wild, crystalline turquoise and wicked. It is obvious from the surf and the currents that swimming is right out along most of this coastline. However in a few protected areas by the boat hoists there is reportedly safe snorkeling, close to the cliffs and only when the sea is calm. Hardy spear fishermen with mask and fins tether themselves with ropes to the steel ladders in the cliff-side; this is obviously risky for the casual snorkeler. The only recommended snorkeling is at the Kaulana boat launch or at the Green Sand Beach and then only in calm seas. But it is beautiful; perhaps as beautiful and wild a spot to snorkel as anywhere in Hawai’i

The Justly Famous and World Renowned Green Sand Beach at South Point, Ka'u Hawaii, Famed in Song, Legend and Fable: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

There are no services. At all. None. And a goodly long way to drive to get to any…plan and act accordingly.

About halfway in to the hike, the edge of the cinder cone above the green sand beach becomes visible, South Point, Ka'u Hawaii: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

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Frank Burgess standing in one of the famous ruts in the old road to the Green Sand Beach at South Point, Ka'u Hawaii. This is why you want to hike instead of drive: Photo by Donald B. MacGowan

All media copyright 2009 by Donald B. MacGowan. All rights reserved.

Every year, I have to go camping at least once – for my sanity.  There is nothing I love more than waking up to the rustle of the trees, cooking up a greasy breakfast, going for long hikes and canoe trips, roasting a chicken over the open fire followed by smores, and falling back asleep under the stars.  This year I went portaging for the first time, and it was awesome.  I love how the experience is completely different from car camping; back to the basics with no comforts, with new challenges each time.  Portaging is hard work, but when you’re with good people it turns into an excellent an adventure.

While I was planning last night’s Warrior Workout I went back to two of the websites that inspired me when I started down this training path last year– www.mtnathlete.com and www.gymjones.com. I was particularly inspired by some of the things I re-read in the “Knowledge” section on the Gym Jones site–statements about why they started Gym Jones (“A visit to any normal gym that is open to the public offers an idea of what modern society thinks it means to be fit; magazines are read while “running” or “biking,” discomfort is proscribed, intensity is lacking. Modern fitness is defined by appearance rather than actual horsepower. A training environment contaminated by this attitude cannot produce the results we seek, physical or mental.”).

The site also talked about “The Will to Suffer” and so I scrawled on the Warrior Board the following: “Who has the will to suffer the most?”

Last night we did a series of circuits.

Three times through:

1. Walking Lunge with Kettlebell Press

2. Kettlebell Walking Lunge–no press and immediately following the first exercise.

3. Log/Sandbag Bench Rows

Four times through:

1. Thor’s Walking Lunges

2. 15 Explosive Sandbag Squat Throws

3. Nuclear Push-ups

Five times through:

1. Decline Kettlebell Crunches to Sandbag Toss Crunches–do the KB Crunches to near failure and then switch to a light sandbag to throw back and forth to a partner while continuing to crunch. The movement with the sandbag should be a bit more explosive.

2. Log Flip Deadlifts–pretty simple, but I did come up with a new complex variation for next time. It will be killer–stay tuned.

Six times (yes, six times) through:

1. Webbing Pikes with Ab Twist/Tucks–a killer core/ab movement.

2. Peek-a-boo Step-ups

It was a long workout–but nice to attack it with the right mindset and realize that the benefits outweigh the pain. Remember, if you can read a magazine or a book while you are working out, you aren’t working hard enough. Buck the trend–have the will to suffer.

Veembur Mana

To return to our narrative.

Maternal grandmother (lady in white) had three brothers. Marriage of the eldest brother was fixed; he was to marry the sister of my maternal grandfather. Before marriage he died.

 Undeterred by this tragedy, the elders decided that the next in line marry her. God’s ways are strange. The would-be bridegroom too died. The elders were unmoved. The third son, Bhavadasan  married my mother’s aunt. VBS is her grandson, Bhavadasan (junior) being elder and Krishnan, only one year elder to me, being the third. Like the brothers Karamazovs, the threesome are dissimilar to each other. They had two living sisters, Sreedevi and Savitry (both no more).

Being closely related, they took care of our monetary needs like school fees; from a loan interest we got our monthly budget of Rs.10. The compound surrounding the mud hut was full of areca nut trees. The fallen leaves were collected by ma and used as fuel. She would carry water from the faraway well (normally the well is attached to the kitchen and we draw water from the well, standing inside the kitchen).I have nonchalantly watched it, but never offered help. Now I see my wife working in the kitchen and her daughter watching TV. Is this a rule of nature?

We got a meagre quantity of rice from tenants. I would go to the farmers, enjoying the scenery en route, collect rice and bring it home in a country canoe. My elder brother being unconcerned, I became the father figure at the age of thirteen.

One day uncle (VBS’s father) told me we were entitled for ration card being below poverty line;as instructed, I went to the Tehsildar office some ten miles way, handed over the application, waited patiently till 4.50 pm, when, pitying my innocence and helplessness, the peon told the clerk to do the needful and I returned with the ration card !

 Naraphan-short for Narayanaphan.

 I don’t remember him. He was VBS’s grandfathr’s son by his second wife who was half mad. The whole property of Veembur Kadalayil became a matter of litigation with a Tamil Brahmin from whom heavy sums were borrowed for construction of the tile factory, the first in our area,which still stands near level crossing at Ollur railway station, and, for maintaining luxurious living (every time maternal grand mother came home, she was given a gold sovereign-a coin prevalent then).  At one stage, the vakil of the opponent secretly visited our ancestor and advised him to deny in the court that he borrowed money; a Nambudiri’s word was taken as true even by a court in those days. A Nambudiri may never lie. True to tradition, the honest ancestor refused to lie and the whole property came into Tamil Brahmin’s hands.

Litigation continued. As he was educated, Naraphan shouldered the responsibility. By 6am train, he would leave for Ernakulam where the High Court is located. We can only guess the number of times the poor fellow travelled to Ernakulam, sometimes without pocket money, in the hope of ultimate success!

At long last, the gods smiled-he won the case but lost his life. To celebrate the victory, he ate sumptuously at a restaurant. It was cholera epidemic time. As soon as he returned home, he started vomiting. He died, his mad mother died and even VBS’s sister Gauri, still a girl, died……Triumph of Death over Life…

I have vague memories of attending pindam ceremony. (Why don’t we leave the dead alone?)

 VBS’s father worked hard to keep the family going. He even worked as poojari at Pisharikal temple where tradition forbade us Kadalayil family members to do pooja.

And yet he was always cheerful and full of humour and wit. VBS was studying in college. His elder brother was in army (he was discharged for being sympathetic to the left-Britain ruled by proxy) and Krishnettan was in Ooty (as cashier in some restaurant-he became fair as a white man when he returned) Uncle and I were together. One day he was so upset that he told me “your mother is mad”.

I had learned to stoically suffer almost anything in this life. I must have looked like an idiot which I actually am.

Today I felt a little like the President visiting the scene of some disaster, touring the country and shaking my head in sympathy at the remains of people’s lives. Yes, I took the train from Kildare to Dublin.

Now, before any of you bite my head off or suggest I’m being harsh on the intervening landscape, I’d like to remind you all that there was massive flooding in Ireland during the past week. Roads were turned into raging torrents (including, without the faintest whiff of irony, River Street in Ballinasloe), cars were carried away, houses became aquaria and those people who make sandbags were the only ones smiling. One of the areas worst hit was a housing estate in Sallins – along the train line - called The Waterways (at least God has a sense of humour…). There, the water was so high it covered entire doorways and cars, lifting wheelie bins and scattering them to the four winds and leaving the place in a bit of a mess really.

It was slightly macabre of us, but as the train passed The Waterways, everyone in the carriage stood up to get a better glimpse of the carnage. There was rubbish everywhere, large pools still remained, cars were plonked in the middle of lawns – it was like the aftermath of a bomb. Farther along the line, entire fields were turned into lakes, bunkers on golf courses were now water-hazards and the sheep were so weighed down with water they couldn’t move – everyone knows wool is best hand-washed.

As is the case whenever floods strike, there were three particular pieces of news footage in plentiful supply throughout the week:

First, that of the annoying students in wet-suits who think it’s hilarious to body-board down the road in the wake of a council vehicle wading through the water; this is usually accompanied by the newsreader lightly saying “While the floods were certainly causing many people headaches, not EVERYONE seemed to mind.” No, but then the sort of people who body-board in the street are the sort who bleach their hair, wear shorts in the winter, buy roof racks for their VW Polos and pretend to be surfing experts when in reality the farthest they’ve ever surfed is to the nearest porn website on the ‘net.

Second, that of the prick with the canoe who is only too fucking delighted to bring it out from the shed and piss everyone else on the street off by rowing past them all as they stand stranded on their cars – he’s thinking “Ha! Not so stupid now, am I? They all said I was a tit for buying this on special offer out of Reader’s Digest. Well, look who’s the tit now!” To be honest sir, you’re still a tit. You have a canoe which you use only in the case of a natural disaster. That’s a bit like buying a spaceship in case the end of the world happens anytime soon.

And thirdly, there was the sight of news reporters in boots splish-splashing about in water up to their knees. What producer in their right mind says: “Look Mark, we’re just afraid the viewer won’t feel close enough to the action if you’re just on the EDGE of the flood. We’d like you to walk into the MIDDLE of it – it just ADDS something…” There must be a room in RTÉ just full of wellies for the news reporters. How would those eejits have dealt with the tsunami? “Mark, standing on top of that tall building isn’t doing it for us, could you borrow a surf-board from those bleach-blonde students with the Polo and actually deliver your report from atop the oncoming tidal wave?”

There is a serious point to all this, of course. It demonstrates that our planning process has failed us, that developers have time and again ignored traditional flood plains, that local councils have not adequately maintained our waterways and that the concretization of Ireland is beginning to have a major bearing on our natural drainage. That, or we just need one massive national tampon.

guest post by sweetie o’leary

I.

I will reveal
that I am here,
that I am indeed building
a canoe
out of brown bargain thread
and that I am not
who I used to be.
all the rest,
is not worth
concealing
any longer.

II.

it’s not uncommon,
to live to 68.
this means, I have
34 more years.
I am back
at the beginning
and none of this
has happened.

III.

it will all start
with me
nude
scars
nipples as garnish
the only one
with this kind of crotch
and this kind of life
at a men’s naked yoga retreat
on black sands
with a checklist from my therapist
of possible triggers
and the first thing
I ever wrote
on my 100-things-to-do-before-I-die list
when I was a little girl
back in the bronx:
“dip body in see-through water”.

I had the opportunity to take a little painting trip to mountains this Thanksgiving. Our friends Karen and Richard Atkin were kind enough to be our host. They have a mountain cabin in Fleetwood, right on the New River. I did these three watercolor paintings Plein Air (outdoors) and couple of other sketches. What I will remember about these paintings is how cold it was when I was painting! Each painting took at least two hours, not to mention the time I spent walking around with my gear, looking for a good spot! And when you stand in one place painting, it does not help! When I was doing the last painting, it was really windy: I would hear the wind coming around bend in the river. It sounded like a train. Painting outdoors, the difficult time to paint, especially with watercolors, is when it is windy.

I absolutely love painting outdoors. For me, painting is all about the complete experience. It is like meeting someone in person. That is one of the reasons, I am learning to do portraits from life. Painting from reference materials is nice, but, it does not compare with painting from life.

When I got back to town, I had opening reception of my Plein Air exhibition at Cary Gallery of Artists. My Plain air work will be on display there for December. Yesterday, I did a live wedding painting at St. Mary’s Chapel in Raleigh. I will be posting that on my blog.

- Tesh Parekh

My art is online at: www.teshparekh.com

Paddling quietly… the veil of nightfall arriving like a rain settling over the water.  The colorful backdrop of the gorge had vanished as morning fog,  leaving mere memories in the shallows…  Hundreds of River Coots… an unworthy black fowl… pools of shadow on the black water… Belle sat silently with paddle across her lap as we drifted into their midst…. a single bird… then hundreds…. lifted… churning the water as if a horrible storm had set in…  The sound of hurried webbed feet ran across the water… outstretched necks… powerful wings gulping air…  bewildered eyes looked back at me…. scores of braids dangling….  The Coots settled and we continued our stealthy pursuit….  Gliding… silently…. 

Darkness fell and the last streaks of mirrored red recoiled from the river… Wind pushed the clouds back across the western horizon…. the infrequent call of a duck somewhere across the water.. resonated…. calling… tonight is hers to whisper the day’s sorrow towards the burning embers above…The silent River, as Moon ricochets Sun, bounced the chatter and voices of the gorge to and fro.  Warmed by the fire, I heard the voice of Tsi’ui’-Gunsin’ni… the river flows but one direction…  her current predetermined.. she changes her path for no one…but flows steadily to a known place.

Purity Spring Resort

A family vacation dream come true!  There are many resorts, but it’s personnel 8 amenities that make the difference!  

Three delicious meals a day, full use of the Resorts’ facilities & recreational programs including tennis, waterskiing, & boating on their private lake, canoe & hiking trips, climbing all & fitness center with a heated indoor pool.  

In winter … 17 uncrowned alpine trails and slopes, 4 lifts, night skiing XC & covered skating rink.  Purity Spring Resort , a home of King Pine, SKI area.  The Resort is situated at 1251 Eaton Rd, Rte. 153, Madison, NH 03849.

Photo courtesy:  tripadvisor