Photographed by supivas

Matrimonio di mio cugino Tony in Sardegna.
Data prevista: domenica 29 giugno.
Faccio il biglietto gia da febbraio.
Come dire di no??
soprattutto perche prima del matrimonio c’era bisogno di un bagno tonificannte con gli amici!

For the wedding of my cusing Tony, i’ve decided to take some days of holydays..
June is wonderful in Sardinia!

– License

As I sit writing this I am wrapped in my duvet with the heating on. Its still cold.

So I am pretending that I am back sitting on this balcony in Mauritius, watching the exotic sun set over the sea. Its a balmy 24 degrees, with a warm breeze whispering through the tropical foliage. The waves are crashing gently on the shore, a calming, soothing noise. Brilliantly coloured tropical birds are singing and music is playing softly somewhere in the back ground. As I sit on the balcony with my husband, a glass of champagne in hand I think how wonderful it is, how warm, relaxing, peaceful and perfect.

Wish you were here too?!!

Where the ocean meets the shore. The path of experience is bounded by waves of desire on the one side and the sandcastles of imagination on the other.

what did you dream in youth?

as this traveling dance closes to an end

did you stop on the journey

did you even notice if you moved

the steps you planned

i’m fairly certain you didn’t

but

surely that is the best dance

of all…

Beloved Channel 5 lensman Jim Sitton struck by tragedy; Station in …
The WPTV-Channel 5 newsroom is going through the toughest days in its history. Tragedy has struck the stations best-known, award-winning photographer on.

Four killed during South Florida family Thanksgiving gathering …
Police said the home was owned by Jim Sitton, a photojournalist for WPTV-TV and father of the little girl killed. Sitton told WPTV his daughter was in bed when she was shot. He was at the party at the time of the shooting but was not …

4 relatives shot dead at Fla. Thanksgiving party – KansasCity.com
</p><p>Police said the home was owned by Jim Sitton, a photojournalist for WPTV-TV and father of the little girl killed. Sitton told WPTV his daughter was in bed when she was shot. He was at the party at the time of the shooting but was …

4 relatives shot dead at US Thanksgiving party « voiletadams
This undated photo provided by Jim Sitton via WPTV shows Makayla Sitton, 6. Four people including a child in bed were shot to death during a family Thanksgiving gathering Thursday night, Nov. 26, 2009 in Jupiter, Fla., and a manhunt was …

NEWS and VIEWS from AROUND THE WORLD – T MOBILE SERVICE OUTAGE …
shortly Makaylas father, Jim Sitton, had tucked his 6-year old daughter into bed Thursday night. He said she was eager for her performance in the Nutcracker on Friday. An upset and grieving father, Jim Sitton told local television …

NEWS and VIEWS from AROUND THE WORLD – SELF EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE …
Shortly before the Thanksgiving shooting which left 4 family members dead, Makaylas father, Jim Sitton, had tucked his 6-year old daughter into bed Thursday night. He said she was eager for her performance in the Nutcracker on Friday. …

4 relatives shot dead at Fla. Thanksgiving party – WAAYTV.com …
According to WPTV-TV, the little girl killed was the daughter of WPTV photojournalist Jim Sitton. His two sisters were also among the dead. He was at the party at the time of the shooting but was not wounded. Sitton told local media …

jim sitton commented on the group “florida network”
jim sitton commented on the group florida network. find more videos like this on dvprofessionals.com video production community.

jim sitton commented on the group “christian film and video producers”
jim sitton commented on the group christian film and video producers

perfect storm, Vimeo, SWELL, Investigative Reporting, News Photographer, WPTV, prayers, jupiter, Special Projects, tangle, waves, blogging, LinkedIn, AP Award, Broadcast Media, Media industry,

Photographed by flickrohit

I was glad to see that he was as eager to meet me as i was to him

– License

Lately all I’ve been able to day dream of is sitting on a beach. Somewhere warm and humid… with beaches and waves. Somewhere I can stick my butt in the sand and relax for a week. It’s all I want. Instead I’m heading to Louisville, KY… which has it’s perks, but is a far cry from a tropical locale. Bon Voyage.

New Scientist reports that ‘they’ve’ found a way to trap a rainbow.

Not long now… not long…

One beneficial aspect of the floods is that there is lots of water for kayakists. Here are some pics taken at Curragour, on the Shannon in Limerick city, on 28 November 2009.

Verão chegando… as ondas já não aparecem mais com tanta frequencia, ou quase nem aparecem mais. Já os turistas, muito pelo contrario começam a dominar o litoral, as pessoas passam o ano todo nas grandes cidades, e não estão nem ai pra praia, afinal praia no meio do ano ? No inverno ? “Você é louco” eles dizem, “praia com esse frio ?”, mal sabem que os dias de inverno são os melhores pra se frequentar o litoral, vento fresco, dias ensolarados, praias vazias e altas ondas e gente bonita, quem realmente conhece e admira o nosso fantástico litoral, repleto de mata atlântica.

Transito na imigrantes foto: arquivo.

Era o tempo em que verão, sinônimo de calor, praia, amigos, ondas e felicidade. Hoje, fico triste me pensar que e praticamente uma odisséia chegar a praia, em finais de semana, feriados e pré-reveillon, estradas lotadas com carros velhos cheio de quinquilharias, que quebram no meio do caminho ajudando o trânsito se tornar mais caótico ainda, esses mesmos por não conhecer o nosso litoral e não terem educação levando lixo e mais lixo para as estradas e praias, ruas que durante o ano são vazias, viram verdadeiros lixões, montanhas de lixos empilhados, milhares de bitucas nas ruas, latas, ah as latas, só por que são recicláveis eles jogam no chão afinal alguém pega depois, jogue no lixo ou procure uma coleta seletiva chão não e lugar de lixo, mesmo que seja reciclavel.

Fico triste pelo desrespeito pra todos os que vivem ali e frequentam durante o ano todo. Barulho, algazarras, rachas,  sujeira e não me refiro as pessoas que não tem dinheiro, muitos playboys acham que são donos do mundo e podem fazer o que querem com seus carrões e motos do ano.

Quanto tempo essas pessoas vão demorar a entender que praia e uma cultura, natureza e o nosso lar e precisamos preserva-la, fico com medo pois a cada ano que passa fica pior. Espero que as pessoas possam ler isso e se conscientizar que devemos fazer a nossa parte mais um pouco, quem vive pro surf, quem vive do mar ou da natureza a sua volta e que realmente entende o quanto e belo e o quanto e importante e manter isso tudo intacto.

As pessoas vão ao litoral e dizem que conheceram tudo, foram nos shooppings, feirinhas, baladas, restaurantes, conhecaram o que ? Isso não e o litoral quem sabe o que e jundu, e o quanto ele e importante pro litoral ? Quem sabe o que restinga ? E que quase não existe mais. Comunidade indígenas, cachoeiras escondidas, maior biodiversidade por metro quadrado que a amazônia, borboletas que só existem ali ? Acho que uns 2 em cada 10 que estarão lá esse verão sabem disso e ainda estou sendo otimista.

Só peço respeito por esse litoral e pela comunidade que lá vive, e pelas pessoas que frequentam sempre afinal essas pessoas que só vão em final de ano não sabem o que e praia e se elas não tiverem no futuro as vidas vão continuar sendo as mesmas, já para nós amantes disso tudo, não consigo nem imaginar o que seria da gente sem nosso templo para renovarmos nossas almas.

Maresias dia perfeito no inverno.  foto: Felipe Darin

The FXU/Freeriders Surf Comp 09 went on at Porthmoer today. Ryan borrowed my camera again.

Ryan’s gonna get some wings.

After a few shots, he became a huge fan. Taken by Ryan.

Ryan’s theory was, take pics of this ripping grom and sell the pics to him later. Taken by Ryan.

That rock threw some big spray. Taken by Ryan.

St. Ives’ own Teahupoo, except it’s right. Taken by Ryan.

Classic sand shot. Taken by Ryan.

Nose drops. Taken by Ryan.

Rob H’s shoes and tail. Taken by Ryan.

Barber is his arch nemisis. Taken by Ryan.

It was raining pretty hardcore the whole time. Taken by Ryan.

Keith was the head judge as well as the color guard of the comp. Taken by Ryan.

I went out for a second time during the day. It might seem like awesome to have two sessions in a day but when it’s 50 degrees below freezing and your wetsuit is wet from the last use, things aren’t so lush… Taken by Ryan.

Winter in Europe, 2009 and I was on route to Morocco from Liverpool. John Lennon airport to Agadir, Morocco.

3 hours later, I peeled off the excess clothing and enjoyed the balmy warm breeze at 9 in the evening. 120 GBP, return ticket (including my paraglider) on a no frills airline. The airport was efficient and within 30 minutes our group of 4 paragliders were outside getting a taxi for the 2hr ride to Mirhleft. Being a Brit from South Africa, I was tense for the the first 25 min of our journey, driving on the right hand side of the road takes a little getting used to,but when I eventually accustomed myself, I was snapping pictures of everything that we passed. I didn’t see one single camel, I saw donkeys, goats and dogs but no camels, they are obviously not nocturnal creatures.

Mirhleft is South of Agadir and after one hour we were driving through Tiznit, only 40 minutes more and we would be in Mirhleft.

Mirhleft (29″ 43′ 57.20″N-  10″ 02′ 04.52″W) is a young fishing village, established at the start of the last century, although the fishing industry is not what it used to be, you can get a taste of what life was like, fish and seafood make up a large portion of most menus in Mirhleft.

The locals are friendly and helpful, speaking Arabic, French, Berber and enough English to get by. The local surfer kids are the friendliest inhabitants, they do not hesitate to approach you and introduce themselves, once introduced, you have a friend for life. Besides surfing, soccer is the most discussed sport in Mirhleft and although paragliding is popular in the area, I only met two Moroccan paragliders. (There are at least 8 residents that fly though.)

There are three paragliding sites within 20 minutes of Mirhleft, the most popular being Nigel’s place, situated North of the town http://www.paraglidingearth.com/en-html/index.php?site=10483                      Nigel runs a well groomed take-off site with the help of local pilot, Larbi. It is situated on a 300m ridge, which runs SSW-NNE for about 4.4kms  primarily ridge soaring but there is enough land between the ridge and the beach for decent thermals to develop.

The pace of Mirhleft is perfect for visitors and locals, the hot sun slows everything down, stray dogs drag themselves along the dusty streets while men relax at the shady cafes, sipping lattes or peppermint tea. And for those who enjoy good coffee, Moroccans know how to serve it!

I couldn’t work out which day was market day as there were always street vendors around and even though you are an hour away from the Sahara, you can find just about anything in Mirhleft. The fresh produce is mainly local and it is good quality, the fruit and vegetables are huge, healthy and cheap, the fish is fresh and also inexspensive. Silver work is a traditional industry in Morocco and you see a lot of the crafts in shops and on the street. The homemade nougat is a must!

I think I saw four hotels in Mirhleft but I would not be surprised if there are more, tourism is the main breadwinner in Mirhleft and you can stay bed and breakfast for as little as 16.00 GBP per day.  I stayed in the Hotel Abertih and I was made very welcome by the staff, the facilities were adequate and the owner, Damien, is also a parglider.

Wifi Internet is available at most hotels and guest houses, it isn’t fast but you can download torrents if you are longing for an episode of your favourite programme. I did see an internet cafe and a PC shop and some local surfers told me that I could buy blank cd’s in town. The post office is functional and the clerk speaks enough english to help you, it also has a western union, so cash is not a problem. I only saw one bank in town but there may have been another one? The post office will also convert foreign currency, but the locals will give you a better rate.

Although Morocco is a predominantly muslim country, alcohol is on sale in the hotels, bars and some of the restaurants, you are asked not drink outside as the locals do not share the passion(some do but only on the sly)

Hashish or kief is plentyful and it is fantastic, if you haven’t been offered any in your first day, you are obviously ’square’ or very frightening. I had three lovely pieces of Hash by my second day and the price was ridiculous, 10.00GBP for a quarter. It is a light yellow/brown, very aromatic and easy to crumble, no need for burning, it mixes easy with your tobacco and it smokes easily too, three puffs and you can pass it on. I would rate the hashish as being much better than Afghani hash. Although the hash was readily available, the police do not tollerate smokers of the herb, best to smoke on the roof or at the beach.

Mirhleft is for the adventurous spirit, it is for those people who are open to something different,  if you are looking for shopping malls, air-con and discotheques, Mirleft is not for you. The heat is unforgiving and unrelenting, even in winter, the dust can sometimes blow, into everything! If you are looking to enjoy Africa on African terms, Mirhleft and Morocco have a lot to offer.

Some of the activities not yet mentioned, horse riding, quad-biking trails, surfing school, henna tattooing, beach fires and drumming circles, nature walks, traditional musicians and hashish, awesome hashish!

If you live in Europe and you enjoy surfing, paragliding, sunshine and Hashish you ought to visit Mirhleft, I speant 14 fun filled days there and I will go back, most definately. My total spend came to 750-00GBP that is including airfair and all food and drink and smoke.

You might think that I’m all about the money, seeing how excited I got at being paid for two radio appearances, and now with my excitement at making buku bucks just for doing one show per month, but that’s not true.

It’s just that Dave and I have plans, dreams, hopes of being independent in our chosen fields, but lately life has been putting some mighty big financial roadblocks in our way—the roof of the house started leaking, and we had to borrow from our 401Ks to get it patched (patched, not even replaced); the washer and dryer had died and so we had to replace them (I mean, c’mon, they were only 10 years old, what’s with that?); and the mechanic said that my car (which was only 9 years old) would cost more to repair than the it was worth, so now we had a car payment that we really couldn’t afford. So, when a chance to get ahead a little on the bills presents itself, well, we tended to get a bit happy and carried away.

I had gotten to Dave’s office with the radio’s offer and instead of trying to explain my elation, I simply handed him the document. As he read it, his eyes grew larger and the look of shock was soon replaced elation almost as great as mine. After some whoopying and hugging, which garnered quite a few stares from a number of co-workers, we escaped his office for a celebratory lunch at one of our favorite little restaurants, Berghoff’s on west Adams.

“So you think I should go ahead and take the deal, right?” I asked as the waiter took away our dirty dishes and left the bill.

“I think it looks good,” he said signing the bill and handing it back to the waiter. “But it wouldn’t hurt to have Bill check it over.”

I nodded. Bill, our neighbor and friend, was a lawyer. He handled primarily wills and probates, but I reasoned mentally, that a will was a type of contract, so he should be able to advise us on this.

Dave walked with me back to his office, and then he went upstairs to his round of meetings. Meanwhile, I continued walking to the train station. Using my cell phone, which I carry only for emergencies (such as when I get lost—and I get lost a LOT—and I need to call Dave so he can help me figure out where I am, and then get me where I’m trying to go), I called Bill. He agreed to see me, saying that he could squeeze me in between Mrs. Camden at 2:30 and Mr. Rowr at 3:30. Bill has an office in downtown St. Charles, so once I got off the train I would only have to walk a few blocks from the train station to get to his place.

The train got to the St. Charles stop a little after 2. Since I had some time before my meeting with Bill, I wandered around the town square park admiring all of the scarecrows that had been created for the annual scarecrow festival. Closer to 2:40, I went over to Bill’s office and let the receptionist know I was there.

The meeting with Bill was quick and relatively painless. He adjusted a couple of minor statements and had me sign the document with his receptionist and him as witnesses. We then agreed that Dave and I would host him and his wife to dinner at a restaurant of their choosing to pay him back for his service, and I was on my way back to the train station.

The first train, the commuter express, zipped past. Ten minutes later the next commuter train pulled in and I hustled on board as everyone else tried to get off. There were no seats available on the car I had gotten on to, so I stood in the aisle with one hand braced against the back of a train seat.

As I stood in the crowded train swaying with the movement, I wondered who at the radio station could be the person who was pinging my energies. There were a number of offices opening right off of the reception area, and several more off of the two hallways at the back of the reception area. Yet, both times I had been toward the front, so it had to be someone in one of those offices, or so I surmised.

I was trying to remember which of the offices had had lights on in them and so were probably occupied when I had arrived this morning, when a particularly tight corner caught me unawares and I overswayed. My hand knocked into the back of the head of the passenger in the seat and the woman turned to glare at me. I gave her an apologetic look as the conductor announced my stop.

I jostled, pushed, and finally shoved my way through the crowds and onto the train platform. I tend to get a bit rude when getting off the train, but then I’m always so afraid that the train is going to start up again while I’m still onboard and trying to get off. I know the conductors are watching and trying to make sure that everyone gets where they need to, but I also know that with the mobs of people on these commuter trains that the conductors can’t see everyone or everything. So, I always have this little panicky fear pushing me forward sometimes to the point that I’m standing at the door to the car two stops before I need to get off. Dave just laughs at me, but then he’s not as short as I am and no one is going to overlook him in a crowd.

Back at home, I was again looking at the deal from the radio station, when I decided I would go down there personally tomorrow. I could fax or mail the agreement to them, but if I went down there to deliver it in person I just might be able to find the person whose energies were pinging mine; the person who just might be responsible for pulling me into their nightmares.

And, just so Dave wouldn’t think I was wasting the entire day, I could go to the library and finish the research I needed to complete that article my editor had asked me to write. Having a plan of action made me feel better, and I turned toward the stairs for the bedroom and nearly fell over.

For over four years, the design to use wave driven upwelling pumps to pull nutrient rich water from the depths to the surface has been spear headed by Phill Kithill, a Native New Mexican inventor. The idea is simple; use the kinetic energy of waves to pull up deep nutrient rich water to the surface allowing phytoplankton to blooms, which in turn provide food for fish and sequester CO₂.

These pumps would operate offshore helping to amplify natural blooms and create algae blooms in dead zones or areas of water with no life in the photosynthetic zone. These pumps do not only sequester carbon and create food, but they create jobs in the countries that choose to produce them and possible carbon credits in the future for those countries or companies.

 Do the pumps work though?

 Karl and Letelier, 2008 research and others support the hypothesis that controlled upwelling can in fact lead to phytoplankton blooms. Through photosynthesis, phytoplankton absorb CO₂ and release O₂. Once they are eaten or die and sink to the bottom of the ocean, that CO₂ is sequestered or stored. The key factors determining CO₂ ocean sequestration by N₂- fixation or photosynthesis depend among other things on extra residual Phosphate found at higher concentrations in deep water or up welled water (Karl and Letelier, 2008). If wave driven pumps can be made to bring up Iron (Fe) and Phosphorus (P) to the photosynthetic zones, algae booms or diazotroph blooms will be triggered allowing for CO₂ sequestration and food production (Karl and Letelier, 2008).

Preliminary tests off the coasts of Hawaii and the pacific coast of Mexico show that not only are the pumps feasible, they are functional. In the Hawaiian two-week test, increased fish presence around the pumps was noted as well as the presence of a whale shark (Kithil, 2009). This is not scientifically significant, but indicative of possible increased food sources. To see how they work, please view an interactive diagram on the Atmocean website under pump technology.

Why do we need upwelling pumps?

These upwelling pumps may not only increase productivity but also help stop the spread of dead zones. Due to climate change models, it has been found that increased atmospheric temperatures have created a greater stratification of natural upwelling cycles (Polovina et al. 2008). Polovina et al. 2008 data has also been consistent with previous data that supports increased vertical stratification, limiting natural upwelling cycles of oceans since the 1950’s which remains consistent with output models on global warming. Low surface chlorophyll areas in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans have expanded by 6.6 million km² or by about 15% from 1998 through 2006 (Polovina et al. 2008). The North Atlantic with the smallest oligotrophic gyre (less than 0.07 mg chl/m³) is expanding most rapidly at around 4.3%/year (Polovina et al. 2008). These pumps would help amplify natural blooms and limit vertical stratification perhaps reversing the studied trend of increasing dead zones. This is of course in conjunction with increased food sources and sequestered carbon which remain the main goals and purpose of these natural pumps. To see more applications, please visit Atmocean application page.

This is a brief background into how wave driven upwelling pumps work as well as the reason for having them. To find out more about this exciting project or get involved, join atmocean upwelling pumps project found at ECOwaves.org.

 References

 Karl, David M., Letelier, Ricardo M. Nitrogen fixation-enhanced carbon sequestration in low-nitrate, low chlorophyll seascapes. Marine Ecology Progress Series. Inter-Research 2008. www.int-res.com

 Kithil, Phil. Atmocean Inc. 607 Cerrillos, Santa Fe, NM. 2009. Website: http://www.atmocean.com/index.htm

 Polovina, Jeffrey J., Howell, Evan A., Abecassis, Melanie. Ocean’s least productive waters are expanding. Geophysical Research Letters. Vol: 35 L03618. 2008

I just wanted to share in this quick post with everyone a video I saw this last summer at The Amazing Meeting 7 in Las Vegas.  During the convention, our pals at the Skeptics Guide to the Universe shared their first effort at skeptical movie-making, a spoof of “ghost-hunting” shows which have become so popular these days.  For a more detailed analysis of why ghost-hunting is a load of woo-woo, click here. I hope you enjoy the show!

The G Hunters: Episode 1, Part 1

The G Hunters: Episode 1, Part 2

Invariable transistor
static.
Leading to the romance of radiowaves.
Leading to broadcasts
of the nightly news sent
through thickening televised air.
Now every high point holds
finger-antennae pointing at holes
in the atmosphere,
every low point a ringing,
buzzing baby or ball and chain, and
every cloud a vagabond star.
Oscillation.
Vibration.

As night falls,
the violent vibrations cease,
towns twinkle out, rooms regain their shadows,
lives their silence.
All processes stop; copper wires rest.
Oh, to be there, to watch the charges dip low,
to hear the transformers sleep:
A dull, static valley, a lull, a silent song
composed of soft voices,
of the deep and distant horns of
lumber trains,
of syncopated sirens speeding off into darkness.

In day, microwaves and fields blanket
the earth
and we hum along
in sleepy and sterile wakefulness,
in a charged and blank state;
but oh, to be there, to watch
this highest hum
turn to a staccato trickle,
as if conducted to sotto voce;
then can whispers win,
breaking over the silent earth
like waves.

My mum is a psychologist. As such, ever since I was a little kid, my life and little mind was full of conceptual images. Whenever I failed to understand something that was causing emotion in me, my mum would describe images…and by talking about those images she was trying to get to me -you see I’ve always been the introvert who’d be obviously ‘down’, yet pretended to be clearly ‘up’.

I went for a walk this morning. By the water. No computer, no internet, no phone, no people around, no city noise, nothing. Just me and the waves. And then, my mum’s voice started whispering in my ears: “deep blue, upset, angry, full of energy as they hit the rocks, with depth that’s so hard to miss, mad at themselves or someone else…who knows? And then a sailor comes along, who’s kind and giving, and ready to hear the waves talk. If waves could talk…what would they be saying right now? Who would they be calling? For how long can they keep their sorrows?”

I am wearing a pair of denim jeans, a black v-neck t-shirt,  a black jacket, leather black short boots, I am unshaved with messy hair, I am wearing my black-frame glasses and my favorite black Tag Heuer watch.

These waves…what would they say…

]]> http://blogdamafia.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/maresias-hoje-2711/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:57:03 +0000 funbrothers http://blogdamafia.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/maresias-hoje-2711/

Sent out the order for my book a few days ago. After much hard work i think its finally complete.
Took some screen captures of how my book has progressed.

I broke up the book into a couple sections. The journey, the domain, the faces, the ride, and the price.

This is the cover of the book called 12:51

12:51 is an inside reference to one of our first big moments with skimboarding. We hit a new beach and at 12:51, the posted high tide time, the shore breaks were going off and had the time of our lives. From there we came up with a unofficial name for the group of people that skim together…. 12:51

The first section is the journey

The next section is the domain. which is pretty much the environment we live in.

Following this is the portrait section on the common faces of the group.

Next is the ride, which makes everything worth while.

Last but not least is the Price. This is what we pay for when participating in this sport.

My book is a little long, i think its 76 pages. But I didnt want anyone to be left out or feel like i was putting more pictures of certain people so i tried to keep it even. anywho, if you want to check it out the blurb website: 12:51

Bueno, me imagino que ya saben de Google Waves, esta PERRÍSIMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO la verdad, ya me dieron invitación y la neta esta bien chido, ando bien traumas; pero algún dia, cuando me anden pidiendo invitación me entenderán, al diablo con todo regado, todo junto, twitter, face, blogger, TODO!

Si quieres saber que es:

Aquí esta la explicación

Lo leíste primero en La Chaira por parte del Dr.BurN

kool

así es la realidad…