Traveling Forever

Making a Skate Video for the Net, Part 1

2005-09-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

It has never been so easy to make your own skateboard video and post it onto the net. With a few hours work, you can create a decent video available worldwide for anyone to download. Just 3 years ago, this would have taken days, and cost a whole lot of money.

If you haven't already seen it yet, check out my skate video of the week. This particular video was made in 2 nights worth of filming, and one night's worth of editing. I recorded the video with my handheld Sony Cybershot DSCP200, and then edited it on my hp pavilion laptop using Adobe Premier Pro 1.5.

I recommend beginner editors use more user friendly video editors. For the PC there's Windows Movie Maker, and for the Apple user there's the iMovie software. Both are super easy to use and run on just about any computer. They're also free.

Skate Video of the Week

2005-09-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hey all. Here it is, the first ever skate video of the week, free for your enjoyment. Let me know what ya think about the video, and check back next week for the next video. Peace.

Don't Ever Gamble. You Might Win.

2005-09-02T08:13:00.000-07:00

When Sal first told me he was a really good gambler I rolled my eyes. I remembered my friends back home hustling and getting hustled in Texas Hold 'Em at the local greyhound track. "No really, I'm pretty good. I play the odds and I use tells. Seriously, I win pretty often."

"Tells" are subtle gestures people make unconsciously which reveal what sort of cards they might be holding. Slumped shoulders, for instance, shows a weak hand, while shaking hands suggests a strong hand. Of course, these tells really only work on beginner players, because just about every experienced player is familiar with the most common tells, and what they all mean.

When we finally found a place to test out all of Sal's gambling trash talk, we were in Hot Springs, North Carolina. There was a little video blackjack machine in the back of an old convenience store with a laundromat built into it. Sal sat down at the machine and immediately put in a five dollar bill. What a moron, I thought to myself. Five bucks down the drain.

He started playing, and my lack of interest in gambling quickly made me look at what other games were in the convenience store, and there it was. 1945 Plus. The game I have wanted to beat since I was 12, but never had the money. I looked in my pocket and realized I had a 10 dollar bill with nothing to spend it on. I got quarters for my cash, and 45 minutes later I had beaten the game and made the high score and fulfilled a childhood fantasy. I will now die a happy man.

Sal meanwhile was still playing the stupid video blackjack machine. I went over to his machine to see what sort of score he had. Huh. Up 200 dollars.

"Hey Sal, does this machine pay out money?"
"What? No, naw, they usually only pay store credit, but I don't think this game does."
"Well, it has a pay out button, why don't you push it just to see?"
"Huh? Oh yea, it does, alright."

He pushed the button and out came a receipt for 10 dollars. He pushed the button again. Another 10 dollar receipt.

$200 is a lot of booze.

An older man with a pipe playing Turkey Hunter came over to see what all the ruckus was about. He looked at us, looked at the machine, and then asked to buy our tickets. Sal went into bartering mode, and in under 2 minutes had $180 cash in his hand. I couldn't believe it.

Sal went back the next day to the same machine with a five dollar bill. This time, he only made $110, tough luck for an hour's worth of "work". I hate gambling.

There is a lesson to all of this. I just don't know what it is.

G Is For Giardia

2005-09-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

I'm squatting in the middle of the Nicaraguan desert shitting my brains out in front of a busload of locals. For the past half hour my stomach has been possessed by Satan. The fires of hell have been let loose inside my bowels, and I am thinking seriously about camping for the night in the desert by myself to let my stomach cool down. Of course, I don't have enough water for something like that, and I have no idea where I am. All I know is I cannot get back on the bus and the up-down-up-down with a stomach like this, because I'm liable to shit my pants.

Traveling is about losing self-respect. How the hell can you stay politically correct or put on airs when you're shitting uncontrollably from every orifice in front of 50 people you don't know in a country thousands of miles from a best friend and a warm bed? Ya can't, and you learn just how much amazing it is to have a friend nearby, and you vow never to take any moment with your friends for granted once you get out of this misery.

When I told the busdriver to stop the bus he laughed. We both knew this was a non-stop busride. By this point we also both knew this busride was 10 1/2 hours long, all the way around the Lake of Nicaragua on every miserable dirt road the Nicaraguans had. When I got on the bus I thought it was a three hour long ride, because I let someone else do the planning for our trip into Nicaragua. Last time I do that.

Then I yelled. "Tengo que cacar AHORA!" (I have to shit NOW!) he got the message and quickly pulled over. The entire bus watched me run into the desert, desperately searching for cover in a place where there's none. I ripped my pants down and proceeded to push the hardest I'd ever pushed for a shit. My busride was 10 1/2 hours long, yes, but we'd only been through 5 1/2 hours, and I just started my ass period. Time to evacuate all bowels with an anal push that would make hercules blush. Nothing but gas. Oh fuck. Come on come on give me some solids, give me some solids. Everyone on the bus is off and staring. Come on you bitch, give me a solid BM (Bowel Movement). A little terd, and its time to get back on the bus.

Normally I'm totally against drugs, but as soon as I got back on the bus I started to rip through my pack searching for any sort of drug to keep me from having to get off the bus and camp in the desert. I found an Immodium AD.

At this point, I would just like to thank Immodium AD for saving my life. I immediately took the Immodium and sat curled up in a ball. For half an hour I thought of nothing but staying clenched and taking my own life. Then, miraculously, the urge to defecate subsided and I could unclench. Thank god. I always carry Immodium AD now. Lots of it.

Why Down Sleeping Bags Suck

2005-08-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

The first week out on my Appalachian Trail hike I almost died because I wasn't very good at setting up my hammock, and my down sleeping bag provided zero insulation once wet. A strong thunderstorm came through while I was camped on top of a mountain in Georgia. 25 mph winds in my protected site. Gusts probably up to 35. A big gust came through and knocked one of my tarp stakes out which hadn't been in deep enough. BOOM! Within half a second my entire sleeping bag was soaked. Luckily, I was camped next to a full shelter, and so I ran to the crowded shelter and camped out underneath the shelter with the mice until the storm calmed down.

Meanwhile, my bag was soaked, and the temperature was dropping quick. Probably about 38 degrees. My sleeping bag was nothing more than a wet piece of toilet paper protecting me from the elements. The next day it rained all day and I did not get a chance to dry my bag out. The next night the temperature dropped to below 20 degrees, and I was left in my still wet toilet paper sleeping bag with an emergency blanket wrapped around it. A soaking wet horrible night with zero sleep. Tossing and turning for hours just waiting for the sun to come up and the cold to leave.

Down sleeping bags have no business being out in cold weather in my opinion. In an emergency situation, they can't be relied on to save your ass when its 35 degrees out and there's a misty sort of rain seeping through your tent slowly getting your bag soaked. If your sleeping back ceases to function the minute you need it most, its useless. Get a synthetic bag.

Gear List for My 1,000 Mile Hike

2005-08-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

So, do you think you can hike 1,000 miles? Or do you just want to go out for a nice long weekend hike? Either way, the gear requirement is the same, the bare minimum. Here's a list of what I carried on my Appalachian Trail hike from Georgia to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia:

Backpack: Granite Gear Vapor Trail, pictured at left. This is by far the best backpack I have ever used. At 1 lb 14 oz this thing is super light to boot. I took out the hip straps because I kept my total weight with food and water under 22 lbs.

Shelter: Hennessy Hammock Expedition A-Sym, by Tom Hennessy. Hammock camping is the wave of the future. Its just too nice to get into a bug-proof, cozy cocoon of a shelter while everyone else sleeps with mice. Another benefit is the fact that you don't need a campsite. See some trees? Set up camp. Leave no trace. If you're gonna be in cool weather, I recommend getting the SuperShelter insulation system. It works like a charm.

Sleeping Bag: Mountansmith Wisp, the most comfortable sleeping bag I've ever owned (when dry), just do not get it wet. You will be miserable. Of all my gear, this is the one I think I would change. Down sleeping bags cannot be relied on to keep you warm if its cool out at all. Go for a synthetic sleeping bag if there's any chance of the temperature dropping below 50 degrees. Seriously. Check out my article, Why Down Sleeping Bags Suck, if you don't believe me.

Cookset: Titanium Evernew .8 Litre Cook Pot, with homemade soda can stove, the Photon Stove. This setup is about as good as it gets. I kept my Lexan Spork, lighter, stove, and a Lexan cup all inside my pot and never once had a problem. Put your alcohol in an old soda bottle for a cheap fuel container.

Water: I started out with a 2 litre platypus hydration system, but it sprung a leak on a hot Georgia day, and I vowed never to buy one again. When I came into an outfitter in town a few days later, they exchanged my platypus for another for free. I haven't had another problem, so we'll see if I continue to buy from platypus.

Ditty Bag: Lightweight rope, compass, head lamp, space blanket, toothbrush & toothpaste, pocket knife, Immodium AD, tylenol, alchohol pads, and band aides. About all you need for emergencies on a trail running through so many towns. I did get a little bout of crypto that started on the trail, and the Immodium really is a lifesaver when diarrea strikes in the wilderness.

Clothes: Two quick dry shirts and two zip off pants in summer. Two pairs of nylon socks, perfect socks for hiking. Always wear synthetic in the woods, because cotton will kill (literally) when wet and cold. The nylon socks were really a big part of keeping my feet in perfect condition throughout my hike. Every time you stop, take your shoes and socks off. Nylon socks will dry in a few minutes, greatly improving the health of your feet.

Shoes: With a lightweight setup like mine, trail runners are a perfect fit. With the Montrail trail runners I bought after the first 200 miles, I never once had a blister. Not once. Not even breaking them in. They were a godsend.

Umbrella: Yes, I carried one of Go-Lite's little umbrellas. They're no good for cold weather in my opinion, but in the summer they're the greatest thing ever. While everyone else was overheating like crazy in their $160 Gore Tex "breathable" rainjackets I was super cool with my shirt off and my umbrella over my head. Nice.

Started Filming Skate Video Today, So...

2005-08-29T20:10:00.000-07:00

You get old skate pics and no filler! Yes. Today is a good day, huh?

Building a Skate Box, Part 2

2005-08-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Part 2 of building a box. Hopefully you've already built the top, maybe skated it a little as a manny pad. Well, now we're gonna lift that little box we made off the ground and put some rails on it.

Start off by going to Home Depot and getting 2"x2"x6' angle iron. Its over in the hardware section. Hopefully you can find some angle iron with holes for screws pre-drilled. If not, don't fret, Liquid Nails works just as well. Pick some of the stuff up while you're in Home Depot. Put this stuff aside. We're starting with the box that goes underneath what you've already built.

Cut some 2x4 to the same dimensions as the box. You've already made this cut before, and can draw your lines to cut by holding your 2x4 right up again the box. Once you've made all the cuts, lay the wood out like the picture above and screw it all together.

Next, its time to decide the final height you want your box to be. I made mine at 15" high. Cut four pieces of 2x4 and screw them from both sides onto the box you just made, like the picture above.

Next, flip the older box you made upside down. Put the new box on top of it like shown in the picture. You may have to hammer it in to get it all the way down. Make sure its flush all the way around, so it sits well on the floor when its finally time to skate. Screw it in from both sides on every riser, 2 screws for each side. Also, ignore the rails already on the box in the picture. Yours shouldn't be on yet.

Finally, flip your assembled box over. Yes, its looks a whole lot like a box at this point. Time for the final step, putting your rails on. Take your 2"x2"x6' angle iron you bought earlier and wipe it down with either alcohol or mineral spirits. This cleans off all the gunk on the rail and makes sure the Liquid Nails really take hold. Smear Liquid Nails all the way across the rail, and lay the rail in place. Do the same for the other side and let the liquid nails set for a few hours.

Skate it up on your new box! My box was a little under 6 feet long, and that's why my rails hang over the edge a little bit. Yours shouldn't, if you made it 6 feet long like I said. I've still got to cut the ends of my rails, but you're all ready to skate. So why are you still reading this? GO SKATE.

Building a Skate Box, Part 1

2005-08-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

So you wanna build a skate box, huh? Well, to start out with we'll build a small manny pad, then later attach angle iron for grinding and more 2x4 to raise the box up further off the ground.

For the first part of this project, you'll need a piece of 1/2 " or above plywood at least 2' x 6'. ( ' is the abbreviation of feet, " is the abbreviation of inch) If you have a piece a little less than 6' laying around, you can use that too. Otherwise, draw out a rectangle 2' x 6' on your piece of plywood.

Next, lift the plywood you've made your lines on onto some pieces of scrap wood. This can be your 2x4's if you're careful, otherwise just any old piece of wood you've got laying around. Put on your safety goggles, set your circular saw to just barely cut through the plywood. Cut slowly along the lines right on top of the wood, double checking to make sure you're not cutting into the ground.

Alright. Now we're starting to see the shape of the box... exciting, huh? Yea, I know. Next, get a 2"x4"x8' out and lay it down on top of the side edge like so:

Draw the line where you need to cut, and put the 2x4 back on the scrap and cut it. Do the same for the other side.

Next, flip everything over, with the 2x4 underneath the plywood like so:

Line up one corner and hammer a nail in. Make sure your nails are long enough to reach the 2x4. Line up the other end and hammer in another nail. Drive in two more nails, evenly spaced, in the middle somewhere. Next, do the same for the other side.

Now its time to measure and cut the cross support for the box. Flip the box over again, and line up a piece of 2x4 against the edge. Draw a line at the cut point so the piece fits snugly between the other pieces. Cut it and double check that it fits well. Nail this piece on one end, and then do the same for the other.

Finally, measure and cut in the middle of the box for the last support. Nail this piece in by putting the box on its side and straddling the box. Its easier this way to make sure you hit the 2x4. Your box should now look something like this:

Flip it over and look at it. Is everything level? Stand on the box to double check everything. Didn't break? Skate the manny pad you've made for a while, or go right onto part two of building the box.

The Worst Mistake Ever?

2005-08-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

So maybe you've read Ishmael, the book where a gorilla tells a man how to save humanity. In it the author tries to show the invention of agriculture is responsible for just about all problems we face here in society. The gorilla named Ishmael makes the argument that the biblical fall of man and the advent of agriculture are one and the same. The movement from hunter gatherer to farmers sealed our fate. Now we're all cursed with a lifetime of bondage. (I know I know, some bondage for those of us in the first world, but whatever.)

Well, I just found a great article about the same topic. The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race dispels the myth that the human race saw took a step forward when it picked up the hoe in exchange for the bow. The instant creation of class divisions, the creation of an elite, crowding and disease, hoarding, all the really great stuff is shown to be a direct product. Really a great choice, drama wise.

Also talked about is the myth that agriculture and increased leisure time led to the creation of art only in cultures with agriculture. Wrong. For much much longer than the history of society, hunter gatherer cultures have been creating complex paintings and sculptures. Yes. Hunter gatherer art. I wonder if there's ever been a hunter gatherer andy warhol...

Behold the Buddhabrot!

2005-08-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

Buddhabrot!

The Buddhabrot is a computer fractal discovered by Melinda Green. Its the mandelbrot set, but with different rules for rendering. Without any modification after drawing the set this way, we get the image resembling a buddha you see here. Trippy, huh?

At first glance, the image of the buddha seems a little cool, a little disturbing, but delve a little deeper, and things start to get interesting. Take Fractal Wisdom for example. On the site with the header, "Fractal Chaos Crashes the Wall", we find a few cool observations about the discoveries about fractal math and their implications. (Presented in a nutty sort of way, but hey.)

One of the best articles on the site is "The Four Chaos Attractors". In it the author talks about the four different types of attractors in chaos theory: point attractor, cycle attractor, torus attractor, and strange attractor. Each attractor is a metaphor for a different type of socio-spiritual (made up word) experience. Pretty cool, even if its all bunk, in a spacey sort of way.

Yurts make me hot

2005-08-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

In case you where wondering, yes, yurts are freakin' awesome, and yes, I'll take one of these. Pacific Yurts sure knows the meaning of pimp.

I think this is the one sort of house I can see myself buying and living in. No need to build a foundation, just a pad. Put the pad on cinder blocks, put up the yurt and bam, instant awesome home. Build a small garage and cellar on your property and you've got a sweet home for dirt cheap.

I know, I know, but what the property? Put the thing in the woods where it belongs. Buy some nice remote woodlands, and you're well on your way to the sweet life. And its all attainable without a mortgage. Yes. More time to work on your garden and play with your dogs.