The stat that really shocked me: "smoking killed more people in the US than alcohol, car accidents, suicides, AIDS, homicides and illegal drugs combined."

One of the greatest things about traveling is the people you meet. During my last couple of days in Costa Rica, I got to meet and hang out with this guy named Patrick Rizzo. Patrick, myself, and two other friends had a great night over dinner, some drinks, and a few rounds of cards (asshole, to be specific). Over the course of our conversations Patrick mentioned he was into downhill skateboarding. That point faded into a myriad of other conversation topics (including the always popular "facebook: good or evil"). At the end of the night, just before Patrick left, and basically in passing, he told me to check out an online video of him.

I checked out the video the next day and was blown away:

This album from the Animal Collective seems to be on a lot of top 10 lists of 2009. (See Pitchfork ). Personally, I'm not yet sold on the entire album. Maybe I have to listen to it some more? That said, track number four, "Sumertime Clothes", is a great song:

You can download the whole album from the torrent here.

The greatest wisdom traditions throughout human history have all pointed to a similar truth: that we are all one. Granted, a natural part of evolution, both individually and culturally, involves an ego based identity that defines who we are and who we aren't. I am this and you are that. I am a Jew and you are a Muslim. Indeed, it is an important developmental step but at some point, the next step is to get over yourself.

Hard to describe this album but it's exellent. It's definitely an electronic genera with mellow beats that will have you nodding your head in agreement. It'll then switch to a simple guitar riff leading into vocals with sort of Crosby, Stills, and Nash undercurrents. Then it's back to almost experimental electronic but in a good - not beepy or loopy - way.

The last few pictures of my Panama trip