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

(Via: Online Schools)

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. The greater truth is that we are all part of something that transcends (but also includes) these seemingly separate identities. Even most separate dogmatic religions point to this truth with a law or commandment such as "do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

Of course and obviously, not everyone embodies or even "sees" this greater truth. From their narrow perspective, these people fight for their identities by trying to bring down competing identities. Most of us have experienced the uncomfortable result of this in high school. At the level of nation-states, however, this is a disaster. With regard to Israel and Palestine, this is a disaster.

Until these nationalistic and extremist Jewish settlers "get over themselves" they will continue to operate from a less developed, less caring, less inclusive place. That's fine if they are keeping to themselves but, in this case, they are destroying lives.

When a less developed worldview is creating suffering it is up to a more developed one to step in and say "no, this is wrong". Ultimately, the more developed worldview recognizes that the extremist settlers are not just destroying the lives of Palestinians, they are actually destroying their own lives. We are, after all, all one.

Hard to describe this album but it's exellent. It starts in an electronic genera with mellow beats. It then switches to simple guitar riffs 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.

Download it via torrent Here

It is really hard to believe that the Japanese government is trying to support an industry that turns these animals into human food. I highly recommend the documentary about this topic called "The Cove".

Searching for Surf Breaks

The "Christmas Ham" a few days after Christmas....perhaps the most delicious processed meet I've ever eaten.

Pizza Muffins : what you get when you accidently use twice as much dough as is required. Still tasty though.

We though we had caught a type of Tuna but ended up calling this a "Roast Beef Fish

Robb and the Roastbeef fish.

The Seagull was very interested in our fish

"I want it... I neeeeeed it."

Score!

Just another Sunset.

And another sunset.

My silhouette.

Roast beef fish!!! See, it looks like roast beef right? It was kind of disgusting.

Captain Hugh

Dolphins! They were playing off the bow.

They are such cool animals.

Little girl all tuckered out.

Little Hugh all tuckered out.

Yup, looks like a coconut.

But can you juggle them?

Not really.

Hugh, Myself, Steve, Rob discussing very important things.

Art Shot! (or just an accidental shot?)