Happy Easter

Wise indeed.

Smuttynose Robust Porter- 18/20
Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale- 17/20
Smuttynose Old Dog Brown Ale- 17/20
Smuttynose Lager-17/20
Troegs Pale Ale- 16/20
Left Hand Jackman's Pale Ale- 17/20
Victory Prima Pils- 17.5/20

Slash!!!

That would be 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 fins out!

If you live in Honolulu, don't go in the water!

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Shown in this Dec. 2005 Star-Bulletin photo, Oliver Johnson has flesh-eating disease and is fighting for his life after falling into the polluted Ala Wai Boat Harbor.

Man dying after fall into polluted Ala Wai

34-year-old mortgage loan officer Oliver Johnson has flesh-eating disease

>> State reopens Waikiki beaches
>> Few diseases after rain, spills

By Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.com

A 34-year-old mortgage loan officer is near death with a flesh-eating disease after falling into the polluted waters of the Ala Wai Boat Harbor last week, according to his friends.

Friends of Oliver Johnson said his doctors at the Queen's Medical Center diagnosed him with necrotizing fasciitis, a Group A streptococcal infection that "destroys muscles, fat and skin tissue," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The disease forced the amputation of his left leg above the knee Monday, his friends said. His body also went into Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome, which causes blood pressure to drop rapidly and all major organs to fail, they said.

"Oh, my God, you can't even recognize him anymore," said Zobel Dela Cruz, a friend of Johnson. "He's all swollen up and he looks like he's 350 pounds.

"We just want everybody to know so they don't go in the water."

Johnson had been drinking at a bar across the street from his one-bedroom condominium at the Tradewinds before he fell into the boat harbor early Friday morning, Dela Cruz said. He had cut himself while climbing out and had open wounds on his feet and legs.

Over the weekend, Dela Cruz and other friends said, Johnson complained of leg pain. By Sunday, he had trouble breathing and called for an ambulance to take him to Queen's, where he was later placed on life support, they said.

Though friends said no doctor has linked Johnson's condition to Friday's fall into the harbor, they see it as too big of a coincidence to ignore.

Heavy rains on March 24 caused a Waikiki sewer main to break, leading city officials to divert 48 million gallons of raw sewage into the Ala Wai Canal. On Friday, another deluge knocked out power to a pumping station, causing another 1.8 million gallons of sewage to spill into the canal, which leads into the harbor.

"Because of this, falling into the Ala Wai water, he's just lost his leg, his liver shut down and his kidneys have shut down," said friend Stephany Sofos. "Doctors said in order for him to survive, they may have to remove his other leg and left arm."

State Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said health officials were unaware of the incident involving Johnson and could not confirm what happened.

"We do urge people not to go into the water with open wounds," Okubo said. "If you do and you don't clean them, an infection could set in a matter of days."

Sofos said Johnson was a surfer and runner and lived an active lifestyle.

With a south shore swell coming in, she warned anyone who might be thinking about hitting the waves to think about her friend first.

"Don't be stupid. If this can happen to a healthy 34-year-old man, think about what can happen to your children," she said. "He was such a great man, wonderful guy, he'd give you the shirt off his back.

"And then something like this happens and you wonder, 'Why him?'"

Game On.

Rogue Brutal Bitter- 18/20
Rogue Chipotle Ale- 17/20
Rogue Mocha Porter- 18/20
Rogue Shakespeare Stout- 19/20
Rogue Chocolate Stout- 19.5/20 (has chocolate additive)
Young's Double Chocolate Stout- 18/20
Mirror Pond IPA- 16/20
Budweiser- 10/20
Miller Lite- 5/20
Sierra Nevada Stout- 17/20

Old School versus New School

It was just a matter of time.

http://forum.surfermag.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB4&Number=944284&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=all

Tooth Man

Dentin Man says, "Root canals don't hurt your teeth, but a fist to the mouth will."

Crafted Beers!

Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA- 17.5
Mackeson's Stout
Anderson Valley Oatmeal Stout- 17
Ommegang Hennepin- 19
Sly Fox Wheat- 17
General Lafayette's Old Curmudgeon- 18
Dock Street Amber- 16
Nodding Head Rudy'sKung Fu Grip- 17
Nodding Head Bill Payer Ale- 17
Nodding Head Doc- 17.5
Nodding Head Chocolate Stout- 17.5
Nodding Head Ich Bin Ein Berliner Weisse- 17
NOdding Head 60 Schilling- 17
Stoudt's IPA- 18
Carlsberg- 15
Stoudt's Pils- 18
Victory Hop Wallop-17
Sam Adams White Ale-16
Maredsous 8-17.5
Rogue Shakespeare Stout-19
Rogue Chocolate Stout- 19.5

Barrelling rights and hot dog lefts...

Late afternoon Encinitas session, anyone?

Quarterly Review

Wow! American Pale Ales seem to be where its at for me. Stone and Rogue are hanging in there with Unibroue as great breweries. San Marcos, CA, site of Stone Brewery will be my next North County San Diego visit. I was in Encinitas surfing the Pipe last week with Jeremy, Dan, and Pam. Never made it over.

Rogue Morimoto Soba Ale- 18.5/20- Refreshing and light. Complements flavorful asian food.
Unibroue Ephemere Blackcurrent- 18.5/20
Fat Angel Ale- 15/20
Yards Love Stout- 17/20
Yards ESA- 17/20
Yards Poor Richard's Spruce Ale- 18/20- Spruce!!!
Road Dog Scottish Porter- 16/20- Not a big fan of Scottish Ale
Stone Levitation Ale- 18/20
Stone Arrogand Bastard- 18/20- Stone and Rogue Breweries have it going on
Fat Tire Ale- 17/20- Tastes like a biscuit, literally.
Whales Tail Ale- 18/20- Is this made in Oxnard? It tastes pretty, good. A light ESB.
Stoudts American Pale Ale- 18/20- solid
Stoudts Scarlet Lady- 17.5/20
Rogue Chocolate Porter- 18/20
Brooklyn '55 Lager- 16/20- Really disappointing from Brooklyn Brewery
Corsendonk Brown Ale- 18/20
Lindeman's Peche- 18/20
Old Dominion Oak Barrel- 16/20
Brooklyn Brown Ale- 18/20
Brooklyn Pilsner- 18/20
Thirsty Dog Amber Ale- 17/20
Blue Point Winter ALe- 18/20
Dirty Ho (Lindeman's + Hoegaarten)- 18.5- The RasberryLemonade of Beer.
Troegs Rugged Trail Nut Ale- 18.25/20- Nutty!
Sly Fox Pale Ale- 17/20
Lindeman's Cassis- 18/20
Flying Fish Grand Cru- 17/20- Winter Ale; not so hot
Victory Golden Monkey- 17/20
Stone India Pale Ale- 18/20- So good, I bought the $8.50 glass.

Bonzer 5 in New Zealand

Manga, NZ. The Acolyte of Trim.

Study finds all stereotypes are true.

One of a billion.

Following a 17-year, multi-continental study, the International Council on the Humanities has released a report determining that all stereotypes are, in reality, completely true. Going directly against the previously held and universally accepted notion that stereotypes were both false and offensive, the study proposes the exact opposite to be true: Stereotypes should not be found offensive stemming directly from the idea that they are solid facts in and of themselves.

"When we started analyzing the results of the study, we thought for sure something was wrong with our methods...the numbers just didn't seem right," said Dr. Sanjay Mehta, the study's lead doctor: a man with an impressive work-ethic, arranged marriage and a house that smells strongly of spices and seasonings. "But after turning over the data to our superior mathematical offices in Hong Kong and Beijing and learning from them that no errors were made, we knew this was no mistake. We had stumbled onto something groundbreaking.”

The study, only months away from entering its 18th year, encountered many major setbacks over the years. In 1997, an unfortunately large amount of important statistical documents were lost when the laboratory maid, illegal alien Ms. Rosa Lopez, mistakenly threw them away while cleaning the Council's offices. When later questioned, Ms. Lopez admitted (through a translator) to have been not paying attention to what she was doing, which she attributed to being very tired from tending to her 12 children. Were it not for a series of high-interest loans given by Jewish bankers and funds raised by the small group of homosexuals that run Hollywood, the study would have certainly been halted.

Tehran High's Homecoming King

Dr. Wei-Lin Nguyen was an associate director on the study; she also took flute lessons as a child and is a terrible driver. "Without the Jews and the Hollywood Gays, there's no way we could have seen this through to the end," said Nguyen from the car phone of her customized Acura Integra. "Now that the study is completed, we're all very excited to say the least. Dr. O'Conner and Dr. McManus are hosting the wrap party next week. They're both great colleagues, redheads and raging alcoholics. The party should be a blast."

The Journal of American Science, which plans on publishing the study's controversial findings, has elected to print two independent copies of the results: an English version and one in Ebonics or "Ghetto-squack" as it is referred to in the study.

"In the end, we hope these findings help the world better understand that every nationality and every race, even those crazy, suicidal Arabs, have equally petty and equally hilarious idiosyncrasies and shortcomings...and that all of them are true," said Inge Johanssan, the Council's public relations director: a devoted public servant and tall, blonde nymphomaniac. "Only when people are able to look at themselves and laugh will they truly be able to see themselves for what they are."

"Except for blind people. They can't see anything."

Being-a-Child-in-Hawaii Syndrome

Citing the economic benefits and overall convenience, Your Friend defensively announced yesterday that he has returned to living with his parents “just till he gets back on his feet”.

College expenses, poor financial planning and bad credit all influenced Your Friend’s decision to reclaim his childhood bedroom in the two story colonial house owned by his parents Cliff, (52) and Judy (51).

“Putting that spring break trip to Puerto Vallerta on my Visa fucked me over big time.” Your Friend explained. “I’m just going to be living at home until I can get that paid off, then I’m out of here.”

From there, the justification continued: “It’s really not that bad at all. My bedroom is in the basement, so it’s kind of like my own apartment down there. Except sometimes my mom comes down to do laundry.”

Not Too Shabby

Your Friend assures you that his parents are “totally cool”, allowing him to drink alcohol and eat whatever he wants out of the fridge at any time. “I forgot what it was like to have real ‘parent food’ at my disposal. There’s always lunch meat and milk and all that expensive shit that I would never think about buying if I was living on my own. So that’s pretty cool.”

The Roomies

As beneficial as the move home has been. Your Friend acknowledges some difficulty in the transition. “I have to smoke outside now cause my mom’s not having it, and it’s not like I can bring a girl home if I hook up at the bar or anything. My parents would probably be cool with it, but that would just be too fucking weird. I also have to walk Juniper (the family dog) all the goddamned time.”

Despite these drawbacks, Your Friend remains positive about his homecoming experience, at least on the surface. “It’s only temporary. I’m going to start looking at houses to buy here pretty soon.”

Your Friend was then forced to end the phone interview because his parents were trying to watch “Law and Order”. -M. Polk

QUIVER 2005- Click on sketch to enlarge

Nastiness

This is nasty: a sludgepool filled with crap that takes the shape of the Australian continent.

What is nastier?
1. Sampling a rare Japanese holiday ale that costs $8.50 for a 12 oz. bottle and tastes like the sludgepool above, or a tad bit better.

or...

2. A fresh steaming poo pile in 20 degree weather.

In any case, the Hitachino Nest Celebration Ale 2006 gets a 11/20. Mahalo.

Surf Rage Poem by Ambrose M. Curry III

angry people give off radiation
I choose not to get close enough
to get radiation burns.
the likelyhood of anger imploding
and checking the spread of anger
is the path I find comfortable
confront anger or buy in to the radiation
burns are inevitable.
waiohai is a bone of contention.
when there is little surf the only surf i at waiohai.
I am pleased to say I have not surfed a wave at waiohai for over 25 years
to avoid the rocks and crowd.
I rather surf blown out shifty mysto hard to ride spots
than condescend to the pits of dispair
offered up as recreation at spots like waiohai.
surfing prowess is not measured in pugalistic
terms ever.fighting aint surfing.
bullys are not surfers
limited wave resources?
psychosis?
genetics?
poorly directed training?
you choose...
I choose not to know some people
pointedly.
god bless em all

...ambrose...

I knew a kid once
before he started robbing cars
and beating people up
and going to jail...
ambrose m.curry III

"2"

Tennis Courts

Go fast and carvy!

Tavarua, Fiji in August 2006?

Matt Calvani & Margaret Yao. Nice pics from 2005!

Margaret dropped me a line inviting Pam and I to Tavarua in August with Matt and Bing. So tempting, but I have to stay focused on endo! Sorry! We'll take a raincheck on that one until 2007.

Nuts!

Good one, good one...

organ grinder monkeys may be selling you surf wax

Monkey, monkey! Click on me!

el fin del dia en el norte de Hawaii

A heart inscribed on the sand is all we have left to remember of the day.

Dogfish Head Saison d'etre- 16/20
Brooklyn Brown Ale- 18/20
Thirsty Dog Amber Ale- 18.5/20 (I think Ten Stone mixed up the tap lines and this was actually Blue Point Winter Ale)
Old Dominion Oak Barrel Stout- Smells like vanilla, tastes like flat half and half- 16/20
Troegs Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale- 18.5/20 Great nutty aftertaste
Stoudts Scarlet Lady- 17/20
Sly Fox Pale Ale- 15/20
1/2 Hoegaarden, 1/2 Lindemans Lambic a.ka. "dirty ho" or "dirty slapper" -18.5/20 The strawberry lemonade of beers.

In Trim

There's always a ripper chick at every break in Hawaii. Learn to respect them! This one brings the classic longboard style to mine. Sucks to be the guy in the back catching up on the potato chip.

Where I draw the line

Dr. Mark: cuttie on his right coast beachbreak.

I used to surf here with Mark, when the water was warmer. All I had was a 4/3mm. When the water went cold to the 40s, I quit and started spending more time reading about endo and delving into Belgian ales. All the while, Marc continued ripping at his homebreak.

San Onofre 2001

The M.O. is to drive from Venice and spend a few days in Pacific Beach. South Orange County is a fun place for a sunset barbeque and a surf. It's a natural stop along the way. Pacificos on the beach at Old Man's are permitted.

Welcome to the family (in California)

9'8" C.J. Nelson Model by Bob Pearson.

Thanks, Porfilio, for picking it up in Hermosa Beach. 2 carnitas tacos from El Terasco are coming your way in February.

BTW-
Flying Fish Grand Cru Winter Ale really isn't a winter ale: 12/20
Lindeman's Framboise tastes like Bartel and James Rasberry with a tablespoon of sorbet. 17/20
Victory Golden Monkey- Belgian-inspired, but with a really creepy and tacky label 17/20.

Unibroue creations (Maudite, Trois Pistoles, Le Fin du Monde, Ephemere, Terrible) and Lancaster Amish 4 Grain (Draught, not bottled. This is categorized as a Pale Ale? Come on now.) are the winners of December 2005.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Fantastic Head of Ale!

Ommegang Three Philosophers- 18/20
General Lafayettes Double Thunder- 17/20 (could only drink 1/2 pint)

The San Diego Update

J.P. St. Pierre, of Moonlight Glassing in San Diego County, had this to say about the current foam blank situation (from a Surfer Magazine BB thread). It's been a month since the hourglass got flipped over. Take it, as you would anything, for what it's worth:

Here is your report/update:

There are at least a dozen serious players trying to start up new foam companies. Fortunes will be made and lost no doubt. In a year it will be great for you the surfer because you will be able to work with your shaper and pick and choose the best blank for the board you want.

In the meantime, containers of blanks are on the way from South Africa, Australia, Argentina and other locales. The quality will vary and shapers spoiled by Clark's low tolerance blanks will suffer while those with knowledge of rocker and skilled with a hand planer will emerge as the craftsmen that they are.

The cost of these blanks are all over the map and mostly unknown. How this will affect you, the surfboard buyer, is unknown.

It could be awhile before we see a foam company offer the wonderful variety of stringer options and layups that Clark offered, I suggest you buy any groovy board out there you with unique stringers you come across.

Surfers all over are bitter at the retail shops that jacked up the prices on boards while the shops that did one board per customer at the original prices earned respect.

Many glass shops have run out of blanks to work on and some are switching to epoxy. The question is, is it economically possible to work out the bugs of epoxy in a short time and do production so rent and bills get paid? The other main question is, which "epoxy" do they focus on? Which foam and which resin? Many glass shops are left hanging while shapers decide what path to take.

I haven't heard of any glass shops closing down yet but I fear it may happen soon. The honest glass shops may perish but hopefully they will get support from somewhere.

A lot of people don't realize this, especially in the surf media, but glass shops do not glass boards willy nilly. It is the SHAPERS who decide which foam they shape a board out of and how it will be glassed. The shapers decide which brand of cloth to use, how many layers, the width of the laps, patches, what resin to use, everything! Much of this influence comes from the retail shops who would rather have the cheapest whitest board possible instead the strongest.

I am trying to create a new paradigm in the surfboard industry where the glass shop can no longer be scapegoated by the shapers. From now on the shapers have to mark the fins correctly and have to fill out the order card accurately. No more, "Oops I forgot to shape that customer's board I will just blame the delay on the sander and shape it today and get the board rushed through and no extra expense to me."

Ever see that old Fritz Lang film Metropolis? The heart must be the mediator for the hands and the head.

On the home front typing this in my glass shop I see the racks full. It seems that everyone wants their last precious Clark blanks done with color work which we specialize in. People keep asking if we are going to start doing epoxy. I tell them that first the question should be, are you going to start doing epoxy AGAIN.

I am making a deal with the epoxy pundits, if a straight up honest California glass shop with legal employees and worker's comp. insurance can go one year doing epoxy without losing a ton of money and nobody has health problems then I will embrace it.

I am asking all surf magazine editors to stop publishing the word "unbreakable" with epoxy. This really puts everyone who makes surfboards in a tight spot. If a wave lands on a board right the board will break, I don't care what material or method it was made with. If the retail shop rat tells some kids mom that a board is unbreakable and the kid breaks it drama follows.

I think 2006 could be what I imagine 1968 was like, a lot of experimentation. Hopefully we will end up with fantastic interesting surfboards to ride. There is a chance the retail shops could be filled with cheap imported generic boards this summer. The flip side is that the custom movement seems to be energized by the threat of it going away.

3 bitter chumps

Never in my life have I ever wanted to end up on one of these websites. The Paparazzi snipered us. We were just trying to have a couple ales while discussing local neighborhood politics. Jeez.

How about some more reviews?
Rogue Mocha Porter 17/20
Lindeman's Kriek Lambic 17/20
Samuel Smiths Brewery Pale Ale 13/20
Chimay Ale 17.5/20
Brooklyn Pilser 18/20
Victory Brown Ale

Nelson Noserider is the Best of All-Time

Sunset at The Point

Still my favorite wave in the world is the one I learned on many moons ago...

Gibson's Steakhouse Club

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

Be mindful in 2006.

Photo:JPSP

Post-Surf Breakfast: Bangers, Hash, and Eggs

Bangers, snarlers, whatever... mmmmm. tastes like sausage.

Southern Hemisphere Sundown

Junior's Reef

Claiming the fun-dogging left

Sponge Bay

Care to go for a 1/2 mile paddle offshore?

Posing Nostalgic

Terry Lysaght's porch

9'4" Robert August Alex Knost Model

Interesting board I used to own. Impossible to surf.

Prophet, Guru, Soothsayer- What can you tell me?

Taken from a recent Swaylock's post: Bill Barnfield, owner of our little surf shop/cyclery in Haleiwa has this to say. Quite interesting.

I wish I had the time to tackle this subject properly. It is much bigger then Clark Foam closing down. Clark was only one word in the whole phrase that is the "writing on the wall".

Here are some loose thoughts to consider....

Contrary to those promoting the death of pu/pe on this forum. Pu/pe will be around for awhile.

Manufacturing, like making blanks, is stupid to still be doing in the USA.

Manufacturing, like making surfboards, is stupid to be still doing in the USA.

The work force capable of the hand skills required doesn't exist in the USA anymore. Neither does the work ethic. Neither does the desire to do this kind of work. No glass shops exist that aren't struggling to find enough qualified employees. And young men with talent aren't desiring to become true surfboard craftsmen. They want to be surf celebrities, they don't actually want to take the time to gain the skills and earn the right to celebrity via their exceptional craftsmanship.

People that are interested in making surfboards want to do so much more for reasons of self esteem and ego then they really want to do it for money. They want to be seen as cool surfboard maker dudes, they just don't want to get their hands dirty actually doing the work!

Surfboards are now a matured product.
In other words.... the worst molded board exceeds the needs of 90% of those looking to consume them. Once a product reaches this state, the remaining "real" makers of "real" products still made in traditional ways must be able to compete by making or marketing their product in a way that radically exceeds the "perception of value" currently retained by the molded and mass marketed products. If the traditional craftsmen cannot achieve this he will die. And it is VERY difficult to do on any scale that will matter.

Since the molded, mass marketed surfboards will easily appeal to 90% of those looking for a surfboard the remaining consumers left available for traditional craftsmen to sell to as customers will radically shrink. These customers will not only be small in numbers but will be highly eccentric, enthusiasts that are very difficult to please and survive on economically. Additionally, they will be very knowledgeable and capable of finding deals from all the desperate surfboard craftsmen that are trying to hold on to their livelihoods and lifestyles. Because of this, "traditional craftsman" making surfboards by hand in the USA will be hovering on the edge of economic chaos. Too big and they won't be able to compete with mass market boards with top pros names on them. Too little and they won't be able to compete on the unleveled playing field created by the quasi commercial backyarders.

Shipping costs and economies of scale will continue to enhance offshore production, lowering costs and making consumer direct sales possible.

Boards will eventually be available direct to the consumer from the factories in China. These boards will be state of the art Top Pro models endorsed by those pros and marketed through the manufacturers or agents (like Randy French) on their behalf.

Shapers will not get a piece of this. Famous surfers and manufacturers will bypass the Shaper/Designers. There will be no value in paying a famous Shaper a royalty when you can knock off his design and put a famous pro surfers name on the board and only pay a single cheap royalty. Cheap you say!! Of course, pros will scramble over one another to whore themselves out to the highest bidder. When the manufacturer spends tons of money on ads in Surfer Magazine he can create the perception of value for any "pro". He will create his own heroes with ads and pay a paltry royalty per board for the "media pros" name. Eventually, even the world champion will have to settle for a cheap royalty deal. Just like shapers are starting to settle for now from Surf Tech. Heck, even Clark figured this one out and never had to pay a royalty for all the intellectual property he got from shapers via their blank plugs rockers etc.

Surf magazines will soon be inundated by mail order advertisers selling all manner of surf equipment at greatly reduced prices directly to consumers via mail order and Internet sales. Surf magazines won't be able to resist these advertisers money and they will whore themselves out scrambling over each other to "secure" these advertising accounts.

Even though everyone knows that the existence and success of mail order surf companies will be highly destructive to the traditional model of brick and mortar retailing that we have known for the last 40 years, suppliers will whore themselves out and crawl all over one another to get their products sold through the high volume mail order, direct distribution channel.

The amount of money that will move through this new channel will bypass all those who traditionally got a piece of the pie and consciously or not spread it around in their "local scene" where it dramatically drove the cool factor associated with the surfing lifestyle.

Surfing will loose a big chunk of its esoteric flair and cool factor. People won't find surfing necessary to their self esteem and the surfing industry as we know it will implode. I should note here that this is one of Gordon Clarks big fears all along. Once the "pixie dust" magic of being a surfer, surfboard maker, etc is gone, so will be the desire for the masses to participate. Some may see this as a very good thing......and I tend to agree with them!

Contests, local team riders, bro deals, surf heroes, surf scene, new surfwear companies, advertising in magazines, etc, etc are all things that will take a huge economic hit. It will vastly change the economic and hollywood like landscape that has energized surfing for so long.

As fast as any "new" materials, construction techniques or methods are discovered anywhere in the world, they will quickly gravitate to China or elsewhere where the economics of manufacturing is superior. No country will be able to retain exclusive rights to any material or mfg. process. Individuals may retain these rights, but they will seek the cheapest location to manufacture them and deliver them to a world market.

Styrofoam and Epoxy boards as often promoted on this forum won't be much more than a small blip on the radar screen as the whole industry transfers offshore in mass. The few remaining hand made custom surfboards made in the USA will be an eclectic mix of various materials and techniques as craftsmen struggle to define themselves and compete against the offshore boards that will be quickly made the same way out of the same materials

Shaping machines from China will produce superior results to any current machines and will sell for less then $20k WHAT! You don't think those Chinese students aren't learning anything at Stanford and MIT?? You think they can't seen the potential to sell cheap machines to all those new shapers that don't know how to use a planer, but can use a vector drawing program?

If enough of a "non-molded" surfboard market survives it will be extremely competitive. Too competitive for most to make a living at and the lack of craftsmen will require shaping machines. Maybe ones that will be able to sand the boards too!

Molded board prices will drop below $300.00 retail. Some will be as cheap as $125.00, and will be sold at Foodland on the North Shore!

Traditional hand crafted surfboards won't be able to compete. Some will survive but so few that it will be inconsequential. Consider guitars, bicycles, dirt motorcycles, tailors, cobblers, bakers, sign painters, etc, etc.

Giant Bicycles used to be the OEM manufacturer for Schwinn Bicycles in Taiwan. For decades, Schwinn was the biggest name in US bicycles of all time. Giant was an unknown factory in a third world hell hole.

Now Giant is among the Top 3 Bicycle brands in the USA and Schwinn after going bankrupt several times is sold in WalMart! Wake up and smell the coffee boys! Those guys know what they are doing and we are all only stepping stones on their way to economic success. Grab what you can while it is within grasp....

Hopefully that is enough to chew on for awhile!! Ha!!
BB

Addendum

More Belgians and seasonals that I forgot to add from my last 2 Ten Stone outings... Happy Holidays!

Cantillon Kriek Lambic -17/20 (think cherry + sour)
Troegs Mad Elf- 14/20
Left Hand Christmas Ale- 16/20
Delirium Noel- 16/20
Yards Saison- 16/20
Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale- 16.5/20
Troegs Dream Weaver- 16/20

Compare some of my ratings with www.ratebeer.com and www.beeradvocate.com
Pronunciation guide to the Belgian ales: http://www.belgianstyle.com/mmguide/pronounce/speak.html

7 month Report Card- Part 1

My review of some imports, boutiques, and locals. Just my $0.02. All on a scale of 1-20

Chimay Blue- 15/20
Kwak Pauwel- 14.5/20
Piraat- 13.4/20
St. Bernardus Tripel- 14/20
Troubadour Blonde- 14/20
Maredsous "8"- 14.5/20
Ultra Blonde- 14.5/20
Rodenbach Grand Cru- 18/20
Allegash White- 14/20
Magic Hat No. 9- 15/20
Flying Fish Summer Farmhouse Ale- 14/20
Unibroue Ephemere- 18/20
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier- 16.5/20
Victory Braumeister Harvest Pils- 13.5/20
Smuttynose IPA- 14/20
Troegs Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale- 13/20
Sly Fox Frech Greek Helles- 14/20
Brooklyn Lager- 17.9/20
Yards ESA- 16.5/20
Fullers ESB- 16.5/20
Dominion Oak Barrel Stout- 15/20
Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock- 15.5/20
Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale- 14/20
Dogfish 90 minute IPA- 17/20
Dogfish Saison- 16/20
Liefmans Frambozenbier- 17.5/20
Saison Dupont- 14/20
Orval Trappist Ale- 16/20
Heavyweight Lucancy- 15.5/20
Duvel- 14/20
Omegang- 15.5/20
Victory Storm King Imperial Stout- 15.5/20
Victory Hop Devil- 14.5/20
Hanssens Oudbeitje- 17.5/20
Brasserie des Rocs Grand Cru- 16.5/20
Stone IPA- 13/30
Stone Double Bastard- 17.5/20
Anchor Steam- 14/20
Youngling Lager- 13/20
Youngling Porter- 13/20
Rogue Chocolate Stout- 14.5/20
Left Hand JuJu Ginger- 9/20
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale- 16.5/20
Sierra Nevada Porter- 15.5./20
Weyerbacher Hop Infusion- 15/20
Weyerbacher "Merry Monks"- 16/20
Yard's ESA- 16/20
Yard's Pale Ale- 17/20
Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel- 16.5/20
Flying Fish Porter- 16/20
Flying Fish Extra Pale Ale- 14.5/20
Flying Fish ESB- 16/20
Unibroue Blanche de Chambly- 16.5/20
Unibroue Maudite- 19/20
Unibroue Tois Pistoles- 19/20
Unibroue La Fin du Monde- 19/20
Boddington's Pub- 16/20
Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale- 15.6/20
Corsendonk- Christmas Ale (seasonal)- 17.5/20
Monk's Flemish Sour Ale- 16.9/20
Rogue Dead Guy Ale- 18/20
Harvistone Engine Oil- 12/20
Rasputin Imperial Stout- 13/20
Lancaster "Four Grain"- 18.5/20

The Meaning of Life

November 17, 2005

Dear Endodontic Faculty and Residents,

As you are aware, Dr. Lamar Hicks stepped down as Chairman and Program Director of the I. B. Bender Division of Endodontics at Albert Einstein Medical Center (AEMC) on June 30, 2005.

I am now pleased to announce that Dr. Frederic Barnett has been appointed to this important position effective on January 1, 2006. Dr. Barnett has served as Interim Chairman and Program Director since July 1, 2005.

Dr. Barnett received his D.M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine. He completed a General Practice Residency at the Long Island Jewish-Hillside Medical Center and received his Certificate in Endodontics from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Barnett is well known and highly regarded in the endodontic specialty. He is a member of many professional organizations, serves on several journal editorial boards and is President of the The Louis I. Grossman Study Club, Philadelphia, PA. His strong curriculum vitae reflect many published articles and abstracts as well as on-going invitations to lecture both here and abroad.

Dr. Barnett has been a member of our voluntary medical staff and a part-time faculty member for almost a decade. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics and served as a Program Director at the University of Pennsylvania twenty years ago prior to entering private practice. He has a well-established and respected professional reputation. We at Einstein are very fortunate to have Dr. Barnett with us because he is superbly qualified, knows AEMC and has prior program management experience.

Please join with me in welcoming Dr. Frederic Barnett and wish him success in continuing the excellent AEMC endodontic educational program in the tradition of and previously guided by Drs. I. B. Bender, Samuel Seltzer, Seymour Oliet, Louis Rossman and M. Lamar Hicks.

Sincerely,

Alan J. Borislow, D.D.S.

Chairman

The Maxwell S. Fogel Department of Dental Medicine

Just out front of the Monkey Bar, Costa Rica.

Dr. Barkan requested more girls surfing.

See everybody soon!

Looking forward to some 5-fin fun with ya'll in 1 week.

Be Nice...

whoever fabricated this graphic obviously believes there's a goat in every zoo.

Is Gordon "Grubby" Clark a modern-day Willy Wonka?

http://www.laweekly.com/ink/06/04/news-marcus.php

The sudden dearth of readily available foam has incited many conspiracy theories. I always welcome creative thinking, no matter how stupid it is. Hahaha.

On a lighter, crisper, and maltier note, check out the fine creations at Unibroue. Those damn French-Canadians are doing something right. Bubblegum nose. Smooth and lightly refreshing to the palate.

THE DAY SURFING DIED...

An atomic bomb has just been dropped on the surfing community, and the fallout will be nasty. Please click on the links below.

The bomb was dropped.

Read about Black Monday, December 5, 2005.

More related industry discussion.

Life will be messed up for many. Frustration is imminent. The soul of surfing has been ripped out. Generations upon generations of surfing's manufacturing legacy was destroyed in one day. Now, it's like Mad Max in Thunderdome: iIt's pure animalistic capitalism: supply and demand.

Happy Holidays to everyone.

The California Road Trip starts here or ends here.

Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz

If I said 2-4 feet, glassy, and 90 degree weather at Pleasure Point, would you believe me?

A weird day in Santa Cruz: September 2004 and it's 90+ outside. The point has shoulder high set waves with 4 guys out, including Bob Pearson. We rented a BIC 9'0 and an 8'6. I was so self-conscious about riding a rental, especially out at Pleasures, it was killing me. But Pearson gave Pam props as she was hanging 5 through all the critical sections, and it made me feel better. The surf was pretty good, I'd say.

Don't leave your toys lying around!

Yup, when you leave your crap lying around with the skegs facing up, someone is bound to run into it. Especially when it's at your parents' place. Dad got a shin shiner and a couple mini lacerations from my 5'8" Mandala quad. He politely told me to put my stuff away.

Step up to the Bonzer Altar

More Bonzers...

Notes from people getting root canals