the horse's mouth

Paris Brûle-t-il? [Is Paris Burning?]

No dog, that would be California.
Cough, cough, cough. The smoke has been bad.

In the last week of June 2008, California was the focal point of national fire activity. Over the first weekend of summer, record-breaking lightning activity in the state triggered hundreds of wildfires. Vegetation was dry due to months of drought, and some of the fires spread rapidly. As of June 26, the National Interagency Fire Center reported that 34 uncontained large forest fires were burning in the state, affecting nearly 190,000 acres. (That total does not count fires that are being allowed to burn with minimal management to benefit the ecosystem.)



Current Situation: State and Federal firefighters continue to battle hundreds of wildfires throughout Northern California and are preparing for light to moderate dry thunderstorm activity beginning tonight through the weekend. Fires are activity burning and continuing to spread. News fires are being identified on a regular basis. Priority of firefighting effort is for the protection of life, property and natural resources.

Links: NASA | Cal Fire

Technorati Tags: california wildfires, northern california wildfires

16 Year To Sail Solo Around The World.

Zac Sunderland, a 16 year old high school sophomore, is leaving Saturday from his Southern California home to sail around the world alone. I'm amazed by his poise and self confidence, it's something I didn't have when I was 16.
I wish him fair winds and following seas.

Video: Ocean Rescue TV.
Zac's website.

Technorati Tags: zac sunderland, sailing news, sailing, solo sailing

See You Later Alligator.

In a while crocodile.
Glug, glug, glug. Down she goes.
THE Greek-flag, 6,395 gt general cargo ship Ice Prince, that was abandoned
by its crew yesterday, sank early this morning in very rough weather about
26 miles south south east of the Portland Bill, England.

Via mgn.com. Photos from Corriere della Sera.

Tags: mishaps at sea, maritime mishaps, ship sinks

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Let's Go Fly A Kite Up To The Highest Height. The Age of Sail Returns.

Kite power, kite power baby!

The age of sail is about to make a return. The 433 ft long
MV “Beluga SkySails” will make her maiden voyage using
kite power as a supplement in January. She will go across
the Atlantic to Venezuela, up to Boston and back to Europe.




Technorati Tags: maritime, ships, kite power

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Friday Fishwrap.

Swimming to Nowhere.
(Via Craig.)
A Briton who ran across six continents is planning to try to swim 25,000 miles across all the world's oceans and seas, in an odyssey lasting up to six years. Read more about Aquaman at the Beeb.
I wonder, do you think he will look like a prune after his swim?

Would you go to see poop at a museum?
(Via Yahoo News)
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have yet to show their baby daughter off in public, but eager fans were given an unusual preview with the chance to see a bronze cast depicting her first solid stool........

"A bronzed cast of baby's first poop can be a meaningful memento for the family," gallery director David Kesting said, adding that he hoped the work would attract bids of up to 25 or 30,000 dollars. Read more about the bronzed dodo at Yahoo.
I'll I can say is, YIKES!

There be sharks in that thar sea.
(Via SurferMag Message Board)
A surfer who survived a shark attack off the Oregon coast, in Florence, Ore., said it was an event that "every surfer dreads."

Tom Larson, now recovering from eight puncture wounds, said he was riding the waves with friends on Tuesday when he spotted a fin in the water.

The shark clamped down on Larson's foot and pulled him under, but Larson grabbed his surf board and fought back, beating the shark with his board until it released his foot.  "It felt like a vice, or a bear trap, even, right on my foot, and he started shaking it, and I knew it was a shark by then, so I started screaming shark as loud as I could because my friends were in the water, and I wanted them to get out," Larson recalled. "And it didn't really hurt, there was just pressure, and I mean the fear and the adrenaline was amazing because you see that fin -- I didn't see his face, but I saw that fin -- so I knew what was happening, and every surfer dreads that."
Hey Bobby! (inside joke)

Tags: news

   

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Down She Goes. The USS Oriskany Says Aloha As She Sinks Under The Sea.

The Mighty "O" is no mo....as a ship that is, she is now the world's largest artificial reef. Navy divers detonated explosives aboard the ship this morning, sending the retired aircraft carrier to Davey Jone's locker. She is now 24 miles off Pensacola Beach and 212 feet underwater. The local honchos hope that she will boost the economy by becoming a prime destination for sport divers and fishermen.

Click the photo of the Mighty "O" to watch the dramatic video of her sinking.

Via  Tampa Bay 10 | Photo AP

Tags: USS Oriskany, Artificial Reefs, Pensacola, Florida

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Back In The Saddle Again.

Lulworth all dolled up and lookin' mighty purty says howdy after staying out of the pool for 70 years.

The world's largest gaff-rigged superyacht is back in the water after an absence of 70 years. Restored in a five year project costing an estimated €15 million, the 46.50m (152' 6") Lulworth was re-launched in La Spezia, Italy. Built in England in 1920, Lulworth was one of the most successful Big Class cutters ever. Now, with over half of her original structure and 80% of her original interior intact, she has been hailed as the restoration of the century........

Sea trials are currently being held off the Italian coastline as the crew learn to get the most out of Lulworth's total sail area of 1450m2. Early performance indicators are promising: In 18 knots of wind, Lulworth has already reached 15.5 knots (digitally recorded) while towing a 4.5m tender. After a VIP guest appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, Lulworth will make her racing debut at the Argentario Sailing Week in June. She will also take part in the Imperia, Cannes and St Tropez regattas. -- BYMnews

Repeat after me, VARNISH....SANDPAPER....lots and lots of sandpaper.

How Fast Is That Moth In The Window?

26.3 knots. That's fast Brah!
Andy Pascoe ate the record set by Si Payne for lunch yesterday. He cranked out the record on his new boat the Mistress 3.