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show reviews

Ned Rothenberg with Paul Dresher and Fred Frith at the ODC theater
- This show blew me away last weekend. Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey were playing at Cafe Du Nord on the same night so it was a tough choice, but whenever Fred Frith is involved, you really can't go wrong. The ODC is a comfortable little theater in the mission. It has that independent/hipster/cooperative feel to it. 6 of us all piled in at the last minute but we got seats no problem. The show opened with Ned Rothenberg on a bass clarinet. The room was silent and the acoustics were fantastic. He began with a brooding, eery, off-kilter melody. Very slow and deliberate. His improvisation slowly grew more and more intense. He started to lay down this Indian-like drone using circular breathing to maintain a constant tone. I'd never really heard a non-didgeridoo player use circular breathing but Ned Rothenberg used it to great effect and continued to use it throughout the evening. As his solo improvisation continued, he began hitting all these weird harmonics and overtones that sounded a bit like some of the squeaky noises of late-period Coltrane or Zorn. But where Coltrane or Zorn squeaked and squawked often for emotional emphasis, Rothenberg would somehow coax these unusual overtones out of the squeaks. he would basically have the low level drone going, then pick and meander through a melody of squawky harmonics. really cool.

Rothenberg at another show

Anyway.. then Fred Frith came out for a duet with Rothenberg. Holy shit Fred Frith is the farking Man!! damn. Irrational, ground breaking, innovative uses of the guitar all over the place. Stick a drumstick between the strings and the neck, then pick little melodies on either side of the drumstick. Play melodies by plucking open strings and then twiddling the tuning machines. Laying the guitar on his lap and playing it with paint brushes. Placing a metal bowl on the strings and hitting the bowl with various instruments. Vibrating the bowl with a violin bow. Wicked, rapid-fire fingertapping mayhem. Barefoot, masterful double-volume pedal manipulation. Rhythmic, percussive, strange, soaring melodies. Weird, twisted looping on loops on loops. I actually talked to Fred after the show and asked him about his gear. I'd always been curious about this black box that is fastened centimeters above his first fret. It turns out that it's another humbucking pickup. Facing down, right above his first fret. It allows for super-sensitive fretwork.

Fred Frith

You can see the upside-down pickup on the first fret in this photo

Sooo... then Paul Dresher came out and began playing a large, homemade instrument. It was about 20 feet long. made of metal and wood. It was basically a gigantic, oversized lap-steel guitar-type-thing. He played it using a cello bow, but also used a metal ball which he rolled along, and various other objects that he picked and plucked with. The first few feet of the instrument had a homemade fretboard underneath, but the rest were just the four strings floating in the air. He ran the signal through various boomerang echo and loop devices and generally created a lot of deep, bass-heavy drones over which Frith and Rothenberg improvised. It was fucking tripppy!

this is Paul Dresher with a prototype of the instrument he played last week. This one is about a third of the size.

Then i saw Buckethead on Saturday night at the Great American Music Hall.
This band wasn't as good as his band with Brain on drums, so a bit of a letdown in the bass/drums department. but the Bucket did not disappoint as he laid down hours and hours of blistering, tech-heavy, metal dirges interspersed with light, flighty, elegant retreats. The Bucket has insane guitar chops and is truly a guitar player's guitar player. A bit like Joe Satriani on acid, or Steve Vai without the cheese and with more METAL! There were a group of folks near me who were seriously having the best time of all time. This one guy in particular danced like a sweaty, deliriously happy madman THE WHOLE SHOW! He was smiling and raising both arms in the air in triumphant gesticulations with each of Buckethead's earth-shattering voyages. The three dudes were hugging each other and slap-happily jumping into the mosh pit and rolling around on the floor and just going hyper-ape-shit. It was awesome. If i had to guess i'd say a few licks of LSD mixed with copious amounts of alcohol for that crew. They brought great energy though, and kept the vibe high.


Fernando de Noronha photos

fist

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 09:06 AM

Rain Rain Rain

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 09:23 AM

*waah its cold*waah its raining* *waaaah I got sand in my poosay*

sack up.

nice wind driven swell in some of the protected nooks up here this past weekend. blessed with favorable tide conditions. dreamy weather. 46 degree water. air 38. downright balmy.


Posted by: PNW at February 27, 2006 09:56 AM

nice review. is the buckethead review tomorrow?

Posted by: lerm at February 27, 2006 10:01 AM

buckethead review is above lerm.. toward the bottom. would love to hear your take on the shows.

Posted by: e at February 27, 2006 10:03 AM

so, Fernando de Noronha and Ricardo Borghi must be business partners or something. that backside positioning in the first shot is just what I want to visualize (in reverse) the next time I'm tucked high on a right

Posted by: goofy at February 27, 2006 10:13 AM

Nothing a weekend surfer loves to see more on a Monday that a good hard sewer-cleansing rain.

Also, the sewed-up wetsuit is 14 times as warm as the one with my fat squishing out of the holes. I'm not sure why I used dental floss instead of thread, but it seemed to work wonders.

Is it spring time now?

Posted by: Andrew in Jack Lond Square at February 27, 2006 10:14 AM

Great review E. I like the joystick-sized pickup switch on the surfguitar. I haven't been to a concert in way too long.

Posted by: Dennis at February 27, 2006 10:15 AM

BTW, I picked up a used 8' CI gun this weekend. Waaaay below the price of a new one. It is in perfect condition with the exception of one small pressure ding on the deck. Basically, it looks like it was never in the water. White foam and everything. Psyched. Looks like next weekend should offer up an opportunity to test it out.

Posted by: Dennis at February 27, 2006 10:21 AM

I picked up on the dating comment late yesterday. I have to say that there are some nice, normal, decent girls here, but for the most part, a lot of them are really out there. I started wondering if there is something about the Bay Area that brings in the pathological women from around the states, or is it the mindset here that drives them to becoming status seeking, money driven whores.

Any thoughts, comments?

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 10:21 AM

I'm actually not single but am friends with two cute, chill, eligible women who aren't money-grubbing at all. The fine, well-adjusted HOT SF women are out there. Have faith.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 10:25 AM

There's all kinds of women everywhere. Meeting the right one is not all that easy. I say; practice, practice, practice. There must be about 1 million single eligble women in the Bay Area. How many have you dated so far? I'm not a relationship expert, but I watched Dr Phil for about 2 minutes on night.

Posted by: Dennis at February 27, 2006 10:38 AM

ATTENTION DISAFFECTED TECHNOGEEKS:

A little better than poverty wages when you add in the bennys.

Does require an Engineering Degree.

http://www.baaqmd.gov/hro/employment_ops/aqengineer_va_022706.pdf

Posted by: friend #1 at February 27, 2006 10:44 AM

guys that claim that most chicks are money-grubbers are just looking for excuses as to why girls dont like them.

look at yourself, ask yourself if you are lame, and make the changes that you need to- work out more, beat off less, figure out how to talk to women, get a better job,,, whatever it is, figure it out without blaming "most girls".

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 10:46 AM

anon dating help dudes: your problem is most likely with your hair. chicks hate bad hair. try getting a new hairstyle.

Posted by: i thought whining about women is what craigslist is for? at February 27, 2006 10:59 AM

pathological women from around the states? Well, maybe not pathological, but there is something to the status thing. Obviously San Francisco is very expensive, so women here are struggling to make rent and go out to yummy restaurants and awesome music just like us guys, so they'd prefer someone who makes at least a little dough.

But it's not just women looking for guys to take them out (that would be easy, I would spend all my cash on a date if I knew I had a good chance of getting laid that night). I read recently that San Francisco has the highest percentage per capita of women who make more than $100K. More than New York or any other U.S. City.

So what does that mean? They are used to getting what they want, and they therefore become quite selective in their choices. It means you have to try harder, dress really well, act ambitious, witty, cool, occasionally aggresive, at times detached, sophisticated but down to earth, be tall, have unique looks, be really into them, but not creepy.

In other words, this is a town of highly selective successful women desperate for a date. But they are largely deluding themselves, just like we guys delude ourselves that we're going to get a super hot young chick to come right up to us and flirt for 5 minutes before asking us to take them home. It ain't gonna happen in the City. Try Rio de Janeiro, or Tokyo, or Beijing, or Italy in the summer, or Greece, or Stockholm, or Sydney, etc.

That, and it's also the weather. No summer!

Posted by: Surfseeker7 at February 27, 2006 11:02 AM

anon, this kinda reminds me of a song:

Now I aint sayin she a gold digger (When I'm Need)
But she aint messin wit no broke niggaz
(She did me wrong)
Now I aint sayin she a gold digger (When I'm need)
but she aint messin wit no broke niggaz
get down girl go head get down (I gotta leave)

18 years, 18 years
She got one of yo kids got you for 18 years
I know somebody payin child support for one of his kids
His baby momma's car and crib is bigger than his
You will see him on TV Any Given Sunday
Win the Superbowl and drive off in a Hyundai
She was spose to buy ya shorty TYCO with ya money
She went to the doctor got lypo with ya money
She walkin around lookin like Micheal with ya money
Should of got that insured got GEICO for ya moneeey
If you aint no punk holla We Want Prenup
WE WANT PRENUP!, Yeaah
It's something that you need to have
Cause when she leave yo ass she gone leave with half
18 years, 18 years
And on her 18th birthday he found out it wasn't his

Posted by: Atari at February 27, 2006 11:02 AM

surf friday after work was small but great. no surf over the weekend for me.

surfing rules.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 11:03 AM

Keep those job posts coming. Damn, $85k for just sampling air? How much do janitors make working for the gov't in the Bay Area?

I dated this young girl several months ago. She was going to SFSU and was a pretty nice looking Arabian girl. Anyways, I think this is pretty telling of the quality of education they are getting there, but I was talking to her one time about Hitler and World War II, and she looked at me dumbfounded and said, "Hitler wasn't in World War II, he was in World War I." She was really adamant about it, and I began questioning myself and my knowledge. She almost had me convinced that Hitler was really in World War I and I had to make sure by looking into it on the Internet. That one didn't last very long.

A few months ago, I met this Jewish girl and we went out on a few dates too. She told me that she liked to travel, and I said, "Oh yeah, you told me you went to Israel, right?" And then she says, "Well, yeah, but I like to travel whenever, and I like going by myself too. Like the other weekend, I went to Monterey all by myself." I was like, WTF??? What, did you fly down there?

Yeah, Bay Area chicks are pretty whacky. But who knows, maybe they're whacky EVERYWHERE.

Posted by: MSG at February 27, 2006 11:06 AM

anon, one other thing. try going to "adult fiend finder" dot com
you can find a lot of non-picky chicks on that site that are willing to "give it up" if you know what i mean.

i have a friend from houston that travels alot, he uses that site to hook up with women everywhere he goes, LA, Brazil, Miami, SF, etc.

that site is specifically for people who wanna find phuck-friends.
if dating isnt working, well, at least you can try AFF, biznatcher.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 11:07 AM

Good post, Surfseeker, well said.

Posted by: MSG at February 27, 2006 11:10 AM

MSG, maybe tell these chicks you are dating about how you like to pound howlies that drive cars with raider nation stickers? that might help.

tell that traveler chick "since you like to travel, can i drive you downtown?"....

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 11:11 AM

Posted by: Shred! at February 27, 2006 11:19 AM

the internet giveth and the internet taketh away..

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MMFVENJpHGo&search=vw%20unpimp

Posted by: post weekend bagel at February 27, 2006 11:19 AM

Saw Gregory Isaacs last night in a small litte venue in Santa Barbara. To see a legend about 10 feet away was amazing. He is very old now but still ran thru all his classics and dug into a couple early tunes. Short set but so great. I was surprised that he didn't come out in his all white suit. Skipped the super high tide surf in the Ventura spots on the way back into work. Irie tunes from Isaacs!

Posted by: Hb at February 27, 2006 11:22 AM

nice reviews e. i've gotten back into my guitar lately. fark has technology come a long way in the guitar world. still with all new great shit out there, les paul or strat? the age old question as the ovation goes on the block for sale.

hey BVB, just so you know, i'm kinda on your side, ok? i appreciate your references to me, too bad i'm not building a company/brand your authoritive references would helpful....once upon a time though i did, check it out: www.mauifin.com
i'm claiming today.


Posted by: 3to5setsof7 at February 27, 2006 11:30 AM

anyone here recommend masters H2O polo here in the bay area?

Posted by: elias at February 27, 2006 11:32 AM

My favorite sf local boy native:

http://www.pbase.com/chucklantz/image/56486435

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 11:33 AM

My favorite sf tranny:http://www.pbase.com/chucklantz/image/56486481

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 11:34 AM

hunter and bvb?

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 11:39 AM

Posted by: Atari at February 27, 2006 11:40 AM

hunter can barely surf. nice 1989 Bessel too. hot.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 11:41 AM

BVB getting burned by the cop.
http://www.pbase.com/chucklantz/image/56486491

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 12:02 PM

Talk about naming and claiming. Those Pbase shots make me want to surf the point just to have someone take my picture. Of course the picture would show me spazzing my take off and going head over heels into the rocks, taking out two or three guys in the process.

Posted by: C is for Closeout at February 27, 2006 12:05 PM

elias - not sure if it is still going on, but about six years ago, there was a club team in Half Moon Bay - I think called mavericks h2o polo club. No idea how to track down info on them anymore.

Posted by: Q at February 27, 2006 12:06 PM

My favorite local sfpd/cop/surfer: http://www.pbase.com/chucklantz/image/56486427

help desk; alot = a lot; howlie= haolie

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 12:09 PM

Hunter can surf - alright enough, just needs to slow it down a couple notches and cool his temper.
Are we pro yet?

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 12:12 PM

Haole.

Posted by: Hawwaii at February 27, 2006 12:13 PM

gotta love the bvb getting snaked shot.

Posted by: howley at February 27, 2006 12:19 PM

Posted by: more Banksy! at February 27, 2006 12:37 PM

A store that sells new husbands has just opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband.

Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates. You may visit the store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the attributes of the men increase as the shopper ascends the flights.

There is, however, a catch: you may choose any man from a particular floor, or you may choose to go up a floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building! So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband.

On the first floor the sign on the door reads: Floor 1 - These men have jobs.

The second floor sign reads: Floor 2 - These men have jobs and love kids.

The third floor sign reads: Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love kids, and are extremely good looking.

"Wow," she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going. She goes to the fourth floor and sign reads: Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love kids, are drop-dead good looking and help with the housework.

"Oh, mercy me!" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!" Still, she goes to the fifth floor and sign reads: Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love kids, are drop-dead gorgeous, help with the housework, and are romantic.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the sign reads: Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please.

Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 12:41 PM

Across the street is the wife store.

On the first floor the sign on the door reads: Floor 1 - These women are beautiful.

The second floor sign reads:
Floor 2 - These women are beautiful and love sex.

No one knows what's on the floors above.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 12:55 PM

damn, i got off on floor one of the wife store. Fuck!

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 12:58 PM

I stand and fight with Hunter, BVB, The Cop.

Anyone, anytime, anyplace any style.

Posted by: Jiu Jitsu Motto at February 27, 2006 01:01 PM

Jiu Jitsu, Thumb wrestling?

Posted by: speedracer at February 27, 2006 01:10 PM

hunter. now thats a name!

Posted by: my parents suck at February 27, 2006 01:19 PM

HB - got any St. Paddies day party recommendations for your area?

Posted by: traut at February 27, 2006 01:28 PM

Lay down a claim and keep it.

Posted by: Ozzie at February 27, 2006 01:30 PM

The Fort is for the chosen few. If you are not one of the chosen few, you will be told to leave prior to suiting up. If you do not leave, you will be violently removed from the premises.

Posted by: The Chosen Few at February 27, 2006 01:34 PM

This dude is far more bitter about trannies than anyone on this site.
http://www.pbase.com/chucklantz/image/56486408

Posted by: Posted By at February 27, 2006 01:35 PM

http://www.savesupertubes.com/

Posted by: save J-Bay at February 27, 2006 01:37 PM

Chosen few? Debatable. Don't know the criteria for being "accepted." Some are and some aren't - depends on THE WAY OF THE WAVE.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 01:37 PM

'The cop' and 'BVB' takin' a break from holding down DA FORT

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 01:39 PM

Ha, that Jiu Jitsu Motto guy cracks me up. Too many kung fu movies.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 01:50 PM

No comment:
http://www.surfhumor.com/psJetty102305%20002.jpg

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 01:50 PM

Dating in the Bay Area is pretty much like the real estate market. If you didn't snag a good one years back, you get out priced for all the good ones and are left with what is either defective or has this funny smell that will never come out. San Francisco is a magnet for people who wanna act out. For every one person that came to work in a business suit, you have four that came to be apart of a scence.

Speaking of scence, anyone else go to the surfrider thing at 111 Minna? I hit it at the tail end....man are women ever skinny in that neighborhood. I bought this one girl like 8 martinis without the alcohol just so she could get some olives in her.

Posted by: Andrew in Jack London Square at February 27, 2006 01:54 PM

That joke was the funniest i've heard in awhile.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 01:57 PM

oh yeah, is that what that was? I saw that as I walking by Minna to Market.

By the way, what is scence?

Posted by: MSG at February 27, 2006 02:00 PM

howlies, bitches.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 02:21 PM

When they kick down you're front door...How YOU gonna go?

With your hands on your head or the trigger on your gun?

Anyone, anyplace, anytime, anystyle.

Posted by: Jiu Jitsu Motto at February 27, 2006 02:33 PM

Down to earth women in the Bay Area? You gotta be kidding...

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 02:34 PM

Bagel - the more I look at those cartoons you drew, the more I like them. You may consider showing them to Surfer or Transworld.

Posted by: Dennis at February 27, 2006 02:38 PM

Now every cheap hood strikes a bargain with the world
And ends up making payments on a sofa or a girl
Love 'n' hate tattooed across the knuckles of his hands
hands that slap his kids around 'cause they don't understand how
death or glory becomes just another story

Posted by: Joe Strummer at February 27, 2006 02:39 PM

Anybody alarmed by the rampant bogosity of SF women who want every tenet of modern "women's lib" AND every courtesy of Victorian-era chivalry? Ding-ding-ding -- you can't choose only what you like from BOTH of these things at the same time and expect to matter! You want equality ladies, be equal or you're nothing but a vapid game personified.

Posted by: Dudes are gettin' used in the '06 at February 27, 2006 02:49 PM

I sent that joke about the husband store to this guy I work with. Damn, talk about being bitter, this is his response:

Big holes in story:

1- Women don't like "condition", can't go back down a stage ? Who are you to give me condition ?

2- Women agree to one thing then just ignore it, they get to top floor, spit on the notice and go back down

3- Women always take something then look for better thing, they would grab one from the 1st , drop the guy like a dirt bag when getting to 2nd floor and grab another and drop the poor guy like a bad habit when they move on up ...

... etc ...

4- They're not impossible to please, just don't give them any choice ...

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 02:52 PM

That husband store joke is as unfunny as me.

Posted by: Don Knotts at February 27, 2006 03:01 PM

Posted by: christianserfer at February 27, 2006 03:02 PM

I think maybe some of you boyz have been shopping in the wrong stores for girlz. Yiz iz bitta.

Posted by: Dennis at February 27, 2006 03:02 PM

Watch all of the action on the LIVE WEBCAST! The surf is 3-4 feet and is offshore and barreling today at the world famous Superbank. 7-time World Champion Kelly Slater, 3-time World Champion Andy Irons and 2005 Rookie of the year Fred Patacchia will all be surfing today. Don't miss a minute of the action. Log on to the live webcast now by clicking here:

http://www.quiksilver.com/quikpro/index.aspx

Posted by: Email Inbox at February 27, 2006 03:09 PM

P - A - N - C - H - O

Posted by: 3to5setsof7 at February 27, 2006 03:13 PM

Christian idolotry eeee. Religion is the opiate of the masses...

Women of this genration knew what they wanted, waited and got it all anyway even with the wait. They're different creatres than we are; needs and wants entirely different. The question is are you man enough to handle these dramatic generational changes or will you remain alone all the rest of your days?
That cross has me tranfixed...for all the wrong reasons...

Posted by: Lucky Joe at February 27, 2006 03:26 PM

thanks D! i dont know, maybe though..

don't you guys know, men are from mars and women are from venus?

Posted by: bagel at February 27, 2006 03:36 PM

Geez, Don't it look like this guy is having fun today at Lindy?

Image hosting by Photobucket

Posted by: Local at February 27, 2006 03:38 PM

So, I just got back from Costa Rica. While I had a great trip with in warm water with consistently head high waves, I was really nagged by something that I had never experienced in the other 3rd world contries I've surfed...

Almost all of my money went to ex-pats who now own property and are running businesses using locals as the service side. Granted, I did find a few places where I could drop my cash to the locals for dinner, room, etc. I struggled with the sense of entitlement and new localism that I found. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Few people were interested in this discourse while I was there. This situation was both appealing and appalling - appealing in the sense of finding your own paradise, and appalling for the obvious tranny side of things.

Sidenote - I was dropped in on by two guys after saying "Don't do it" while being the deepest. After the second drop in and wave, I called them both out at the same time and one guy felt entitled because he was now a local landowner (the other apologized).

I am really curious about what folks think about this whole vacation colonialism thing.

MM

Posted by: Malibu Mike at February 27, 2006 03:43 PM

tons' of empty waves in costa rica

if you surf in crowds you are a sheep and sheep spend their money with colonials.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 03:47 PM

costa rica = disneyland

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 03:56 PM

Yeah, I felt like a sheep for sure staying where I did.

However, I did surf empty waves since I was traveling alone I just drove, explored, and scored. That almost cost me my rental car more than once. I got some killer reefs with no one on them. Nobody but some fishermen.

Posted by: Malibu Mike at February 27, 2006 03:58 PM

CR is the old surfers home.... Get used to it. All the soul surfers who lead a true ASL during the 60's, 70's, and 80's are now broke or just scratching buy. They need a place to go w/ free health care, warm water, and cheap housing.... Get it while you can or make a sign and stake out your off ramp if you stay here...

Posted by: MSURFER at February 27, 2006 04:02 PM

New locals in Costa are new locals by their own lights, risks, and assimilation. They are now local, not distant. You got dropped in on probably b/c you're JOJ and you've got a "toilet neck" tan from surfing OB too much. So obvious, braddah.

HAOLE! ;^)

Posted by: Ockham's Razor at February 27, 2006 04:02 PM

I have boycotted CR for that very reason...the amount of entitled colonial expats is appalling. You see it alot in Mexico too.

Posted by: antman at February 27, 2006 04:03 PM

I have crazy toilet neck! That shit is basically tattooed into me now.

Posted by: e at February 27, 2006 04:04 PM

Cross pic... Robert's Lefts in Northern Baja? (Don't worry, it's in no danger of overcr*wding anytime soon...)

Posted by: Jaques Haas at February 27, 2006 04:05 PM

Malibu- I think that there is a wierd vibe where there are congregations of ex-pats in CR. It's a sort of a bitter/alcholic type of thing. I guess the same thing is happening in other parts of central america now.

Posted by: speedracer at February 27, 2006 04:05 PM

Toilet neck - that funny!

Posted by: Mr. Clean at February 27, 2006 04:12 PM

Costa Rica -
Been to Fiji? Not Tavarua, but around the island. The Indians own that place. Why are these expats
doing so well? Hard workers!!! In a democratic society, I can't be upset at a guy that is working hard tomake a living. No matter what skin color or what country he is from.
As long as he is legally in the country and not breaking the law, then have at it!

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 04:14 PM

speaking of toilet neck - Kaiser - its Time?!!?

Posted by: Mr. Clean at February 27, 2006 04:15 PM

I think among office dwellers 6:05 is the new 4:20.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 04:21 PM

no kidding. if an ex-pat can set up a legit business, not break the laws, and do well, then have at it. stokes surfers and helps out the local economy.
if you dont like ex-pats, then stay home. they are everywhere.
canadians and aussies are the most prevalent were I have been.

who do you think runs all the indo boat trips? indos?

time to get realistic, folks.

Posted by: Atari at February 27, 2006 04:28 PM

by the way, if you dont like ex-pats, then get out of san francisco. how many chinese expats are here in SF? get ready to learn to speak mandarin, fellahs, they are coming!!


oh yah, and dont go to LA where there are tons of Mexican ex-pats running businesses down there. Vietnamese too, oh yah, and Chinese of course.

Posted by: Atari at February 27, 2006 04:30 PM

these guys rocked:

Posted by: Atari at February 27, 2006 04:31 PM

go someplace, go where ever. just go the fuck away from SF and the FORT so that we don't have to teach the way.

Posted by: Chosen one at February 27, 2006 04:32 PM

The Fort, "Fortys", is such a pathetic wave.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 04:33 PM

You mean they could still see my toilet neck after my week of pre-surf trip fake baking???? Oh, no. It's all making sense now.

The thing is, there were several types of expats...

- the old school soul surfer/fisherman that MSURFER refers to and these guys were pretty chill and rarely seen in any pack of surfers
- the "I can't quite make it in the States" guys who've taken a local girl, started a pizzaria, and have discordant conversations with tourists
- and the list goes on...

Here is where it was most vivid for me:

One night and a day with a Tico family. Total cost = $22 USD including meals.

Just one night at the expat place was about $91 not including meals.

I left a bit embarrased of the inequity of where the majority of my dollars went.

But here is the REAL issue for me...in the other 3rd world countries, I left knowing a little more about the culture, the people, and feeling like I was really part of the ASL (said with smirk). In this case, I am left knowing more about how expats are making another culture their own or rather contributing to a form of what I'll call 'reverse assimilation.' Is this the fate of Tavarua owned by the Indians or other places? Will we ultimately lose parts of the world's ethnic/culural diversity due to this new colonialism, or is this just the same story of 1492?

Posted by: Malibu Mike at February 27, 2006 04:33 PM

i love the god damn internet

Posted by: bagel at February 27, 2006 04:35 PM

perception is king

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 04:39 PM

Kill all the FORTERS when you see them!

But stay away, so we don't kill you.

Posted by: FORTERS at February 27, 2006 04:40 PM

Atari, point taken, however...

I just see one major difference - an industrialized nation's citizen coming to a 3rd world country is a bit different than a 3rd world citizen moving to an industrialized nation. There is an advantage purely based on privelege, etc. Your examples aren't quite equivalent to me.

Posted by: Malibu Mike at February 27, 2006 04:42 PM

Malibu,
sure there is a difference, but you gotta be realistic.
i like staying with expats where i go as they not only know how to treat gringos, but they also feed the local economy. most provide good, solid jobs for locals, pay their taxes, and have a safe environment.

as for the A-holes that dropped in on you, yah that sucks, but that is reality anywhere (Check the messages about 'The Fort' just today).
you have to understand that you just visited one of the most popular surf destinations for Floridiots and Canadanians, so you are bound to run into expats and dickhead psueudo-local expats.

this world is getting over populated, BIG TIME, we just passed 6.5 Billion population this weekend actually. we are SCREWED. did i mention that one song from the 80's? "Chiiiina, Chiiiina!!"

Posted by: Atari at February 27, 2006 04:54 PM

tom carrol is totally kissing slaters ass, kinda sad..i mean who would really like the "share a wave" format in a contest, i dont think i would..

Posted by: critic bagel at February 27, 2006 04:57 PM

is Dooma at the contest?
more Dooma!!

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 05:00 PM

who are the tranny homo's in the Medieval armor. Too many subliminal gay messages around here lately

Posted by: poacher at February 27, 2006 05:08 PM

a good deal of mildly intelligent people post on this board, definitley heads above the moronic Surfer Mag one, but over and over again the same "tranny" thread keeps coming back and back and back again to the SAME OLD SHIT: "Foreigners suck" and "everyone should stay exactly where they were born." Do you people actually believe this? What kind of idiots are you?

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 05:09 PM

give me some choices. what kinds of idiots are there?

Posted by: kloo at February 27, 2006 05:12 PM

kloo, classic.

anon, be more specific- are you saying that ex-pats are ok, or that we should not sell our nation's debt, real estate and futures to the chinese?

please advise.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 05:15 PM

its after 5 and no titties or asses today?
has everyone gone brokeback on us?

Sactomex, where are the onions??

Posted by: Atari at February 27, 2006 05:18 PM

Atari,

Yeah, again, I see your point. Have you ever felt that you missed an opportunity to not be comfortable? Isn't that kinda part of the ASL? Kidding. Of course, I loved the extra towels, hot h20, the killer french toast, but that experience didn't push me like the stank a$$ fish town I stayed at in South America where you couldn't sleep without some nose cloggers, or the time I played poker with a military soldier and a cop who took all my money and neglected to tell me their deck didn't traditionally have any all 52 cards!

I don't know, I love being comfortable just like the next guy, but at what cost?

It feels like the cost of that comfortability is the chance to further expand our minds, concepts of life, understanding of culture, how others live, and what we are capable of as humans.

I guess in the end, personally, I look to my trips as a way to rearrange perspective. I didn't find it this time and that's probably just as much my own fault as anything.

Posted by: Malibu Mike at February 27, 2006 05:21 PM

Mali Mike,
I hear you. I hope you at least got some good waves. did you get Pavones on fire? that place is unreal when it is on, unless 20 brazilians roll into town during the swell....

Posted by: Atari at February 27, 2006 05:34 PM

Fort's pumping right now, ten foot faces and glassy.

Where is/was everyone?

Posted by: Chosen one at February 27, 2006 05:40 PM

Fort = Gay right now. get on it Simon!

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 05:43 PM

Atari, I didn't head that way, though trying to find Allan W would have been sweet. I was just north of Mal Pais for the majority of my trip and got Boca on a solid Southwest.

One beach break I hit was empty with just barrels everywhere the eye could see. You couldn't draw them any more perfect.

I'll never forget the fisherman trying to tell me the rocks underneath were dangerous and the surf wasn't good. Thinking it was a rock reef, I paddled into the initial mess and it cleaned up and got better and better.

Have a good one - I think I just found some of that perspective right here...some good stuff to chew on...

Posted by: Malibu Mike at February 27, 2006 05:43 PM

Atari, What do you got against Brazilians? you fucking racist BIATCHHH!

Posted by: Mexi at February 27, 2006 05:47 PM

But hey I do like Midnight Oil too.

Posted by: Mexi at February 27, 2006 05:51 PM

Posted by: you high-fivers' computer of choice at February 27, 2006 05:54 PM

YOU ARE AN ALIEN AND MUST DIE!

Posted by: Simon say's at February 27, 2006 05:59 PM

malimike, you didn't miss anything. you did exactly what your supposed to do as a surfer, maybe even asl, you ventured out. and scored. cheer up bro

Posted by: msurfer at February 27, 2006 06:03 PM

slater 9.8 siick.

Posted by: 3to5setsof7 at February 27, 2006 06:06 PM

yeah, that was a sweeet ride, 3to5.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 06:10 PM

better late than never....

picture

Posted by: sd rider at February 27, 2006 06:23 PM

first went to CR 13 years ago and even then there were the dudes you describe Malibu, the worst being the guys (mostly from cali) who had not even bought land yet, nor married a local girl or opened a business, but had been there a few months and were now "locals".

most of the expats i met that first trip and 2 more since had bailed on california because of overcrowding and drop-ins and overbuilding there, but they were eager to contribute to that same type of spoiling of CR once they were in the power position and able to do so (open a surf tour business, build a best western hotel, or just be grumpy and drop in at the local spot).

...but also the Ticos have welcomed the Americans with open arms since the 50's, in terms of immigration and land ownership rules and so forth and so on....

i was born inland and started surfing at 16, driving 3 hours each way to paddle into mostly blown out, onshore wind chop because i was so stoked on it. i grew up skating the local ditch and wakeboarding (standing up on kneeboards before wb was even invented), but those were just my only available substitutions until i was old enough to drive to the ocean. the joy of the same glide and turn, but with no boat noise or gravel-strewn concrete was enough to justify the 6 hour round trip and now, 16 years later i am still obsessed.

the other thing that got me was the super cool way of the real surfers. the whole ASL thing, plus the real skills, the chill attitude and soulful approach to everything....i wanted to be that and finding a true "ASL" or whatever you want to call it has in some way affected my life ever since.

right now i live in a part of mexico with no real swell window. excellent reef passe potential everywhere but nothing gets in here except the occasional storm bump cleaned up by the rare offshore wind. it's not often that it lines up, but when it does i'm on it and i find that even just the littlest fix takes care of me...just the paddle or sticking my head down to check out the reef or seeing a turtle go by often makes the mediocre wave quality seem like no problem, at least 'til the next time i can take a break from my project and get to a more surfable coast.

anyway, the point here is that i've noticed something through the little life summary above, plus other extensive surf travel not mentioned there over the last 16 years.... the parts of the developing world with good surf are often the first to boom and be overrun with aggressive expats. the surfers are the early adopters and are hardy enough to go to the boundary zones and tough it out until the services and infrastructure catch up...they in fact are usually responsible for bringing them in (politically and economically) to support and improve the businesses they set up. then they are the first to try and draw the line right behind their own heels and lock down their monopoly and drop in on anyone else who comes along after them, spreading the same bullshit negativity and selfabsorbtion that pushed them away from wherever they came from in the first place. any of you that have traveled have seen this...the whole tavarua thing comes to mind...ask keith martin on savaii about that whole little story....and somebody school me if i'm wrong but wasn't Gerry Lopez, the jesus christ of the soul surfers responsible for that?

anyway the point is it's really a striking difference, the attitdue of the expats in this non-surfing but quickly growing part of the developing world. yes, there are huge problems here and we are faced with the tough challenges of trying to define and enact sustainable, low-impact growth that lie before any place that is undergoing rapid tourist boom... but what's different is that in general the expats are super friendly, want to help each other and share experiences. when i first came here i thought "i'll never make it, no surf" and now i often find myself very glad that there are no "real surfers" here.

i mean WHAT THE FUCK? we have this totally luxurious, blissful, nature experience that keeps us fit and connected and high, and all we can do is try to lock it down for only me and i'm inside and all you outsiders are gonna get beat down and it's mine mine mine. do you fort pters and kclbs and other "locals" ever get out of the fucking bubble you are living in and realize how this attitude is totally preposterous and self-serving and sad....if this is the ASL, then it seems to me that the ASL is a perfect metaphor for everything that's fucked up about human culture. /endrant

Posted by: mk1201 at February 27, 2006 06:39 PM

man, the winds are HOWLING like howlies out there! hahaha!

Posted by: Howlie to you too! at February 27, 2006 06:47 PM

better late than never is right:

Posted by: Sactomex at February 27, 2006 06:49 PM

Oh man, that naughty nurse raver chick is killing me!

Posted by: sactomex at February 27, 2006 06:53 PM

man, that is a NICE ass. Lord have MERCY!

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 07:00 PM

mk1201,
you sum it up perfectly. and since there is no defence for the behavior of the angry aggro clowns (ala ft point etc) they simply yell louder and call you a fag and punch you, because that's what their abusive parents and abusive goverment has taught them.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 07:09 PM

sorry, that was a way too long rant, must balance it out...

Posted by: mk1201 at February 27, 2006 07:25 PM

that girl has no ass. man, that's like hitting bone dry reef tapping it from the behind. Ugh.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 07:32 PM

sometimes you just have to make do.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 07:41 PM

ouch, she should only have liquid foods for the first 2 days then liquified veggies until her digestive tract gets used to solid foods again..

Posted by: doc at February 27, 2006 07:42 PM

Rad New Surfing Compilation

check out this read:
Surfing's Greatest Misadventures: Dropping in on the Unexpected

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0976951606/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-3127213-7090564#reader-page

The first story about Bethany Hamilton is readable on Amazon. It's pretty insane.

G

Posted by: gvibe7 at February 27, 2006 07:57 PM

its appears that some portion of her ass and thighs were airbrushed away. hell, airbrushes gone wild.

Posted by: flesh fan at February 27, 2006 08:06 PM

so she's skinny, so what. i'd hit it. she looks like she would get freaky.

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 08:34 PM

Damn... just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water:

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/weather/13976185.htm

this is the scenario that plays out in my head: she is sucking me hard, and I get real horny. then I reach down to cup her breasts and rub her boobies up and down and around and round till I feel her rib cage, and go Wwhat the fuck am I fuckin' around wit?! naomi campbell be suckin' my dick dat ethiopian bitch!

Posted by: at February 27, 2006 08:42 PM

All you whiners and dime-store idealogues should go back to the east coast, build a wave machine on Walden Pond and create that utopian surf community that eludes you.

Posted by: Thoreau the bums out! at February 27, 2006 09:40 PM

Come and play tomorrow.
See if you make it down the "steps" It'll be big and swinging.
There's been no waves since what Friday? Let's see if NICENESS COMES TO REGULATE THE SHITTY WAVE!
I've asked the Chosen Few to be especially welcoming tomorrow. We want to see if you can surf. We wan't it PACKED so we can evaluate all of you and then teach you THE WAY!

Posted by: Chosen few at February 27, 2006 11:06 PM

GROW THE FUCK UP.

Posted by: Time to embrace maturity at February 28, 2006 07:12 AM

Wow bro, why are you shouting dude? You need to go to aggroville

Posted by: at February 28, 2006 07:29 AM

sorry your right. i'll type more quietly for the rest of the day.

Posted by: at February 28, 2006 07:35 AM

i think everyone should engage in a non-violent paddle out at said spot on Fri morn. everyone and everyone everyone knows should all show up at 7:00am and paddle out. party wave every wave. let these guys realize the true futility of their rants. give them what they're asking for.

Posted by: gandhi at February 28, 2006 07:47 AM

See ya Friday. 7 AM

Posted by: Chosen Ones at February 28, 2006 07:55 AM

The bane of any society are the new arrivals that, believing their values to be superior, attempt to impose them on others.

Posted by: the futility of your rants at February 28, 2006 08:13 AM

surf tourism is ghey

Posted by: at February 28, 2006 08:35 AM

Posted by: at February 28, 2006 09:06 AM

beaver tail and long john, all white single fin pintail, no leash. the original values curmudgeon crew.

Posted by: societies sweethearts? at February 28, 2006 09:10 AM
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