Random Thoughts of a Surf ReporterRandom Thoughts of a Surf ReporterFree Daily Surf reports from Venice Beach CA including homeles updates, local culture and massive amounts of drinking and drug abuse Articles
Told You So
2008-05-21 20:21:00 If you recall a few days ago I recommended buying SKF, the ProShares 2X short of the Dow Jones Financial Index (DJUSFN index fro you Bloomberg users). Well, the Fed minutes just came out and they flat out said that inflation is now as much as, if not a bigger concern, than stimulating growth. That is a HUGE change and bsaically signals that rate cuts are over unless something really, really dramatic happens.They also had this to say about housing:The housing market had continued to weaken since the previous meeting, and participants saw little indication of a bottoming out in either housing activity or prices. Blah blah blah and finished with this: Nonetheless, the outlook for the housing market remained bleak, with housing demand likely to be affected by restrictive conditions in mortgage markets, fears that house prices would fall further, and weakening labor markets. The possibility that house prices could decline by more than anticipated, and that the effects of such a decline ... More About: Told
Venice Surf Report 05/21/08 Hypocrisy Inc.
2008-05-21 19:01:00 Venice Surf Report Free Surf Report Venice BeachHmm. Big but pretty much blown out.Solid, steady short period windswell but noy, that's some windswell. It is in the head high+ range but we cannot catch a break in Venice condition wise. Winds are already onshore at 5-7 kts. and freshening, so if you are reading this now, well, you are probably already shit outta luck.Bummer.There are a few out taking a beating and snagging the occasional nice ride, but again, the onshore wind is really doing a number. 2-3 out south, 3-4 out north, not much parking and a nice, albeit windy, day on tap.So yesterday I was out taking a walk in the 39th installment of trying to be slightly less obese when I go to Mex in June, and my walks take me out to the end of the jetty which serves as the entrance to the Marina in Marina Del Rey.As I was almost out to the end I hear a boat with the engines gunned and turn around to see who would be stupid enough to fly past the numerous buoy markers that are clearly... More About: Venice , Hypocrisy
Video Response From AngreyRenter.com
2008-05-20 22:38:00 Res Ipsa Loquitor More About: Video , Response
This Just In
2008-05-20 18:41:00 Dateline: Washington, D.C.WASHINGTON - The U.S. discriminates against blind people by printing paper money that makes it impossible for them to distinguish among the bills' varying values, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. Really? They discriminate against them? Hmmm. Maybe so. But do you think it might just be accidental and they have been trying to avoid having to implement a multi-billion dollar change while also throwing out 200 years worth of investment?I can see the the committee discussion the last time they decided on changes to the currency; it must have gone something like this......Sec. Treas: "Ok, so it's agreed; we add color to the twenties and fives, make George bigger on the single and add the agreed upon security features for the already updated 100 dollar note. Is there anything else before we break?"Dep. Sec Health & Human Services: "Sir yes, there is one more thing."Treas: "Yes, what is it?"HHS: "Sir, it's been brought to our attention that the blind exper...
Venice Surf Report 05/20/08 The Meltdown Begins
2008-05-20 16:50:00 Venice Surf Report Free Surf Report Venice BeachEh - needs more water.There is definitely some swell in the water this morning, but it does not appear to like Venice at the moment. The waist to chest high S lines that are coming through are hitting the outer shelf and jacking up and dumping over, and until there is more water to help them break a bit slower it will continue walled and dumpy. There were a few corners here and there, but given the June gloom (get the fuck out of here before the weekend!), the starnge new, diarrhea brown coloration of the water and the general junkiness looking of the lineup well, I'd have to say it is, at best, a coin flip.2-3 out on either side, some parking left, winds calm but look onshore, cool and overcast.Well, the fat is offically in the fire folks. Today's PPI number is out and it is not good. As you may know, this number represents the prices producers are paid for their goods, and is considered a leading economic indicator for inflation. A... More About: Venice
thank you shawn
2008-05-20 06:35:00 You gassed her up behind the wheel with your arm around your sweet one in your Oldsmolbilebarrelling down the boulevard - lookin' for the heart of Saturday nightThe magic of a meloncholy tear in her eyeLookin' for the heart of Saturday night.Thanks Shawn - UG
Equally Good or Equally Bad?
2008-05-19 18:41:00 You be the judge. More About: Irony , Fighting , Good
Venice Surf Report 05/19/08 Weekend Wrap Up
2008-05-19 16:05:00 Venice Surf Report Free Surf Report Venice BeachNo pics today, was in the office at 6 am and I learned long ago that taking pictures in the dark is far less rewarding than you might think. So, no surf update, but if it is anything like yesterday morning it will be fun.And yesterday morning was definitely the apex of the weekend. Me and Jeff from Ridershack and a couple of our bros got toghether and paddled out south of the pier yesterday and let me tell you, it was a fucking blast. The morning got off to kind of a weird start as there were about 5 firetrucks / ambulances in front of Jeff's place when I went to pick him up. Turns out his next door neighbor died or something (I didn't really get all the details) so no damage done to anyone I knew, but still, seeing the Medical Examiner at 7 am on a Sunday morning is not exactly a cheery start.But we did finally get out there, and it was just one of those magical mornings that people who don't surf will never understand. Solid chest... More About: Venice , Weekend , Wrap
Sunday; That Useless Day
2008-05-18 22:17:00 Have You Even Showered Yet?Today while refusing to get out of bed on time, We flipped from The Weather Channel to MSNBC. We used to use MSNBC as our alarm channel, but there is something soothing about The Weather Channel, which MSNBC lacks - in spite of Heidi Cullen's campaign to destroy the careers of meteorologists who disagree with her about global warming.We thought about that. Sunday is like that for many Americans. A wasted day. You get drunk and have fun on Friday night. You rest and recover from your hangover on Saturday. Sunday rolls around, and you lie in bed with a newspaper.This is what people do, while refusing to give one weekend day to god. It's what We've generally done. Lying in bed with a newspaper, or barbecuing, or watching sports is better than a day of rest and devotion.We are here to tell you, it's no bargain. You can use that time to rest AND improve yourself AND heal and strengthen your family. Sleeping until noon, or slouching around drunk on a lawn ch... More About: Useless
Venice Surf Report 05/16/08
2008-05-16 18:33:00 Just got back from a paddle and while a beautiful morning, we definitely are lacking in the wave department.Just a few out, maybe some knee high rollers, keep an eye on the cams and see if it starts to fill in with the new NW we are supposed to have by this afternoon.It ain't here yet. More About: Surf , Venice , Report
I Wonder What Choice # 2 Was?
2008-05-16 00:05:00 CONFLUENCE, Pa. - Two Somerset County men are charged with trying to steal live power lines that were still attached to a transformer and utility poles. Police said Kevin Lee Lytle, 27, and Daniel Jay Basinger, 24, both of Confluence, were shocked during the theft attempt on May 3 in Lower Turkeyfoot Township.Both were charged Wednesday, but only Basinger was well enough to attend his arraignment on the attempted theft charge.Police say the incident disrupted power to area residences for about five hours. Penelec Power Co. owns the lines which suffered $1,500 damage.The Associated Press could not immediately reach either man for comment. More About: Choice
Venice Surf Report 05/14/08 Where Are They Now?
2008-05-14 16:48:00 Venice Surf Report Free Surf Report Venice CAWow - looks good. A bit small, but definitely fun.Swell is in the waist high + range, some bigger, some smaller, but fun peaky windswell corners are being had by all. Gorgeous day, lots of sun and sublime conditions. No reason not to paddle out today. 5-6 out on either side, more suiting up, parking oddly available, light offshore/calm winds, going down to a +.65 low at 12:28 pm, should be good until 11 am or so.So, yesterday Photo Matt wrote in and asked "where are the boyos?", and it occured to me that I didn't know. I knew that they had more or less been run off the end of the pier by the cops / Boston "The Retard" Dawna and a lack of purchasing ability at the "little fucking Korean", but I wanted to know for myself, so I set out yesterday to find them.As you may recall the last time I saw them was far down the boardwalk in Venice, about 300 yards past he Sidewalk cafe. It didn't go so well as my presence incited some drunk to provok... More About: Venice
How Low Will Real Estate Go?
2008-05-13 21:22:00 The question on everyone's lips these days (their FRROZZENN lips, wood chuck chuckers) is just how low will Real Estate go?There is an excellent article on Forbes.com dicussing this today, and the very simple premise of the article is that real estate will continue dropping until house prices are back in line with median incomes. We are nowhere near that point. The writer makes some cogent points, but I especially like what he has to say about the two markets that rank #5 and #1 respectively for worst housing markets, Los Angeles and the Inland Empire.About Los Angeles:5. Los Angeles, Calif.Expected year-end median home price: $471,320Percent drop: 17%Prices in Los Angeles nearly tripled from 2000 to 2006, going up 161% to $575,550 from $217,220. Income growth did not match that rate. The median home price in 2000 was 4.7 times the median family income, but by 2006, home prices were 10 times the median income level, making L.A. the least affordable housing market in the country.Abo... More About: Real Estate
Venice Surf Report 05/13/08 Nothing Comes to Mind
2008-05-13 16:24:00 Venice Surf Report Surf Report Venice CA Free Surf ReportA bright, clear morning for a change!And there is even some swell in the water, though nothing that will get you on the cover on Surfer mag. Call it knee to waist high, some bigger sets, only one of which I saw as ther was almost no parking and I had to park in front of a hydrant, run up and get the pics quick, but certainly given the latest gloom being over there being something , well, you'll feel better if you go.Grom fest on both sides, the bar in front of Bucc was working really well and only had one dude on it, parking pretty much gone, a beautiful day and ever so slightly offshore. Go already!A lot of mornings when I sit down to do the report I have a hard time coming up with something to write about. I know that most of you find the financial posts boring, and since the boyos for better or worse are more or less history, well, that means that it requires a certain amount of imagination on my part to come up with somet... More About: Venice , Mind
Oh - A Wiseguy, Eh?
2008-05-12 22:54:00 SYDNEY (AFP) - An Australian man has described how he escaped from the jaws of a great white shark by poking it in the eye as it dragged him under water. Jason Cull, 37, told reporters from his hospital bed that he saw a dark shape approaching as he swam about 80 metres (yards) off the popular Middleton beach in Western Australia on Saturday.At first he thought it was one of the dolphins he had been swimming with, but realised it was a shark as the four-metre (12-foot) monster closed in, local media reported Monday."It banged straight into me... and it grabbed me by the leg and dragged me under the water," said Cull, a schoolteacher and father of two."I just remember being dragged backwards underwater. I felt along it, I found its eye and I poked it in the eye, and that's when it let go."A volunteer at the local surf club, Joanne Lucas, 50, heard Cull's cries for help as she arrived at the beach and immediately dived in to rescue him."Instinct just kicked in," she told reporters. ...
Venice Surf Report 05/12/08 Is This Even News Anymore?
2008-05-12 16:23:00 Not too bad, I guess.There are some corners out there in the waist high +/- range, but it is a little junky and weak looking. And it is raining. Or at least drizzling. So, who knows? Call it a coin flip. At the very least you should have plenty of room if you do make it out this morning. Rain/drizzle, calm winds, foggy, gray, a good morning to sleep in, two out north, two out south, 0 ft. low tide coming up at 11:00 am. so hit it before then.So, I am driving to work this morning and in front of me is an SUV that is weaving all over the place, drifting in and out of the left lane, and I can see the drivers head bobbing up and down and weaving left and right. The driver, obviously, is doing something besides driving. At first I think they must be dialing a phone, but this keeps up all the way from the start of the 10 to the La Cienega exit, a distance of about 10 miles. Finally a spot opens up on the right and I go around. And what do I see? Well, luckily I had my camera, and a pictur... More About: News , Surf , Venice , Report
Surf Report from ????????
2008-05-10 21:02:00 Went to a secret spot this morning. The drive there was very suspect as we didn't see ANYTHING breaking on the way up, but finally we got there and checked it out.The tide had just turned, conditions were perfect and as we were watching a set rolled in. Two minutes later and we were on it.Here's a little taste, and this was on the small side.Plus, me and my buddy were the only ones out.How was your morning? More About: Surf , Report
So Fucking Cool
2008-05-09 21:24:00 Apparently this guy shot his ex-wife and her boyfriend in front of their teenage daughter and then took off. No, I mean it; he really took off. More About: Cool , Karma , Fucking
An Open Letter to My Congresswoman
2008-05-09 20:00:00 I knew she would do it, but it doesn't make me any less pissed off.My Congresswoman, the (used to be) Honorable Jane Harman, yesterday voted for HR 3221, the Foreclsoure Prevention Act of 2008. I won't go into why this bill is such a piece of shit other than to say that I am livid that Congress would take money from the vast majority of us in order to bail out the speculators, builders and lenders that got themsleves into this mess, but basically it looks like you and I will be on the hook for 300B of shit mortgages once the FHA insures them. And believe me, we will pay.Hi! I'm a Stupid Old Bitch Who's Too Fucking Stupid To Do What's RightAt any rate, I wrote the dumb cunt a letter on her website - feel free to use it if you would like to drop her a line via copy and paste.Here you go - Dear Congresswoman Mongoloid Harman:Way to go. Good job on voting for what is quite possibly the worst piece of legislation to come in front of the House in recent years, HR 3221. How dare you u... More About: Open , Letter , Open Letter
Venice Surf Report 05/09/08 Finally Friday / Farting Forcefully
2008-05-09 16:24:00 Lather, Rinse, RepeatYou know the deal. Low tide, shitty conditions, blah blah blah.A few out, some parking left, keep your fingers crossed for the S swell that is supposed to show tomorrow.I had to dish out a little escalator etiquette this morning.Normally I take the parking garage elevator from where I park right up to the level where I catch the tower elevator that takes me up to the XXth floor.But not today - no, today I took the escalators up to the sub-lobby so I could hit the little convenience store on the way up. Normally not a big deal, and not something I would write about.But as usual (or so it seems lately) I ran into a total douchebag, this time in the form of some skinny, severe looking 40 yr. old white chick who gets right behind me as I stand on the escalator. So, as we are going up the first flight she is quite literally one step behind me, so close I swear I could feel her breathing on me as we go up. But what really pissed me off is that as we get off flight on... More About: Surf , Venice , Report , Friday , Finally
Venice Surf Report 05/08/08 Bummer Dude
2008-05-08 15:51:00 Venice Surf Report Free Surf Report Surf Conditions Venice CAGuees what? Low tide....yes? Small swell...yes?!? Crappy conditions....YES!!!It still sucks. Maybe knee high, already onshore, totally drained out due to our -1.36 ft. low at 6:40 am and cloudy and cool conditions.Sleep in. Two groms out on the north side, nobody else even thinking about it, first window for anything decent around 10:30 am, lots of parking left.So, think your morning got off to a shitty start? Bet it wasn't as bad as some.Check out these BMW's that someone hit yesterday/last night in the parking lot of my apartment complex.Apparently they hit a grand total of 5 cars and tried to get the wheels off another 2-3; either way each one they hit was pretty fucked up. Cost of 4 new rims? About 2K. Good thing I sold mine (the car, not the rims) 3 weeks ago......Also, thanks to Cody Alberts for finding and sending the link in the L.A. Times about Tommy's story yesterday; I guess it really was true and not some ma... More About: Venice , Dude , Bummer
Mark Your Calendars
2008-05-07 19:45:00 Well, it was bound to happen. It is now official: we are totally and completely screwed when it comes to the economy. Today Treasury Secretary Paul "Hank" Paulson declared victory over the credit crisis on Wall St.Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said U.S. financial markets are emerging from the credit crunch and that "the worst is likely to be behind us," marking possibly the most optimistic comments yet from the Bush administration on the financial crisis.In a move questioned by some, Paulson made the announcement from the deck of the USS Reagan after having flown aboard earlier and making a dramatic arrested landing. Adding to the drama was a large "Mission Accomplished" banner hanging in the background.Yeah right - over. Come back in 3 years and tell me: was it really over today? Or was it just starting?Time will tell. More About: Calendars , Mark
Venice Surf Report 05/07/08 Fannie's Freaking Fabulous
2008-05-07 16:11:00 Guess what? Low tide, drained out crap again this morning!I know, I was as shocked as you. But with a -1.6 ft low at 5:40 well, there ain't a whole lot of water for the minimal swell to work with, and as a result anything with any size (i.e. knee high+) hits the outside bar, jacks up and falls on dry sand.There should be a big improvement as the tide fills in, and yesterday afternoon was actually kinda fun, so I see no reason why there shouldn't be some potential around 10 am or so. Just keep on eye on the wind.One out(?), nobody else even thinking about it, The Dummy eating garbage from one of the cans in the lot, dead calm, cool and overcast.Tommy was there this morning telling me a story about some dude the cops chased onto Washington down near the pier and the guy apparently T-Boned about 12 cars and stabbed a cop with a hypo before finally being subdued. I can't find any reference to it in the LA Times (although that doesn't mean much); did anyone see or hear this thing goi... More About: Surf , Venice , Report , Fannie Mae
Venice Surf Report 05/06/08 Guess Who?
2008-05-06 15:59:00 Venice Surf Report Free Surf Report Southern California The Boyos Are BackOnshore, choppy, low tide garbage.....again. Coming off a negative low tide earlier this morning and it shows. Very weak windswell getting some help from the early onshores and frankly there is no reason to get wet this morning, even though one guy was getting in.Nobody out, one getting in, onshore at 3-5 mph, bumpy and choppy. Forget it.Now just because there's no point in getting wet doesn't mean there's no point in heading down to the pier this morning.I first knew something was up when I saw about 10-12 used limes on one of the picnic tables. It was Cinco de Mayo last night, after all.Tommy soon confirmed my suspicions and suggested I take alook over by the bathrooms so I head down there.As I get close to the bathrooms I begin to see the familiar detritus that means boyos have been present: empty beer cans, broken glass, puddles of urine - could it be?!?As I round the corner what do I see but a pile of ... More About: Venice , Guess Who , Guess
Who Says Target Isn't Sexy?
2008-05-05 20:44:00 P.T. Barnum once said that nobody ever went bankrupt underestimating the stupidity of the American public. And for the most part I agree; after all, someone bought Pet Rocks and Beanie Babies, right?But what about the perversion of the American public? In case you were wondering it is alive and well.A 20-year-old Fort Walton Beach man was arrested for indecent exposure after he was seen masturbating at Target in Mary Esther. The deputy who responded to the incident reported the man was parked where he could be seen from all directions, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff?s Office offense report. When the deputy arrived, the man pulled up his pants and tried to leave, but his vehicle was blocked by the deputy?s patrol car. According to the report, the deputy asked what the man was doing. The man said he was just waiting in the parking lot, but the deputy told him he had witnessed his ?lewd act.? The man told the deputy he had tried to find ?pleasure? at home and while driving aro... More About: Sexy
Vencie Surf Report 05/05/08 Monday Fucking Morning
2008-05-05 17:13:00 Venice Surf Report Free Surf Report Venice CAEh.......Looks pretty crappy out there. Maybe waist high, low tide, junked up, shitty looking wind chop. But hey, you may be into that; I can't imagine why, but that's why Baskin Robbins makes 31 flavors, eh? I mean, somebody's eating Kiwi Mint Bubble Gum Sorbet, right?2 out south, one out north, overcast and cool, a perfect morning to eat a big pot brownie and get back into bed and watch cartoons. Not me though, I am at work and manning the fort, ready to defend the battlements of the world of finance. Ho hum.Not everyone is hating Monday as much as I am today. Leprechaun made a sweet score after the big Cinco de Quatro party at Baja Cantina yesterday. Apparently there was an especially festive group who, like all good drunks, immediately abandoned their weak link in the party chain in an alley when they couldn't keep up.Here he is wearing what used to be this dude's jacket.Good for him.Did I mention it's Monday? Fuck.Also, I got a... More About: Morning , Fucking
Irony Strikes Again
More articles from this author:2008-05-01 21:23:00 A surfer was killed in the waters off Trancones, MX a couple days ago and it turns out that the guy was from the Bay Area and had even made it into the newspaper last year.Why? Because he was such a huge Sharks fan, of course.In this April 24, 2007 file photo, San Jose Sharks fan Adrian Ruiz gestures as he holds up two tickets for Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals that he just purchased at the Sharks ticket office in San Jose, Calif.So, basically, the only picture they could find of a guy who was killed by a shark is a picture of the guy buying Sharks tickets. I guess we're all just lucky he wasn't a Giants fan. More About: Irony 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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