Composting is a way of life! Amazing to see how much lighter your trash is every week when you put the bins out - so much good potential soil goes into landfill.
", "tags": "Must try this!
\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yJMSHWLAShc
\n", "tags": "
Spent our honeymoon in Greece! Unforgettable.
", "tags": "I'm a regular bike commuter, but have never ridden long distance. I'm going to change that by tackling a 65-miler in April 2012 - the Chico Wildflower run. Just got a used road bike and training starts... now!
", "tags": "During a trip to Kauai in 2010, spent a glorious afternoon lounging on a volcanic black sand beach.
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/viator-things-to-do/2091385403/
\n\n
", "tags": "
Have wanted to do this for a very long time. When will I finally get around to it? So many sculptures to make...
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/54596905@N00/459015132/
\n", "tags": "
Have done this many times in my life, in many lakes!
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/71111184@N08/6427640367/in/photostream
\n", "tags": "
\"El Caminito del Rey (English: The King's little pathway) is a walkway, now fallen into disrepair, pinned along the steep walls of a narrow gorge in El Chorro, near Álora in the province of Málaga, Spain. The name is often shortened to Camino del Rey (English: King's pathway).\" (Wikipedia)
\nApparently the path has fallen into such disrepair that it's virtually un-doable now, but they're planning to rebuild it. Should be completely accessible in a few years (though no longer dangerous/challenging).
\nTwo unbelievable videos here - one in low-def, and a hi-def walk shot a while later, after the trail had deteriorated even more. Sadly, the person who filmed this, Daniel Ahen, died on 11 May this year at a climbing expedition in the Himalayas.
\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZmDhRvvs5Xw
\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlw6Yk4WT2I
", "tags": "http://www.flickr.com/photos/oceangrant/3709543032/
\n", "tags": "
There's a massive indoor trampoline garden in San Francisco called the House of Air. Must... jump!
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/mariachily/4996396809/
\n", "tags": "
Yeah, it's loud and obnoxious, but it's also approximately the most fun you can possibly have on water. SO fun!
", "tags": "Classic post-college trek, living in hostels, out of my backpack for months on end. Living large in a small way, discovering the world.
", "tags": "\"Just 23 miles west of Austin, a city known for its quirks and weirdness, is perhaps the weirdest sight in all of Texas: a breathtaking natural oasis emerging out of the dust and scrub grass in the Texas desert. Hamilton Pool is a natural spring formed in the limestone bedrock and fed by an underground river, which also feeds the small tributaries and lush flora surrounding the pool. The abundant freshwater has led a diverse population of trees and vegetation to emerge surrounding the pool, forming what is now a protected nature preserve of the same name.\"
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/cal_holman/6026937201/
\n\n
More info:
\nhttp://atlasobscura.com/place/hamilton-pool
\n", "tags": "
Post-college, 1986. Gray day, but beautiful!
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/anirudhkoul/3483999817/
\n", "tags": "
In 1997 I rode a motorcycle across the country, camping wherever I ended up. One of the highlights was laying a sleeping bag down in the Arizona desert. Couldn't even see where I was. When I woke up, I was staring into cactus needles - got lucky! Couldn't believe how cold it got - the temperature absolutely plummets at night in the desert.
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/dayyuuummmm/3779486637/
\n", "tags": "
Since I grew up in Morro Bay and went to college at UC Santa Cruz, I drove up and down the PCH many times - by car, by VW bus, even hitch-hiked it a few times. Every trip was more beautiful than the last.
\n", "tags": "BOB (Breathing Observation Bubble) is a kind of underwater scooter that allows you to explore the floor of the ocean.
\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3n4D_VyXN8
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/17699550@N04/2597311651/
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/17699550@N04/2597306671/
\n", "tags": "
Back in high school in Morro Bay we used to do this once or twice per summer. We'd bring our guitars, some food, and just enjoy the heck out of each other.
\n", "tags": "This is an amazing instrument - played without physically touching, it mimics the tonality of the human voice more than any other. Made famous in the Beach Boys' \"Good Vibrations\" but has also appeared sporadically in pop and rock through the decades.
\n\n", "tags": "
Ivory is full of microsopic bubbles, which expand rapidly when heated. 90 seconds in the microwave is all it takes (start with 1/3 of a bar). What you get is something like this (green added in Photoshop for the heck of it):
\n\nA couple of low-light shots:
\n\n\n\n
\n
", "tags": "
I'm no expert, but have had many opportunities, and am able to stand up and stay up!
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/oliviabellphotography/4974642697/
\n", "tags": "
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13115927@N06/1358906734/
\nOn a cross-country motorcycle trip, 1991. It was cold and windy that day :(
\n\n
\n
\n
", "tags": "
After decades of web development, it's time to tackle something new - building a site completely optimized for mobile devices such as iPhones and Androids.
\nI actually need to build two - one for Bucketlist and one for my workplace. After much research, have decided to use JQuery Mobile for both. Hope to have the Bucketlist one finished by the end of summer!
", "tags": "In the late 1980s, I used to perform some pretty far-out poetry at slams in the East Bay, CA (Oakland, Berkeley). My favorite gig was called \"Well of Souls\" and my friends and I used to tear it up.
\nSeems like a lifetime ago...
", "tags": "The Capela dos Ossos in Evora, Portugal is incredible - every time the cemetery fills up with the bones of monks and nuns, they dig up the oldest ones and make a larger chapel out of them! There are actually many such Ossuaries in the world, mostly in Europe, and mostly very old.
\nI was able to visit the one in Evora, Portugal in 1984 while traveling through Europe, and will never forget the experience.
\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXynjbs6HF8
\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXMp1RrGXJQ&feature=related
\n\n
\n
\n
", "tags": "
Actually, I don't have to do this in New Zealand - could be anywhere. Looks like there's a facility in Big Bear, Southern California. And a few more scattered around the world.
\n", "tags": "On a trip to Fiji in 1984, went out on a dive boat. As we headed out to sea, the wind and rain and dark clouds came bearing down on us. It was so warm and tropical, the wind, rain, and ocean water were all equally warm. Just sat on the deck hanging on for dear life, practically naked, as nature enveloped me. Just awesome.
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/22423822@N05/2392844261/
\n", "tags": "
When I was young, we had a few acres, and we had some goats. My brother and i were young, and little enough to try to ride them like horses. No pictures, unfortunately. Just a good memory.
", "tags": "Did a lot of this in my youth, growing up in Morro Bay CA. Even built my own skimboard at one point, fiberglass and all (didn't work as well as the ones from the local surf shop though). Had some amazing times. My body would never stand up this now :)
\nThis isn't me, but it does capture the feeling pretty well!
\n\n", "tags": "
I've ridden many of them, both at ski resorts and on \"dry\" land. One of the most memorable was the gondola in Palm Springs, rising up to the mountains above.
\n", "tags": "I traveled through Europe in 1986, and was lucky to get a look into East Berlin shortly after the wall came down, but while the memory was still fresh enough that East Berlin was still \"old.\" Touching, climbing on the wall was an amazing experience.
\n", "tags": "OK, it just happened - I laughed until I cried reading the Best of Autocorrect.
\nI'm still crying.
", "tags": "I like to strum a little ukulele (Hawaiians pronounce it \"ooh-ke-leh-leh\") every now and then. Such a happy sound - you can play the saddest song in the world and it'll still sound cheerful when played on the uke.
\nimg
The kit
A while ago I found this company called Papa's Boxes, who sell DIY ukulele and banjo kits, using cigar boxes for the instrument body. Dear wife got me one for Christmas, and I got a good start on putting it together, then winter set in. Couldn't varnish the box in the cold and wet, so had to wait for spring.
\nimg
Halfway there
Finally finished the build in December 2010 - nearly a year later! Unfortunately the sound quality isn't nearly as good as a proper uke, but it's awesome to behold, and fun as a second instrument. Here are some pics from the build, and a video showing how it sounds (comparison between finished cigar box and a professionally built koa wood uke from Hawaii). The slideshow includes all pics from the build.
\n\nHole saw
\nimg
Strung up
img
Complete!
Complete Flickr set:
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/shacker/sets/72157625934733062/
\nAnd here's the video comparing sound of the cigar box to a \"real\" uke:
\n\nHere's another guy's cigar box uke (actually, his does sound pretty good!). The fact that both of us demo on Sam Cooke songs is 100% coincidental, promise!
\n", "tags": "Bought the SkyLab kit from antigravityresearch.com. The build was pretty straightforward, and we were blown away by how high it flew - over 400 feet from a single 2-liter Pepsi bottle!
\nDid a full blog write-up here. Was able to shoot a little iPhone video:
\n\n\n
Here's the manufacturer's promo vid:
\n", "tags": "Would like to build a fort for my son - a place for him to hang with his friends, store his stuff, and play out his imaginary world.
\nWe spent most of the summer of 2009 building a fort from mostly discarded or re-used lumber donated or sold at a discount from local lumber yards. It's not a work of architectural perfection, but it did come out pretty well. The fort is a staple of our back yard now, and friends coming over to play gravitate right to it. And only one kid has fallen head-first down the hatch hole!
\nI put together a slideshow of the construction process.
", "tags": "This process continued through 2011, and I finally finished around November. Here's a quick video tour of the digitized LPs:
\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV8IOzCW2hA&list=UUO3IR9VRRYVdnIvYDTztZow&index=2&feature=plcp
\n\n
So wonderful to hear all of these old records again!
\nThe original goal is preserved below.
\n\nI've got about 500 genuine, long-playing vinyl record albums kicking around - most of them mine, some handed down from my parents and grandparents. But they're not getting heard, and it's time to digitize them all so they can be part of my life again.
\nI'm using this guide:
\n\n
I'm getting about 10 records a week done, so expect the project to take about a year.
\n", "tags": "
For years, I've made mental notes about all the things I wanted to do before I die. Meanwhile, I've watched as social networks became the main way people log and catalog their interests online. Finally, decided it was time to get serious about creating a bucketlist site that worked the way I wanted it to work (yes, there are other ones out there, but none that seemed ideal for storytelling).
\n\nIn early 2010, I purchased this domain and pulled out the laptop to get started. Today (June 2010), the site finally soft-launched in a form I could live with, though it still needs a fair bit of work.
\nI hope you enjoy using it as much as I enjoyed building it!
", "tags": "Yosemite's Half Dome is better enjoyed from the granite surface than from the comfort of your car. It can be a good 14 miles, so it's an all-day deal - plan to leave early. For much of the year, there are cables alongside the steepest parts to keep you safe.
\nI want to do this hike with Miles once he's capable of hikes this long.
\n", "tags": "I'm not entirely sure how these work, but am intrigued by what I see at this site and want to try making them with my kid. Apparently there are videos all over YouTube as well - have to give this a whirl!
\nThis one is not mine:
\n", "tags": "Those old-timey bikes with the ginormous front wheels are called \"penny farthings.\" The reason for the wheel is that it took a long time to develop the technology for shiftable gears on bikes. In the meanwhile, bikes were stuck with a 1-1 gear ratio, which meant they were very slow. The big front wheel allowed for more efficient travel, at the expense of difficulty hopping aboard.
\n", "tags": "No engines, no motor noise, just you and the sky.
\n", "tags": "We've waited way too long to do this, and have no excuse beyond \"Haven't gotten around to it.\" Really really want to make it happen this summer.
", "tags": "I spent a week in Fiji in 1984, on the way home from Australia. Stayed in a hostel with a couple from the island of Mauritius. One night the husband slipped off his shoes and practically ran up a coconut palm in the back yard, and knocked down some coconuts. We drove holes in the top, poured in some rum, and sipped coconut rum milk while playing guitar under the moonlight. Magical.
\n", "tags": "There are many ways to do this - hopefully I'll find one easier than rubbing two sticks together!
\n\nHere's a great how-to on using a friction bow, which is probably the way I'll do it:
\n", "tags": "There's a program called 100 Pushups -- the idea is that \"anyone\" can build up to doing 100 consecutive pushups after completing a six-week training program. Three days a week, you do five sets of increasing difficulty, for example 14, 19, 14, 14, 25.
\r\nUnfortunately, the program doesn't really account for the fact that muscles don't build as quickly as you get older. Nor does it warn you that it starts out pretty fun, but gets excruciating as you head into week 4 or 5.
\r\nThis is not me :)
\r\n\r\nNo matter - if you don't complete a day, you just repeat it until you do. Truthfully, I've been working on the program for over a year, but every time I build up into week 4, it gets to be such an exertion that I wimp out and skip doing pushups entirely.
\r\nFinally realized that it's more important to stay in shape than it is to complete the program. So I've gone into \"maintenance\" mode, doing Week 4 Day 2 over and over again. It's just strenuous enough to be a good workout, but not so intense that I skip them.
\r\nStill, I'd like to pick up the pace again sometime and complete the program. It would feel amazing to do 100 without stopping.
", "tags": "\n\n
On a cross-country motorcycle trip, around 1996, I had the opportunity to do some caving in Montana, and spent half a day walking through the lava tubes. Amazing experience!
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/79666107@N00/3862767839/
\n\n", "tags": "Geocaching is a sport/hobby that involves using geographical coordinates and a GPS to look for containers hidden in the woods, in cities, on top of mountains, underwater, in lamp posts, inside of logs, etc. When you find one, you sign a log to prove you were there, and optionally take a prize from the cache, replacing it with a new one of equal or greater value.
\r\nIt's not about the prizes though - they tend to be pretty lame. The fun is in exploring trails and areas you might never have visited otherwise - it's a great way to discover new terrain. It can also become a semi-competitive sport, once you get into it. Geocachers compete to find the most caches in an area, to find caches in every county or state, etc.
\r\n\r\nEvery cache has two difficulty ratings: The difficulty of the hide itself (how well concealed it is) and the difficulty of the terrain (how hard is it to get to). Most caches are in the 2/3 or 3/2 range. Caches with a terrain rating of 5 require specialized gear to get to, such as scuba equipment, mountain climbing rigs, or hot air balloons :)
\r\nOf course, the most challenging caches of all are rated 5/5 - extremely well hidden and extremely hard to get to. Before I die, I'm going to find one...
\r\n\r\nshacker pulling an ammo can cache from Minkalo Cliffs, near Tahoe.
\r\n", "tags": "
Proud to say I've completed a New Year's resolution - took a photo every single day in 2011. Notes and slideshow here:
\nhttp://birdhouse.org/blog/2011/12/31/photo365-2011/
\nhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/shacker/5763387110/in/set-72157625729514688
\n\n\n
Original post:
\nAt a New Year's party yesterday, the topic of #photo365 projects came up, and several of us committed to giving it a go this year. Since I've been into Instragram recently, I'll be posting most of my stuff there initially, then copying one image per day to a Flickr set.
\nWish me luck!
\n", "tags": "
... preferably in Hawaii or someplace tropical.
\n", "tags": "With all the back-end web programming languages out there, JavaScript remains the lingua franca - the one thing almost all web sites share in common. Weirdly though, I've spent most of my career mired in back-end stuff, and haven't taken time out to master JavaScript. I can hack around in it, but don't feel like I have mastery. I want to change that.
", "tags": "I got PADI certified at age 15 and made an OK living cleaning boat bottoms in Morro Bay, CA through my teen years and early 20s.
\nWouldn't want to go back to boat cleaning, but do enjoy occasional pleasure dives, preferably in tropical waters :)
\n\"There's no cure for a rum hangover like a cool ocean dip and a breath of compressed air.\"
", "tags": "Actually got my PADI certificate at age 16 (I'm 45 now) and have been diving all my life!
", "tags": "I've been in caves, of course - as a tourist, with guide rails and tour guides, but have never gone spelunking proper, as in \"a little bit dangerous.\" Have heard the spelunking in New Zealand is especially amazing.
\n\n", "tags": "I've gotten to try this twice in my life, and loved it each time - once in Fiji and once in Australia.
\nYou rise up so quickly your heart sinks to the pit of your stomach, but you don't notice because the view is so incredible!
\n\n", "tags": "
Was inspired to add this to my list by this video, the Green Tunnel:
\n\nA six month journey along the 2,200 mile long Appalachian Trail, condensed and reinterpreted into five minutes of stop-motion.
\n", "tags": "
I've been skinny dipping many times in my life (I was kind of surprised to see it on so many people's bucketlists actually). In pools, in lakes, in the ocean. From my teen years to the present. In the tropics and in icy cold ponds, in the daytime and at night... I kind of assumed that everyone does this a lot, but apparently not, so I'm adding it here!
", "tags": "Kite surfing looks like pure joy. Not sure how closely it will map to my previous life as a \"regular\" surfer but we'll see...
\r\n", "tags": "Human jet pack, water powered!
\n", "tags": "I spent my senior year of high school as an exchange student, living in New South Wales, half an hour north of Sydney. One of the most transformative years of my life.
\nFell in love for the first time, spent two weeks on a sheep station in the Outback, did a bit of surfing, learned to play guitar, and got some perspective on the wider world for the first time.
\nWould love to go back someday!
\n", "tags": "I mean not just some dinky tunnel or small cave - I've done that. I want to dive in a real cave, with otherworldly lights and surreality everywhere you look.
\n", "tags": "Recently completed the first 2.5 miles of Kauai's Kalalau Trail, along the Napali coast. Amazing experience, but the hardcore do the entire 11 miles. Hope to return one day when my boy is all grown up and do the entire hike, camp a night or two, and return alive to tell about it.
\n", "tags": "It's kind of crazy how long I've been a Patti Smith fan without ever seeing her live. I have a framed album cover of her album Easter on my office wall, pit hair proudly gleaming.
\r\n\r\n", "tags": "I actually spent most of my childhood wanting to surf, then most of teen years actually doing it (mostly in Morro Bay, CA). So I guess I can count this one complete :)
", "tags": "Was never really an option in our family - all of our cars were stick shifts! I learned in a VW Squareback similar to the one pictured here (but not so fancy/shiny). We lived in a hilly area and I remember the smell of burning clutch as I struggled to learn to go from 1st to 2nd on a steep incline. Sure my parents loved that!
\n", "tags": "I'm always surprised when I turn around, realize I'm 45, and still haven't gone skydiving. Totally seems like something I would do.
\nWill probably wait for my kid to grow up before going for it. Can't risk leaving the family alone :)
", "tags": "Slacklining is a balance sport that uses nylon webbing tensioned between two anchor points. Slacklining is distinct from tightrope walking in that the line is not held rigidly taut (although it is still under some tension); it is instead dynamic, stretching and bouncing like a long and narrow trampoline. The line's tension can be adjusted to suit the user and different types of dynamic webbing can be used to achieve a variety of feats. The line itself is flat, due to the nature of webbing, thus keeping the slacker's footing from rolling as would be the case with an ordinary rope. The dynamic nature of the line allows for impressive tricks and stunts.
\n", "tags": "\n\n
I played guitar casually for around 20 years, then picked up a Fluke three years ago. A year later, received a cigar box ukulele kit for a gift. Enjoyed building it, but it didn't sound great (sound is round! how can you expect great sound from a cardboard box?).
\nOn a recent trip to Kauai, finally broke down and got a really nice Kamaka, which I've been playing like crazy.
\nI'm no master, but think it's safe to say I've \"learned\" the ukulele at this point. Still need to practice more though :)
\n\n", "tags": "Testing sdflkjsdf
\n", "tags": "While hiking Mt. Tamalpais recently, discovered a wonderful little 1930s hotel called the West Point Inn, nestled in with the Bay Area's best views. No electricity, so you have to rough it a bit, but it was just wonderful. Would love to spend the night here with family or just the wife.
\nA few photos of it in this Mt. Tam slideshow:
\n", "tags": "Apparently Mosquito Bay in Puerto Rico is the best place to do this.
\n", "tags": "I've actually made six of them (four are currently active).
\n", "tags": "
As a boy, I went to my Aunt Kathy's farm in Oregon, and had my first opportunity to milk a real cow. Remember being amazed at how warm and supple the teats were, how sensuous the experience was. Never thought about milk the same way again.
\n", "tags": "Our family had goats as a boy, and my brother and I had to milk them every day before school. I remember the milk being so warm, and sometimes goat hairs would fall into it. Sometimes we'd drink the goat milk right out of the teats!
", "tags": "This is one of my most indelible memories. Australia, 1983, with the first love of my life. Stopping on bicycles in the middle of a field, when warm rain started to pound. We stopped our bikes, not sure what to do next, then suddenly the rain water was pouring over our faces, through our lips, as we melted into it.
\nAh, young love.
", "tags": "While diving the Great Barrier Reef in 1983, had the great fortune to come across a manta ray with a 20' wing span, grab his shoulders, and be towed along the sea bed for a good long time. The most peaceful experience you can imagine.
\nWhile surfing in Morro Bay in 1980, I stepped on a sting ray and took a stinger in the heel. Incredibly painful - had to soak the foot in the hottest water tolerable for hours before it subsided.
\nI've since petted sting rays at aquariums many times.
\n", "tags": "OK, have to confess this wasn't on my bucketlist until I saw it on Shana's, but I've done this many times. Just be careful what you reach for when it's time to wipe - especially if you're sensitive to poison oak!
\nSeriously though, I always thought this was a normal part of camping.
", "tags": "After a nine-month wait, my Renovo Pandurban was finally completed. Spent a few hours building it up, and spent the next week riding every chance I got. So in love with this bike! Bamboo is an incredible construction material for bikes.
\nFull write up and pics at my blog.
\n\n", "tags": "Socotras Island, between Somalia and Yemen, has one of the most alien landscapes on earth.
\n\"The island has been geographically isolated from mainland Africa for the last 6 or 7 million years. Like the Galapagos Islands, this island is teeming with 700 extremely rare species of flora and fauna, a full 1/3 of which are endemic, i.e. found nowhere else on Earth. \"
\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
", "tags": "
On a biz trip to Austin a few years ago, I rented one for a day and had a blast. It's the most intuitive, graceful mode of transportation you can imagine. Would love to own one, if it were more practical!
\nThis is me, in 2007, riding a Segway around Austin, TX.
\n", "tags": "The Northeast coast of Kauai, Hawaii, aka the Napali Coast, is regarded by many as one of the wonders of the world.
\n\nThe road that encircles most of Kauai doesn't make it all the way around, simply because the cliffs and mountains of the Napali Coast are too intense to blaze a road through. The only way to see the coast is to travel alongside it in a boat or raft. In fact, many groups offer Zodiac or raft tours that include journeys inland to ride ziplines, explore sea caves, and bounce around in the surf.
\nIn July 2010, my family spent 12 days in Kauai, and had an absolutely mind-blowing time. Did a full blog write-up, and posted a ton of images (slideshow below). Many adventures, but our Zodiac tour along the Napali coast was definitely a highlight of the trip. Dying to do this again!
\n\n\n\n\n", "tags": "In high school, I got pretty good - even rode a 5-foot unicycle once (though my usual ride was a \"standard\" height one).
\nI commuted to Morro Bay High School from home in the hills (5 miles) on a unicycle a few dozen times. Haven't ridden one seriously for years, though I do hop on when I have a chance and always have a gas.
\nThis video is not me :)
\n", "tags": "In jungle areas around the world, especially in \"eco-tourism\" areas, you can often ride a zipline through the forest canopy. Some of these are up to a quarter mile long, and cross gorges hundreds of feet deep. Here's one in Costa Rica:
\n\nIn June 2010, our family took a trip to Kauai and had an amazing experience. All four of us went ziplining with Outfitters Kauai. At age 7, our son was the youngest person on the trip. And our mother was the oldest. While it may look a bit dangerous, these ropes and cables are capable of supporting an entire car - your body weight is nothing to the equipment.
\nThe experience goes by pretty quickly - each ride is around 45 seconds, and we only got five rides each on a 3-hour adventure. But those are some of the most intense 45 seconds of your life!
\nHere I am riding on the side-by-side cable with my mother-in-law:
\n\nComplete write-up of our Kauai adventure.
", "tags": "I was an exchange student in Australia in 1983 and had the good fortune to be able to spend two days diving the Barrier Reef. Memories I'll never forget -- was able to grab onto the shoulders of a manta ray with a 15' wingspan and glide along a few feet above the ocean floor for hundreds of feet. Colors and variety to rival the best dive spots in the world. Urchins galore. Truly a mesmerizing experience.
\r\nHere's someone else's video of the experience:
\r\n\r\n", "tags": "
I was an exchanged student to Australia in 1983, and worked on a sheep station for a month. Saw hundreds of kangaroo in the wild while there!
\n", "tags": "Every year I travel to Austin TX for SXSW Interactive, and rent a bike to travel the city. This usually means lots of riding along the river. If I'm there near sunset, love to stop and watch the bats flying out from under the bridge.
\nThis year I rented a kayak and got to watch them from the water, which is extra magical.
\n", "tags": "Traveled through Europe in 1989 and met a great guy who invited me to stay on his family's tulip farm. Even got to visit a tulip auction!
\n", "tags": "New Years Eve 1990, at the Filmore Auditorium, San Francisco.
", "tags": "The kobe sushi at Yoshi's in Oakland, CA is sublime. Hard to describe just how sensuous great kobe beef really is. Melts in your mouth!
", "tags": "My dad used to run a gallery of native american artifacts, and made quite a few native friends. At one point he was invited to a peyote ceremony, and brought me along (I was 19 at the time). The experience was dark but intense, much more bodily then modern psychedelics. I did throw up, but also experienced things I'll never forget - things that words will not do justice.
\n", "tags": "I spent a year as an exchange student in Australia in 1983, and had Vegemite nearly every day!
\nIt's not that I LOVED it, just that it was always there on the table, and I wanted to have the \"full experience.\"
\n", "tags": "One of the most powerful experiences of my life. I had just graduated from college, and will always remember this as a somber passage in an otherwise joyful adventure.
", "tags": "\n\n
Once upon a time, my mother was a docent at Hearst Castle, and I was lucky to be able to tour it several times (in the late 80s).
\nHearst Castle is a National Historic Landmark mansion located on the Central Coast of California, United States. It was designed by architect Julia Morganbetween 1919 and 1947 for newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who died in 1951. In 1957, the Hearst Corporation donated the property to the state of California. Since that time it has been maintained as a state historic park where the estate, and its considerable collection of art and antiques, is open for public tours. Despite its location far from any urban center, the site attracts roughly one million visitors per year.
\n\n\n", "tags": "Las Vegas is home to a small but incredible museum dedicated to the life -- and wardrobe -- of the great Liberace. Sadly, the museum is scheduled to close before long. If you want to check this one off your bucketlist, get it done before it's too late!
\n\n\nI was lucky enough to have visited the Liberace Museum back in the early 90s, and was inspired to write a piece about Liberace: Grooving with the Fey Heckler.
", "tags": "We've lived in the Bay Area for a decade, but had never gotten around to walking the length of the Golden Gate bridge. Finally did it today. It was OK. The views and architecture are incredible, but you're right next to six lanes of traffic, and it's so loud you really can't talk. And there's a slight waft of smog in the air at all times. Worth doing once I suppose, but wouldn't do it again.
\n", "tags": "In the late 90s, I wrote The BeOS Bible for Peachpit Press, followed by MP3: The Definitive Guide for O'Reilly (both now out of print)
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