Lazytart.com

I really need to learn to use my save button. I spent over an hour writing up a post only to lose it during spell check! Here is something completely different because I’m undetermined to re-write it tonight.

In early June I was visiting a local outdoorsy chain store like Gander Mountain, only not. It has a name that completely escapes me right now. Anyway, I was up in the camping loft, carefully navigating my way through a dangerous stretch of tents and anchors in a fashionable air-filled kayak when I noticed a monstrously large blue object hanging over to the right. I hopped out of my flimsy watercraft and threw the oar aside as I approached the curious object tethered to the rafters and loft wall. Ohhhhh I muttered as my eyes rolled over the craft, searching for some idea of what it was.

Spanning about eleven feet in width and eight or so feet in length, this tow-able raft looked more like an inflatable jet-ski with wings. It was huge! I will admit that the thought crossed my mind to leap on and soar on over to the fishing supplies aisle, but luckily I decided against it. As large and full of air as it was, the Manta Ray looked like it would not handle a rough landing too well. I failed to see how this tow-able device, as heavy as it looked, would fly the 100 foot distance to lures and tackle. Also, I failed to see the necessity for such a large sport craft when it only had room for two passengers. Seemed a waste to me at the time.

During my sabbatical up north over Independence Day, news came of a man who had died in a “kite boating” accident. Kite boating? First thought that came to mind was that news reporters mistook kite boarding as some kind of newfangled exTREME boating sport. I watched the papers diligently for more of an explanation of this “kite boating” death because, lets be honest, nothing much happens up north. Mysterious deaths are mighty high on the list of “exciting things to ponder over”. How did it happen? What caused it? How does one kite boat? I had forgotten about the Manta Ray at the time, which was fortunate because it would have left little mystery to the whole incident.

Upon my return home a week later, where the internet exists, I decided to look up the boating accident and see just what the heck had happened. This is where I learned that the man who died was riding the Manta Ray watercraft when it crashed into the water and he suffered some fatal injuries. I should have guessed. It’s a freaking death trap on a string, I tells ya. Check out the video. It looks as if the riders are getting as high as fifteen feet above the water and going faster than the recommended 23 miles per hour.

From the Sevylor website:

It takes approximately 23 mph moving against the wind for an average adult to hover and 28 mph with wind. Obviously this is subject to water and wind conditions and the skill of the rider and driver. All of this makes using the Manta Ray a great adventure and great fun.

Also:

Life jackets and helmets are always recommended.

Picture a speedboat motoring along at 30mph with flying Manta Ray in tow. All of a sudden a small gust of wind cuts over the lake and catches the device, flipping it ass over elbows towards the surface of the water. Remember, you’re hitting the water head first at speeds in excess of 25 mph. What do you suppose will happen? Many Americans suffer massive head and neck injuries by flipping over the handle bars of their bikes each year, and bikes travel much slower. While a lifejacket is generally worn by persons on tow-able watercraft, I have never seen anyone don a helmet, and even if they did, which is recommended, I do not see how a helmet is going to do much good at that high of speed when it is the neck and back that are going to be the most prone to injury. Even if you are just falling off from the Manta Ray in mid flight, the impact of hitting the water is almost as rough as hitting solid ground.

Since the sale of the flying watercraft there have been many reported cases of injury despite following directions. And, in each case victims appear to be shocked that the flying tubes can be so dangerous( for example). I’m sorry, but after reading the product description and seeing in action via video, it is painfully obvious to me how dangerous the flying craft can be. I find it hard to sympathize for those who have been hurt while riding on this product, much like those who step in front of a bus and try to sue the city for hiring inattentive drivers.

Some park services have already started enforcing a ban on products similar to the Manta Ray that are prone to harming riders. I have a feeling that this will become a hot topic as summer moves along and will be following it diligently. Before long they may actually be taken off the market until it can be made “safer”. Before I go, I thought I would share an actual video of a kite tube mishap. Remember, if it looks remotely dangerous, it probably is.

I read an interesting article on the Discovery site regarding the effectiveness of ginger in killing ovarian cancer cells:

The Michigan team dissolved ginger powder in a solution and applied it to ovarian cancer cells in a laboratory. Ginger caused two kinds of cancer cell death. The first is called apoptosis, in which the cells essentially commit suicide. The second type of cell death is autophagy, in which cells digest or attack themselves. “Most ovarian cancer patients develop recurrent disease that eventually becomes resistant to standard chemotherapy — which is associated with resistance to apoptosis. If ginger can cause autophagic cell death in addition to apoptosis, it may circumvent resistance to conventional chemotherapy,” study author Dr. J. Rebecca Liu, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, explained in a prepared statement.

Fascinating, no? After reading I began to wonder. The Japanese are known for frequently including ginger in their recipes, so would the regular consumption of this bitter root be beneficial to the prevention of ovarian cancer much like how eating a wide variety of veggies can help reduce the risk of colon and stomach cancers? I couldn’t help but think that statistics would show Japan to have a far lower number of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer than, say, the United States. I did a little searching and lo and behold, I’m right. Sort of:

Highest rates of ovarian cancer are found in industrialized countries and the lowest rates are found in the underdeveloped countries. Japan is a notable exception to this rule and has a low rate of ovarian cancer, despite industrialization.

Census reports also show that in 2004 the number of patients reported with ovarian cancer in Japan was less than half of the number of patients recorded in the USA. As a precautionary measure, I’m going to start incorporating more ginger into my diet

This news is actually very exciting and will be something to watch in the coming months. Cancer has always been up there along with bear attacks and HIV in the column of scary. Some cancers are treatable and tumors can be removed or sent into remission with chemo, but (generally)not without lengthy invasive, physically draining treatment. If it turns out that this form of ginger as a treatment works out it will be a huge step in the fight against cancer.

Well, not a “win” per say, but last nights season premier was a hit, and everything I hoped it would be. Matt and Trey made use of the episode to get in as many jabs at Scientology as they could. All, naturally, as a retort to the feud over the “trapped” episode, I mentioned yesterday, that ultimately resulted in Hayes leaving the show.

First there was a report that Isaac Hayes quit South Park due to his stance on the “religion” of Scientology. Next there is some controversy on the alleged announcement. Supposedly the Scientologists made a statement on behalf of Hayes without consulting him. Then there are reports that “Chef” will be back. We find this to mean that the character is going to be back, not that Hayes has decided to stay in contract. He is still no longer with the show.

So what gives? What is all the hub-bub and how did it come to be? Long story short, Hayes, a Scientologist, became upset over the mocking in a recently aired South Park episode called “Trapped In A Closet”. The episode poked fun at Scientology as a whole, along with Tom Cruise and John Travolta. This upset Hayes and he wanted out of his contract.

Any fan of South Park knows that Matt and Trey have built their little empire on making fun of everyone and everything. Their very first episode featured a fight between Jesus and Santa Claus over the true meaning of Christmas in the episode “The Spirit of Christmas”. Isaac was present as the voice of beloved Chef through many a mocking episodes. He was there when they dealt with 9-11, he was there when they made fun of the pope. Through out the last nine years he has been contributing to episodes that make fun of race, religion and character. South Park has never missed a beat when it came to tackling subjects that other shows were afraid to touch, and Hayes was right there with them, until now.

“Trapped” has since been pulled off the air. While tentatively a rumor, it has been reported that Tom Cruise, Hollywoods largest Scientology supporting buffoon, may have had a heavy hand in removing the episode from airing again. Heaven forbid his name and likeness is used in a satire. I wonder, would he do the same if SNL performed a skit mocking his sexual and religious preferences? Hey look, Jimmy Kimmel is making fun of you in a light-hearted way Tom, go pull his show off the air!

NASA has reported that Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons, is confirmed to have water, not just solid lakes of ice! That in and of itself isn’t what makes the discovery so exciting; several moons in our solar system have water in some form. Enceladus is different in that the water is speculated to be just TENS OF METERS below the surface of the moon. And not just any water, liquid water. Liquid water on a moon so far out in the chilling reaches of space. It’s like super water. Also:

As Cassini approached Saturn, we discovered that the Saturnian system is filled with oxygen atoms. At the time we had no idea where the oxygen was coming from,” said Dr. Candy Hansen, Cassini scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. “Now we know that Enceladus is spewing out water molecules, which break down into oxygen and hydrogen.”

——————————————– Little Luna, the orphaned killer whale, has died. Thanks in part to a local Native American tribe in Nootka Sound, Luna had been hit by a damn tugboat. He should have been released back into the wild to find his pod, or another one receptive to accepting him as a member of the group. “He is the embodiment of a fallen chief”. So what! Let him go back where its a might bit safer to live. Because of his keen interest in humans, Luna would often get too close for comfort. One man reportedly attempted to pour beer down Luna’s blow hole, and another threatened to blow Luna up with dynamite.

It looks like a creepy toy out of a Jhonen Vasquez nightmare, but this creature is a new variant of a lobster apparently:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/03/08/furry.lobster.ap/index.htmlPARIS, France (AP) — Divers have discovered a new crustacean in the South Pacific that resembles a lobster and is covered with what looks like silky, blond fur, French researchers said Tuesday.

Scientists said the animal, which they named Kiwa hirsuta, was so distinct from other species that they created a new family and genus for it.

A team of American-led divers found the animal in waters 2,300 meters (7,540 feet) deep at a site 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) south of Easter Island last year, according to Michel Segonzac of the French Institute for Sea Exploration.

The new crustacean is described in the journal of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.

The animal is white and 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) long — about the size of a salad plate.

In what Segonzac described as a “surprising characteristic,” the animal’s pincers are covered with sinuous, hair-like strands.

It’s also blind. The researchers found it had only “the vestige of a membrane” in place of eyes, Segonzac said.

The researchers said that while legions of new ocean species are discovered each year, it is quite rare to find one that merits a new family.

The family was named Kiwaida, from Kiwa, the goddess of crustaceans in Polynesian mythology.

The diving expedition was organized by Robert Vrijenhoek of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California.

Additional information can be found here.I think this is absolutely amazing. Our oceans are some of the least explored territories on this planet. While nearly every foot of land has been charted and explored, our waters are turning up something new and unique every year. How long before the little fuzzball is marketed for aquarium hobbyists I wonder.

Edit:
More in-depth information located in a pdf file here. The new specie is defined by different shaped carapace among other traits, not officially including the smiley face on the shell.

The smile is really there, image came from the pdf report

Today you get this post instead of the uninteresting one I had planned. This is my sister to the right, wave hello. Look how happy she can be. She enjoys shopping at the Container Store and playing with her kittens. Her favorite band was(is still, thought they broke up) Fuel. She likes to see them in concert as much as I love going to see Green Day. She’s a good kid, and set to be married in a few months, remember that post from back in like, October or something? Doesn’t matter. She’s ace, and that is why recent events have me pissed off.

Yesterday afternoon her purse was stolen by some asshat “customer” waiting in the foyer at work. I was at my desk typing away like the busy little bee that I am, Nonster was taking this “customer’s” friend(note: accomplice) to our store in back, and my sister must have left the room for a moment to gather more paperwork. Well, the guy from the foyer went digging around behind her desk and found her purse and obviously ran off with the goods. All three of us pieced the entire situation together too late, as my sisters purse was found out in the bushes. She’s poor and didn’t have much for the thieves to take, so she was lucky. A few bucks, her keys, wallet with a debit card and a bunch of gift cards, and her cell phone. Few sentimental items too, like photos. JERKS! Before the cops arrived she was able to put a stop on her debit card and blocked the cell phone. This was after getting her to calm down instead of crying and freaking out. I was livid, let me tell ya.

I will admit that the first thought to come to mind when she said her purse was missing was “Dammit, if the Aurora is missing some unfortunate thief will get a bat to the skull!”. Luckily my car, which she has been borrowing, was still safe in the parking lot. Those keys were stuck on the bottom of her purse when I found it in the shrubs. The situation could have been much worse, but she is safe, and that is all that matters really. Sure, some evil bastard will be enjoying some fine dining thanks to Christmas gift cards, but we were able to put a stop to most of the others today just in case they get an inkling to shop at Kohl’s or Pick’n Save. I’ve also given her my spare cell phone to use until she can get a new one. Aren’t I sweet.

This is only the second time that something has been stolen at work by a customer(that I can remember) and my sister has only been working part time by me for two weeks. It was a rotten way to start off the year, as well as a job. I’m sure she doesn’t feel too great about it happening but she’s a trooper.

While she is handling the situation well now, yesterday was a different story. It hurt to see her break down. Some unknown jerk made my sister feel vulnerable and unsafe. He made her cry. That makes me madder than hell. Someone had the gall to step in on my territory. NO ONE makes my sister cry but me. That is my God given right as a big sister. I get to push her over. I get to make her feel bad. I get to break her character and take her things(usually in retaliation for her taking my things). ME. Not some bastard off the street. He had no right to mess with her or her property, because in doing so he has messed with me as well. She is my family, and I like her a whole hell of a lot more now than I did for the first 17 years of her life. While I am way nicer to her now, I wasn’t when growing up, but that is expected of siblings. Either way, it does not give anyone the right to destroy her has a person, no matter how much or how little. That’s for me to do, if I should see fit. But like I said, she’s a good kid, and I really don’t feel she deserves something like this to happen to her. I’ve been mean in the past, but nothing compared to this

I have added a page( now removed)that will be updated as I find more information. Right now I have just a few links on the page, as well as phone numbers, but I assure you the list will grow. Please visit and see the many ways that you can help out the families displaced by Katrina. Money isn’t always the only option. Thank you!

Hey everyone! Dougie has decided to join in on “write for sites that aren’t my own” week. Be sure to stop on over there as I have a few entries that will be posted over the next week

I ventured out to work on Tuesday morning, unaware of the events that would unfold. Because I was listening to Doorbell by the White Stripes, I wasn’t really checking out my surroundings. So you can understand my surprise when I noticed a drunkard stumbling out of some fog on the other side of the street, like an extra from John Carpenter’s The Fog. I watched as a cute girl from work disappeared into the fog and was replaced by an equally cute puppy dog bounding back through the low lying clouds.

I was almost at work by the time my eyes caught sight of a small child, pre-school age, with his young, stupid, single mother. He was totally amazed by the properties of this mist, and running to the end of the road to try be be in amongst the heavy fog was in no way becoming a futile task for the little mite.

Then, the young child was struck with a bright idea, an idea on the same level as his mum’s thinking a good couple years ago, as she downed a bottle of vodka and was repeatedly “nailed” by the school under-15’s football team. He ran out on the road.

The road isn’t all that busy, it is a main road, so the shock in my voice was understandable as I shouted at the single mum, “woah! your kid’s on the road!” She looked over in my general direction with a confused expression, as if I’d just asked her to get a part time job. It was too late, I heard a thud, and saw a small blue jacket roll out from the fog.

Luckily, the young lad was okay, and the car that hit him was either rolling to a stop, or just about to drive off, and although shaken, there was no damage done. Well, no damage from the car, anyway. When our delinquent mother reaches the shaken kid, she shouts her head off at him and starts knocking him about. Now I could pretty much guarantee that this girl has not bothered to teach her first-born the importance of road safety. This is the point I think I should interject, and give the mother a good slap, but I don’t. It’s not my place.

Instead, I carry off on to work, contemplating whether or not the child would have been better off had he been hit by a faster moving car.

Thanks Douglas!

I went out to eat last week and, while paying with my credit card, unwillingly set things into motion. My bank called this afternoon to inform me that my debit card was unsafe and I needed a new one. What luck. Fortunately my account summaries match up to my own purchases, but, had I known, I would have gone out to get a new laptop or something and claimed that money missing from my account was due to this issue I was only just informed of today. Apparently a whole block of accounts from my bank were at risk, and had to have reissued debit cards. I’m not sure what happened or how, and I’m actually a bit curious. If it’s happened once, can it happen again? Will it happen again? May I know beforehand so I can spend my money on frivolous purchases and claim ignorance?