Thought we skipped Gary Rogers and Skateline this week? Nah, we just late.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The US Department of Agriculture apparently has a “Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscope” at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland that allows them to get some amazing photos of snowflakes, according to a post on Twisted Sifter.
Samples of snow, ice and associated life forms are collected by dislodging the crystals or biota from the face of a snow pit or the surface of the snow onto copper metal sample plates containing precooled methyl cellulose solution. Within fractions of a second these plates are plunged into a reservoir of liquid nitrogen which rapidly cools them to -196°C and attaches these pre-frozen materials to the plates. . . After arrival at the Beltsville Electron Microscopy facility, the copper plates can be stored at -196°C in storage dewars. Selected samples are transferred to the preparation chamber for sputter coating with platinum. This renders them electrically conductive and they are placed on the pre-cooled (-170°C) stage of a Hitachi S-4100 field emission Scanning Electron Microscope where they are imaged and photographed.
So that’s how they do it. Click the link to see a few more of the images and then realizes that on a powder day we go blowing through billions of these crazy micro architectural masterpieces.
[Link: Twisted Sifter via Boing Boing]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
In an effort to help you spend at least an hour of your Friday correctly (if you haven’t seen it before), we present Skatopia: 88 Acres of Anarchy in its entirety (plus a little advertising). It’s the story of Brewce Martin and the infamous Skatopia.
Skatopia’s owner, Brewce Martin, dreamed of a place where he could live and breathe skating… a place where people forget their “outside” lives by plunging into high-energy craziness. A continual work-in-progress, this rural farm is a mecca for skaters who want to live outside society’s rules.
Enjoy. Oh, and don’t forgot, this is still going on. Bowl Bash 18 runs June 20-23, 2013.
[Link via Europe Skate]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Don’t think we’ll ever get tired of watching skaters attempt anything at El Toro. But theses edits are especially compelling when the warrior ends his attempts with a “Ow, fuck, fuck . . . I’m done dude, oh god. God dammit, fuck. . . ” Those were, however, some seriously valiant attempts.
[Link: vitlrfti]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
While it seems difficult to understand it appears that Pacific Sunwear’s net loss for the fourth quarter over twice as large as analysts expected according to a story on NASDAQ.com.
Loss from continuing operations for the fourth quarter was $22.5 million or $0.33 per share, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $26.7 million or $0.39 per share in the prior year quarter.
Analysts reportedly expected a lost of $0.16 cents a share. Which reminds us two things: never underestimate the loss potential of PacSun, and analysts are rarely good for much of anything.
[Link: NASDAQ]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The opening reception for C.R. Stecyk’s new installation at Los Angeles, California’s The Museum Of Contemporary Art Faith, Hope, Charity begins at 3 PM on Saturday, March 23, 2013.
Faith, Hope, Charity by C. R. Stecyk III refers both to the ambiguity of Faith Street in the original Bunker Hill neighborhood, where MOCA Grand Avenue is located, and the allegorical need for it in the remodeled landscape that has been thoroughly leveled and radically rebuilt. Musing on the superimposition of cultures and values on landscape and language, the installation comprises a grouping of panels whose dimensions are that of early 20th century show bills. Featuring various combinations of letterpress printing, serigraphy, photography, airbrushing, printing, and relief painting based on architectural fragments from Bunker Hill, the panels will be altered by the artist throughout the duration of the exhibition in Broad Lobby at MOCA Grand Avenue.
Any reason to hang out with Mr. Stecyk is a good one. The MOCA Grand Avenue is located at 250 S. Grand Ave. in Los Angeles, California. Admission is Free.
[Link: MOCA]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
An snowboarder cruising out of bounds in Aspen, Colorado’s Highland Bowl yesterday afternoon (March 20, 2013) discovered the body of what is thought to be a skier Jeff Walker, 55, (pictured right) who has been missing for two weeks, according to a story in the Aspen Daily News.
Aspen Skiing Co. spokesman Jeff Hanle confirmed a snowboarder found a dead body in what’s known as the “grey zones,” beyond the Northwoods portion of the bowl and an area called Child’s Play. The snowboarder reported the body to Highlands ski patrol around 4 p.m. Patrollers went to the area, confirmed that a body was there, took photographs and called the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.
Our thoughts are with Walker’s family and friends as well as with the snowboarder who found him. Not exactly the way to end a day in the Grey Zones.
[Link: Aspen Daily News]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Spy Optic continued on its long road to profitability in 2012 with a 13 percent increase in sales over 2011 and a $3.8 million cut in losses (Down to $7.2 from $11.02 million in 2011). With sales of $35.1 million in 2012, the company still has a ways to go, but President and CEO Michael Marckx is confident that things are headed in the right direction.
“With continued strong SPY® brand sales, and an annual growth of 13% for 2012 over 2011, we are happy to have achieved our 7th consecutive quarter of year over year growth of SPY® brand products. This is very encouraging for our efforts in 2013, as we have major initiatives lined up, the most important of which is our SPY® Happy Lens™ — the most innovative product SPY® has ever launched. These results also again suggest the strength of our renewed brand positioning and strategies, as also evidenced by increased market share driven by our unique new product collections,” said Michael Marckx, President and CEO. “We are also pleased that our efforts have really paid off with improved gross margins compared to the fourth quarter and annual results of last year. Our top line results were achieved despite significantly lower operating expenses, which in the fourth quarter of 2012 were 29% lower than the fourth quarter of 2011 and sequentially 25% better than the third quarter of 2012. These factors together with our strong annual growth, nicely improved margins, and substantially lower spending, are the hallmarks of a strengthening brand.”
For the official word from Spy follow the jump, or click here for full financials. [click to continue…]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Billabong yesterday hit it lowest stock price since going public, losing 22 percent to 63 Australian cents on worries about the news that maybe coming out as the March 28, 2013 offer deadline approaches, according to a story on Bloomberg.
“Volume today is quite heavy which suggests that something might be up,” said Anson Rosewall, an institutional dealer at BBY Ltd. in Sydney. “It may have been operator error, the second thing going round is that there’s going to be no bid.”
That may have been why Billabong has placed the stock in a trading trading halt “until the commencement of normal trading on Monday, 25 March 2013, or when the announcement is released to the market.” Wonder what the news will be?
[Link: Bloomberg and MarketWatch]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Lifeblood Skateboards is “honored and proud” to welcome Josh Rodriguez to the team.
Josh visited Kevin Kowalski at his very own backyard bowl (which is more like a private skatepark) to rip though an afternoon upon the challenging and unique terrain nestled along the Oregon Coast. Ready for more concrete and pool block, Josh followed up with an evening skate session at Phil Tedder’s bowl before he flew back home the next morning. This young gun is on the rise!
Check the video and you’ll understand exactly why.
[Link: Lifeblood Skateboards]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
