If I should buy jellybeans
Have to eat them all in just one sitting
Everything it seems I likes a little bit sweeter
A little bit fatter, a little bit harmful for me
- ruffus wainwright

So. . .  If one guy says, “I hate Chihuahuas” His rival will say, “Look, he said he hates dogs!!!!”.  Of course, he didn’t say that, but who cares!  As long as enough chumps believe it. . . The accuser wins.  What’s worse even if the poor accused chap was sitting there petting his German Sheppard, the accuser would claim he wasn’t lying.  Beautiful!   That’s the nature of elections.  The games afoot!!

This weekend I am going up to Green Bay to do a presentation for the paddling group up there.  I’ve done my share of presentations over the years. They seem to go quite well, even though I’m not always the most comfortable behind the podium. I just keep in mind how boring I’ve always found it to sit through a presentation.  Then my goal is to figure out some way to keep people like me entertained, while at the same hoping they retain something of the hour.  Maybe I’ll take a hula-hoop!

With spring coming eventually, now is a good time to start thinking about gear.  I know I need to buy a new pair of water shoes, paddling gloves, and a waterproof still camera (again).  So as I do each year around this time, I started sending out emails to companies looking for more information about their products that I can share with you here.  Usually they are very good about providing information for us.  Sometimes they just blow me off.  You’ve got to expect that.   Still, over the coming weeks I will be presenting you with some new boats, gear, and such that you may worth a look.  Let’s see what we can find.

Paddling coaches never make money.  Well, not usually.  Of course they’re not looking to either.  For the student that’s a benefit.  You know your coach would not be there unless they really enjoyed working with you.  On the other side though costs are going up.  Coaches don’t mind teaching for nothing, but on the other hand they don’t want to pay to teach either.   I have a feeling more shops across the country are going to have to review this a bit as the price of gas keeps climbing.

I read a thread decrying kayaks being made in China.  Well, they are made in North America and all over Europe as well.  Personally I don’t care where kayaks are made as long as they are made well.  My wish list would include that the employees are paid fairly, and the boats are made in an environmentally sound way.   What do you think?

Ah, I’m sure this will be fodder for the “no risk” mindset.   Black Diamond sponsored extreme skier, Billy Poole died from injuries sustained while jumping of a cliff for a scene in a documentary film.  According to one article it is said that he had wanted to ski in a Warren Miller Entertainment film his whole life.  Obviously to make the cut for these sorts of videos you have to push the envelope.  His supporters would be the first to tell you the jump was risky, but well thought out and calculated.  Of course you’ll never get me jumping off a cliff (literally anyway) . . . but on the other hand I’ve a had a couple surf landings that felt like it.

So there’s me sorting the odd socks of my mind this morning.  I’ve got a nice flaming fever and I may just go curl up under a blanket.  You wanna talk about risk. . send your kids to a public school, and let them come home again.  They bring every sort of sickness back with them.  That whole coughing into your elbow thing just does not work.