Brian Lam

How to Write With Style, By Kurt Vonnegut

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:33:02 +0000

In Sum:

1. Find a subject you care about

2. Do not ramble, though

3. Keep it simple

4. Have guts to cut

5. Sound like yourself

6. Say what you mean

7. Pity the readers

I guess we’re all filthy hacks now

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:31:35 +0000

No one gets it 100% right. So, it’s rather meaningless when we call each other hacks over rumors. When you’re up to be wrong, you’ll be up. And the internet will be waiting. With knives. And who’s going to stand up for you then? It’s better we respect each other’s work and cooperate in a linked economy rather than try to compete in a game that isn’t zero-sum. I mean, what are we even trying to compete for? It makes no sense. I have to say that things would be better if everyone understood that about the way news works these days. But I also must admit to a certain pleasure in seeing those who have pissed me off get a karmic boot up their asses. I am not proud of it, but those old instincts from days at Fairtex will probably never go away. Instead of arguing with people, or punching each other in the face, in my thirties, I find it’s best to jump into the ocean’s white water and realize we’re all floating pieces of shit powerless against something like a little wave. Some more than others.

The Shi-Tones

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:33:07 +0000

I just discovered by means of my and Lisa’s favorite secret yakitori joint in SF, a cool surf band called the Shi-Tones. Lisa accidentally asked the waitress, whose father is in the band, what the shit-tones were. Whatever, anyhow, listen to their rendition of Sleepwalk if you feel like falling asleep and dreaming of nice things. And here’s a link to their performance of Endless Summer’s soundtrack, live. [Archive.org]

A Simple Plumber

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:16:22 +0000

Not really. That’s Gerry Lopez, the famous surfer who helped pioneer surfing at Hawaii’s vicious Pipeline break. As you can see, he’s quite relaxed doing it. On top of his skill, he attributed his survival and success to choosing the right waves and having the right equipment, namely, more shorter, more narrow boards like the ones he used to make with Lightning Bolts on them. Now Gerry lives in Oregon, addicted to snowboarding, surfing the colder breaks in the Pacific Northwest. You have to wonder why anyone would move from Hawaii to Oregon, but I’m sure he has his reasons.

Lopez is also a Patagonia Ambassador (the clothing company, not the place.) I read his book they published, called Surf is Where you Find It and learned many things but one practical thing, which is to never take the first wave in the set. That’s because many greedy people crowding the line will take the first wave, which then clears a path for you; it also means that you’ll have fewer waves to paddle through when you go back out. I love learning little obvious things that were not obvious before. At the Tin Shed, Patagonia’s site of stories from their athletes and adventurers, Gerry tells a humbling story about how people resented him for taking waves in Oregon, not realizing they were surfing with a legend. So he took some waves of poorer quality in order to have more space and to surf with, as he described it, aloha. Gerry shapes boards for Patagonia, but also, under his own name.

Vintage Travel Posters

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:57:20 +0000

The Boston Public Library’s Flickr stream has filled up with these vintage travel posters. This is my favorite because sometimes, its nice to not be afraid of the ocean. Once in awhile, I like to even pretend its my friend. [Flickr via John Mahoney]

Surfing Hurricane Bill’s Swell in NYC

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:47:59 +0000

At first word of the Hurricane, the surf reports for NYC read “EPIC”. This video was taken yesterday, and at first, all I could think about was, oh man, they’re surfing hurricane swell! Then other surfers from SF just reminded me, hey, this looks like Ocean Beach. Yes, that’s true. Except dirtier. Also, I am reminded by that white water that I’m still a kook and belong on the beginner beaches, out of everyone’s way. There’s nothing wrong with that; being new at something is terrific because there’s a definite lesson every time you head out, from the water, the board, or fellow surfers. [Youtube]

Wave and Dive Photography Tips and Gear

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:41:58 +0000

At Gizmodo, we’ve done a few fun posts on water photography. First up is Clark Little, north shore surfer/photographer with less fear of the waves than others. His secrets include Nikons, housings coated in Rain X to keep the droplets away and what look like Da Fins (a pair of which I just picked up.) Then, my friend Joel Johnson wrote us a review of a diving case for an iPhone/iPod touch and a review of some Canon camcorder in a housing, which he took with him to the Channel Islands. The videos on Joel’s pieces are worth watching. [Clark Little on Giz, The Canon and H20 by Joel]

Something Bothers Me About This School of Pilot Fish

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:32:43 +0000

Can’t put my finger on it. [Wetpixel]

He Thought It Was a Errant Bud Light Can

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:27:15 +0000

Lobsters turn blue only one in 5 million; the royal variety earns its shade by processing astaxanthin, and antioxidant found in its food, better than its brethen. [LA Times]

A Monster and a Bridge

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:22:26 +0000

The Maltese Falcon is an obscene vessel, at 290 feet stern to bow. The sails are automated, unfurling, 5 per carbon fiber mast, automatically within 6 minutes. The entire ship is robotized, so it can be sailed by one. Here it is arriving in San Francisco, with many a sailboats keeping it company it like a pilotfish would a shark. Surprise: The boat also has a personal submarine in its belly, called the Super Falcon. [Youtube]