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I see your Lefty between-the-trees Master's shot, and raise you Vijay's across the water.



And, no, I can't explain what happens on the first dude's attempt. Does it hit a rock? Have some ridiculous English on it? The last dude makes the right move by not even trying.

Infrastructure Truth

Bob Herbert's scathing op-ed in today's NYT is worth everyone's read. Herbert takes a hard look at the state of infrastructure in our country, particularly the nation's water systems. Needless to say the details are ugly/scary/disappointing.

You want scathing? Check this out...

If this were a first-class society we would rebuild our water systems to the point where they would be the envy of the world, and that would bolster the economy in the bargain. But that would take maturity and vision and effort and sacrifice, all of which are in dismayingly short supply right now.

You want scary?

The nation’s network of water systems was right at the bottom of the latest infrastructure grades handed out by the American Society of Civil Engineers, receiving a D-minus. Jeffrey Griffiths, a member of the federal government’s National Drinking Water Advisory Council, told The Times: “We’re relying on water systems built by our great-grandparents, and no one wants to pay for the decades we’ve spent ignoring them. There’s a lot of evidence that people are getting sick. But because everything is out of sight, no one really understands how bad things have become.”

Read the full article in print. Or here.

Don't Drink The Water

...It's Got Bubbles In It.

Paris is apparently turning some drinking fountains into soda fountains, or sparkling water fountains, whatever you want to call it. They're injecting "bubbles" into water so that Parisians can get their precious Perrier without having to resort to plastic bottles.

Yes, this is apparently an environmental initiative.

Ok...

And since there's nothing new under the sun, Paris stole the idea from Italy, and I stole the idea to blog about this from Tyler Cowen.

Top Five Cliff Jumps

I came across a great venue for one my favorite past times this weekend. Fawns Leap on Kaaterskill Creek definitely makes my list of Top Five cliff jumps.

5) Cousins Island Bridge


Definitely not a cliff. But, it's in Maine and the jump is into salt water so it makes this list.

4) Fawns Leap, Kaaterskill Creek, NY


This guy went to the 'skillz this weekend and it was way sweeter than he thought it would be. Leaping off this sucker was a definite highlight.

3) Random New Zealand Glacial River

Like most of the month I spent in New Zealand, I have no idea where I was when I took this epic leap...but, like most of New Zealand, it was beautiful, cold, remote, and there were sheep nearby.

2) Devil's Punchbowl


I lived for a month one summer in a cabin in an abandoned gold mining town near Independence Pass in Colorado and each morning me and the ghosts would get up and jump into the Punchbowl. The 40 foot drop and freezing cold temps definitely a substantial wakeup call.

1) Intuition


This is presumptuous and self-serving, and technically cheating, but then again Phil gave me authoring privileges for this blog so I can write about whatever I want. A good friend of mine's family belongs to the behemoth above and the number one "cliff" jumping spot in the world. Period. Climb up to the top deck of the Intuition - a 197' retrofitted Danish Pilot Ship - and take the 50' plunge into the salty water below before the radars zap you too good just once and you'll be racing back to the top in no time.

Tunnel Vision

I'm in the market for pleasing images these days. Tough weekend. Yeah I know it's Wednesday. Shack therapy helps turn things around.



Thanks to our friends at Surfline

World's Largest Swimming Pool

At first glance one would assume (slash HOPE) that this extravagant embarrassment/mess was in Dubai. And not Chile. But you'd only be right if you went with Chile. I've been known to enjoy a pool from time to time, especially one with a swim-up bar. But this crosses a line, especially because San Alfonso del Mar features a much more pleasing beach out front. Yes. Beach>Pool any day.



In a somewhat related story, Chile is battling significantly uncomfortable water issues that threaten one of the world's greatest places.