Review That Shit » Nature http://blog.reviewthatshit.com Judging You Capitalist Swine Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:46:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 I Loathe You http://blog.reviewthatshit.com/archives/508 http://blog.reviewthatshit.com/archives/508#comments Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:51:49 +0000 Chris http://blog.reviewthatshit.com/?p=508 This isn’t going to be the first time I insult a crippled person, and it sure as hell won’t be the last. Look, crippies, and fatties, taking pictures at the zoo is not nature photography. It is however bullshit. I see you there with your $5,000 camera, and your $3,000 lens, yes I know, because I lust after such equipment, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that you’re in a fucking zoo.

Never mind the fact that the older I get the more depressing zoos get, but instead realize that part of nature photography is the patience and dedication that it takes to get those amazing shots. Then you come here, pay your $15, $20 if you’d like a tour on the train ride (I recommend the train ride) and get your beautiful closeups.

At least ditch the Rascal, and get one of them hand operated wheel chairs. You make me sick you fat crippie.

Well yeah…. I took pictures at the zoo. It was that or talk to the family.

]]> http://blog.reviewthatshit.com/archives/508/feed 0 A Trail http://blog.reviewthatshit.com/archives/452 http://blog.reviewthatshit.com/archives/452#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:55:56 +0000 Chris http://blog.reviewthatshit.com/?p=452 Not much to say here, just posting a trail. It’s off the 14 freeway in Santa Clarita by the Park and Ride on Newhall Ave.
It’s a pretty solid accent as can be seen here.
Also beware ticks, I have been informed that they run rampant. Wear a dog collar if you must.

It’s a good loop and the freeway noise abates while descending the back half of the ridge. Worth checking out if you’re on foot or mountain bike. Also, it would appear horses travel these trails, and as always crap all over them.

]]> http://blog.reviewthatshit.com/archives/452/feed 0 Dinoflagellates, Now With MORE Bioluminescence http://blog.reviewthatshit.com/archives/48 http://blog.reviewthatshit.com/archives/48#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:22:04 +0000 Collin http://blog.reviewthatshit.com/?p=48 Dinoflagellate_bioluminescence

Saturday September 26th, 2009 the girlfriend and I drove up to Ventura, CA in what would be a fruitless attempt to attend the California Beer Festival. We waited in line for an hour or so, but they sent us packing when they hit capacity some 30-40 people before us… Having stood at the gates of my Valhalla only to be turned away, my paradise lost, my palate un-satiated,  I did the next best thing. I took the girl to a dive bar and had a shot and a beer. Then more beer, then some cigarettes, then some Mexican food with friends who did get into beer heaven. Then, more beer.

Eventually night fell and we ended up at the beach. From the spot we had staked out a ways back from the water it was apparent that the occasional wave appeared illuminated. I’m dumb so I assumed this was light from the shore somehow reflected by the waves. However my very sweet companion (“she’s the angel of compassion, she’s rubbing half the world against her thigh”) is not dumb. She informed me in elated, joyful fashion that what we were bearing witness to was Dinoflagellates, a small little organism that when jostled releases a burst of Bioluminescent light.

Right about now we both shift into dork mode and run down to the water to investigate further. What followed was one of the most beautiful displays of natural wonder I’ve ever seen. As waves build up and crash and the Dinoflagellates smash about the entire wave suddenly glows an amazing blue color (almost like a blue LED). When you walk on the sand by the water your footsteps emit pulses of light. Like playing Dance Dance Revolution, but without loosing your dignity. A quick scrape of a foot across the sand causes a streak of blue to trace the path. Loose sand kicked up, briefly sparkles with illuminated specks. By the rock outcropping the concentration of Dinoflagellates was even greater, and the effect was amplified. Jumping as high as you can and landing with both feet sent a glow easily three or four feet in diameter exploding from the point of impact.

It really felt like something that shouldn’t happen. Like someone broke open a bunch of glow sticks into the ocean. Like something we should’ve had to pay to see. Instead we just happened upon it, a magical glowing ocean, something ancient…

If you get the chance, go play in some Dinoflagelletes.

(NOTE: Apparently a concentration of Dinoflagelleates is a telltale sign that water quality isn’t the greatest in that area. I guess pollution draws them out or something. But hell, who knew pollution could be so beautiful?)

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