Today, we had our biannual fitness testing.
Conveniently, I have a broken wing so I get to miss the beep test, box jump, and other strenuous activities to take pictures of sweaty skiers.
Turbo and the Silver Fox testing beeps.
Raine jumping boxes.
4/25/09
Fitness Testing...
Today, we had our biannual fitness testing.
Conveniently, I have a broken wing so I get to miss the beep test, box jump, and other strenuous activities to take pictures of sweaty skiers.
Turbo and the Silver Fox testing beeps.
Raine jumping boxes.
4/22/09
Happy Earth Day!
I think that the concept of Earth Day is kind of odd. I love my planet and it's good that there are people who care about our planet, but we should be trying to be more sustainable everyday instead of just one day a year. Although, I suppose if one person changes they way they live to be more conscious about their impact on the earth, then Earth Day is completely worth it.
Everyday is Earth Day!
4/20/09
Hemp! Hemp! Read All About It!
Hemp is a very misunderstood plant. When people hear the word hemp or Cannabis they think of a dangerous gateway drug. In fact the Cannabis Sativa plant (hemp) is extremely diverse and useful. It can be used to make clothing, paper, food, gas/oil, and plastic. Hemp made products are generally superior and more environmentally friendly to produce and use than products made from conventional materials. Hemp grows well in a multitude of climates and can be grown with little extra water, and no pesticides or herbicides.
Cannabis Sativa subspecies Sativa (hemp) can be cultivated to have very low levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol (also known as THC, the active chemical in Cannabis used as a drug) and was used in Europe for thousands of years for textiles, paper, and rope without being used as a drug. Since hemp is literally a weed, it grows well in many different climates all over the world making it a very sustainable resource. This plant can be used in many ways such as paper making, canvas, knit fabric, any plastics, dynamite, nutritional food, rope, fiber board, medicine, bio fuels, oil based paints, and lighting oil.
Currently, 50% of the world’s pesticides and herbicides are sprayed on cotton crops, which are used to make many fabrics and textiles. Hemp needs no herbicides or pesticides and grows well in a wide variety of conditions in many climates. Knit hemp fabric is more water absorbent, warmer, and softer than cotton fabric. Hemp can be woven into canvas and linens. Hemp canvas is perfect for oil paintings, which can withstand mildew, heat, insects and light. Most Van Gogh, Gainsborough and Rembrandt paintings are on hemp canvas. Hemp linens are indistinguishable from flax linens (in 1938, it was estimated that 50% of all linens were made of hemp). Throughout history, hemp was predominantly used for twine, rope and all other cordage. Hemp fiber has 3 times the strength of cotton and is the longest lasting, most durable soft fiber in the world making a superior fiber in all aspects.
Our current production of wood pulp paper is far from sustainable. We cannot keep cutting down trees and pumping harmful chemicals into our air and waterways. Hemp paper requires just hydrogen peroxide, which is almost completely harmless. Hemp paper can be recycled 8 times, whereas pulp paper can only be recycled 3 times. Hemp paper, like hemp textiles, is much more durable compared to the alternatives. It doesn’t yellow with age and resists decomposition. An acre of hemp produces 4 times as much fiber for paper than an acre of trees, which take a very long time to grow after being chopped down. Not to mention the various environmental effects of logging. Hemp on the other hand helps replenish oxygen by using carbon dioxide and leaves soil very fertile and free of weeds for the next crop.
Another problem that the world is slowly facing is the depletion of fossil fuels, most of which can be replaced by hemp biomass. Since biomass can be converted into methane, methanol or gasoline, we can run anything that currently runs on fossil fuels on hemp biodiesels or converted biomass. This would have a huge positive impact on the environment because biomass fuels don’t contain any sulfur and the carbon dioxide released is turned back into oxygen by the next crop of hemp plants. Currently, we use coal tar to synthetically make the polymers for all plastics. Since cellulose is a biodegradable, organic polymer and hemp is about 77% cellulose, all plastics could be replaced with a non-toxic, biodegradable cellulose plastic made from hemp.
Not many people know about hemp’s nutritional content. We all know that complete proteins and essential fatty acids are immensely important; hemp seeds contain perfect proportions of omega fatty acids for human digestion. Linolenic acid makes up 20% of hempseed and can prevent tumors from forming, strengthens the immune system, and reduces the pain and swelling of arthritis. Once hempseeds are pressed for their oil, the remaining seed can be ground into a very nutritious, high fiber baring flour and can be substituted for anything that takes flour. Today, too many people eat foods that are high in starch and sugars so their energy runs out before they use up all the consumed calories. Hempseed is high in protein and fiber, which enables you to maintain energy for much longer periods of time, slowing down hunger and replacing sugar and starches in a diet.
You might wonder why this wonder plant is still illegal to grow in the United States when it can be used in so many ways, often better than what we are currently using. Fully utilizing this plant would mean that timber, oil, pharmaceutical, plastic, wood pulp, concrete, alcohol, tobacco, energy, textiles, and food industries would all be replaced or changed. The timber, pharmaceutical, plastic, energy, alcohol and tobacco companies are the largest, most profitable companies who don’t want Cannabis to be legalized. These companies put pressure on the government to keep Cannabis illegal for their benefit, not the consumer’s.
Until recently, most of this information was only known by very few people. Now that this information is more readily available, we need to spread to the knowledge, buy hemp products, encourage people to learn about hemp, look past all of the propaganda put out by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and American government, and think about the future of our planet. Ultimately, we as global citizens need to take full advantage of our freedom of speech to “Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Ghandi.
Hemp For Victory!
Written by me
Cannabis Sativa subspecies Sativa (hemp) can be cultivated to have very low levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol (also known as THC, the active chemical in Cannabis used as a drug) and was used in Europe for thousands of years for textiles, paper, and rope without being used as a drug. Since hemp is literally a weed, it grows well in many different climates all over the world making it a very sustainable resource. This plant can be used in many ways such as paper making, canvas, knit fabric, any plastics, dynamite, nutritional food, rope, fiber board, medicine, bio fuels, oil based paints, and lighting oil.
Currently, 50% of the world’s pesticides and herbicides are sprayed on cotton crops, which are used to make many fabrics and textiles. Hemp needs no herbicides or pesticides and grows well in a wide variety of conditions in many climates. Knit hemp fabric is more water absorbent, warmer, and softer than cotton fabric. Hemp can be woven into canvas and linens. Hemp canvas is perfect for oil paintings, which can withstand mildew, heat, insects and light. Most Van Gogh, Gainsborough and Rembrandt paintings are on hemp canvas. Hemp linens are indistinguishable from flax linens (in 1938, it was estimated that 50% of all linens were made of hemp). Throughout history, hemp was predominantly used for twine, rope and all other cordage. Hemp fiber has 3 times the strength of cotton and is the longest lasting, most durable soft fiber in the world making a superior fiber in all aspects.
Our current production of wood pulp paper is far from sustainable. We cannot keep cutting down trees and pumping harmful chemicals into our air and waterways. Hemp paper requires just hydrogen peroxide, which is almost completely harmless. Hemp paper can be recycled 8 times, whereas pulp paper can only be recycled 3 times. Hemp paper, like hemp textiles, is much more durable compared to the alternatives. It doesn’t yellow with age and resists decomposition. An acre of hemp produces 4 times as much fiber for paper than an acre of trees, which take a very long time to grow after being chopped down. Not to mention the various environmental effects of logging. Hemp on the other hand helps replenish oxygen by using carbon dioxide and leaves soil very fertile and free of weeds for the next crop.
Another problem that the world is slowly facing is the depletion of fossil fuels, most of which can be replaced by hemp biomass. Since biomass can be converted into methane, methanol or gasoline, we can run anything that currently runs on fossil fuels on hemp biodiesels or converted biomass. This would have a huge positive impact on the environment because biomass fuels don’t contain any sulfur and the carbon dioxide released is turned back into oxygen by the next crop of hemp plants. Currently, we use coal tar to synthetically make the polymers for all plastics. Since cellulose is a biodegradable, organic polymer and hemp is about 77% cellulose, all plastics could be replaced with a non-toxic, biodegradable cellulose plastic made from hemp.
Not many people know about hemp’s nutritional content. We all know that complete proteins and essential fatty acids are immensely important; hemp seeds contain perfect proportions of omega fatty acids for human digestion. Linolenic acid makes up 20% of hempseed and can prevent tumors from forming, strengthens the immune system, and reduces the pain and swelling of arthritis. Once hempseeds are pressed for their oil, the remaining seed can be ground into a very nutritious, high fiber baring flour and can be substituted for anything that takes flour. Today, too many people eat foods that are high in starch and sugars so their energy runs out before they use up all the consumed calories. Hempseed is high in protein and fiber, which enables you to maintain energy for much longer periods of time, slowing down hunger and replacing sugar and starches in a diet.
You might wonder why this wonder plant is still illegal to grow in the United States when it can be used in so many ways, often better than what we are currently using. Fully utilizing this plant would mean that timber, oil, pharmaceutical, plastic, wood pulp, concrete, alcohol, tobacco, energy, textiles, and food industries would all be replaced or changed. The timber, pharmaceutical, plastic, energy, alcohol and tobacco companies are the largest, most profitable companies who don’t want Cannabis to be legalized. These companies put pressure on the government to keep Cannabis illegal for their benefit, not the consumer’s.
Until recently, most of this information was only known by very few people. Now that this information is more readily available, we need to spread to the knowledge, buy hemp products, encourage people to learn about hemp, look past all of the propaganda put out by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and American government, and think about the future of our planet. Ultimately, we as global citizens need to take full advantage of our freedom of speech to “Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Ghandi.
Hemp For Victory!
Written by me
4/17/09
No pain, no gain.
Still not feelin so hot, but whatevaaaa gotta do what you gotta do.
As you can see in the picture they just made two tiny incisions and one in my back for the camera. Its amazing how they can do so much with just 3 little holes in you body.
4/15/09
Alive
Got done with ma surgery yesterday. I think/hope it went well, I didnt talk to the surgeon after I woke up and I wont see him for a week or so. I was KOed for about 2 hours which is kinda cool I guess. They did a nerve block (which involved a massive needle in my neck)which numbed my whole arm and kept it numb until last evening (whick sucked). I get to wear this sling 24/7 for the next 5 weeks and 6 days then I'll have no muscle and will have to rehab hard for another couple months before I can really do anything. I'm all strung up on T3's but even then it feels like my shoulder is out of the socket (pain) and when the drugs wear off every 3 hours my shoulder feels like it is out and has forks stabbing it. Sooo sleeping is quite difficult and thinking hurts so I'm going to be worthless for a couple more days.
PEACE!
PEACE!
4/13/09
4/9/09
Weekly Weed Fact #5
"Linolenic acid makes up 20% of hempseed and can prevent tumors from forming, strengthens the immune system, and reduces the pain and swelling of arthritis."
I just finished writing a 3 page essay about hemp.
I'll put it up here as soon as I edit it and shit.
I just finished writing a 3 page essay about hemp.
I'll put it up here as soon as I edit it and shit.
4/7/09
Lake Louise
Rolled out to Lake Louise this past weekend for the Freeski Comp, I did really well there last year and many good friends of mine were going so I was pretty excited. Lake Louise is super rocky and after the first day of shredding, I had to use a stick and a half of p-tex to fill my previously mint bases.
The first day of competition on ER7 went really well, I stomped my run and qualified 3rd.
Qualifying run in lake louise from Jeff Amantea on Vimeo.
I was totally ready for finals with a pretty technical, high scoring line that I stomped 3 times in a row that morning, but in my run a newly surfaced rock grabbed my ski near the top and tossed me straight to another rock on my hip. I am so thankful that the second rock stopped me because if would have kept falling, there were some serious rocks below me that would probably hurt me pretty badly.
Untitled from Jeff Amantea on Vimeo.
The first day of competition on ER7 went really well, I stomped my run and qualified 3rd.
Qualifying run in lake louise from Jeff Amantea on Vimeo.
I was totally ready for finals with a pretty technical, high scoring line that I stomped 3 times in a row that morning, but in my run a newly surfaced rock grabbed my ski near the top and tossed me straight to another rock on my hip. I am so thankful that the second rock stopped me because if would have kept falling, there were some serious rocks below me that would probably hurt me pretty badly.
Untitled from Jeff Amantea on Vimeo.
The aftermath:
and crutches!
My hip doesn't feel too pimp, but I'm glad I didn't get seriously hurt.
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