Cuteness vs. Tastiness: An Infographic

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It doesn't matter how it came up in conversation, but it did. Why is it that we set standards of cute and cookable for different animals? Shouldn't it just be one way or the other? "Stay away" or, "Sure... farm it, hunt it, whatever, I'll eat it." Anyhow, my friend Gloria whipped this thing up yesterday after talking about it for your enjoyment (or disgust, discuss!).

I don't really want to get into a debate, whatever floats your boat. Try and be sustainable if you can. I eat meat, it's delicious.

Now then... See above infographic, Cuteness vs. Tastiness Cheatsheet; or: That's cute, should I eat it?

Thanks to Gloria for humouring me with this custom infographic about delicious/taboo food.​

Dave Lee and Tim Ostler will Make You Happy Today

​Holy shit! That's the best way to start this one off. Signal founder and ex pro-shred, Dave Lee got together with a bunch of awesome people (including a quick cameo from old friend and hero, Jason Brown) to create this magical adaptive snowboarding device for Tim Ostler. 

No failures. Just bumps in the road.

When you watch the video, you'll learn that Tim used to be a pro snowboarder back in the 1990s, but in the early 2000s had an accident riding halfpipe and was ​paralyzed. To get Tim back on the shred, Signal Snowboards and Crankbrothers Mountain Bike Components teamed up to build a brand new adaptive snowboard concept. Just watching the guys, you can see how exciting this project was, and I hope it's just the beginning for them. Just watch the video.

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I was lucky enough to become friends with Dave Lee and J. Brown through snowboarding. Haven't seen the boys in ages, but seeing this made me miss them and that life. Both of them are some of the most quality and creative individuals in the snowboard world.

While it's damned amazing, it's not a surprise that Dave Lee would be the driving force behind this. I never knew Tim Ostler, but I definitely had a magazine cut out of him on my door when I was a young shred back in Ontario, dreaming of moving to Whistler.​ Eventually I escaped high school and made the move. Through putting down too many frontboards and nosepresses, I was able to hook up with these guys and had some of the best years of my life. 

Dammit, that's some fine work, gents!

I Stole It: 33 Ways to Stay Creative

​I was Stumbling (my Stumbler page) around the Internet and saw this on some web page, who had stolen it from some other web page that probably stole it from this Tumblr page. But none of that matters, because now you're here and it's mine!

Aside from a whole lot of content recycling, the Internet​ is a good place to find motivation, even when said motivation says to get off the Internet. This thing looks like it belongs on some over-sharing Pinterest account as the user skims it, pins it and moves on. Take a second though, read it and maybe jot down the items that might actually help you. Sometimes I find myself working so much that my job is just to get a job done so I can move on to the next job that needs to get done.

#2 — Carry a Notebook

I used to never leave home without one. Now a flask is in that back pocket. Might reconsider.​

#8 — Sing in the Shower

Aside from the other day when I butchered this one, hung over in the shower, I don't. However! Thinking in the shower is a good one. Some kinda science actually states that the sound of the shower actually ​mimics white noise which, "can aid concentration by blocking out irritating or distracting noises in a person’s environment.” (White Noise Wiki).

#19 — Go Somewhere New

I'm backing this one. We're actually somewhere entirely new as of writing this. We jumped a plane from Playa to Mexico City on a whim. Had some drinks, booked a flight. You know how that goes. Now that we're here and walking around, exploring in a new city, the new environment has made the two of us feel pretty damned good. We love the city, the people, the food and the neighbourhood we're in. All of the sights made us want to be more active in writing about all the places we travel, the things we get up to and all the people we meet along the way.

#23 — Take Risks & #24​ — Do More of What Makes You Happy

These two kind of go together and should be done whenever you feel like you're sitting too comfortably. Moving on!​

#33 — Finish Something

Like for example: This post.​

How to Move to a Foreign Country and Acclimatize in Five Easy Steps

We moved to an unfamiliar place. We didn’t know the people, we didn’t know the streets or the landscape. In less than three weeks, we feel totally acclimatized and at home. Now I’m going to tell you how you can too!

1 — Drink. Lots

Within the first week, you’re going to want to pretty much be a complete write-off. Aside from being the first thing you’ll want to do when you hit the beach, there is a psychology to it. Drunks move around from spot to spot more frequently and are far more talkative. It’s like hiring a more inquisitive, motivated version of yourself. All you have to pay them is liquor while you sit back and enjoy your new surroundings.

“If you’re one of those ranting, slurring, fall out of your chair drunks: skip the move all together and stay where you belong. You’re going to get eaten alive.”

Your new drunk employee will attempt to meet more bartenders and local patrons of the holes you’re going to crawl into. BFFT. Best Friends For Tonight! After relaxing for a week (or two, depending on your dedication to research) while your other-self does all the work is when the magic of the human mind starts to happen.

When you come to, you will know the lay of the land and have the beginnings of a small circle of friends. It will feel almost as though you have lived here in another life… because you have. Your drunk life last week. After your first cloudy walk around town, your brain will start filling in all the pieces, and your path to dropping, “I’m a local” to anyone and everyone that will listen has now begun.

This is the most crucial step of all: Taper the binging off immediately if you plan to actually survive.

2 — Walk it out

Don’t take taxis. We all know what passenger syndrome is. As a passenger, you rarely remember directions to your best friend’s house, let alone explaining the way home to a cabbie through a whisky-thick language barrier. Any distance a taxi can take you is too far, anyhow. Learn your location in a gradually growing radius. First get to know where you’ll be the most.

Do they have rickshaws where you’re moving? Even better. Now you’re not physically doing anything, but you’re travelling slow enough to take in the streets. You’re also helping the lowest end of the local economy. Oh the places you’ll go! (Or won’t go, see below.)

3 — Don't Go to Gringo Joints

You didn’t move to another country to hang out with more alcoholic Canadians, Americans, or whatever. Hit up the local spots.

“But how will I know if it’s a local spot?” you ask.

It doesn’t take math or science to know that everyone is staring at you and your plaid board shorts as you walk into a bar. I told you not to buy plaid shorts. What’s better, if it feels like they’re all making fun of you, it’s not just a hunch, they are. Suck it up. You’re pale as all hell, wearing a funny hat, Oakleys and you ordered a Piña Colada.

4 — Get Dark, Quickly

There’s not much you can do to expedite this other than by spending real time in the sun. Avoid pre-game tanning beds. A tan should always be earned, never purchased. If you’re getting as drunk as I’ve recommended, chances are you’ll pass out once or twice in the sun and speed things up a bit.

Don’t go lobster. “Burns peel, tans are for real, bro,” said someone in Cancun/Miami/The Okanagan.

Staying crisp is going to do one of three important things for you:

1. Mixed with just the right amount of your perfect grasp of the local language it can bring down the cost of taxi rides.
2. Mixed with a mean glare and tattoos from neck to toe, it will help back the merchants off from bothering you with their zipline tours and shoddy wares.
3. Probably nothing, but you’ll look good! Good as hell.

5 — I’m a Local

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Don’t ever use this. You’re not. However, now you’re a bit closer to feeling like you belong and can maybe even slap a few high-fives to your new besties (read: someone you’re pretty sure you met last week) on your way around town.