hobolinks :: November :: 2006

Becoming conscious of the environmental impacts of my diet has been painful. Today, wondering if I can continue to eat Sushi in good conscience, I found this AlterNet article. It definitely takes some of sparkle out of the Sushi craze. Thankfully, there are a few environmentally viable options left: squid, Pacific Halibut, New Zealand hoki, or talapia. The general guideline for sustainable seafood is to move down the food chain. At the store, buy from Marine Stewardship Council approved fisheries (symbolized by a blue fish with a checkmark).

A couple of appetizing videos over at Another Chance To See. Mmm, bacon.

A new outdoor map-sharing website hits the scene: EveryTrail.com. This one looks like it has some money behind it. At first glance it seems to have many desirable features covered: topos, elevation profiles, markers, photos, GPX import & editing, map embedding for your blog, Google Earth interface. It may be lacking good printing and search options, but there’s definitely enough there that I’ll be playing with it some more.

(Via Two-Heel Drive)

See some of the species discovered in last Fall’s Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument survey in this National Geographic photo series.

As part of Gwinnett County’s new ban on “urban camping” and panhandling, if you lie down for more than an hour on county property, you qualify for $1000 fine or 60 days in jail!

I was getting a little worried about adventurer Paula Constant, as she seemed to be having some trouble out there in the Sahara. Finally she has posted, and what a post! If that’s not adventure, I don’t know what is. Go Paula!

A group of mountain experts is lobbying for protection of lands that connect mountain habitats as a way to mitigate the impact of climate change on mountain ecosystems.

University of Texas biologist Camille Parmesan reviewed 866 studies, concluding that extinctions caused by a rapidly warming world have begun, citing the extinction of 70 species of mountain-dwelling frogs. No other specific extinctions are referenced, but they may include more mountain-top-dependent species like the frogs, and possibly polar species like emperor penguins and polar bears, she predicts. She acknowledges that evolutionary changes are underway to compensate for the changing environment, but that they can’t keep pace with the rapidity of the environmental changes. I wonder how long it will be before the changes are dramatic enough to enter our common consciousness?

They accomplished this while lost on military excercises.

J over at River of Fireflies has gone public as the author of his first book, Homlessness in America, the first self-published book I know of by a homeless author.

This is a nice simple mashup of Google Maps and YouTube. See videos of places around the world.

(Via Progammable Web)

I’ve always preferred the 13,000+-foot peaks in Colorado as a great way to avoid the circus crowds on the 14′ers. Peter Stabolepszy talks about his recent completion of the 741-peak ticklist. He seems to have a good attitude.

(Via The Adventure Blog)

A new outdoor community site opens its doors with nice array of features, but no maps (that I found).

(Via The Adventure Blog)

Here comes a surprise ending, this national geographic video tells you, and it’s still surprising.

This is only the second completed human-powered circumnavigation I know about: Tim Harvey circles the planet in 893 days. (The first was expedition Canada. So far it seems the Canadians have cornered the market, but there is at least one Brit on his way into the club.

Another online trail mapping site, tracegps.com, has hit the scene. It’s a French site, which I don’t speak, but some clicking around revealed tracks and elevation profiles, but no maps. Maybe you have to sign up.

(Via Programmable Web)

A new Google Maps mashup for sharing outdoor photo locations.

(Via Progammable Web)

I suppose local outdoor mashup sites like this will continue popping up until a really good global wiki makes the scene. This one has some Google maps, but they weren’t working for me.

(Via Programmable Web)

This hilarious clip really highlights what a genuine personality Steve Irwin was.

A 62-person study concludes: Rock Climbing Does Not Increase Risk Of Osteoarthritis.

(Via Stellar News)