After doing some research, I figured out that I want to check Paragliding. There are some crazy videos on YouTube.com…Try searching for ‘Paraglider Crash’ to see some interesting videos =)

http://www.liveleak.com/player.swf?token=335_1174247189

Well, after seeing some of the more graphic videos, I decided to go ahead and book some lessons in Malibu, California. I just recieved confirmation for Saturday morning lession!

Last Friday, my friends and I went to the Sutra Lounge, in Costa Mesa, for a friends birthday party. The dance floor was packed! Sutra is not our regular place to hang out, but we had a pretty good time!

Sweetwater Rattlesnake Round-Up: The World’s Largest Rattle Snake Round-Up

Technorati ProfileThe second weekend in March marks the beginning of the world’s largest rattlesnake round-up, held in Sweetwater, Texas. The Sweetwater Junior Chamber of Commerce, also know as the Sweetwater JC’s, head the event. To the small west Texas town of Sweetwater, this event brings in a lot of money/commerce.

This year, the roundup was held at Newman Park, the local rodeo arena and fairgrounds. The Arena is surrounded by vendors peddling everything from wind chimes to smoked turkey legs, literally. Inside the arena, on the dirt floor, exhibits are setup.

It turns out the JC’s are a pretty smart bunch! They have a system setup to maximize use of all the rattlesnakes rounded up/purchased over the weeks preceding the event.

First, the snakes are pulled from a vast pit and information is collected about each snake. A record is made about the length, sex, weight, and age/number of rattles of each snake. Then the snake is placed with others into a yellow barrel to go to the next step of the process…Snake Milking.

The second step in the process is to extract the snake venom by milking each snake over a glass funnel. The snake handler grabs a snake behind the head and squeezes. The snake’s mouth opens up, the fangs, sheathed in skin, pop out and are placed over the glass funnel. The snake handler then press down causing several drops of venom to spurt and ooze out into the funnel. Once the venom has been extracted, the snake goes into another yellow barrel for the next step in the process…the chopping block.

The third step is the end of the line for the live snakes. The yellow barrows are brought over from the milking pit and placed next to the chopping block. The snake handler uses a special tool to pull out a single snake, by the head, from among fifty plus snakes in the yellow barrel. The snake is then laid across the chopping block and then beheaded. The head is tossed in a bucket just for snake heads and the body in tossed into another bucket for further processing. The snake heads are sold to taxidermists and vendors…to make things like keychain ect.

The bodies are then taken further down the line and skinned. The snake skinner hangs the carcass from and string and then places a single cut the length of the snake. The meat and skin are separated by pulling the skin in one hand and the meat in the other. This year, the JC’s would let you skin your own snake for a mere $20. The skins are sold for boots, belt buckles, and other creative products.

The meat, on the other hand, is taken upstairs and sold. The JC’s chop up and batter the snake meat before deep frying and serving with fries. I had the pleasure of eating fresh fried rattle snake. The best way to describe the taste and texture would be to compare to a cross between chicken and catfish. The meat tastes like chicken but is laden with catfish-like bones. Defiantly a culinary experience… like alligator. You try it once and that will last for a very long time.

I just completed my order for a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi, (digital SLR camera), on Amazon.com. It should arrive next week. It’s exactly what I need for my new project of photographing Orange County and California.

Had a great time last night hanging out with some friends at Pechanga Casino. It was my first time there and it reminded me of a couple of casinos in Los Vegas.  It was a good time!

Tonight Microsoft’s Windows: Vista is released to the public.  In fact, many retails, such as Fry’s, are throwing Vista launch parties.  Visit Microsoft’s Vista site for more information.

It’s time for laundry and this time I’m throwing in the really cool OxiClean Ball!
I found this little beauty at Bed, Bath and Beyond for about $15. It came with 2 OxiClean refill balls. It does about 50 loads, for a cost per load of about thirty cents, which is pretty inexpensive. The cool part is that you can just leave it in the washer!  After about 10 loads of laundry, I have to admit that I really like this product!

A few friends and I spent New Years at the Chatua de Lac Bed & Breakfast, scenically located overlooking the  Lake Arrowhead.

The scenery going up the mountain is simply astonishing. See pictuers

I remember my Dad telling a story about a guy at a gas station pouring a can of Coke on his windshield just before cleaning.  While surfing I came across some other uses for Coca Cola (and we drink this stuff!).

Clean a Toilet Bowl
Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl. Let the real thing sit for one hour, then brush and flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china

Remove Grease from Clothes
Empty a can of Coke into a load of greasy work clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular wash cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains

Remove Rust Spots from Chrome Car Bumpers
Rubbing the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola will help remove rust spots

Loosen a Rusted Bolt
Applying a cloth soaked in a carbonated soda to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

Clean Corrosion from Car Battery Terminals
Pour a can of carbonated Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion

Bake a Moist Ham
Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

Relieve Jelly Fish Stings
Coke can also be used to relieve the sting from Jelly Fish. All you have to do is pour the Coke over the sting.

Clean Tile Grout
Pour a can of Coca Cola on the tile. When wiped it up, the grout will be as white as can be!

Have Greener Grass
Spray Coca-Cola on your grass once a month for super green grass which remains greener than other lawns throughout the fall and winter months. Also, for green grass and no bugs, combine: 1 can of coke, 1 cup of ammonia and 1/4 cup of dish soap. Spray on grass once a month.

Common Cold Remedy
Take some fresh ginger and put it in a pot with a can of Coca Cola. Let it come to a boil and then cook on a low heat for a few minutes. Drink while warm. It will ease your cold symptoms!

Make a Tender Pot Roast
When preparing a pot roast, use Coke instead of water. It tenderizes and imparts a unique flavor.

Get Rid of Bug and Road Film
Got bug guts and road haze on you car windshield? Take a can of warm Coca Cola, shake and spray onto the windshield. Wipe it off and rinse and water, clean as could be!

Remove Blood

The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. It’s pa is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.