The nation of Fiji is struggling to recover from the staggering blow Tropical Cyclone Winston delivered on February 20 when the mighty storm made landfall at Category 5 strength on multiple islands. The storm killed at least 42 people, making it the deadliest in Fiji history. The damage estimate of $468 million makes it the most expensive tropical cyclone in South Pacific history.

Source: Winstons Damage Highest in South Pacific History; Extreme February Warmth in Eurasia | Dr. Jeff Masters WunderBlog

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Ben Wonder Trio | ANTIX COLLECTIVE

By seeing which ecosystems are experiencing the most change at the plant level, scientists hope they will be able to make better predictions.

Source: Measuring the Planet’s Health in Vibrant Shades of Green

Bleaching events triggered by CO2 emissions will make oceans acidic and hostile for coral growth, new studies say

Source: Climate change will lead to deformed and virus-hit coral reefs | Environment | The Guardian

I wasn’t expecting much from jazz bagpipe, but this is great.

Source: Jazz bagpiper Rufus Harley on “I’ve Got a Secret” (1996)

The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational competition got underway at 8am (local time) today in monstrous waves at world-famous…

Source: Gladiators, Monster Waves | Quiksilver

Source: Yale Environment 360: Scientists find new large lizard species on remote Papua New Guinea island

Post anything (from anywhere!), customize everything, and find and follow what you love. Create your own Tumblr blog today.

Source: Everyday Life in the Past : Photo

Source: The Reality of Touring Revenue From Someone Who Has Done It For 32 Years | The Trichordist

When you mix the tropics with the tundras, this is what you get.

Source: Nordic-Tiki Cocktails: Not as Crazy as You’d Think

Giant Waves Lash Hawaii Oceanfront Homes In Historic Surf Event

The Oscar nominated film’s success owes as much to America’s troubled mindset as to the movie itself

Source: What lies beneath The Revenant | Ato Quayson | Opinion | The Guardian

A collection of vintage travel posters have been found in an attic in Australia with advertisements for flights to exotic destinations around the world, cruise trips and bus holidays.

Source: Vintage Australian travel posters found in storage reveals travel history | Daily Mail Online

One cocktail that we particularly enjoy is the Missionary’s Downfall, which uses pineapple and mint for a cocktail that is both fruity and refreshing. When we have fresh mint, we never fail t…

Source: Missionary’s Landing

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From jazz bars and spoken word poetry to berets and black turtlenecks, we chart the evolution of beat from subversive to chic

Source: How Beatnik Style Made the Underground Mainstream

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This short excerpt from a documentary on AI pulls together clips from a variety of 1960s interviews with some of AI’s most storied pioneers, including Claude Shannon, Jerome Wiesner and Olive…

Source: Watch: Claude Shannon, Jerome Wiesner and Oliver Selfridge in a 1960s AI documentary

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) Campaigns Director and keen surfer Andy Cummins reveals his top spots for surfing around the UK coast

Source: Top 5 UK Surf Spots | www.coastmagazine.co.uk

Everyday Life in the Past : Photo

Chills and cross-steps along Montreal’s St. Lawrence River.

Source: Wave Stand Still | Surfer Magazine

At the end of January, Hamburg, the second biggest German city, introduced a new set of environmentally friendly recommendations through its “Guide for ecologically friendly supplying”.

Source: Hamburg, a green city – Surfrider

Source: Coral bleach impact – Fiji Times Online

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John Penlington reports on Australia’s surf culture, its impact on surf-lifesaving clubs and life in general.

Source: Surfing Story – 31 May 1964

A division of UnderConsideration, cataloguing the underrated creativity of menus from around the world.

Source: Art of the Menu: Continental Miami

The White House just stopped new coal leases on federal land – a huge step for our climate. Urge him to do the same for the Gulf! (46320 signatures on petition)

Source: Petition: New Lease on Life: Ask the President to end new oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico

Cocktail Chemistry explains the drink’s mechanics: you create an iceball using a cheap latex ice-sphere mold, melt a hole in the top with a soldering iron and extract the water from inside wi…

Source: A cocktail inside a hollow ball of ice that you shatter to drink

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Source: Show the Love this Valentine’s Day | For the love of

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Environmental groups — including all surf environmental groups — are concerned over proposed firing of California Coastal Commission’s Executive Director, Dr. Charles Lester. Here’s why.

Source: Battle Lines Drawn In California — and Why Surfers Should Care

Over in Davos world leaders are desperately trying to find a ‘fourth industrial revolution’ to keep the ‘growth’ juggernaut rolling, write Bennet Francis & Rupert Read. But their efforts are doomed: the real challenge we face is to build a healthy, more equal society and a green, sustainable future for us all.

Source: Peak stuff: have we reached the end of the ‘growth’ party? – The Ecologist

Source: ‘The Devil’s Toy’: The evils of skateboarding exposed! | Dangerous Minds

The Obama administration is expected to propose new rules as soon as Friday to curb methane leaks from oil and natural gas production, its latest attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy production under its control, sources familiar with the plan said.

Source: U.S. to tackle oil and gas methane waste on public lands: sources

This winter’s freezing season in the Arctic is falling short. The extent of Arctic sea ice this week is hovering near record-low values for early February, based on observations that extend back to the start of satellite monitoring in 1979. Data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) shows that last month had the lowest overall Arctic sea ice extent of any January in the satellite record. Hand in hand with the skimpy ice cover, temperatures across the Arctic have been extraordinarily warm for midwinter, also setting January records.

Source: Absurd January Warmth in Arctic Brings Record-Low Sea Ice Extent | Dr. Jeff Masters’ WunderBlog

Source: Bodysurf Skills Required

Los Angeles’ fast-food stands are an iconic part of California’s tradition of car-oriented architecture. But as the city rapidly transforms, the hamburger stands are being erased from the urban landscape

Source: The disappearing roadside hamburger stands of downtown Los Angeles | Cities | The Guardian

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Tiki cocktails are making a comeback, but where and when did the trend take root? We take a brief look at the history of tiki cocktails and bars in the U.S.

Source: Tiki Cocktails: Then and Now – KegWorks Blog

Electronics firm builds floating solar farm on a reservoir due to a scarcity of land for utility-scale solar in Japan

Source: Japan begins work on ‘world’s largest’ floating solar farm | Environment | The Guardian

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In 1964, ten of the world’s best surfers converge on Manly Beach to fight for the title of world champion. (Video excerpt 2.03 minutes This clip chosen to be G)

Source: King of the Surf

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This short Cinesound documentary from Ken G Hall boasts beautifully filmed visuals, with surfers seen in silhouette and sunlight bouncing off the water. (Video excerpt 3.14 minutesalso has educational notes. This clip chosen to be PG)

Source: Thrill of the Surf (1949) clip 1 on ASO – Australia’s audio and visual heritage online

While everyone buys the latest cars in the market, there are group of people in Hyderabad who’ve gone in the opposite direction – they look for vintage The 47-year-old IT professional is the proud owner of two vintage cars ‘Premier President 1972’ & ‘Premier Padmini Deluxe BE’ which was gifted to him in 1983 when India won the first world cup. He also owns a ambassador of 1970 model.

Source: Vintage is evergreen: Meet Hyderabad’s car lovers | The News Minute

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Photographer Dave Sandford witnesses the sheer raw power and force of waves breaking in stormy conditions on one of Canada’s Great Lakes – Lake Erie.

Source: Lake Erie’s wild waves caught on camera by Dave Sandford

Source: Retro To Go: Modern-day Dansette: 1960s-style GPO Retro Bermuda record player with legs

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