It is that time of the year again… the return of college football. For many this is the greatest time of year. All day cookouts, kegs, cheerleaders, the band, the pageantry, hard hitting, the Heisman, Lee Corso, the lights, 90,000 people standing and cheering, the field and the passion make this sport one of the most entertaining to watch. So without further ado, here is the debut of the Kook Wear Top 25.

1. Ohio State – The power of the sweater vest continues… at least until they play an SEC team. Still Ohio State returns AAs Malcom Jenkins, James Laurinitis and Marcus Freeman to the #1 defense in the country last year. Competent Todd Boeckman paired with the amazing Beanie Wells at RB should score their points.
2. USC – There is not much to say except that they are loaded as usual.
3. Florida – The offense starring Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin could be the best in the country. Everyone will know RB/WR/Ret Chris Rainey by the end of the year. If the defense can step up, this year could be special for the Gators.
4. Oklahoma – The class of the Big 12 and if Sam Bradford does not have a sophomore slump, the Sooners could win it all.
5. Georgia – Stud RB Knowshon Moreno leads the charge on the talent rich Dawgs. This is the ‘chic’ pick this year. They played as well as anybody at the end of last season. Only injury concerns on the offensive line can stop them.
6. Auburn – SEC tough veterans and a new spread offense can give the Tigers a boost this year.
7. LSU – The defending national champs have recruited well and their defense is downright scary. The quarterback situation is not the best though. Should be in the mix for the National Championship.
8. Clemson – Could this be the year Clemson wins the ACC? There is plenty of talent and experience returning. Jacoby Ford, James Davis and CJ Spiller should make for a potent offense. Da’Quan Bowers will be an AA on the DL before his career is over.
9. Missouri – Heisman hopeful Chase Daniels leads 15 returning starters as a title contender in 2008.
10. Texas – Strong all around.
11. Wisconsin – Dark horse contender in a weaker Big 10 this year.
12. Tennessee – A shift in offensive philosophy is underway at Tennessee. Will it translate to an SEC crown this year? Gerald Jones has slots of ability at the ATH position.
13. West Virginia – Pat White and Noel Devine will make people look silly this year.
14. Texas Tech – Michael Crabtree for Heisman?
15. Kansas – Lots of experience returning on both sides of the ball.
16. Va Tech – Tyrod Taylor possibly redshirting? Well, it will help with class separation but it would be sad to see the Hokies drop an extra game or two without him.
17. Arizona State – Can they challenge the mighty Trojans? Many believe they can and this should make for a great game.
18. Alabama – Saban can coach. The Tide has a talented recruiting class coming in. Bama was able to compete with the big boys last year but they also lost to Louisiana-Monroe. Opening week test versus Clemson can foreshadow the rest of the season.
19. Notre Dame – Only one freshman will start at the beginning of the season. Weis has recruited well over his tenure at ND. There are no excuses, the Fighting Irish got to win now.
20. Oregon – Some say the Autzen Zoo is the toughest place to play in college football. “Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”
21. Penn State – Just win for Joe Pa baby.
22. Wake Forest – Jim Grobe can flat out coach.
23. South Florida – Can USF be the second strongest program in the state of Florida?
24. Rutgers – The Scarlet Knights keep ‘chopping wood’ up in Jersey. Should be an exciting Big East race this year.
25. Brigham Young – Kind of hating on them right now, might eat my words.

Pura vida,
Nick

As citizens of Florida can already attest to, the 2008 hurricane season is ramping up. Tropical storm Fay surprised many in central Florida this past week by stalling out and dumping over 15 inches of rain in some areas. Brevard County suffered substantial flooding and 51 homes were damaged by a tornado.

Now there are more tropical systems developing in the Atlantic. Hurricane Gustav is already making landfall in Haiti. It is expected to strengthen to at least a category 3 as it moves into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. People living in the gulf sates should take notice and start preparations now.

Also there is another tropical disturbance, Invest 95, which has the potential to develop into a storm. Currently situated northeast of the Virgin Islands, the standard computer models have this system taking a northwest trek towards Bermuda.

Here are some key suggestions for preparing for a hurricane:

1. -Plan Ahead (know evacuation routes, keep posted with the news, gather supplies, keep organized
2. -Turn off water, gas and electricity
3. -Gather non-perishable and high perishable foods, vitamins, plastic utensils and a non-electric heating source
4. -Fill the tub and extra containers with drinking water
5. -Gather batteries, radios and flashlights
6. -Fill your car with gas
7. -Board up your home, bring potential projectiles inside, secure down what cannot be moved
8. -Cut potentially damaging tree and shrub limbs if possible
9. -During the storm get to the safest room in the house (away from windows and internal to the structure
10. -If the storm is extremely strong, get out of the area completely or go to a shelter

Pura vida,
Nick

Greenpeace was originally formed back in 1971 to help with the protesting of nuclear testing. Since then, they have become a major fighting organization of natural resources and the protection of animal species. What once started as a small group has now developed internationally.

Our generation has had to endure conservation and global protection. Greenpeace has continued to modify itself to fit with these items. Earlier this year, Greenpeace put together a list of priority issues on their website that included global warming, damage to oceans and forests, nuclear energy, toxic substances, and genetic engineering. As part of their priority issues they also list ways that each individual can help.

Greenpeace has taken a very active role in educating and supporting people our age who want to help save our environment. Just this summer, one of our friends (pictured here in her Kook Wear Gear!) got accepted into a Greenpeace/Seventh Generation program called Change It. This program was developed to help train and empower students to become the next generation of leaders for a global movement change. These students were educated by Greenpeace activists and employees on lobbying, organization techniques, media and communications, and conducting peaceful demonstrations.

The event's slogan touted in this banner, reminds us that saving the world can still be fun =) "A warm climate is worse than a warm beer."

Pura vida,
Ben

Amazon has just lunched Amazon Green, "a cross category program that includes a list of products that customers have selected as the best green products offered by Amazon.com". Basically it's just a big list of everything that is somewhat green in Amazon's extensive inventory.

One nice features of Amazon Green is that to make the green list, Amazon.com customers have to vote for it. This should keep the phony green products off the list. Another added benefit is the customer reviews that accompany every Amazon product at the bottom of the page. Customer reviews are the first thing I look at; fellow customers don’t hold anything back compared to corporate marketing staff.

With the launch of Amazon Green also comes the Amazon Green Blog. Although it is currently short on articles it has the potential to be a strong contender in the eco-blogosphere.

I like Amazon's new green initiative, the only way it could be better is if they would promise to put a certain percentage of each "green" sale towards a worthwhile cause.

Pura vida,
Matt

Moodhosa's, a Kook Wear Team Member, is releasing their first CD on Friday August 29th at the Common Grounds in Gainesville, FL. Kook Wear will be there to support Moodhosa as well as to show off some product. If you with in driving distance you should make the trip, this will be a night to remember.

The Common Grounds is located at:

View Larger Map

Here is the Facebook event URL:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=62802665642

Pura vida,
Matt

Not believing in the one-site-fits-all approach offered by E-bay and Craig's list, long time friends Matt Patterson and George Opadchy have built an international bridge between So Cal and Sydney. Their brain-child, goboarding.com, is part E-bay, part Craig's List and 100% user friendly for surfers, skaters, and snowboarders.

Their motivation was the thought that core surfers don't want to buy surfboards at the same place they buy knick-knacks. The site allows users to post one item for free per month - its $2 for each concurrent item, and account set-up is free. Retailers are allowed to post unlimited items for a flat monthly fee.

The site was originally aimed at the second hand market, but after talking with shop owners, it was clear retailers wanted the ability to post product too. Now that Kook Wear has learned of this site, who knows, you may find some of our gear up there in the future. In the mean time, we would never suggest leaving the Kook Wear online store, but if you can't find what you're looking for give, Go Boarding, a look.

Pura vida,
Ben

The 2008 Olympics, set in Beijing, are set to begin August 8th. The Chinese government has undertaken drastic measures in the last month or so to reduce the air pollution that plagues the city.

On July 1st, 300,000 high-polluting vehicles were barred from the streets. Then on July 20th, driving restrictions were implemented which limited to driving on odd or even days; this depending upon the last number of their license plate. These measures have removed about two million vehicles from the streets.

Also, many factories in the city and surrounding areas were shut down in an effort to improve air conditions. Check out this video:

This vid can also be found on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqZqBvtZpP0

Isn't it sad that we have to undertake "emergency" procedures to get air quality to an acceptable level? I think it is safe to say that pollution is getting out of hand when people are concerned about the health of the competing athletes who will only be in the city for a month… And that it is ridiculous that the times of certain endurance events might have to be changed to times when smog levels are reduced…

Then on the other hand you can look at this situation and have hope. Drastic changes have been made and it affected the lives of millions of people. While there has not been much improvement in air quality, there has been some difference. These changes have only been in effect for a month! Imagine if these changes were made for a whole year! I’m not naive, I know that there will always be some level of pollution, but it does illustrate that we as a society are capable of making drastic changes to improve the health of our planet.

Pura vida,
Nick

There is a new sensation overtaking the skydiving world. Its called a wingsuit, birdman suit or squirrel suit. The wingsuit is another step in the ultimate pursuit in skydiving; horizontal movement and no parachute.

The wingsuit basically increases the surface area of the human body thus slowing the terminal velocity of free fall from 120mph to about 60mph. The flying squirrel does something similar when it leaps out of trees. The suit creates an airfoil shape that generates lift. Also a tremendous amount of horizontal velocity can be developed. Therefore a small parachute must be deployed before landing to slow this movement.

Wingsuit flying as dangerous as it is fun. But that won't stop people from trying new things. In 2003 Felix Baumgartner flew across the English Channel and reached speeds of 220mph using a carbon fiber wing. In 2005 the Birdman Rocket Team successfully mounted jet engines on the feet of one of their team riders.

check out this video:

This vid can also be found on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHlOvhlKPvs

Pura vida,
Nick

The new PayItGreen Alliance encourages consumers to turn off the paper bills to save trees and money. The alliance is a coalition of financial services companies such as Bank of America, Wachovia, and Citi that are committed to changing the way we pay bills.

It makes sense…

By receiving statements and paying bills online you can save trees and money by not using postage stamps. If it hasn’t clicked yet look at these numbers:

Pura vida,
Matt

Did you know that there is an island the size of Texas in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that is full of trash? When I heard about this a couple of years ago I just thought it was some reporter with an extremist point of view. But over the last couple of months more and more news article have been covering it and now I'm convinced. I found a great video documentary made by the VBS.TV crew, here is episode 1 of the 12 part series:

All 12 videos can be found on the VBS.TV Garbage Island website. There is also a great article on Wikipedia.

I hope this inspires you to stop using plastic bags and water bottles!

Pura vida,
Matt

Don’t look now but the young Florida Marlins are only a half game out of first place in the National League east division. These blue collar athletes have a combined payroll less than Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. That makes what they are doing all the more exciting.

The Marlins are strong up the middle, anchored by all-stars Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla. Both are among the league leaders for homeruns. Uggla should end up with over 100 RBIs when the season is done. Hanley is a speed demon with 23 stolen bases. He is on pace for a 40-40 season. Jorge Cantu is having a solid season as well, battling .291 and slugging a respectable 18 homeruns.

As a team the Fish lead the NL in dingers. Also, the team is in the top three in RBIs and slugging percentage.

Pitching has been more of a concern though. Aside from the surprising start by Ricky Nolasco, no one pitcher has stepped up and taken control of this team. Young phenom Josh Johnson has a chance to become “the man” during the second half of the season. The 6’7” 230lb righty is just recovering from an injury but during his young career Johnson has shown big strikeout potential.

This team is fun to watch. They are hard working and selfless. Say what you want about the organization but the Marlins scouts are among the best in the business. The team constantly brings in new young talent. If history is any example the Fish might be in for a magical season. With World Series titles in 97’ and 03’ perhaps the Marlins are poised to make another run.

Pura vida,
Nick

With the recently popularity of the environmentally friendly movement "green" things are popping up everywhere. You can even go into debt the "green" way. Although this isn't really new news, most people still don't know about environmentally friendly credit cards.

The basic principle of all of these cards is that for every purchase you make, a certain percentage goes toward carbon offsets, planting trees, or recycling programs. The two most popular green cards are from General Electric and Bank of America.

GE MONEY Earth Rewards Card

• 0% Introductory APR on purchases for up to 6 months
• Paperless Statements
• 1% of your total Card purchases go towards emission reduction projects. Or make the split and contribute 1/2% to the climate projects and get 1/2% cash back through your monthly statement
• No annual fee

BOA Brighter Planet Visa Card

• 0% introductory APR on cash advance checks and balance transfer for the first 12 months
• No annual fee
• Earn 1 EarthSmart point for every $1 spent in net retail purchases
• Earn 50% more points with a match from BOA for a limited time
• Earn 1,000 bonus points after your first transaction to fund an estimated 1 ton of carbon offsets to offset the creation and delivery of your credit card

So which one do I recommend? NEITHER. I think these cards are a waste of time and money and will only increase American’s debt. I would much rather get 5% cash back from an AMEX card and use that money to plant a tree, buy carbon offsets, replace my light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, and so on and so forth. Becoming environmentally friendly does not mean you need to sacrifice your personal finances.

With all of the above being said, if you pay off your balance in full every month and don’t want to mess with cash back or rewards cards, this might be the card for you.

Pura vida,
Matt

Off Cape Cod in Massachusetts and off Long Island in NY are homes to some of the United States' best wind energy reserves. The only places more favorable are out west, such as North Dakota, Texas and California. You would think a prominent community like Cape Cod would be home to some of the most forward thinking citizens of our time. However, the "good neighbors" of Cape Cod have vehemently opposed the installation of large off-shore wind turbines. Some residents site that turbines kill birds. More often, though, critics think wind energy is a great thing - as long as the turbines are somewhere else. Wind merchants have been trying for years - and failing - to build turbines in these offshore waters. Every attempt was opposed by wealthy owners of shoreline mansions.

I'm no politician (or wealthy beach-front land owner), just someone who is tired of the wealthy few getting in the way of progress for everyone. I'm also not hesitant to point the finger at my home state and a community that's practically in Kook Wear's backyard. Our neighbors in St. Lucie Florida have been given the opportunity to have Florida's first wind energy installation. Residents are fighting the move, saying that governor Crist is using it as a ploy to be viewed as a "green Republican." There may very well be merit to that argument, however, the fact is that Florida does not have much good wind to farm. St. Lucie is lucky enough to have winds that can justify the installation of a small farm. My opinion is that it's their responsibility to allow these turbines to go up. I feel environmentally safe energy options should be deployed anywhere possible. I don't make it a habit to trust politicians very often either. But even politically motivated advances are exactly that... advances. Let's take it however we can get it, one step at a time.

Pura vida,
Ben

MIT engineers have created a new more efficient solar panel to harness the power of the sun. The “solar concentrator” works by directing solar energy toward the edges of a panel. A mixture of dyes is painted onto a glass or plastic pane. The edges of the panel are fitting with solar cells. These dyes absorb light across a range of wavelengths and then re-emit them at different wavelengths along the pane to cells waiting at the edges. The focused light increases the electrical power obtained by each cell by over a factor of 40.

Since the solar cells are only placed around the edges of a panel, the system is very inexpensive. Furthermore, these dyes can be applied to existing solar cells to increase their efficiency by up to 50%. The engineering team believes that due to the ease of manufacture, that this technology could be implemented within three years.

One day in the not too distant future imagine office buildings designed with mostly glass to allow ambient light in thus reducing power consumption. Each one of those panels also serves as a solar concentrator also reducing the net power consumption of the building. With these advances it is easy to see the future is bright indeed.

Pura vida,
Nick

A new cable network called Planet Green is starting to be rolled out across the US. Planet Green is the first 24-hour "eco-lifestyle" television network with a robust online presence and community. Chances are you already have the new channel but didn't even realize it. Just visit the Planet Green channel finder to see if your local provider is carrying it.

I was fortunate enough to watch a couple hours of the programming and thought I would give my 2 cents on some of the shows.

Renovation Nation - "The green home building movement is unfolding in real time on each hour-long, information-packed episode of Renovation Nation, which answers the burning questions that every homeowner in America has about going green."

Of the three shows I saw this one as probably the most informative. Most of the green ideas in this show are for people renovating a home or about to build a new home, which is a lot of people in America (regardless of the sub-prime mortgage junk). I give it a B.

Living With Ed - "Ed Begley, Jr. is a celebrated American actor and a dedicated family man, but he's especially proud of being a renowned environmentalist. A show with humor and heart, Living with Ed delves into the real life of a die hard activist who puts his green where his home is."

Living With Ed is a prime time reality show with an eco twist. If your into green living but your significant other isn’t, this show might have something for the both of you (it might even save your marriage, probably not, it's just a television show after all). I give Living With Ed a B+.

Wasted - "This eye-opening half-hour reality series makes shrinking your ecological footprint appealing and virtually effortless. What's an ecological footprint? It's a way of describing the scope of the damage that each household does to the planet. Annabelle Gurwitch and her charming co-host Holter Graham are out..."

I wish this show featured my house. Each house gets a lump sum of cash based on how much energy they can conserve in a 1 month period. I give Wasted a B.

Because the network is so new there are lots of repeats; I would say that 22 hours out of 24 hours of broadcasting are repeats. But with big names like Emeril Lagasse and Ed Begley the network is bound to be successful.

Pura vida,
Matt

The new iPhone 3G is sure to be a success with its faster speeds, slick looks and attractive price point. It has me itching to test the waters and set my Treo 750 aside. However, some would say the most important innovation is the direction Apple has chosen to take its packaging. The iPhone, along with many other products, will be shipped in potato starch paper trays made by the Dutch company PaperFoam. This is significant since Apple designs to attract 100 million people worth of market share with the new model.

This new packaging will result in a 90% carbon footprint reduction over traditional plastic packaging. Paperfoam is 100% bio-degradable and recyclable with paper. Its great to see a company with Apple's influence and clout respond to the demands of environmentally conscious consumers.

Pura vida,
Ben

Over the Fourth of July weekend oil prices settled above $145 for the first time. As a result gas prices continue to increase with seemingly no end in sight. People the world over are starting to alter the way they live as gas becomes a more and more significant part of their budgets. There is still debate over the contributing factors to global warming however people would agree that all things being equal the reduction of emissions and the improvement of gas mileage is a good thing.

Many people point to the fact that the original Ford Model T got between 13-21 mpg and a 100 years later a Ford Explorer gets 16 mpg: where is the improvement? We must be careful with a blanket statement like this though.
The Model T’s engine made 20 hp, the car weighed just over 1000 lb, had horrible emissions and would struggle to hit 45 mph. We can design a car to these specs today and achieve much better resulting emissions. However, to meet people’s demands for comfort, safety and practicality certain concessions must be made. But there are new engine technologies that are being developed that can drastically improve gas mileage and emissions.

Many companies are looking at innovative ways to increase the efficiency of an engine. The efficiency of an engine relates how much useful power is output for a given amount of heat energy input. Typical modern engines have an efficiency of only 25%. Revetec, an Australian engine design company, is developing a Controlled Combustion Engine (CCE) that utilizes of two counter-rotating "trilobate" cams geared together. The CCE X4v2 achieved a repeatable 38.5% efficiency. This engine is really intriguing because it can be configured in numerous ways. Revetec's CCE is half the size and weight of a typical engine. Also the Australian company is claiming 50% fewer emissions with their prototype.

Other companies such as Rotoblock, based out of California, are prototyping an Oscillating Piston Engine (OPE). They, like Revetec, are aiming at reducing the size and increasing the efficiency of the internal combustion engine. The OPE has pistons arranged in a circular manner around a coaxial driveshaft. The toroidal cylinders oscillate which drives a crankshaft. In this engine the entire cylinder block rotates! Rotoblock is committed to the environment and the third generation of the engine will serve to investigate the use of

Doug Pelmear, an engineer asserts that he can get 110mpg and 38% efficiency out of an 87’ Mustang motor! It is still a traditional rod-and-piston engine with more electronics regulating it. He has entered his design in the Progressive Automotive X Prize Competition: a race to find an affordable, marketable car that can get at least 100 miles to the gallon. The winner of the X Prize will get 10 million dollars!

If small startups such as Revetec and Rotoblock can engineer such intriguing ideas for engines, imagine what Honda or GM could do? It is time for these automobile manufacturers to step outside their comfort zone and come up with something new! Coupling new engine technology with lightweight materials it is very possible to have cheap, efficient transportation for the masses.

Pura vida,
Nick

Moodhosa's, a Kook Wear Team Member, was in Orlando this past Saturday at the Orlando Brewery. They put on a great show, here are some pictures from the event:

That's a pretty clever slogan...


From left to right: Nick(Kook Wear), Jason(Moodhosa), David(Moodhosa), Jose(Moodhosa), Ari(Moodhosa), Ben(Kook Wear), and Matt (Kook Wear)...


Lead singer Jose...


Lead guitar Jason...


Kook Wear entourage enjoying some good ORGANIC beers...

Pura vida,
Matt

The way we move is bad for our earth. We’re cutting down to many trees to make all these cheap cardboard boxes and wasting barrels of oil making disposable bubble wrap and peanuts. The average person tosses out these materials after unpacking and the problem continues as more materials enter the landfill. We’re wasting our limited natural resources and expanding our overloaded landfills. Here are some simple ways to make your next move earth friendly:

• Reuse Boxes – You would be surprised how easy it is to find good quality boxes for free. Just point your browser at Craigslist or The Freecycle Network and do a search for boxes. You can also visit your local super market or alcohol store for their old boxes. By taking their boxes you are keeping their dumpster empty which in turn saves them money. After your move is complete make sure you post them online so someone else can use them.
• Reuse Packing Material – Every time you order something from the internet it usually comes with an abundant amount of bubble wrap and foam peanuts. Just save these packing materials for a couple of months and when it is time to move you should have more than enough. Some companies, such as Macy's, use starch based peanuts. These peanuts are made from sugar cane and corn and have the added benefit of being a great fertilizer. They also dispose of easily; just place them in the toilet and flush. In about 2 minutes of touching water the peanuts begin to break down.
• Use the Right Tape – Most packaging tape comes from oil but just like the earth friendly peanuts mentioned above there are tapes that are starch based. Just do a Google search and you will find the right tape for closing all those packed and reused boxes.

• Use Natural Cleaners – Homemade cleaners like vinegar, baking soda, and citrus juice work just as well as some of the most expensive cleaners except they are generally cheaper and environmentally friendly. Don't feel like becoming a chemist? You can always give Clorox Green Works products a try. I’m still undecided on the Green Works line of products; they might just be a marketing ploy.
• Rent the Smallest Possible Moving Truck – There is no need to rent a semi-truck to move out of your 1 bedroom / 1 bath apartment. Rent the smallest possible truck that allows you to complete the move in 1 trip and you will not only help save the environment but you will also help your wallet.
• Use a Moving Company – Are you moving across the country? You might want to try a freight company or a moving company that specializes in cross-country moves. These companies make sure their trucks are packed to the brim and thus you are effectively combining your move with other moves.
• Turn the Air Off – During the process of moving keep the air conditioner off. Let's face it, you're going to sweat no matter what. Just open all the windows and the front door and prey for a breeze.

Pura vida,
Matt

Moodhosa's, a Kook Wear Team Member, is coming to the Orlando Brewing Company on Saturday July 5th. Entrance is FREE so everyone should come. There might even be some Kook Wear freebies!

The Orlando Brewing Company is located at:
1301 Atlanta Ave
Orlando, FL 32806

Here is the Facebook event URL:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=19437686023

Pura vida,
Matt

As Father’s Day approaches us, it is always a good idea to think about what kind of gifts to get Dad. Even more importantly what can you get Dad that he would like but that is also eco-friendly?

Kook Wear- Of course, we had to start off here!! You can get Dad a great pair of sandals for him to relax in on the weekends or even a shirt to help bring out his “inner” child.

To the right we have our Kook Wear bamboo/organic cotton blend polo. It is very light, soft and it keeps cool during the summer!

But if for some reason you cannot find anything for dad at Kook Wear, here are some other eco-friendly websites. We have compiled a list of companies that Associated Content has marked as good companies to consider for Dad as well as some others that we feel are worth mentioning.

Eco-Artwear – This site features all sorts of gifts that are made from recycled, reused, and natural materials. You can find anything here from money clips to cuff links.

Changing the Present – Why not do something to help out others in your dad’s name? Changing the Present allows you to donate money to charitable causes.

Uncommon Goods – Here you can find a huge array of items that are made out of recycled materials. Gifts include watches, ties, boxers, pilsner glasses for dad’s favorite brew and even jewelry.

Green and More – For those who like the electrical gadgets, Green and More has several options that can appeal to any dad. They carry items from Fuel Cell H-Racers to Eco Energy Radios perfect for listening to the ball game on.

Eco Express – Eco Express is a great place to shop for the uncommon items. If your dad likes to hang back and enjoy a great beer now and then you can buy him a sampler of organic beer or even a nice package of beer and snack food! If he has a sweet tooth, Eco Express carries chocolates and candies that are organically produced.

Carbon Fund - Help dad offset some of his carbon use by buying him carbon credits. We all try and reduce when we can, but when we can’t we can at least try and offset it.

Pura vida,
Ben

As we see a constant increase in our gas prices, more consumers are starting to realize that it is time to take another look at how they get from point A to point B. People are starting to look at the more eco-friendly vehicles as they start to look at vehicles that can offer them more gas for their dollar.

The Environmental Protection Agency has implemented a new fuel economy sticker that can be found on all new vehicles, giving customers a way to compare models before they make a purchase. The EPA has determined the following cars to be the most fuel-efficient for 2008.

1. Toyota Prius Hybrid - City 48 mpg; Highway 45 mpg; Annual Carbon Output: 4.0 tons
2. Honda Civic Hybrid - City 40 mpg; Highway 45 mpg; Annual Carbon Output: 4.4 tons
3. Nissan Altima Hybrid - City 35 mpg; Highway 33 mpg; Annual Carbon Output: 5.4 tons
4. Ford Escape Hybrid - City 34 mpg; Highway 30 mpg; Annual Carbon Output: 5.7 tons
5. Mazda Tribute Hybrid - City 34 mpg; Highway 30 mpg; Annual Carbon Output: 5.7 tons
6. Mercury Mariner Hybrid - City 34 mpg; Highway 30 mpg; Annual Carbon Output: 5.7 tons
7. Toyota Camry Hybrid - City 33 mpg; Highway 34 mpg; Annual Carbon Output: 5.4 tons
8. Toyota Yaris - City 29 mpg; Highway 36 mpg; Annual Carbon Output: 5.7 tons
9. Toyota Corolla - City 28 mpg; Highway 37 mpg; Annual Carbon Output: 5.9 tons
10. Honda Fit - City 28 mpg; Highway 34 mpg; Annual Carbon Output: 5.9 tons

While the price of oil continues rising, we can expect that we will start to see more car manufacturers producing cars that are more fuel efficient thus also more environmentally friendly. This list is the first of many that are to come in the upcoming years. They represent only a stepping stone for what there is to come and what our own technology can bring to not only help the environment but to also help out the average driver.

Pura vida,
Ben

Two weekends ago the Kook Wear crew had a booth at the Living Green Expo. We had a great time, sold a bunch of product, and help support a good cause. Here are some pictures from the event:

Pura vida,
Matt

Kook Wear is proud to announce a new member of our team.

The four piece band Moodhosa combines blues, country, soul, and even Latin rhythms to make a new sound that is original and full of raw emotion.

With lead singer Jose Peruyero's distinct and versatile vocals; Jason Moody's unmistakable guitar sound, it's no wonder their electrifying shows fill up venues all over Gainesville. With the official addition of David Cotton and Ari Scott this dynamic duo has found the explosive rhythm section they have been looking for and Kook Wear is just glad we can be apart of their growth.

• 5/16/08 - Common Grounds (Gainesville, FL)
• 5/23/08 - Big Daddys (Tallahassee, FL)
• 6/13/08 - Backstage Lounge (Gainesville, FL)
• 7/25/08 - Backstage Lounge (Gainesville, FL)
• 8/29/08 - Common Grounds(CD Release Party) (Gainesville, FL)

For more information about Moodhosa check out their website and MySpace page.

Pura vida,
Matt

Check us out on Island Hoppers this May:

• 5/3 3:30pm Sat
• 5/5 10:30am Mon
• 5/7 6:00pm Wed
• 5/12 10:30am Mon
• 5/14 1:00am Wed
• 5/18 12:30pm Sun
• 5/19 12:00am Mon
• 5/19 10:30am Mon
• 5/22 1:30am Thurs
• 5/26 10:30am Mon
• 5/26 9:00pm Mon
• 5/30 8:00pm Fri
• 6/2 10:30am Mon
• 6/4 6:00pm Wed

Pura vida,
Matt

This weekend, Saturday May 3 to Sunday May 4, Kook Wear will be exhibiting at its first Expo: The Pinellas Living Green Expo. The Expo provides real solutions for people to live better, healthier lives with less impact on the environment. Its a perfect forum to connect people who are interested in making a positive difference.

The two day event will provide information, ideas, resources, products and motivation to live more sustainably. There will be representatives and info sessions representing industries from green building construction to green cosmetics.

So come by the Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St, Clearwater Florida. Kook Wear will be holding it down at booth 340!

Pura vida,
Ben

Welcome back! Last time we discussed how waves are created out on the open ocean. This time we will focus in on how waves approach and break on the beach.

Sets:
As swell waves propagate away from their origin they form groups known as sets. Keen surfers can identify sets as they arrive. As waves get closer to shore their height increases and surfers can see the “lines” that form. Clear and organized lines are referred to as “corduroy,” after the fabric.

But how do these lines form and what causes waves to actually break on the beach?

Wave breaking:
It is important to realize that a wave is more than the crest and trough that appears on the surface of the water. Fluid particles are disturbed by wave motion beneath the surface and they move in a circular motion. Basically this means that the particles move up and down at the same rate as they move back and forth. The orbital motion of particles decreases as water depth increases.

So there is a total amount of energy associated with a propagating wave. As that wave approaches the beach it begins to “feel” the ocean floor. That is to say the deep water orbital motions of the particles become disturbed. The wave will slow down as that net energy is compressed in shallower waters. The particles will begin to move in a more oval fashion. The height of the wave continues to steepen as the water depth decreases. Also the base of the wave continues to slow down and the crest begins to outrun it. Finally when the wave face gets too steep, the base can no longer provide support and the wave breaks!

Types of breaks:
There are three main types of breaks:

Beach break – these breaks are typically what you would find at a beach. The wave breaks over a sloping sandy seafloor.

Reef break - this is where a wave breaks over a coral reef. These waves can be very beautiful and powerful but dangerous as well. Some of the most famous breaks in the world are reef breaks. The rapid change in the height of the ocean floor causes waves to arrive with a lot of energy and steepen quickly.

Point break – named after the Keanu Reeves movie! This wave breaks onto a rocky point that juts out into the water.

There are also three main ways the breaking waves travel. A wave can be either:

Left - this wave breaks from left to right from the beach perspective. It is called a left because of the surfer’s position it is breaking towards the left when their back is turned towards the wave.

Right - this wave breaks from right to left from the beach perspective.

A-Frame – this wave has shoulders on either side thus allowing multiple people to surf the same wave!

By now you probably realize how important the topography of the ocean floor is for the breaking of waves. Indeed, this is one of the most beautiful aspects of surfing. There are no two places in the world where the break is the same. In fact beach erosion and differing wind conditions causes the wave to change over time at the same place! Every wave is unique; every session offers its own challenges and joys. So next time your out in the lineup take a moment to appreciate that the wave your about to surf is the only one of its kind!

Next time we’ll discuss wind and the forecasting of surf…

Pura vida,
Nick

Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22 this year. Personally, I'll be stuck in Baltimore, MD on business (no, not Kook Wear business, the one that pays the bills). However, I'll take comfort knowing that all of you out there have some much cooler options in front of you.

The first think I can think of to do would be paddle out and pay homage by being at peace in the water. Next, get out on your skateboard and cause a little trouble while enjoying nature. Or, if you're lucky enough to be caught in one of the recent, freak, Spring snowstorms take the snowboard out.

If none of those options sound enticing for some strange reason, check and see what events are going down local to you. Just do your best to walk, ride a bike, carpool, etc. Lets keep lights, electricity (gasp! no computers for a few hours), and cars off for as long as possible.

And if you really want to have a great Earth Day, remember to purchase carbon credits for any activities you might participate in that require the use of a car or electricity!

Pura vida,
Ben

Pura vida,
Matt

Kook Wear team rider, Jonathon Heater, will be representing his family, friends, and Kook Wear April 12-14 at the ESA Southeast Region Surf Championships.

Jonathon hails from Saint Augustine Florida. Placing #1 in his division earned him the invitation to the ESA competition. If Jon pulls off a victory this weekend he could receive a coveted invitation to the 2008 Eastern Surfing Championships and the USA Surfing Championships.

Come out and support Jonathon and Kook Wear. We'll be in our Kook Wear gear, so come on up and say hello...we may even bring an extra shirt or two.

Pura vida,
Ben

Kook Wear is happy to sponsor Island Hoppers. Island Hoppers is a television series (airs on Sun Sports channel) about the search for surf, music, and local culture in the Caribbean Islands. Our 30 second spot will be appearing in all airings of the show during April.

Schedule

• 4/4 6:30pm Fri
• 4/5 3:30pm Sat
• 4/7 10:30am Mon
• 4/10 2:00am Thurs
• 4/13 1:30pm Sun
• 4/14 10:30am Mon
• 4/15 7:30pm Thurs
• 4/19 1:00am Sat
• 4/20 12:00pm Sun
• 4/21 10:30am Mon
• 4/23 6:00pm Wed
• 4/24 2:00am Thurs
• 4/26 10:30pm Sat
• 4/28 10:30am Mon

Pura vida,
Matt

The most die hard surfers generally tend to be fantastic meteorologists. So understanding the physics of waves; from their creation to how they break on the beach will only help you develop as a surfer.

Wave Creation:
Waves are created by a variety of forces such as tidal forces (sun and the moon), earthquakes (tsunamis), and most importantly in our case; wind. These other mechanisms for wave formation are interesting in their own right but wind is by far the most dominant force for creating typical waves to surf.

Waves are generally made out on the open ocean due to wind blowing across the water. The wind imparts its energy to the ocean by causing a stress on the water surface. Ripples are formed which somewhat act like sails thus catching more wind. Eventually the wave height will become significant and gravity (attempting to restore the water surface back to level) will cause the wave to propagate at a steady velocity. The binding force between water molecules causes the wave energy to be transferred between them. So there you have it, a wave! It is important to note that individual water molecules move very little (their movement is actually circular).

Wave Strength:
The greater the energy imparted to the ocean, the greater the wave size. The main factors that determine the wave’s energy are: wind intensity, wind duration (in one direction), and the distance that the wind blows; also known as the fetch. It is easy to see that storms are perfect for generating large waves and surfers are great at predicting when the swells will hit their favorite beaches!

Swell:
As waves move out from the wind source that created them they start merging and sorting themselves out into groups based upon their wavelength. The waves with the longest wavelength travel the fastest however their longer wavelength results in a shorter height. These longer wavelength waves traveling across the open sea are called swell waves.

Part Two will discuss how waves approach the beach…

Pura vida,
Nick

One of the major goals of the new website is to increase the amount of social interaction we have with the community, our customers, and anyone that likes to discuss action sports or environmentally friendly forward thinking. To achieve this goal you will now find a button on the bottom right of every page that allows you to add a page to one of the many social bookmarking websites that exist. For example, say you just finished reading our blog post on Jack Johnson’s new studio and would like to share it with your friends on Facebook; now you can with just a single click on the "Bookmark" button. Currently this button supports digg, Facebook, MySpace, Reddit, Del.icio.us, Newsvine, iGoogle, and many more.

If the "bookmark" button isn't your thing, no worries, we have pages on MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube. Make sure you become our friend and join our groups, we often let our "social friends" know about future product releases as well as special events before we announce them to the general public.

Pura vida,
Matt

Hey everyone,

I'm extremely happy to announce the opening of Kook Wear's new website (http://kook-wear.com). As always, if you see anything that looks weird or is out of place drop us a line and we will fix it right away.

With the launch of the new site we are also introducing women clothing. Two shirts are available now:

• Tranquila
• Paradise

As usual, these are environmentally friendly.

Also, we now have baseball style hats, The Franchise.

Pura vida,
Matt

I recently exchanged a couple emails with east coast Florida shaper, Tom Neilson. It was supposed to be a real, "in person", type of interview but unfortunately both of us were pretty busy and couldn't get our schedules to match up. For those of you who don't know, Tom is a well respected Florida shaper who is actively involved with the community. You can almost always catch him on 2ndlight.com.

The reason we wanted to talk to Tom is because he is one of the few shapers in our area that has worked with Biofoam. After you read the interview below, make sure you check out Tom's website tomneilsonshapes.com, better yet, go visit his new surf shop in Cocoa Beach.

How did you get your start in the shaping industry?
Sixteen years old and watched my surfboard maker shape about fifty boards and then shaped my first board. Sold it to my next door neighbor and just kept going.

When you were first starting, who influenced you the most?
Frank Perales from Hawaii who taught me how to shape my second board in Gainesville, Florida while I pretended to be going to College.

Now that Clark Foam has been gone for a couple of years, do you think the industry is stronger or weaker?
Much better off in many ways and yet it is still a challenge. It looks like we are finally actually becoming better off in just about every way possible now after some brutal learning curves...

What type of materials are you using to build boards now?
MDI poly, eps/epoxy, and the best of the alternatives: Biofoam/suncure poly matrix.

From a shaping perspective, what do you think of the bio foam boards?
Great product, more durable, easy to shape and a positive step towards the more eco friendly surfboard future.

From a surfer’s perspective, what do you think of the bio foam boards?
The one that I test rode - rode as good or better than poly, eps/epoxy and vacumn bag eps/epoxy. Everyone who had got one has given nothing but positive feedback.

What are some of the pros and cons of a bio foam board?
The cons are that they are slightly heavier until you figure out how to glass them differently. The color being slightly gold or brown throws some people off but then again some people dig it from the get go. ( I just paint a certain percentage and then people have no complaint.) The pros are that you can glass them lighter and get a board that is twice as strong in regards to pressure dinging and has one of the best flex/rebound characteristics of any material out there. So more durable, less material and good riding is what every alternative board needs to be measured against.

What’s the next big step?
The next big step is creating a resin that matches the biofoam in its more earth friendly nature. Which means it uses less fossil fuel to make and/or is not a oil/fossil fuel derivative. Organic does not mean necessarily more earth or carbon friendly (how much energy and resources does it take to refine or get to market) so we have to look at the big picture as we go along... I think that the bio foam is a big step in this direction as a surfboard that is not petro-chemical based, has the least carbon footprint and is the most durable is the direction for the future where everyone wins...

What is the average age of your customer base?
twenty five to thirty

What are your hopes for you first retail store and why have you decided to start a retail store?
I felt that the surf shops in our area and around the state were not very grounded at consistently supporting any one surfboard manufacturer. With the pressure of overseas and domestic surfboard makers along with a shrinking economy that I needed to either quit or step up and make something positive happen for surfing and for my own surfboard label. My hopes for my surfshop are to offer a venue for local expert surfboard shapers to sell their surfboards in a core surf shop with made in the USA products and surfboards. To go back to a real surfshop feel and really be a surfer’s surfshop. This is different than having a clothing store that pretends to be a surf shop. It is different than a mega store that has hundreds or thousands of surfboards but really only wants to sell made in china cheap boards. My simple goal is to network with a greater number of surfers outside my normal customer base and be more available to my already existing core surfer customer base. A place where you can actually go in and talk directly to the shaper and really get a board that fits your personal needs and surfing style. Often this leads to surfers surfing better than they ever have before.

Pura vida,
Matt

Jack Johnson is no stranger to the environmental scene. He has been praised for his numerous eco-initiatives on the Hawaiian Islands and now is getting more accolades for re-doing his Los Angeles headquarters of Brushfire Records to make it eco-friendly.

The new studio uses solar power and was built with environmentally friendly materials such as cork, marmoleum and bamboo, low or zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) primers and paints, recycled shingles, insulation made from denim scraps, energy efficient lighting, Low-Flow toilets and as many existing fixtures as possible.

With the update to the Los Angeles office, Johnson will also be continuing operations on eco-friendly policies. A "green guide" will be enforced to all new and current artists on the label as well as maintain green packaging for all album releases through Brushfire’s distributor, Universal.

As to be expected, the upcoming tour for Johnson’s fifth album "Sleep Through the Static" will be green just like they have been in the past. His tour will include the use of bio-diesel fuel, donations of any leftover backstage food to local shelters of each tour stop, selling eco-friendly tour merchandise and of course continuing his activeness in the 1% For the Planet fund.

While Jack Johnson doesn't like to take much credit for his planet-conscious style of living, he has certainly set himself as a part of our generations ongoing global effort.

Pura vida,
Ben

Kook Wear is now on YouTube, check out our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=kookwear

We plan on posting a video once a month so check back soon.

Special thanks to everyone who helped make this first Kook Wear video.

Pura vida,
Matt

There are many noble new year's resolutions out there: pledging to volunteer more, contribute to charities, be nicer to your mom, pretend you actually like your younger siblings, and the tried and true "I'm going to get in shape this year." I personally can't stand the latter because it causes my gym to be packed during January. Inevitably, during February, the crowd fades and the usual clientèle is able to get back to business.

I'd like to propose an alternate list of resolutions for you this year, though no less noble. In fact, they arguably make more sense than anything else you could pledge to try during 2008. Why not incorporate at least 1 or 2 environmentally friendly commitments to your 2008 "to do list?"

I put together a brief list, all you have to do is choose a couple. You'll see that nothing here is life changing or hard. However, many of these things can add up to big savings for the planet and your wallet. After all, even the big fancy crystal ball in New York went green for 2008. The 672 Waterford Crystal triangles were illuminated with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) this year, only requiring the energy equivalent of approximately 10 toasters.

• Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)

  CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

• Install a programmable thermostat and move it down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer

  Programmable thermostats will automatically lower the heat or air conditioning at night and raise them again in the morning. They can save you $100 a year on your energy bill.

• Do not leave appliances on standby

  Use the "on/off" function on the machine itself. A TV set that's switched on for 3 hours a day (the average time Europeans spend watching TV) and in standby mode during the remaining 21 hours uses about 40% of its energy in standby mode. Devices like the Smart Strip ($35) can help with this and pay for itself in about 6 weeks.

• Get a home energy audit

  Many utilities offer free home energy audits to find where your home is poorly insulated or energy inefficient. You can save up to 30% off your energy bill and 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Energy Star can help you find an energy specialist.

• Take a shower instead of a bath

  A shower takes up to four times less energy than a bath. To maximize the energy saving, avoid power showers and use low-flow shower heads, which are cheap and provide the same comfort.

These are just a few easy things you can start doing right now to make a difference and help preserve our environment. For a more complete list, check out http://globalwarming-facts.info/50-tips.html

As always, your comments and feedback are welcome.

Pura vida,
Ben

Like most people, I hate junk mail. It's annoying and most importantly, it consumes natural resources like trees and water. Your postman probably doesn't appreciate delivering mail that just gets thrown away either. Tons of fuel is also consumed in the process of transporting junk mail all across the world. By using the following websites you can stop 99.9% of all junk mail:

• DirectMail.com - reduce all kinds of junk mail
• OptOut – Stop all of those annoying pre-approved credit card offers
• DMA Consumer Assistance – Stop 75% of junk mail on average, but it cost $1 (small price to pay to save a couple acres of trees)

Pura vida,
Matt

So, let's be honest. Kook Wear's current Headquarters consists of a few single guys chillin' at a house in Melbourne, FL not too far away from the beach. Admittedly we generate quite a bit of waste, but the purpose here is to describe two simple ways we have tried to mitigate the effects of our wasteful ways.

First, as you can imagine, we tend to consume quite a lot of things that come in aluminum cans and glass bottles. Lucky for us, our community makes it very easy for us to recycle! Every Monday, the crew comes around in a big truck to haul away our stack of empty trophies from the weekend's festivities. It sounds like a small thing and easy thing to do right? This is all the more reason everyone should hop on this bandwagon. Here are a few facts from http://earth911.org that might help to persuade you:

• Aluminum cans are unique in that in 60 days a can is recycled, turned into a new can and back on store shelves.
• Aluminum is a sustainable metal and can be recycled over and over again.
• In 2003, 54 billion cans were recycled, saving the energy equivalent of 15 million barrels of crude oil — America’s entire gas consumption for one day.
• Each year, the aluminum industry pays out over $800 million dollars for empty aluminum cans — that’s a lot of money that can go to organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, the Boy or Girl Scouts of America or even a local school. Money earned from recycling cans helps people help themselves and their communities. Recycling helps build new homes, pays for a group trip, supports a project or buys a lunch!
• Making new aluminum cans from used cans takes 95 percent less energy and 20 recycled cans can be made with the energy needed to produce one can using virgin ore.
• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for almost four hours or run your television for three hours.
• Tossing away an aluminum can wastes as much energy as pouring out half of that can’s volume of gasoline.

Second, everyone has atleast heard of Al Gore and his "Inconvenient Truth." Whether or not you agree or disagree with him is irrelevant. What does matter for the sake of our current conversation is his mention of going Carbon Neutral. It sounded like a great idea, but it quickly faded from my mind. That is until recently when I purchased an SUV. I always swore I'd never be the SUV type, but I found myself yearning for more room (hauling around an 80lb Boxer Dog can be challenging in a 2-door). The only way I could justify the purchase was to offset the new vehicles carbon footprint. So I searched for a reputable company and came across http://CarbonFund.org. There are many scams out there, so you have to careful.

Not only was I able to offset the carbon footprint of my new vehicle, but of my entire yearly activities! They estimate the average person generates 50,000lbs of carbon emissions per year. This includes everything from doing the dishes to traveling by plane. For the low cost of $99 I was able to purchase a carbon offset that, in effect, neutralizes my carbon generating activities. Carbon Fund focuses your dollars around three primary activities: Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Reforestation.

This might not be for everyone, but we strongly encourage you to check it out. All the little things add up and this is a great way to kick off the New Year. Also, don’t forget to head back to the Kook Wear Store and pick up some environmentally friendly gear.

Remember, this is all about "Reckless Living…Responsible Life."

Pura vida,
Ben

Eddie Vedder, the genius behind Pearl Jam, is the man. Sure, we all know him as arguably one of the best vocalists ever heard, but there is another intriguing aspect to this man.

Eddie Vedder is a passionate waterman. This passion is seen through his various activities, such as nearly being lost at sea trying to paddle from Moloka'i to Oahu. Perhaps the most important example of his passion can be seen through his work as a staunch environmentalist. He is a long time member of the radical group Earth First! and its not uncommon to see him manning a booth for Surfrider Foundation. For his work in trying to save Trestles and Hawaii’s North Shore, Eddie was recognized as the Environmentalist of the Year at the 2007 Waterman's Ball.

During his speech Eddie downplayed the role Pearl Jam plays in helping protect our natural treasures. Instead he passes credit along to the individuals of the grass roots organizations fighting the good fight every day. He described it the following way, "...if the environmental movement is like a wave, the non-profits are the surfboard steering us on the wave, and we (Pearl Jam) are like the wax just trying to make things stick with the public."

It is truly awesome to see that a mega celebrity can be so humble and gracious. He says that it’s strange to be recognized for doing environmental work because its like getting an award for breathing— "its just something you have to do to stay alive." Eddie also goes on to say that surfers are some of the greatest people in the world. He offers the explanation that it’s because they are so close to the ocean, it just makes us better people. In his opinion surfers live the dream every day and he cautions them not only to live the dream, but to preserve it for the future.

Scientists are proving that dreams will come true, the problem is that the dreams are nightmares. Our natural environment is not slowly eroding, but being aggressively pulled towards collapse for the profit of very few. The Pearl Jam front man leaves us with this observation, "Modern activism is more about doing business well and encouraging other businesses to change their models than it is about chaining yourself to trees anymore."

Well, Mr. Vedder, Kook Wear hears that message and is trying to amplify it in our own way. Check us out, tell your friends, wear our t-shirt when we send it to you!

I’ll close with a piece of advice Eddie shared with the crowd at the Waterman’s Ball. This was passed to him at age 14 by surf legend Mark Richards on a plane from Hawaii to California.

"Life is short. Don't waste it, go to the beach. Happy Surfing."

Thanks for reading. Eddie, if you read this, give us a holler...

Pura vida,
Ben

Earthwave Brazil, a member of the Earthwave Global Surf Challenge set a new world record yesterday for the most surfers riding one wave simultaneously; 84 surfers successfully rode a wave at Quebra Mar in Santos. The old record of 44 surfers, set in 2006, was smashed earlier in the day by Earthwave Capetown in which 71 surfers rode a single wave. This year the surf challenge had venues in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, England, Reunion Island in France, South Africa and Tahiti.

The Earthwave Global Surf Challenge is a worldwide initiative created by the Kahuna Surf Academy based out of Capetown, South Africa. Their global competition was motivated by an interest in breaking the world record and inspired by global warming trends displayed in Al Gore's film, "An Inconvenient Truth."

Great job Brazil! Next year the first Sunday in September promises to be very exciting as more participants will attempt to overtake the new record!

Pura vida,
Nick

As taken from Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, the word kook is defined as: one whose ideas or actions are eccentric, fantastic, or insane : screwball

Regardless of what definition you put to the word, we can all agree that it's generally used in a pretty hurtful way. I have to ask the question, why? How is it that in a sport grown out of the Hawaiian culture's leisure time based purely on recreation and fun that we have managed to turn it into some exclusive tree house? The purchase of my first board definitely didn't come with a secret hand shake.

I agree that respect has to be earned, especially when entering a break where you aren't a local. But I'll never understand where and when ego was introduced into surfing. Once upon a time, people were hesitant to admit that surfing was in their vocabulary for fear they'd be viewed as slackers. Now it's a multi-billion dollar industry that everyone seems to want a piece of.

My advice, next time you're at the beach, give a fellow surfer a knowing nod. Or better yet, give the fool a serious high-five. We need to stick together, not size each other up. I think we can all agree, the main goal is to find "the stoke" and keep it alive.

Maybe that's the real definition of a Kook – someone who's head is so far up their butt, they couldn't find the stoke with a map.

I'd love to know what a Kook is in your point of view. Shoot us an email via the contact us page, and we'll post your responses in a separate entry.

Thanks for reading!

Pura vida,
Ben

What is a kook?

The term kook is probably the most common question amongst new comers to the action sports industry. The term originated in the surfing industry but now is commonly used to describe someone that is a "wannabe" in any action or extreme sport.

You're a kook if…

1. you wear your rash guard as if it was a t-shirt
2. you learned surf lingo from a video game, such as Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer
3. you can't see the original color of you board because it’s covered in stickers
4. you think your leash will save you
5. your best move is dropping in on someone
6. you use an Indo Board more than your surfboard
7. you describe everything you do with cliché terms such as, "shredding", "thrashing", "ripping"
8. you use http://weather.com as your surf predictor
9. you spend more time watching surf films than actually surfing
10. you write a list describing what a kook is :)

Do you think I missed one? Let me know by using the contact us page or the comments below.

Pura vida,
Matt

Is it possible to package products in environmentally friendly packaging that is affordable? This is one of the questions kook wear had to find an answer to before we could start selling and shipping products.

After several hours of internet research, back and forth emails, and barking on the phone I came to the realization that no, it is not possible to package products affordably, yet still be environmentally conscience. in fact, even if cost is not a factor it is practically impossible to find 100% environmentally friendly packaging material.

Because kook wear mostly sells clothing, the most cost effective way for our customers and us is to ship our products via polyolefin mailers. a polyolefin is a polymer produced from a simple olefin, or alkene as a monomer (Wikipedia Article). What does that mean you ask? it's just a type of plastic that is usually tear and water proof and thus makes an excellent packaging material.

Because we need to use polyolefin mailers this automatically throws out all of the recycled paper types of packaging, such as corrugated cardboard. Once all paper based packaging supplies are ruled out the list of supplier's starts to dwindle. some of the major polyolefin mailers currently available and their suppliers are as follows:

• Uline Tear Proof Polyolefin Mailers
  • Made from up to 30% recycled material
  • 100% recyclable
• Polyair Xpak Mailer
  • Made from up to 0% recycled material
  • 100% recyclable
• Packagingsupplies.com
  • Made from up to 5% recycled material
  • 100% recyclable
• Roplast Industries, Inc. Mailer
  • Made from at least 25% recycled material
  • 100% recyclable
  • Water based inks used for printing logos
  • Require 6 million minimum order

Upon examining the list it is obvious that the best solution from an environmental standpoint that is currently available is Roplast Industries mailer. the only problem with Roplast, and it is a big problem, is the minimum required order of 6 million. Any small business owner knows that tying up that much capital (approximately $600,000 for 6 million mailers) is impossible.

The second best solution, which we have decided to use for order quantities of less than 5, is the Uline tear proof polyolefin mailers. These mailers are made from up to 30% recycled material and our 100% recyclable.

We are well aware that this is not the best solution possible and continually researching other ways to get our product to your closet. If you know of a better way to package our offerings, please let us know via our contact us page.

Pura vida,
Matt