Random Acts of Adventure
Bizkit the Sleep Running Dog
March 4, 2009
I don't know about you folks, but have had some strange dreams before. However, none have made me run into a wall. Poor Bizkit! Maybe he was chasing after a rabbit, or trying to catch a thief! Either way, hopefully he caught it before a very rude awakening.
One-Wheeled Adventure
February 4, 2009
Talk about Fun Hunting!
This year we teamed up with Kris Holm, a world champ of unicycling – yes, unicycling – to help support the Evolution of Balance Award. This grant was launched to support one-wheeled riders seeking creative mountain unicycling adventures with cash, uni gear from Kris and some sweet duds from Horny Toad. Picking a winner was incredibly difficult. But, a team was chosen that has the best combination of qualified riders, creativeness, and adventure. Steve Relles, Roland Kays, Perry Woodin, and Brad Stratton from Albany, NY, and Vince LeMay from Montreal, Quebec, proposed a trip in Panama to ride jungle trails from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Their route followed the ancient Gold Routes, a now obscure network of trails that for over 500 years formed a trade and smuggling route across Panama. To the best of our knowledge, they will be the first people to ride this route on any kind of cycle. Steve and crew will be headed to Panama in January 2009.
Here are a few links to their blog, pictures and stories from an unlikely adventure on one wheel. Can you even imagine doing this on two wheels?
Their blog at personarollercoaster.wordpress.com, and the full story on this epic adventure can be read at home.roadrunner.com.
The Evolution of Balance Award will be offered annually to support the spirit of true adventure in mountain unicycling! Visit Kris Holm’s page to find out more.
Hey Ladies!
January 29, 2009
Today is a great day for us gals. Yet another step has been made today towards equality of women. President Obama signed a bill today, the first of his presidency, called the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. She is a grandmother from Alabama. She worked for 19 years for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and only at the end of her time there did she learn that she was receiving discriminatory pay for the work she work she was doing only because she was a woman. Lucky for us ladies, and actually for everyone, she didn’t shrink into retirement and call it quits; she fought her case all the way to the Supreme Court. Her case not only over turned a previous ruling, but it inspired the bill that President Obama signed today.
This is just a hats off for Lilly for fighting for equal rights for the rest of us. She is an inspiration to stay engaged no matter what your cause or position.
Weighing In On The Best Holiday Appetizer
December 22, 2008
Among other things, the holidays bring about rich foods that would normally be banned by the government as a threat to the health and safety of all Americans. But, for some reason, during the jolly holidays, heating up cheese and pouring a mixture of sugar and butter over it, all to be served on bread – makes sense.
I recently had the chance to devour such a treat at a holiday party, and will be the first to admit that left alone with this delight of all delights, would’ve eaten the entire thing in one sitting. I’m told it makes your coat shinny and takes you one step closer to being just as “jolly” as good ol’ St. Nick. Now that’s sexy.
Here’s the recipe for what I like to simply call “Sugar, Butter, Brie.” What more do you need?
Ingredients:
- 1-cup brown sugar
- 1 stick of butter
- 1 wheel of uncut Brie
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- splash of vanilla extract
- ½ cup slivered almonds
- nip of Frangelico liqueur
- sliced baguette
Directions:
- Melt brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla in a saucepan and simmer on low until smooth and thickened
- Place brie in backing dish and pour brown sugar mixture over brie
- Bake in a 350-degree oven for 25 minutes, until cheese is melted all the way through
- Spoon mixture over brie and top with almonds and bake from another 5 minutes
- Finish with a “nip” of Frangelico liqueur
- Let brie rest for a minute before serving with sliced baguette and thick knife and spoon (yes spoon) for smearing on the bread
Giving Gets Good Graces
December 19, 2008
I find it interesting that it’s the time of year when buying gifts for loved ones that the needs of so many that go without become apparent. We’ve been trying to change that, and not just during the Holidays. Along with our sister brand, Nau, we work hard to make sure that Doing The Right Thing is a part of everyday business. Read up on the efforts of Nau and Horny Toad to give back year ‘round. Plus, there’s something in it for you other than just making you feel so dang good!
www.treehugger.com
www.greenzer.com
Ahhhh SNAP
December 17, 2008
Yup, it’s official, I’ve gone soft. I now wear down jackets in 50-degree weather. In fact, many of the Toads here in the office in Santa Barbara have moved from much colder climates in our great country – Chicago, Tahoe, Maine … burrrr. But, now we are all shivering when the mercury drops below 40. The last week or so has brought unusually cold weather to our little home, which has even resulted in snow in the mountains above Santa Barbara! What I am sure is a nusance to many folks this time of year – that is when it’s not being played in – is a novelty to us. Maybe a little sledding is in order while our "cold snap" lasts.
Big Moon Rising
December 11, 2008
You probably won’t be able to reach out and take a piece of cheese off the moon, but it’s no illusion, the full moon of December 12th is actually the biggest and brightest Moon of the year. Neat, huh?Now for the science geek stuff:
The Moon's orbit is an ellipse with one side 50,000 km closer to Earth than the other: diagram. In the language of astronomy, the two extremes are called "apogee" (far away) and "perigee" (nearby). On Dec. 12th, the Moon becomes full a scant 4 hours after reaching perigee, making it 14% bigger and 30% brighter than lesser full Moons we've seen earlier in 2008.
The best time to look is when the Moon is near the horizon. That is when illusion mixes with reality to produce a truly stunning view. For reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, low-hanging Moons look unnaturally large when they beam through trees, buildings and other foreground objects. On Friday, why not let the "Moon illusion" amplify a full Moon that's extra-big to begin with? The swollen orb rising in the east at sunset may seem so nearby, you can almost reach out and touch it.
But you still won't be able to see Armstrong's footprint. Not even Hubble can do that. The Moon is 384,400 km away (on average). At that distance, the smallest things Hubble can distinguish are about 60 meters wide. The biggest pieces of left-behind Apollo equipment are only about 9 meters across and smaller than a single pixel in a Hubble image.
What you will see is the world around you. This is both the brightest and (in the northern hemisphere) the highest-riding full Moon of the year. If you go outside around midnight it will be close to overhead and act like a cosmic floodlamp making the landscape absolutely brilliant, especially if there's snow. Full moons are always high during winter and, indeed, the solstice is right around the corner on Dec. 21st.
Get Pasted This Holiday
December 11, 2008
We love Paste! Here at Horny Toad, music and the arts are integral to our culture, and certainly an issue of Paste is always floating around the office. We got this great offer from our friends over there and thought we’d pass it along as a gift idea. It’s a great gift idea if you are still scratching your head about what to get so-and-so.
And now, a word from our friends at Paste:
Looking for the perfect gift? Look no further because for a limited time Paste is offering 2 subscriptions for the price of 1!
Paste will introduce you to music and films that go beyond pop culture. Discover new artists and filmmakers in the pages of Paste, or revisit ones you already love with Paste's in-depth features, interviews and exclusives. You'll also find reviews of the best albums, DVDs, games, book and more—a go-to guide so you can stay ahead of the curve on the newest releases.
Plus, every issue of Paste includes a FREE Paste Sampler, packed with 20+ handpicked tracks of new music from artists like Beck, The Shins, Spoon, Danger Doom, The Decemberists, The Hold Steady, Paul Westerberg and more. Think of it as a glorified mix tape from your friends at Paste. View previous sampler artists.
Save money and give a gift that your friends and family will enjoy
every month!
www.pastemagazine.com/hornytoad
Cupcake Cell Pad
December 8, 2008
Found a new use for the sticky cell phone pad this weekend. I'm food obsessed right now. It's the holidays. Don't worry, I parked before snapping this photo - safety first! I have to say, this cupcake didn't budge even while taking a winding road home.
Attack of the Giant Baked Brie
December 3, 2008
The holidays bring excess in all kinds of forms. I recently went to a party where this giant baked brie was served. It was truly a sight to behold. And, yes, that is a cookie sheet. Just thought I'd share that you too can serve 20 pounds of melted cheese to your guests and they will love you for it!
Note: Don't stare at this picture too long, it will make you gain weight.
Crusade Against the Mundane
