COUNTRY FEELING SURFBOARDS

Political commentator David Gergen coined the harmonious term "aloha zen" in a New York Times story while describing President Obama's agreeable disposition:

Mr. Obama has also brought a more relaxed sensibility to his public appearances. David Gergen, an adviser to both Republican and Democratic presidents, said Mr. Obama seemed to exude an “Aloha Zen,” a kind of comfortable calm that, Mr. Gergen said, reflects a man who “seems easygoing, not so full of himself.”

Perhaps it's the surfer in him, Drew Kampion might say. Even if what Gergen was trying to describe isn't exactly "aloha" or "zen," the notion of "aloha zen"—love is all around us, if you will—is appealing, and it's promising to think that the President is utilizing his right brain as well as his left (or even that he is using his brain at all).

Joey Santley and Steve Cox have launched Green Surf Blanks and ReSurf Recycle, two initiatives that recycle surfboard foam and keep more of the industry's hazardous materials from going into our landfills. Read more about them here.

According to this slide show report, 3.75 pounds of carbon dioxide are emitted for each half-gallon of orange juice produced by Tropicana.

Feel the spray as Vincent LaForet's camera follows Jamie O'Brien's switchfoot take-off on this Backdoor beauty... thanks to Mary for sharing this impressive application of modern technology.

Now there's a "youtube" for surfers. Check it out at swelltube.com.

Winter storms offer a friendly reminder that water flows from the mountains to the sea. Let's not sully it along the way. Clark Little shows us that brown water makes barrels, too, but wouldn't you prefer to get tubed in blue?