Some of you may know that I used to drive adventure tours in Baja Mexico on the Adventure Bus.

Well, I had the pleasure of talking with some like minded souls who have started a company called Baja Trek (bajatrek.com)

Check them out! They have a cool red school bus just like the one I had for a week! I’m so jealous!

Looks like the Green Tortoise old school.

-Grayson

Here is a one stop site for lots of kayak cart plans, videos, and how to builds.

Sit on top kayaks with self bailing holes are easy to make carts for. Just find some old axle and wheels from a big wheel, wagon, hand truck/ dolly or other and make a simple cart that sticks up through the bailing holes like this:

http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/drupal/content/building-pvc-kayak-cart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGSXOoHBpIk

Big Balloon Kayak Wheels

 http://www.hotshotproducts.org/roleez_main.htm

Mountain Mobile Massage -

My friend Daniel runs a mobile massage company.

Why not call him up and schedule a private massage during your stay in Big Bear.

He will come to you while the kids play on the slopes!

Check:  bigbearmassage.com or call (909) 800-8103

How to Lose Belly Fat

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

There are a lot of gimmicks and commercials flying around about how to get rid of that pesky, unflattering belly fat. While there’s no “magic bullet” that will target abdominal fat in particular, this article will explain what causes an expanding waistline, and how you can make the extra baggage go away.

Steps

1. EXCUSES AND PROPER MOTIVATION FOR LOSING BELLY FAT. We all know that exercises will definitely keep us fit and prevents any disease from entering the body. The problem is that we do not wish to undergo any kind of strains unless and until required. It has become the mind set of modern days as people spend more time sitting with television sets and computers. Age and lack of time are the two common excuses given by the people who skip exercises. Stick on to your exercises routines at any cost and keep motivating yourself. You will definitely lose your belly fat if you follow the below mentioned steps. [1]
2. Understand the risks associated with belly fat. Belly fat is linked with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Specifically it’s the deepest layer of belly fat–the fat you can’t see or grab–that poses health risks. That’s because these “visceral” fat cells actually produce hormones and other substances that can affect your health (e.g. increased insulin resistance and/or breast cancer risk).[2] The fact that they’re located right next to and in between organs in your abdominal cavity doesn’t help. For example, fat next to the liver drains into it, causing a fatty liver, which is a risk factor for insulin resistance, setting the stage for Type 2 diabetes.[3]
3. Wrap a tape measure around your waist at the level of your navel. A measurement of more than 35 inches (women) and 40 inches (men) is considered to be unhealthy.[2][4][3]
4. Exercise for weight loss. Aerobic exercise will facilitate fat loss all over your body, including your belly. You can’t “spot-burn” belly fat, but it’s usually the first to burn off when you exercise, regardless of your body shape.[4][2] Just be sure that you focus on calorie-burning exercises, rather than sit-ups or crunches. If your abdominal muscles are covered in fat, no strengthening of those muscles is going to change that. Aerobic exercise is key.[4]
   • An additional benefit is that exercise reduces stress and insulin levels, which reduces the presence of cortisol, a hormone that leads to more belly fat deposits.[5]
   • Some of the exercise for losing belly fat are Abdominal Crunches, Vaccum Pose , Stomach Twisting, Russian Twist, Hip Raise Exercise, Dumbbell Side Bends, Leg Lift Exercise, Air Cycling, Knees In and Out, Sit Ups, Inclined Sit Ups, Front Squat, Reverse Crunches, Ball Crunches, Log Roll, Ab Tuck, The Crab Ab Workout, Side Crunches, V Crunches, Chin Up Crunches, Hanging Leg Raise and Hanging Knee Raise.[6]
5. Change your diet. Unless you restrict your calorie intake, you’re not going to lose belly fat. There are some tactics that might help do away with belly fat faster, but only when you’ve already consistently restricted your calorie intake. For example, eating an avocado after eating an entire bag of chips isn’t going to help you get rid of belly fat–in fact, it’ll probably make the problem worse!
   • Switch out refined grains for whole grains. In a scientific study, people who ate all whole grains (in addition to five servings of fruits and vegetables, three servings of low-fat dairy, and two servings of lean meat, fish, or poultry) lost more belly fat than another group that ate the same diet, but with all refined grains. A diet rich in whole grains changes the glucose and insulin response in your body, which hastens the melting of fat, and visceral fat, that deep layer of fat, is easier for your body to burn than the subcutaneous fat under your skin (the fat that you can see and grab).[4]
   • Studies suggests that a diet with a higher ratio of monounsaturated fats (avocados, nuts, seeds, soybeans, chocolate) can prevent the accumulation of both types of belly fat.[7] Some experts argue, though, that it’s not that these fats specifically target abdominal fat in any way; it’s that anyone will probably lose weight on a lower calorie diet (regardless of where those calories come from) and as discussed earlier, belly fat is usually the first to go.[4]
   • Trans fats (in margarines, crackers, cookies–anything made with partially hydrogenated oils) seem to result in more fat being deposited in the abdomen, so avoid these as much as you can.[5]
   • Soluble fiber (apples, oats, cherries) lowers insulin levels, which, as mentioned earlier, can reduce the presence of cortisol in the stomach.[5]
6. MUFAs (Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acids) can burn more belly fat. These MUFAs are highly present in the following food items.[8]
   • Oils like olive oil and Canola oil
   • Nuts and seeds like cashew, peanut etc
   • Avocado
   • Dark Chocolates
   • Grape seed oil
   • Soybean oil

Tips

• The way your body distributes fat is largely beyond your control (heredity, menopause). What is within your control is your level of body fat overall–if you keep that low, it won’t really matter where the fat goes, because there won’t be much fat to deposit in the first place.
• Many women start gaining more weight in their belly as they get older, especially after menopause. The body fat distribution changes–less fat goes to your arms, legs and hips, and more of it goes to your midsection. Some people even find their waistline widening while their weight remains the same![2] Nonetheless, the above steps will help to do away with belly fat.
• Avoid the flavor enhancer MSG, the sweetener HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) and the artificial sweetener Aspartame. These unnatural additives disrupt hormonal levels and will work against your efforts. [9]

Warnings

• Be careful when restricting your calorie intake - being underweight is just as dangerous as being overweight.
• Doing only sit-ups and crunches can actually cause the appearance of more belly fat, as the abdominal muscles grow in size and shape, they will push out against the fat, making it appear larger and thicker. As above, all-over aerobic exercise is better than focused, spot exercise.
• Always consult a doctor before starting an exercise regimen

Related wikiHows

• How to Do the Kettlebell 1 Minute Burn Fat Exercise
• How to Lose Weight
• How to Get Six Pack Abs
• How to Be Healthy

Sources and Citations

1. ↑ http://lose-fat-belly.com
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/belly-fat/WO00128
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96922213
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-belly-fat
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 http://www.newsweek.com/id/168129/page/2
6. ↑ http://lose-fat-belly.com/25-belly-exercises-to-lose-belly-fat.html
7. ↑ http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100185417
8. ↑ http://lose-fat-belly.com/belly-fat-foods.html
9. ↑ http://www.101diettips.com/fat-loss/how-to-lose-belly-fat/

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Lose Belly Fat. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Is PET safe for bottled water?

Is reusing plastic water bottles safe?

Does toxic antimony leach from plastic PET HDPE water bottles?

Where can I find NRDC 1999 Bottled Water Lab Analysis Test Results?
HDPE seems to be pretty safe, check here:
http://trusted.md/blog/vreni_gurd/2007/03/29/plastic_water_bottles

The ONLY thing that might possibly be bad that I have found that does leach from PET water bottles is ANTIMONY (a toxic element).
But it has only been found in low safe levels.
http://geopig.asu.edu/people/Prapaipong/publications/Westerhoff2007.pdf
Here you can find NRDC 1999 Bottled Water Lab Analysis Test Results:

Here are the actual test results from the NRDC in a 1999 analysis of bottled waters:
http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/appa.asp#notecg
This is the only actual lab analysis I’ve found about bottled waters. But you can compare it to your local water supply analysis which comes in the mail every year from your water company.

Or they may provide it online like mine:
Big Bear City, California Water Quality Analysis
http://www.bbccsd.org/uploads/2008WaterQualityRepot.pdf

Please send me links to anything interesting about bottled water!
There is 300ppm total dissolved solids in my tap water (including fluoride, chlorides, uranium, copper, sodium and many more at “allowable levels”)

The bottom line is that a bottled water that has been filtered and treated well has almost ZERO dissolved solids!

So stop drinking your high calorie sugar waters and drink some pure zero calorie bottled water. Just make sure to recycle.

Further Research:

Flow - For the love of water: http://www.flowthefilm.com/

Big Bear Lake is the perfect place for some peaceful paddling. You are allowed to paddle anywhere on Big Bear lake except within a few hundred feet of the dam. Here are the hotspots:

 Grout Bay has marshes and beaver dams to explore,
it is also next to a bald eagle preserve
where frequent sitings are noted.
The Grout Bay picnic area is a nice place to launch.
(Northwest side of the lake near town of Fawnskin)

Boulder Bay, on the southwest side of the lake
next to highway 18 is the most picturesque spot on the lake and
has a large parking area where you can launch.
Large boulders jut out of the water in a small bay.

China Island is a small island with oriental styled cottages
between Boulder Bay and the dam.
Paddle west from Boulder Bay (Boulder Bay is good launch spot)
along the shore and you can’t miss it.
It was built before the water rose after they built the damn.

Pine Knot Ave:
There is a nice launch spot between the Post office and the Marina.
You can park just a few feet from the water and unload.
Paddling along the short East and West from Pine Knot is fairly protected from the windy center of the lake.

WARNING! You need a Big Bear Lake Boat Permit and Zebra Mussel inspection or you will be ticketed!
Help Protect our lake:

Kayak Canoe Big Bear Lake Permits / Fees - Permits: (909) 866-5796

Paddling opportunities at the above spots are diminished
if the lake is more than 11 feet below full.
Check Current Big Bear Lake Conditions
Lake Statistics
Elevation 6743′
Length 7 miles
Average Lake Width 1/2 mile
Shoreline 22 miles
Maximum Water Depth 72′ 4″
Average Water Depth 35′
Lake Storage Capacity 73,370 Acre Feet Daily or yearly lake permits may be required depending on boat size.

I shop on ebay a lot. Ebay pays websites to send them traffic. Sign up for Kickitback.com, install a toolbar or bid from their site, ebay pays kickitback.com when you buy, and kickitback.com pays you a sizable portion of their commission.

Earn money back when buying on eBay

On your marks. Get Set. Run!

The first ever Big Bear Marathon is coming to Big Bear on
Saturday September 6th 2008!

The Big Bear Hostel has one of the best locations!
We are just 2 blocks from the Start/Finish line!

For more information, see the promoters website at:
HBTEVENTS.com

Be sure to check our availability and make a reservation early!

CLICK HERE FOR BIG BEAR HOSTEL RESERVATIONS / AVAILABILITY

Yoshi Yoshino stayed at the hostel and taught us about the benefits of running barefoot!

Listen to the PBS interview:

http://www.kpbs.org/news/local?id=7294

“There isn’t a lot of scientific study on barefoot training. Research
has shown that wearing shoes to exercise takes more energy, and
that barefoot runners use about 4% less oxygen than shod runners.
Other studies suggest barefoot athletes naturally compensate for
the lack of cushioning and land more softly than runners in shoes,
putting less shock and strain on the rest of the body. Barefoot
runners also tend to land in the middle of their foot, which can
improve running form and reduce injury.”

- The Wall Street Journal

more info:

www.runningbarefoot.org

Barefoot Running Research - www.sportsci.org/jour/0103/mw.htm.

Rubber Feet - http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/

Chi Running

Yes, compressed air is not as efficient as batteries. But batteries are dirty and cost a lot!

Get solar panels and drive one of these compressed air cars by 2010!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_vehicle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmqpGZv0YT4

http://zeropollutionmotors.us

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4217016.html