For more pics and info: BLDG BLOG

“The largest sealed environment ever created, constructed at a cost of $200 million, and now falling somewhere between David Gissen’s idea of subnature—wherein the slow power of vegetative life is unleashed “as a transgressive animated force against buildings”—and a bioclimatically inspired Dubai, Biosphere 2 even included its own one million-gallon artificial sea.

“The structure was billed as the first large habitat for humans that would live and breathe on its own, as cut off from the earth as a spaceship,” the New York Times wrote back in 1992, but the project was a near-instant failure.”

3 Days, 30 miles, 11,499 ft, 1200 ft in 30 minutes, One Peek, 2 Plane Wreckages, 1 Bottle of Whiskey, 1 Bottle of Schnapps, 1 Bottle of Wine, 7 trips to a water source, cold nights, tons of laughs and great times. Pictures and story to come…

Our homies at Patagonia posted this awesome story in their “My Footprint” series about a Pat employee who makes her own ski’s using recycled palettes: Check it and get inspired.

Backpacker Mag just released their buyers guide issue. I always like getting this issue just to see all the new goodies. I’ve made purchases in the past based on some of their write ups and have to say I was pleased.

The online edition has videos and a roundup of the top picks.

“On December 19th, 2008 I took what I considered to be ethical, necessary, and direct action to try to protect our planet, our democracy, and my fellow human beings. In that spirit of protection, I took nonviolent action which did not harm anyone nor destroy any property.

My actions stopped what I believed was an illegal and certainly unethical auction of red rock public lands in Southern Utah. This auction was a fraud and a threat against the American people and their future well-being. My motivation to act against this auction came solely from the exploitation of public lands, the lack of a transparent and participatory government, and the imminent danger of climate change.” Read more about Tim DeChristopher and how he faces two indictments with a sentence of 10 years and $750,000 in fines.

Interesting article about Specialized. Check it out on CNNMoney.com,
titled: King of the Mountain Bike

Who would have thought the Dung Beetle would also be a carnivore… but I guess if your dinner plate is crap, you could really eat anything…

Interesting article on the Dung Beetle from the BBC