Protected manatee found swimming Florida
waters with word “TRUMP” scrawled into its back: “It’s clear that
whoever harmed this defenseless, gentle giant is capable of doing
grave violence and needs to be apprehended immediately!”
By Chas Smith
Win $5000.
Let’s have a little real talk, here. What is
the most precious thing that you have vandalized? Young, dumb, full
of dumb in a museum with an outdoor sculpture garden, confronted
with a rotund Gauguin, Sharpie in pocket? Backpacking through
Australia’s dead center, to Ayers Rock, sharp stick in hand?
Oh the misguided thoughts of youth. The crooked behaviors but
have you ever vandalized a living thing?
Well, a manatee, or sea cow, was recently vandalized, or adorned
depending on your perspective, with the word “TRUMP” in Florida
over the weekend.
Sailors used to think the large, herbivorous marine animals were
mermaids and advocates against voter fraud which may have led to
the marking.
Outraged, The Center for Biological Diversity, a conservation
charity, is offering $5,000 for information leading to the
conviction of those responsible. Director Jaclyn Lopez said, “It’s
heartbreaking that this manatee was subjected to this vile,
criminal act. It’s clear that whoever harmed this defenceless,
gentle giant is capable of doing grave violence and needs to be
apprehended immediately.”
But can we be honest? What if the manatee in question is,
indeed, a Trump supporter? A rally-attending, MAGA-hat-wearing fan
of the President?
Will she be tossed straight into that Basket of Deplorables with
the rest?
Real talk.
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Happy VAL.
VAL surfer “confused and shocked” by
explosive episode at iconic Byron Bay wave: “I was physically and
verbally assaulted in the surf at the Pass by a guy with a dark
green mini-mal with dark short cut hair and a moustache in black
boardies!”
By Derek Rielly
"He repeatedly tried to fight me by asking if I
‘wanted a go bro’ and rammed his board into mine second time
creating a large dent on the bottom of my board the size of a
breakfast bowl."
The VAL surfing world has been rocked after an
almost-violent episode at The Pass in Byron
Baywith insult added to injury when “older
white men” made fun of the surfer’s plight on the
Instagram account @lordsofbyronbay.
First, the post as it appeared on Facebook via the Byron Bay
Community Board
The ocean is for surfing and enjoyment, not for
abuse.
I was physically and verbally assaulted in the surf at the
pass today around 9am by a guy with a dark green mini mal with dark
short cut hair and a moustache in black boardies.
I followed surf etiquette (been surfing since I was 12) and
did not hear any ‘yep!’ or other call on the wave definitely
couldn’t see anyone else already on it on the inside or outside.
The person who was paddling for the wave on the wave ontnhe inside
gave up so I went for it. at the last minute this guys came across
the front of my board from the outside to block me from a wave
crushing my hand. I said ‘wtf dude’ in shock at what had just
happened.
He then repeatedly tried to fight me by asking if I ‘wanted
a go bro’ and rammed his board into mine second time creating a
large dent on the bottom of my board the size of a breakfast bowl.
I was extremely confused and in shock. I had no idea where this guy
came from or why he hadn’t called the wave as is normal if you can
see another in front of you. I apologised even though I really did
not think I was the one that had been in the wrong but he was too
busy yelling over me to fight him..
I’ve never experienced this level of aggression or violence
in or out of the surf ever.. and I grew up on the beach! Usually
there are grumpy remarks and some apologies but it’s water off a
ducks back and people would rather enjoy surfing. Threatening another with violence is a crime and just sad way
to be human. That anyone would consider that a way to interact with
a stranger in any circumstances is fucked.
If anyone has had similar experiences at the pass I’d like
to here from you. I’ll be making a police report because my
property was damaged (board) and I was assaulted. I would suggest
anyone who is assaulted make a police report so that the police are
in a better position to act on this recurring crime.
UPDATE: in 20 mins you can clearly see from the comments and
thier likes that some older white men are justifying or normalising
the behavior. Women and parents have been sharing their experiences
and mostly condemning the behavior.
And, as presented on @lordsofbyronbay along with the hashtag
#gobacktothevalley,
The event is best summarised, I think, in this exchange.
redwinelibby
What is wrong with some people on here? Majority are trolling
someone sharing an experience that isn’t acceptable. Support this
person- don’t take your daily frustrations out on them via
judgements and poor humour.
lordsofbyronbay @redwinelibby I think it’s because the original poster
firstly dropped in… then was aggressive with his swearing at the
person he dropped in on… and then played the victim in a public
forum when he was the one in the wrong by his account of what
happened.
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Ochs (left) pictured in the Capitol.
Founder of Hawaii’s Proud Boys chapter
arrested after touching down in Honolulu: “Hello from the Capital
lol.”
By Chas Smith
Topsy turvy.
Of all the places with a chapter of Proud Boys,
Hawaii is maybe the most surprising but it has been a surprising
week, all told. The group, described by Southern Poverty Law Center
as “western chauvinists” who spread an “anti-white guilt agenda,”
burst onto the national scene during the summer of unrest and made
international news when President Donald J. Trump ordered them to
“stand back and stand by” in his first debate with then candidate
Joseph R. Biden.
Hawaii, famous for Kill Haole Day, does not seem a chill place
for Proud Boys to prosper but everything is extremely topsy-turvy
and, days ago, the Hawaii Proud Boy chapter founder was arrested
for unlawfully entering the U.S. Capitol building in Washington
D.C. last week when he touched down at Honolulu International
Airport.
According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Nicholas Ochs
appeared via telephone today before the judge and replied “I think
so, your honor” when asked if he understood the charge against
him.
He is not allowed to leave Oahu until he is flown back to D.C.
to stand trial.
A deep dive down Ochs’ Twitter account
(not suspended at time of writing) makes it seem like he does not
surf though there is a video of him urinating into an active lava
fissure.
Close enough.
In an earlier interview with CNN he said, “We didn’t have to
break in (to the Capitol), I just walked in and filmed. There were
thousands of people in there — they had no control of the
situation. I didn’t get stopped or questioned.”
The charge he faces is a misdemeanor.
I suppose what confuses me most is why, in Hawaii, the group is
not called Da Proud Boys.
It would make me more comfortable.
It would also make me more comfortable if they served Spam
Musubi at their meetings.
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Kids, boats and rocks. | Photo:
@connorgardephoto
Harrowing footage: Surfers save flotilla of
junior sailors in Santa Cruz after giant Mavericks swell “smashes
boats and throws children into water!”
By Derek Rielly
"It was a big set and it broke so wide it wiped
out, like, six of the boats, twelve kids in total."
A flotilla of twelve-year-old wanna be sailors is lucky
to be alive after almost being washed into rocks at Santa Cruz
harbour late yesterday. The group, part of a sail training
school, entered the harbour mouth just as a clean-up set swept
through the lineup, overturning the boats and throwing the kids
into the water.
“They came in at the very worst time,” Connor told
BeachGrit during a break from school. “It was a big set
and it broke so wide it wiped out, like, six of the boats, twelve
kids in total.”
On the beach, Connor says chuckles quickly turned to panic with
the alarm raised, 911 called etc.
Before help via jetskis arrived, surfers in the lineup had
scooped up the kids and got ’em to safety.
“We’ve had days like this where we end up with nine, ten people
on our boat that are being rescued simultaneously, so it’s not just
one person getting rescued because they got in over their heads.
It’s half the people in the water sometimes,” Assistant Santa Cruz
Harbor Master, Sean Rothwell, told KSBW.
Q Shaman (center) and bros, not wearing
Patagonia.
Outerwear, wetsuit manufacturer Patagonia
roils fans with political turn: “We support leaders from around the
country who are calling for the president and his enablers to be
removed from office immediately.”
By Chas Smith
Not chill.
Last week, a mötley crüe of President Donald J. Trump
supporters gathered in Washington D.C. ahead of
congressional ratification of President-elect Joseph R. Biden’s
November 3rd victory. They were angry, believing that much fraud
had occurred, and whipped into a fine frenzy by impassioned
speakers, including Trump himself.
Afterward, they marched on the Capitol and were semi-invited in
to hold a wild n wooly bacchanal on the floor, in offices and
throughout the halls.
“Shock and dismay” percolated around the nation as images of the
Q Shaman etc. were released. Rage, disgust and hand-wringing.
Outerwear, wetsuit manufacturer Patagonia took to Instagram with
the following message from its CEO Ryan Gellert:
Patagonia condemns the assault on the US Capitol and all
recent attempts to disrupt a peaceful transition of presidential
power. We are also appalled by the double standard between the
response to last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests and
Wednesday’s insurrection. We support leaders from around the
country who are calling for the president and his enablers to be
removed from office immediately. We are committed, as ever, to
doing our part to support our democracy and to ensure that it is
equitable and accessible for everyone.
The Ventura, California-based company has long been known for
its environmental stance but the political statement seemed to roil
its many fans. Typical Patagonia posts garner 200 comments maximum.
The above has topped the 13k mark. While many are supportive, many
more seem to be frustrated. A sampling:
@alright_alright_alright_75: As always, showing
genuine leadership and compassion for people and planet.
@joeklahoma_state: Thank God Patagonia
condemned this. I was beginning to get worried.
@it_me_it_bruce: You’re right there is a double
standard… the fact you didn’t post similar messages when small
businesses were being set alight all over the country during
protests!
@brittan_kuhlman: Oh good the company selling
$600 jackets made in Vietnam is worries about accessibility and
equality.
@skripontoast: Ooooo corporate moralizing, so
2020
@ourlife.unfiltered: Lost us as a customer,
too. Ever read the Declaration of Independence? Believe it or not,
there are millions of patriots who believe this election was
fraudulent. Yet, who also have a heart for topics like racism-
these are two totally different topics. YOU are creating a divide.
This has nothing to do with black or white- It’s about the red,
white and blue.
@kimble_farmer: @patagonia just sale your
product and try out of politics. Just lost another customer for
life. I have a ton of Patagonia vest and jackets that are going to
make a great bonfire tonight.
@seapilot13: I follow Instagram accounts for
awesome content. If I wanted politics, I would watch TV. A
Patagonia consumer before it was “fratagonia.” Love your company
and products. Stick to your environmental pursuits and making
awesome gear. Unfollowed and will consider wearing Patagonia to be
a political statement now.
@casenichols: Lol @ everyone who is shocked by
Patagonia taking this stance. They’ve been one of the most
progressive and politically outspoken outdoor retailers since their
inception.
@dan_sandison: A lot of people, who only take
photographs of their car and or motorbike, are upset.
Etc.
More questions than answers, of course, but a few more. Do you
like your clothing to share your ethos? Do you really think
Patagonia vests and jackets make great bonfires? What, exactly, is
wrong with taking photographs of cars and motorbikes?
The World Surf League, per the norm, remains silent.
