Harriers take part in a Red Dress Run (Photo by Susan Williams) You don't see many marathon runners chugging beer at mid-run aid stations, or Olympic relay runners doing shots as they pass the baton. Luckily, not all runners are so sober. Hash house harriers -- who often call themselves "a drinking club with a running problem" -- choose to liven up their runs with costumes, themes, and (of course) booze. Hashing began in 1938 with a group of expat Brits living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, who amused themselves with a variation on traditional British paper chases. In a paper chase (also known as Hare and Hounds), a pack of runners (the "hounds") follow a trail of slips of paper left by the the designated "hare." The hounds attempt to track and catch the hare before he or she crosses the finish line, but the hares are wily and try to put pursuers off their scent with "checks" that lead to dead ends. Unlike traditional Hare and Hounds runners, though, hashers typically eschew the slips of paper for trail marks in chalk or flour (though sprinkling white powder in populated areas and then running away can be unpopular). They add "beer checks" that require the hounds to pause for a drink, plus bawdy drinking songs, colorful nicknames, goofy costumes, and the occasional theme race, like the Red Dress Run. Their physical prowess and determination may not measure up to those of marathon runners, but we're willing to bet the hashers have much more fun. Suggested Sites... World Hash House Harriers Home Page - includes a directory of global kennels. UK Hash House Harriers - maps of the kennels of the U.K. and Europe. Hash House Harriers - a Flickr group dedicated to hashing around the world. Half-Mind Catalog - resource for hashers, including a dictionary, songbook, photos, and links to hashes.

Directory categories: Hash House Harriers, Hashing Kennels and Clubs, Hashing Events, Running Clubs and Teams, Running

Archived under: Alcohol, Events, Games, Hashing, Outdoors, Running, Sports

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(Photo by Elif Ayse) Here in the northern hemisphere, thoughts are turning to moguls, fresh powder, snowmen, and snow angels (if you get our drift). To help you appreciate all the snowy goodness, we've invited a special guest today: Mr. Snow Flake! The Spark: How are you, Mr. Flake? Mr. Flake: Just fine and powdery. Say, these lights are a tad hot. Spark: Perhaps you could tell us how you got into snow business? Flake: Well, I started out as few water molecules, went on to become an elementary needle, and now I'm a stellar flake. Spark: Your folks must be proud. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Flake: Yes, several billion -- but no twins. Spark: I hear that people didn't always know what you looked like. Flake: That's quite true; we're a shy bunch, and no snowflake was photographed until 1885. Um, is there a leak? My dendrites are getting damp. Spark: So how do you feel about paper snowflakes? Flake: (looking nervously at the spreading puddle) I hear they're fun to make, but they leave me a bit cold. Spark: One last question: What do you want to be when you grow up? Flake: (a faint voice rises from the puddle on the floor) An ice sculpt…. Spark: Well folks, that looks like the end of our interview with Mr. Flake. Enjoy your day, and don't forget to bundle up! Suggested Sites... Snowflake Splendor - colored digital images of snowflakes. Magono & Lee Snow Crystal Classification - sketches of snowflake types, linking to electron micrograph images (be sure to check out part 2). Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley - photographed the first snow crystal in 1885. Paper Snowflake Design Patterns - something to satisfy everyone, from the kids to the obsessive-compulsive. Make-a Flake - get flaky online.

Directory categories: Snowflakes, Paper Snowflakes, Wilson Bently: The Snowflake Man, Ice and Snow Sculpture, The Cryosphere

Archived under: In Character, Outdoors, Photography, Snow, Storms, Weather, Winter

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(Photo by Matthew Hoelscher) Shipwreck is a word that conjures up fantastic images in our minds, whether they be comical or tragic. For most of us shipwrecks mean historical galleons carrying hordes of treasure from the new world back to the old, a notion fresh on our minds on the 25th anniversary of the raising of the Mary Rose. Lest you think that shipwrecks are only for the archaeologists and marine salvage companies, know that wreck diving has become almost a rite of passage amongst scuba divers worldwide. Thanks to all the unlucky captains out there, divers are presented with opportunities that are as rich in fish as they are in history. In fact, all around the world, states and nations are intentionally sinking old vessels to create artificial reefs. In the process they are creating both new mini-ecosystems for marine life, as well as fueling their economies by attracting intrepid divers. Having just recently missed out on the opportunity to dive a wreck in Cozumel, we'd love to hear your tales of wreck dives -- or perhaps a rousing chorus of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"? Suggested Sites... The Mary Rose - the only 16th-century warship on display. Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society - discoverers of the Atocha. Professional Shipwreck Explorers Association - unites explorers, salvors, archaeologists, and historians. War Wrecks of the Coral Seas - from war wreckage to valuable mini-ecosystems. Shipwreck Central - documenting and filming the world's shipwrecks.

Directory categories: Shipwrecks, Historical Shipwrecks, Wreck Diving, Artificial Reefs, Gilligan's Island

Archived under: Archaeology, History, Outdoors, Shipwrecks, Transportation, Treasure, Underwater

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(Photo by The Jamoker) If you're feeling hot and sticky, maybe you need to idle the afternoon away on a boat. Why, it's summer after all, and boating is a grand way to pass the day -- speeding across a placid lake, enjoying the sun and spray. Just remember to be safe. Boating is serious business, and each year there are scads of accidents to prove it. Luckily for landlubbers like us, there are boat safety courses and information available wherever there is water. From simple tips on donning that Mae West to information on safety signals and first aid, the U.S. Coast Guard should be your first port of call. Many states and counties have specific information on local water conditions and regulations, too, in case you're wondering if it's OK to bring your Jet Ski to the local fishing pond. Before setting out on any watercraft, check and double check your gear, and make sure you can call for help if needed. We don't want to ruin your fun, but we do want you to get home in one (dry) piece. Suggested Sites... USCG Boating Safety - all you need to know to keep yourself safe on a boat. National Safe Boating Council - working to enhance the safety of the recreational boating experience. BoatSafeKids - tips for the tykes. BoatU.S. Foundation - test your boating knowledge. America's Waterway Watch - keeping the water safe.

Directory categories: Boating, Boating Safety, Lakes, Waterskiing, Personal Watercraft

Archived under: Boating, Outdoors, Recreation and Travel, Safety, Summer

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Compost bin (Photo by London Permaculture) The benefits of recycling glass and paper are well known, but many cities are just realizing the value of recycling banana peels and coffee grounds. Many organic materials -- possibly 30-50% of the waste we produce -- pile up in expensive and environmentally-unfriendly landfills when they could be composted and turned into something useful. Composting has been around for thousands of years, and requires just a few simple things: air, water, carbon ("brown" materials, like leaves or straw), and nitrogen ("green" materials, such as food scraps). A good balance of those elements provides a suitable home for a host of microorganisms and invertebrates that are only too happy to help turn organic waste into nutrient-rich compost. Composting also has a certain DIY appeal for many gardeners. It's easy to do at home, and not as messy or smelly as you might think. Even urban gardeners can set up simple home composters, and with a little care, the neighbors will never notice that box of decomposing orange rinds on the back porch. Some cities have even launched curbside compost programs so that city dwellers can put their putrescible kitchen scraps to good use. Why feed a landfill when you could feed a garden instead? Suggested Sites... HowToCompost.org - instructions and links to get you started. Introduction to Composting - an easy step-by-step guide to starting your own compost system. Food Waste Recovery - case studies of three successful California composting programs. Cornell Composting - the science behind composting, plus tips for composting in schools and at home.

Directory categories: Composting, Composting Equipment, Worm Composting, Worms for Sale

Archived under: Conservation, Environment, Gardening, Home and Garden, Outdoors, Recycling

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