http://kitelife.com/forum/index.php?app=blog Community Blog List Syndication Fri, 09 Apr 2010 05:34:15 +0000 info@kitelife.com (Kitelife Magazine - Forum) IP.Blog 60
This is simply not the case. The only single people who claim to be lonely are those who choose to be lonely. One of the reasons why singleness seems so scary is because of the term itself: Single. It has almost become a swear word in today’s society.

• A relationship will help me feel better about myself.

A relationship is not an insurance policy for happiness, satisfaction, or fulfillment. A relationship will not magically solve or cover up your problems. Forget about all the perfect-couple images painted by the media. Relationships actually magnify existing problems and create new ones.

• If I’m single and can’t find anyone, it means something is wrong with me, or that I’m a failure.

Being single can be very unsettling and can certainly make people ask themselves, “Is there something wrong with me?” The answer is no. Every one of us has something wrong with them. Nobody on this planet is perfect.

• Being single is unacceptable and I must be in a committed relationship as soon as possible.

Look at the prejudices and stereotypes many people have about being single. Almost nothing positive is ever assumed about singles. Our own negative attitudes lead to fears and anxieties about being single. That is why a positive attitude is your first line of defense.

• Singleness is meant to be a “waiting period” for finding the right person.

This may be true for some, but it’s not an across-the-board fact. If this is made the main focus of singleness, it actually becomes overwhelming. You may have heard the term “waiting for the ship to come in.”

• Accepting singleness is giving up or admitting defeat.

Accepting singleness is not a defeat; it’s a victory. Despite the way it sounds, accepting singleness does not mean resigning the rest of your life to an unhappy state of being single.

• There are no advantages to being single.

As much as I didn’t want to use tired old clichés in here, the saying “every cloud has a silver lining” applies here. Remember that there are two sides to being single. As I mentioned earlier, it’s easy to focus exclusively on the negative aspects of being single. This can lead us to the false notion that there are no advantages to being single.

Check out this site for more info.]]> Fri, 09 Apr 2010 05:24:00 +0000 well, was going to say "sure footed" but the truth was .... my legs would disagree with me.
we got quite a work out after all but all was well.

anyway, i had this happy feeling, like you have a child, and now two years gone by
you started out parenting without a manual or guide, but with your true heart (and sweat)
the baby grew into a toddler and you realized you do just fine.

from knowing nothing except we want it here
wen and i started iSPACE (Jan,2008) in our home town--- since we always travel around for kite events, it is important we ground ourselves here for a change.
Wen's first indoor rev was partly a gift from a beloved friend.
it was well cherished, gave us blessings --off to a good start.
mine first single line kite was a gift from another beloved friend (Bai-Se Hu Die)

through two years of devotion, we turned ourselves into indoor flyer (and our collection grow!)
some of the sweeter side effects include getting to know so many wonderful friends
and learn from some talented gentle (or not so gentle) spirits and inspired a few to follow their hearts.

the best ? enjoy windless flying /street flying wherever we go, and also, see many near or dear become kiters.

stepping into our third year, we ordered three indoor revs
one for wen one for me and one for Sony= Wen's sister from a different mother.

Sony started being a helper for us simply because she is so much in our daily life.
now she had debut wonderfully flying skate, and wants to dig into rev!
i, needless to say, and totally thrilled by learning to ride the vibes however it rise.

this marks a new chapter in my kite life: my very first indoor rev!

we made the decision to order kites, and with the blessings and kindness from friends in the Rev world
our blind trust lead two perfect blessings into our life

today wen and i took the new sets for a spin in a gym, there are breeze in the air due to the ventilation
i love the mystery of riding that current in the air... in love we live.]]> Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:29:00 +0000
This being my first kite event where I played a role to help organize (I was responsible for bus transportation), it was definitely exciting to see so many happy faces, both flyers and spectators.

A good lesson learn't... there's no such things as I've applied enough sunblock!

]]> Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:10:00 +0000
however, today i feel ready to come back and am happy to share bits of my thoughts.

no need to speak much of the long past but yesterday was fun and worth writing.

we went to the 3rd "Deer Valley (Lu-Gu) kite festival".
i didn't bring the camera, but hope my writing will capture some essence.

it is crazy to make a "kite festival" in a parking lot in front of a small temple (of theking of three mountains).
between a stage transformed from a truck (very cool!) and a river/valley among mountains (more then three mountains)
and above either asphalt, concrete, weeds with aggressive SPIKY seed balls.... among people walking all around for getting free gift (promoting the water conservation), coloring, flying kites provided by the event organizer, and karoke show (you can call it live music i guess, some better then others). But the sun was bright and WARM, the wind is either non exiting or very light and changing (with all the mountains surrounding us), so we spent a great day hanging out and ended a great day with very challenging flying but nevertheless fun.

we have been going to this small event simply because a kite maker we know is handling the kite part of the program (the money was given by the “water resource agency". it is never ideal a place, last two years we were at a corner beside a bridge with steep slope.

Bring ourselves and whatever we can do to a small rural area to be with the locals under sunshine and stingy breeze, may not seem appealing to most flyers but, when we are are there, with the sun on our skin and everyone outside for some very low key entertainment we made together, induce a warm fuzzy feeling in our heart. and when there is some wind, you see people line up under the tree, facing the sky, maybe the valley is daring us to fly without safe /clear ground, we do it.

yesterday, we ended up at one time over twenty very impressive kites from beginner who won a gift kite (which was made by the local kite maker who invited us to come, ... the kites flew very well), to master flyers who travel around with their show kites in different countries.
it may not seem a big number for those who are used to big open area for flying, but believe me, if you are there, you would be impressed too. what a spirit for those kites to decorate our memory and how proud we all feel when looking up into the sky at the end of the day.
through out the day, each of us trying everything we can to meet the challenge of the situation, and all had a good time, meeting the locals, and far away kite friends and family and together we made a good day for us to enjoy.

for me, this is a precious part of my kitelife.

oh, and under all the obstacle course, wen flew a dual line ballet and Geary flew his rev. both demonstrate their windless flying ability regardless of the challenging space they have to work with. being with them through the past two years of windless/street flying, i was proud to be there.
------------------------------------
wherever we go, there we fly.]]> Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:44:00 +0000
Issue 69 - Nov/Dec 2009
http://www.kitelife....agazine/issue69

• Kites… Life.
• AKA Corner
• Dave's World: Rochester
• Dave's World: Flying a Perfect Pilot Parafoil
• News Reel
• Kite Comics
• Lincoln City Fall Festival
• Fields: Îles de la Madeleine
• St. Elmo's Fire
• 12 Days of Kitemas
• Holiday Shopping
• Empty Spaces: Crosby / Sasaki
• REVisions: The Zen of Rev Flying
• SPI Competition
• Kites Over Granbury

==

Also, as many of you know, our own KL magazine archive is still missing some issues which need to converted to our new format after the total site redesign in 2008.

Thanks to TK's studious work (learning the ropes), these additional issues are now restored as well:

Issue 4 - July 1998
http://www.kitelife....agazine/issue04

• Kites... Life.
• Doin' It Indoors
• AKA Corner
• Novice Class ... See More
• Visual Eyes 4play
• Kitemaker: Neil Taylor
• Buggy Newz
• Junction Kite Retreat
• Notes from a Broad
• Speedsailing
• The New World Cup
• Twisted Lines Festival
• NFKA Fighters
• History 101: Guglielmo Marconi
• Mid-American SKC
• Ohio Cup
• Best of Rec.Kites
• Photo Gallery

==

Issue 25 - Dec/Jan 2002
http://www.kitelife....agazine/issue25

• Musings from Mike
• Hong Kong Kite Festival
• Taiwan Kite Festival
• AKA and Kiteboarding
• Quads in Hot Tricks
• AKA Site Selection
• Ray's Adventures
• Afghani Children
• Kites in Art
• Competition Field Staff
• Nordic Kite Challenge
• Eurocup 2001
• Fighter Kites in Off-Season
• Reviews: Psycho & Mako

==

Issue 26 - Spring 2002
http://www.kitelife....agazine/issue26

• Musings from Mike
• Dave's a Seoul Man
• Kitefliers Family
• Ray on Ice... See More
• What's Up with the AKA?
• Pasir Gudang Fest
• Skating vs. Kiting
• How to Discourage a Flier
• A View of Judging
• Photos from TISKC/KTAI
• Fighter Kite Happenings
• Reader Feedback
• Kite Reviews by Glen Warren:
  - Master Control
  - M 80
  - Nitro High Performance

==

Issue 27 - Summer 2002
http://www.kitelife....agazine/issue27

• Behind the Chicken Loop
• Learn to Speak Afrikaans!
• Party this October
• Hot Times in Virginia
• Head Judge in Training ... See More
• An Air of Intensity
• Making a Super Fighter
• 1st Czech Kite Festival
• Kitemaking in the UK
• Nordic Kite Challenge
• Thailand Festival
• Passing of Phil's Kitemobile
• Rookie Mistakes
• Cooled computers and Big Kites
• Kite Reviews by Glen Warren:
  - Mosquito
  - Copter Kite
  - Twin Hull Sail Boat
  - 7' Shark
  - Hip Hop
  - Mosquito
  - Copter Kite
  - Twin Hull Sail Boat
  - Mosquito
  - Copter Kite
  - Twin Hull Sail Boat
  - Jabberwocky G2

==

With these updates, that closes the gap in our archives to issues 5-24, leaving just 20 issues still offline.

At this pace, I imagine we'll have the entire archive restored quite early in 2010.

As always, if you enjoy our publication, please consider becoming an official subscriber to help support our archival efforts.

Thanks, and enjoy!]]> Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:17:00 +0000
http://www.kitelife.com/magazine/issue68

Included articles:

Dave's World: Ten Days in Colombia
Dave's World: Rockaway Kite Festival
News Reel
Kite Poems
Kite Comics
Kite Songs
Mad Way South: Sahara
REVisions: WSIKF
Empty Spaces: Francis Rogallo
Empty Spaces: Bill Lockhart
WA State Intl Kite Festival
Frank Mots Kite Festival
Whidbey Island Kite Festival
Family Day Kite Festival
Fighter Kite World Cup


== == == == == == == == == == == == == == == == == ==


Also, another issue restored to the archives...

http://www.kitelife.com/magazine/issue28

Included articles:

Do Women Really Want to Fly?
Editing Kite Music
Festival Announcing
Equipment Ideas
ProFile: Ron Graziano
ProFile: Danielle Fermin
Taipei Intl Kite Festival
Nordic Challenge
Ray's Adventures
Festival of the Air
Goa Kite Carnival
Kite Review: Dot Matrix
Kite Review: Big Ticket
Kite Review: The Frenezy


== == == == == == == == == == == == == == == == == ==


And yet another issue restored to the archives...

http://www.kitelife.com/magazine/issue27a

This issue is very small, but marks a significant point in the history of Kitelife with it being the last issue done by Mike Gillard before web work was assumed by JB… At the time, Mike had become quite busy as the new Editor for AKA's Kiting magazing and Kitelife was caught in the transition with increased demand for articles through one office (AKA/KL magazines)... Mike approached JB after seeing his work on Satori Kites, a short-lived but successful site dedicated to profiling sport kite competitors all over the world.

Included articles:

Mid-America Fighter Kite Challenge
Review of the HQ Breeze
Review of the Skyburner Heat]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:53:00 +0000 http://jonez.pcriot.com

Cheers!!
~Jon]]> Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:42:00 +0000

Vented B with 4 wrap! (too lazy to swap to 3 wrap).

Conclusion on the handles: it seemed slighty slower somehow to respond.
Other than that they felt ok, different but not in a negative way.
They are also super light weight.


We flew the standard SLE with the thick SLE frame in.
It was pulling a bit but flyable.
It's interesting to go back to the initial kite you first try and fly.

Left the SLE set up as we had family having their first go on a rev and with great gusto they achieved flight

No brainer really after they had a try on our Flexifoil Rage 2.5m and grasped the difference between 2 and 4 line with a little guidance

I think the Rage power kite scared them a bit when they started skuttling down the field (when the wind picked up).
But they held their own so it was no wonder they did well with their first rev flight

It was great to see the big smiles and them enjoying their own kite too "that's the most time I've ever flown it"


The most interesting thing was seeing them progress from standing rock still flying their kite.... wondering why the kite just flops, slack lines "hanging in the air like a mattress"

....to them watching us moving around flying team....
to going back to their own kite and moving around more (backwards) to gain more air in the foil.

The 'power' of observation and just hanging around other kiters really does help (both ways).

I know we and others often start off not moving around at all (no idea where that idea of standing still has come from (?)).
It's like the small wiggling movements for owning your hover which seems like a crazy thing to do, much like small jiggling movements like when playing a Wii game (it appears to be contradictory, yet seems to work, prone to less exaggeration).

In return we flew their 2 line Flexifoil pro-team stacker kite.
(why are these always sold with really long lines ? Luckily it is self launch when it is left set up the right way up).

It was surprisingly a lot of fun and controllable - flew shapes and formations, spins etc.

Surprised because other than seeing these stacked which is amazing,
I've only ever seen people wanging them backwards and forwards around the sky in an out of controlled manner (all speed).


I also flew mid-vent with 2 wrap today.

Had fun flying the one handed technique of popping one handle balanced around a ground stake, and using the free hand to take piccies or whatever... then switched over to give the other hand a work out

cooler weather is settling in, (stronger northerlies) so it's going to be interesting seeing how cold the no snag handles get on my fingers.

Wind was a bit strong for me to try the bug, however Groz is coming along well tacking back to where he started - the big grin says it all.

Yesterday the wind on the south coast (SB) was really sweet for some mid-vent B rev flying
Was hoping to fly inside the castle grounds but it was a little sheltered, so ended up at SB instead.

Afterwards we managed to get some coffees from the cafe (even though they'd closed) and did a 'happy dance' much to the amusement of some passers by as we walked and dosey-do'es through some routine moves (a la FLIC style)

Enjoyed some real quality breezes and flying this holiday

[edit: Sunday wished to fly on a hill - seems to be a few hills around the middle of the county that doesn't allow kite flying alas, see pic
http://kitelife.com/forum/index.php?app=gallery&module=images§ion=viewimage&img=3504 ]
Extra edit for more pics]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:27:00 +0000

Awesomely bright lights on massive kites.

Great fun.

Must have caused a stir for some of those passing by
but not so much to cause anyone to tell the old bill

(seriously, hope no one was spooked by it, you could read a book underneath them it was so bright)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Been flying in some mindblowingly sweet smooth breezes this week.
Couldn't wipe the huge grin off my face particularly after the sunset fly

It's very humbling when people take the time to stop and watch too.

[edit: added photos]]]> Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:51:00 +0000
it always stuck with me that if there is a will, there be a flight.

part of my inner dialoug this summer ... on going...
"wherever you go, there you fly"
so i had a few wonderful stories to tell based on that determination.

before i get into writing about those stories (which is why i made this blog space on kitelife)
i have a short piece that i just finished uploading.
maybe someone would be amused to see me at that moment in time.

http://www.vimeo.com/6748074

anchored flying

gush, i could use a rod/stick ...

LOL, there is always another time

Litsong]]> Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:59:00 +0000