Tag Archives: Los Angeles

WEST NILE VIRUS

  By tb | March 8, 2012 - | pool skating, pool skating health and safety
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Reprinted from a Gov’t Vector Control site.

Background

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne disease that was first detected in the West Nile District of Uganda. Transmitted by mosquito bites, WNV affects humans, horses, some birds, and squirrels. The widespread disease is found in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. In humans, it causes mild to severe flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body ache, and in severe cases, significant neurological symptoms or even deaths. The elderly and those with immune system compromise are most susceptible.

WNV in the United States

In the United States, the first WNV outbreak was reported during 1999 in New York City. The virus spread quickly across the nation during the subsequent 5 years. It was first reported in California during 2002 in Los Angeles and within 2 years, WNV had been confirmed in 58 counties.

What You Should Know 

There is no cure for WNV. Vaccines for human are not available yet. People can protect themselves from WNV by taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites, and reducing or eliminating standing water on their property. To help us detect WNV activity, we request that you report all dead birds and squirrels directly to the DEAD BIRD HOTLINE at 877-WNV-BIRD (968-2473) or online at www.westnile.ca.gov 

Aerial Pool Surveys

  By tb | March 8, 2012 - | pool skating, pool skating health and safety
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Reprinted from a Gov’t Vector Control site in the US.

Aerial backyard pool surveys focus on poorly maintained swimming pools and other back yard water features. These aerial surveys help the District locate and eradicate backyard mosquito sources.

Due to the success of the previous aerial surveys in helping us detect neglected swimming pools and ponds in a timely manner, we now consider aerial surveys to be a vital part of our urban mosquito control program.

Beginning in April or May each year, initial emphasis will focus on regions where there was significant West Nile virus activity in prior seasons.

The District will receive the results of the aerial surveys and determine which pools need immediate attention. District Technicians will then begin the process of contacting the pool owners to arrange for the pools to be checked and treated if they are developing mosquitoes. As a result of past surveys and tips from the public, the District has cataloged over 1600 potential neglected pools. A single poorly maintained swimming pool can produce millions of mosquitoes which can cause West Nile virus risk for an entire neighborhood.

Response to the aerial survey program has been encouraging. District Technicians who have contacted and explained to property owners the health risk posed by poorly maintained swimming pools have noted that most of the owners have taken immediate steps to resolve the problem. Although formal enforcement has not been necessary, individuals who choose not to cooperate with the District may be subject to the formal abatement process and fines of up to $1000.00 per day may be levied.

Aerial surveys will continue throughout the summer to help the District eliminate any backyard pool sources that could enhance the spread of West Nile virus in the community. In addition, the District will be analyzing data on real estate foreclosures to expand it’s surveillance efforts to detect in maintained swimming pools. To date, no human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in (your city & county here).

Image courtesy of West Nile Virus

New & Old Videos Up

  By tb | March 6, 2012 - | pool skating
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The pool skating that went down in 1990 is a far cry from whats going on today. Compare the footage between Pink Motel in 1990 with footage shot last weekend and see for yourself. This is modern pool skateboarding in all its glory. The best of the best going nuts in a rounded plaster pit lined with concrete and rowdy spectators! Fucking insane to say the least…

Unofficial Skatepark Tour

  By tb | February 12, 2012 - | pool skating
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These photos are from The Unofficial Sk8park Tour we did back in the summer of 2009 here in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas. We had a blast checking out all the new skateboard parks at the time and generally getting baked in the hot summer sun all for the sake of fun. We came across a couple backyard pools, a steep rectangle at a vacant house and a right hand kidney at someone’s home that had carve-able shallow stairs. In the end we hit more than 25 skate parks over a series of weeks, often riding 3-5 a day. It was a challenge to document even with 3 or 4 photographers because it was more about having fun and skating as opposed to shooting photos and video.

Plans for the Unofficial Sk8park Tour 2012 are being kicked around since there are new skate parks to be ridden.  More than a few.  Looking forward to another skateboarding adventure!  Stay tuned.

Images courtesy of Aaron Melendrez Photography and Jeremy Wray

Pool skating debacle on Southland

  By tb | January 3, 2012 - | pool skating
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Southland, Season 2 Episode 3

Looks like the production team on Southland should have consulted with poolskateboarding.com before staging such a phony looking death scene. Talk about making skateboarding look bad. Nothing about this makes sense. We’re here to help, next time call us.

(BTW, I think this pool is adjacent to a very well known LA street skating spot.)

Image courtesy of Southland

Happy New Year 2012!

  By tb | January 1, 2012 - | pool skating
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To more of everything rad and less of anything sad!  Poolskateboarding.com wishes everybody around the world a happy new year!  To more pools, waves, sunny days and beautiful women.  To a prosperous 2012 regardless of what the Mayans say…

Or to adventure and good times…whatever your motto is.

Whatever you do today is supposed to mirror the year, well I don’t necessarily buy that but its good motivation to do something awesome with your time on this special day.  I’m hoping to surf when I get up then skate somewhere concrete.  Not exactly sure where, somewhere in OC or LA or both.  Surf in Orange County and skate in Los Angeles…it could happen.  I will snap a couple pics and put them here later today as an ode to 2012 and the rest of the year…have a great day!

tb