You see this? Well, I'm not alone in the group of a few million surfers around the world when I say, THIS IS NOT SURFING. I don't know what you call it, just don't call it surfing. This is something way beyond what 99% of the surfers in the world would want to do. This is some kind of Extreme Evil Knieval bull shit.



You see that tiny dot at the end of that streak of water? That's a human being riding a wave of colossal height and girth. The fact that more of these lunatics have not died is a mystery to those of us who don't do this crap.



This ain't normal people. This is simply crazy. Surely everyone can agree to this. The problem with this extreme surfing is it has grown in the eyes of non surfers. People are drawn to extreme sports and daredevils. They watch, because there's a chance that someone may die. Most surfers I know, wait, EVERY SURFER I KNOW cringes when we see this. We know what a 10' wave can do to you. We know what a 20' wave can do to you. We even know what a 30' wave can do to you. But once it gets over 40' we can't fathom the punishment that is dealt when you f*** up on one of these beasts. And make no mistake about it. They do f*** up. And they pay for it.



All surfers love the perfect peak. And this would be perfect if it wasn't 100' of death and mayhem. I have no sympathy for those who get hurt or worse by riding these things. The same way I have no sympathy for those insane rock climbers who tempt fate by scaling the impossible vertical cliffs. The 10% of the world's population who attempt to conquer the unknown realm, are in a world other than ours. But make no mistake about it. This is NOT surfing.

This past Wednesday January 31st marked the 50th Anniversary of the TET Offensive in Vietnam. January 31st, 1968. Some call it the turning point of the war. And I suppose it was, but not for the reasons you might think. History and other notable documentations will attest that TET was a military defeat for the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong. In fact, the Viet Cong were virtually wiped out. General Giap who commanded the North Vietnamese Army was shaken by the outcome. He had fully expected to accept the end. In other words, he was ready to surrender.

But something happened, that no one saw coming.



Walter Cronkite a news anchorman, turned a US victory, into a US defeat by reporting that the war was lost. Ken Burns will admit to this. General Giap was beside himself with glee, when he saw how the American people turned on the war. Turning point? Well, if they had reported the truth, and Giap wanted to meet to discuss peace plans, that meant that the war would have ended sooner. But with this new revelation to let America implode on itself, only gave the North Vietnamese more fodder to keep fighting. So rather than the war ending in 1968, with a US victory, it grinded on for another 7 years.

How many lives would have been saved if the war had ended after TET?

Well the total killed in Vietnam up until 1968 was 36,168.
The total killed in the entire war was 58,193.
That means 22,205 American lives would have been saved if the war ended in 1968 after a resounding US Military victory. Some of those killed after 1968 were friends of mine. This is yet another tragic story of Vietnam.

Below: US Marines fighting in Hue City during TET in Vietnam 1968.



A battle they had won in the war, but lost in the streets of America.
50 years ago. 22,025 American lives could have been saved.

"Remembering those who died during TET, Heals All Wounds"

Lenny Nichols on January 1st, 2005. You know where.
FYI Lenny Nichols is looking for someone or someones to take
over the ESA-NNE District. Please contact Lenny Nichols by calling his cell (603) 944-2418 Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.


Now for Some Local, National and International News
How many of you watched the State of the Union this past week? One of the things I took away from that night was just how much better he sounds when he's reading from a teleprompter. Who ever wrote his speech should also write his tweets.



"They like me, they really like me!" Not these clowns below.



It was embarrassing to see how divided we really are. And I suppose the same was true when Obama was giving his State of The Union Speech. It's sad and embarrassing.

By the end of the day, we shall know which one of these QB's will still be smiling. SUPER BOWL LII will be one for the ages.



I'm hoping the New England Patriots win their 6th Super Bowl title. And if they win 6, they might as well win 7. Then we can all relax and think about the good old days. GO PATRIOTS!

KSM Photoshop of the Week
Not sure how i missed this. But apparently KSM was sitting next to Nancy Pelosi. I think he stole a kiss and she's having a bad reaction to the taste of cow turds he eats for lunch. Or was that goat? Hard to say. Or it could be something else. Just saying.



So my friends, please take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths
of 3,000 innocent civilians by KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed).

*Note to self -must pick up a case of "Mouth Wash" at Home Depot this week.

CONDOLENCES to the Carberry family on the loss of Tim.
GET WELL Brylee "Peanut" who was diagnosed with pneumonia today, exactly one week after I was. She did NOT get it from me.
GET WELL Max Malila in your recovery!
GET WELL JoEllen Bunton Sending positive thoughts and prayers to you!!

* It's been one week for me being diagnosed with pneumonia. I'm still not out of the woods, but I'm feeling better. Thank you for all the well wishes. Don't be a dumb ass like me. If you're sick with the flu, and you're over the age of 65, GO TO THE DOCTOR!

THE NEW GRANITE GIRLS poster!




Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 13 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo from any of the weeks on RPOTW.

Remember my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.

Ralph

(Above) Wrap this up and send it back home with you.
Wednesday January 31st, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) This would be Nate. Don't be hating Nate cause he scored and you
didn't. Wednesday January 31st, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Mike Stanek from a very long sequence.
Wednesday January 31st, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) The fence in the sand. January, 2018. Photo by Maureen McNamara
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery










(Above) Sometimes the photogs get their pic taken. Bruce Chrisner
doing just that. Photo by MEZ
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery