Angelium: Infrequently Asked Questions

Charles mentions to me the other day, “when you’re doing one of your blogs, you might want to do something on Asswood.” Naturally, I’m now looking into such a fine sounding product. First step, a Google search: “Asswood red angelium” No results. Hmmm. Second search: “ass wood red angelium” The results bring back some guy whose blog title is “Old Man Eats S**t.” So, we’re getting closer. But nothing in The Wood Database, or a number of other directories I’d checked out pertaining to the offensive odor.

In an informal survey, four out of five Santa Monica carnival workers preferred Asswood over Greenheart.

Third Google attempt: “red angelium” provides a number of porn links on the first page. So, I’m starting to think this is a put-on. But one of the links appears to be a legitimate building product touting the use of French Oak and Red Angelium. This is progress…

Charles was talking with a client who had come across a great deal on some angelium. The price was great, but the client brought up the fact that he couldn’t stand to work the stuff because of the highly offensive stench. “Yeah,” Charles tells the guy, “we used to call that red angelium ‘asswood.’ It stinks!” So, I guess we have two votes against. I’ve never been around the stuff…I think I’ll take their words. We don’t offer the stuff, because we don’t like fielding complaints about the stink of wood.

But nothing truly valuable has come of this search. At this writing, it is simply CC telling me that he has smelled the red angelium, and it is quite unpleasant. I’ve heard others say the same thing about Spanish Cedar, but I’ve worked it and found it no more objectionable than Ipe…but I’m biased…horribly allergic to the Ipe. Another tale for another day…

Brazil's First World Play

Evidence is mounting that Brazil’s days as a second-tier world player are numbered. In addition to sporting South America’s most robust economy, the wealth is also spreading now within the country’s poorest areas.

I will provide an additional bit of update when I have time…

Responsible Forestry Via Digital Imaging

There’s a stunning set of images associated with a great article by Michael Lemonick in the May Issue of National Geographic. This image produced from the Society’s website does absolutely no justice to the quality of the content in the magazine, but I guess that’s why we subscribe?

The use of technology to map the carbon emissions in forests is vital to rainforest survival. Images can be provided in real time to assess the current conditions in many underdeveloped areas straight from space. The imagery in the magazine was provided courtesy of the Carnegie Airborne Observatory, Carnegie Institution for Science. I’d say they’re holding up their end of the bargain with this one.

Incentives for carbon storage in the canopy are suggested as an economic carrot to prospective slash and burners. If it somehow becomes beneficial for corporations and individuals to protect their renewable resources, everyone benefits.

There are a lot of misconceptions out there about the lumber industry. If the trees are gone, you see…we have no product. But…we have the ability to create more product. That’s exactly what’s been happening, especially over the last twenty years or so of much more advanced and increasingly responsible forestry.