Museum of Native American Art 1 of 2

Floating guns...

(Not sure how they qualify as Native American Art, unless the tools of exterminating indigenous peoples are considered artful).

Museum of Native American Art 2/2

Floating bibles. Displayed on the wall opposite of the floating guns. Guns. God. Extermination. A coincidence or just a reflection of the current administration?

Artchitecture in DC

Smithsonian Museum of Native American Art

DO NOT ENTER

Even all dressed up and they still won't let me in.

The White House white squirrel

And I thought they were only in Olney.

Runnin' the Train

Navy Yard subway stop, Washington, DC.

So just as the doors closed on this train, three girls ran into my car. And when I say ran, I mean seriously running ran. Like technical shorts and tops and Asics and Nikes and Reeboks and even a heart rate monitor. They were sweating profusely and lauging hysterically...and not so bad to look at, actually.

Anywho, when they sensed my "what the fuck are you three doing" look, one of them kindly explained that they were 'Running the Trains.' Every Tuesday they take the subway to three different stops, get off at each stop and run a loop of approximately 5k. The train rides between each loop is a de facto rest interval. When they're done they run to an ice cream place by their house and chow down.

I told them that is one of the best ideas I have ever heard. And I meant it. And I love the train.

The Capitol Skyline

This luxury palace is my home for the next three days. I'm not really complaining...it'll do fine. But when a place is subtitled "Capitol Skyline" and it's in Washington, DC, to me, that signifies a view of sorts. And technically you can see bits of the Capitol, but you gotta look hard...and through some smoke stacks and housing projects to glimpse it.

There's an Expedia commercial about this, me thinks.

70 Degrees in DC right now

Flying saucers in DC.

I'm about to take the Metro to dinner. I love the train!

Randomly Good

It was a good drive in with the iPod on shuffle today:

American Analog Set - JR
Karaoke Hits - Just Like Heaven (Cure)
John Vanderslice - Mansion
Echo & The Bunnymen - Bring on the Dancing Horses
The Ramones - Sheena is a Punk Rocker
Liz Phair - Stratford-On-Guy
The Lemonheads - I Don't Wanna
Johnny Cash - When the Man Comes Around
Chad VanGalen - Echo Train
Death Cab for Cutie - Lightness (Live KEXP Bootleg)
Pixies - Here Comes Your Man (Live)
A Tribe Called Quest - I Left My Wallet in El Segundo
The Wedding Present - No

Creature from the Desk #4

This week's CFD is my shaker of Redmond RealSalt. Though I bought this particular jar at New Leaf in Santa Cruz, I discovered real salt in Utah on vacation this year. The natural sea salt is extracted from an ancient, dry salt lake in south central Utah and contains all kinds of crazy nutrients and minerals. The salt is bespeckled with brown and not-quite white grains and is--strange as this may sound--a very tasty salt. I keep it on my desk for fresh produce--celery, cucumbers and tomatoes. And yes, I ocassionally freebase it, taking a shake or two directly on my tounge. I know it's not good for the blood pressure, but if my helmet straps are any indication, I burn off more salt than the average bear on an average day.

Note: Next week's CFD will be from somone else's desk. I'm off to Washington, DC to lobby on Capitol Hill and my aim is to find something interesting in the House or Senate to include. I may sneak in with the Illinois contingent and see what's on Barack Obama's desk. Stay tuned.

M Dot Strange at Cinequest

I shot the clip above at the South First Friday art event that coincided with the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose last Friday. Animator M Dot Strange (aka Micheal Belmont) was the featured artist at Gallery Anno Domini, and the props, sets and apparati from his film We Are The Strange--which was playing at Cinequest as it had at Sundance earlier-- were on display along with the works of a few other artists. M Dot also had his PowerBook hooked up to a video camera and projector and encouraged people to make claymation shorts which all rolled up into the clip above. Using a $40 program called iStop Motion, M Dot would have the volunteer animators pose their creations and then digitized each movement frame-by-frame into the computer. It was quite fun to watch--especially the tipsy people.

I went to the Apple Store on Sunday and picked up iStop Motion. As if I needed another way to waste time!

Creature from the Desk # 3

This is a picture of my corkboard, which is attached to my desk and therefore eligible for inclusion in this feature. On the left is an art tile of two boys in a boat that I bought five or six years ago in Mexico by the whimsical artist Manuel Lepe. On the right is an old photo of my brother (right) and I in the bathtub. I thought it would be fun to get the photo mounted onto a tile of the same size and give them both to my mom. I haven’t quite gotten around to it yet.

Also, some great stuff happening in Downtown San Jose this weekend:

- South First Fridays - Tonight 3/2/07

Open galleries featuring the opening reception for "We Are The Strange" featuring M dot Strange with artwork by Sean Boyles, David Choe, Mitsy Ovalles and DeeJae Paeste at Anno Domini.

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- Cinequest Film Festival through March 11th.

Cool flicks and shorts from all over the word, plus Minnie Driver (Herself! Live! In-person!). Screenings at various venues all over downtown.

- North American Handmade Bicycle Show, March 2-4.

Gorgeous handmade bike porn and a bunch of guys in glasses debating optimal head tube angles.

Dogma Done Died

I knew there was something wrong as soon as I landed. And when I say landed, it’s not like I hucked a gap or anything, I’m talking a bunny hop of maybe four inches of vertical. I was smooth too—definitely less impact than hitting a speed bump at 20 mph, which is basically the other option.

But as soon as I touched down there was a funny rubbing noise. Naturally, I thought I knocked a wheel out of true, though even that would be strange considering the lightness of impact and the fact that I landed arrow straight.

Stopping to check it out, there was nothing wrong when I spun the wheel…but every time I started to ride again the rubbing noise would start up…and then that disconcerting wobble kicked in.

Then I noticed the crack. After two years and I’m not sure how many miles, my precious Pinarello Dogma is done. And it makes me sad. My best bike ever…well, road bike anyway.

At least I didn't crash and wasn’t hurt. And at least I could milk it back to the office.

I think it should be covered under warranty. I hope so anyway.

K-141: More than a snapshot

I'm not sure what it says about me, but I've always been captivated by those hopeless situations you see on the news—the boy that falls down the well…the miners trapped in the collapse…the people stuck for days in an elevator—that kind of thing. I'm sure it points to some deep psychological flaw or something, but it should be noted that I always root for a safe resolution, which seems, unfortunately, to be the exception.

Five or six years ago I was riveted to the developments in the Barents Sea where the Russian submarine Kursk exploded and sank to the ocean floor. Though most of the crew perished in the initial incident, 23 sailors survived in a stern compartment for a while and there were hopes for a rescue. Several attempts were made, but the sailors ultimately succumbed.

It wasn’t until after I came home from a trip to Italy last spring that I realized a picture I took of what I thought was interesting stencil graffiti was actually a tribute to the crew of the Kursk. If you look at the artwork you'll see the number "K-141," which is the Kursk’s number and the words “АПЛ Курск,” which is Kursk in Russian. The 12 men in the stencil are members of the crew that are actually from the town of Kursk.

When I first saw the image it kind of stunned me…I remember almost recoiling, then taking out my camera. Even without comprehending it, it makes a strong impression and after connecting the dots to the Kursk it takes on a chilling, indelible quality.

While some people would dismiss street graffiti as vandalism—which I, as a rule, detest, particularly in an old-world city like Venice—there’s something about this that rises above. For me anyway.

I even made a t-shirt about it.

Tuesday - 2.20.07 - 11 a.m.

As I reaffixed the pump to my bike in front of the Children's Discovery Museum...

She:
Four-ish with long black hair, pink pants and a Dora t-shirt.
“Get up! Here comes another one! Gnuuuuuuuuuuuuuew!” Arms outsrteched, spinning in circles, eyes up to the sky.

He:
A spikey blond boy in a pint-sized hoody.
“Yay, another one! WoWoWooWooWoWoooWoo!” Joining her in circles--one eye on each other, one in the sky.

It:
A 747 or some such, resplendent in sliver and booming.
“Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooosh!” Its fast moving shadow sweeps over the landscape.

They:
Collapse on the grass. And laugh. And laugh. And Laugh.

I:
Smile and laugh and wish I could join them.

This:
A snapshot of how simple it all should be.

Creature from the Desk #2

Being in marketing, I get all kinds of weird promotional items in the mail, most of which are just plain dumb. This one from a display company called Department of Energy (thus the DOE) is different. It's a wind-up penguin that waddles and poops little candy poo balls. I would have photographed the poo balls for you, but I ate them all already.

Best in Show

This Jesse Rooks custom at the Dunlop booth was my pick for bike of the show.

Ready for Bonneville

World's Fastest

Super Bitchin'

Roland Sands KR-V5

Multimedia message

Roland Sands

ElectroHooker

Workin' the streets of Indianapolis.

Old School Cool

One-of-a-kind Bell Moto-8 rockin it old school Bob Hanna style.
Posted live via camera phone from Dealer Expo 2007.

A Beautiful Curse

Wicked paint on a bike called 'Cursed.'
Posted live via camera phone from Dealer Expo 2007.

I won't lie, I love B-U-D-D-Y (why)?

Genuine's Buddy 125 with apologies to De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.
Posted live via cell phone from Dealer Expo 2007.

Venitian Disconnect

TNG's Venice scooter was retrolicious, but there are no scooters in Venice!
Posted live via cell phone from Dealer Expo 2007.

Herbbie the Love Scoot

Diamo's sweet throwback scoot.
Posted live via cell phone from Dealer Expo 2007.

The Classic

When it comes to scooter style, Vespa is still in a class of its own.
Posted live via cell phone from Dealer Expo 2007.

Super Supermoto

Supermotarded

Posted live via cell phone from Dealer Expo 2007

Rolling Stone Bike

Built in seven days by Two Brothers Racing.

Posted live via cell phone from Dealer Expo 2007

Everything is indoors, even the outdoors

Rollin' in Indy with Pack and Sack.

Posted live via cell phone from Dealer Expo 2007

Skinny chick

On the snowy, windy, cold ass streets of Inaianapolis.

Posted live via cell phone from Dealer Expo 2007

Red Kross

Obligatory product shot.

Piss on Don

In Indiana, there are urinal puck holders named after me. Oh, and it's seven degrees.

Posted live via cell phone from Dealer Expo 2007

Creature from The Desk #1

In an effort to create more content, I’ve come up with the following ridiculous concept:

On a weekly basis I will take a photo of something on my desk and post it here.

In appropriately Valentinian style, today’s Creature from the Desk is a kiss bot:

Why would I have such a thing? It’s a prop from an old ad campaign that comes in handy when I get lonely working late into the night. The remnants of the campaign are still online at http://www.victorytested.com/.

Transcendent Thursday

I rode in the rain today. It was more-or-less just spitting when I left the office and actually pretty warm…almost tropical feeling. As I climbed towards the mountains, it got increasingly more wet, but I just told myself the spray going up my taint was therapeutic—a comforting road grit enema of sorts.

For as grim as it looked outside, I was pretty happy and comfortable, and only got a tiny bit cold descending Laurel Glen. Even my toes were warm, despite wet shoes and socks.

The reaction you get from people on a day like this is always funny to me. Behind their windshield wipers you could read it on their faces--“Kook!” “Poor guy!” “That looks SO dangerous!” “What’s the matter with those people?!”

They don’t get it—the perfect rhythm of the raindrops and the way you tick over the pedals to match it in time; the subtle, almost subconscious little body shifts that makes the bike magically hold traction in the curves; the way the scenery is transformed and the air is scrubbed clean.

So I guess I am a kook…and a perfectly content one at that.

Can I just say...

...I love California. I'm going to Indianapolis next week. As if the Colts fans aren't going to be annoying enough, IT'S MINUS SEVEN DEGREES there. At least there will be cool (if not downright frozen) motorcycles. I hope we have hot water this year.

PS - These are not complaints, just the facts. Afterall I once had antifreeze in my blood.

I HATE BEING SICK!

It is now Sunday afternoon and I have been battling a mother of a cold since sometime on Wednesday. I actually think I felt a tickle of it on my Tuesday bike ride, which, ironically, I was en fuego during.

It started as a sniffle, then a headcold, then moved down all achey-breaky style into my chest where at has been camping out and making mucous in copious, inhuman proportions. I feel like Val Kilmer's pale, hacking rendition of Doc Holliday from the movie Tombstone, which seems to currently be in heavy rotation as I've watched it twice this week. I'm not sure watching Val with tuberculosis or whatever is good for one's cold, but it's a bitchin' movie...and the highlight of my seriously extended couch time. There is just so much SHIT on TV...total dog shit.

Anyway, I've tried every over-the-counter spray, inhaler, swab, spoon and pill I could find, as well as enough homeopathic remedies to qualify me for residency on any number of Santa Cruz-based communes, but nothing really seems to be doing the trick.

I keep telling myself I'm feeling a little better today because I got up, wrenched on bikes for a bit, paid some bills and felt like typing for the first time in days, but that all could just be extreme boredom.

Though I've never been a big Talking Heads fan, I did find this online today and it made me feel better. A little anyway. Hopefully it will do the same for you, even if you're not sick:

Am I the only one creeped out by this?

Naked Raygun reunites!

Muscle beach is now porkchop hill. Again. Details here.

Bike Year Part 3 - The Races

I was gonna start this by saying that racing is suffering. But that’s not really true. Suffering is living in poverty, having no home, coping with infirmity, loss and the like. Suffering is something that happens as the result of things you can’t control…well usually. Choosing to test yourself physically and push your limits is just that—a choice. It can hurt and stress you out, drain you physically and emotionally, make your nads hurt and cause you to vomit blood, but you could make it stop if you want. Not so with true suffering. Racing is only slightly more like suffering than the reality TV show Survivor is actual survivorship…or even reality for that matter.

That said, racing puts me in the ouch box. And with my move up into the Expert class in 2006, the hurt came faster and harder and lasted longer than I’ve ever experienced in competitive athletics. In the Sport class one can bluff their way through a bad race and still do OK. In Expert, there’s no place to hide. You mess up, or let your fitness wane (i.e. CCCX#4 & 7 below) or have a mechanical and it’s to the back with little hope of return. And while I feel I belong in the Expert class, I think the odds of me breaking through and making a podium are slim. I do see progress and get better every year, but it actually doesn’t matter. For me, racing is just a form of motivation.

The handful of official races I do each year, really don’t amount to much in and of themselves. I probably raced less than 200 miles the entire year, but the prospect of doing so is what got my ass in gear, out the door and on the bike. On those chilly mornings when a ride over the hill seemed a preposterous undertaking, it was usually the thought of a race that talked me back into it.

Then there are the unofficial races. If you count these, I probably raced much more than the stats would indicate. Trying to drop Scott on the Bonny Doon climb, or set a new mark on the Branciforte Loop, or catching the guy on the Gucci bike**, making him hurt then riding him off my wheel—these are the races that happen all the time. And these organic races are as much, if not more, motivational than the official ones.

So yeah, racing is a competitive thing and I can be a competitive person, but the real competition is to get my booty off the couch, away from the computer and out the door. THAT’S the race that matters and it’s one I’m winning.

To close, I’d like to pass some thanks. Though they derive no possible benefit from their association with me, there are none-the-less several companies—or more precisely several individuals at those companies—whom help support my racing in one way or another. Principle among these are Top Dog Illustration and Bell. Additional assistance from Easton, Blackburn, SRAM, Shimano, Avid, Fox Racing Shox, Maxxis, Fizik, Stan’s Notubes and, of course, Superdawg is also greatly appreciated.

** - For the record I myself ride some very Gucci bikes. But at least mine are dirty and disheveled from use. They are for go, not for show.

Racing by the numbers
Mountain Bike Racing, Central Coast Series
2/12 CCCX#1 Expert 35-44 - 8th Place
2/26 CCCX #2 Expert 35-44 - 7th Place
3/19 CCCX#3 Expert 35-44 - 9th Place
3/26 CCCX#4 Expert 35-44 - 16th Place
7/2 CCCX#7 DNF
2006 CCCX Overall Expert 35-44 Rank: 12th

Road Racing and Time Trials
2/4 CCCX Road Race 16th Cat 4/5
5/4 Swanton TT#2 - 7th Place 32:41
6/6 Swanton TT#4 - 5th Place 32:08
9/7 Swanton TT#6 - 6th Place 31:31

Bike Year 2006
Bike Year 2006 is a series of five posts about bicycling and me. 'Cause I'm a nerd like that. And it's all about me.
Part 1: The Numbers
Part 2: The Places
Part 3: The Races
Part 4: The Bikes - Next Post
Part 5: The People

Bitchin' vintage MX

Borrowed from the good people at Cars R Coffins.

The Wind Man Commeth

.
I think there was a head wind in seven different directions today. I managed to mangle two inner tubes trying to mount my (extremely too tight) new tires and then Ryan had another flat while we were riding. I think it was the longest 14 mile ride ever. But it was still a ride. And that's good.

Posted wirelessly via cell phone

Bike Year Part 2: The Places

I’m lucky. Very VERY lucky. I mean how many people get to do a job they really love and have it take them to places they want to go and pay for them to do some of the things they love to do? Add personal trips to legendary and amazing places and 2006 becomes supercalifragilistically insanely great.

MAY:

Giro d’ Italia (Road) – This trip combined the incredible spectacle of a Grand Tour, the amazing riding of Northern Italy and the otherworldly food and friendliness of the world’s warmest people.


JUNE:

Girona, Spain (Road) – Not two weeks after getting back from Italy, it was off to an international sales meeting in Spain. And while we spent more time on planes and in meeting rooms than anything else, the leisure time allowed, particularly the riding, was sublime.


AUGUST:

Downieville & Tahoe, CA (MTB) – While The Sierra is hardly worlds away, getting all packed up and out to Downieville sometimes seems more daunting than the four hour drive it is. Which is too bad because that 14-mile downhill always leaves me wanting more...and the addition of the rock garden-to-toboggan slope known as Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride near the town of Meyers in South Lake Tahoe made this trip a definite do-over.


AUGUST:
Whistler, BC Canada (MTB) – To be frank, I was kind of scared of this place. The stunts, the steeps, the jumps, the drops—I’d seen them all in photos and on videos and as fun as they look, I’m an XC guy. All lungs and legs, not hops and props. But it’s pretty amazing what good instruction, a little confidence and 10-inches of travel can do. Riding Whistler changed me…and it still scares me. And that’s what I love about it.


OCTOBER:

Fruita, CO. & Moab, UT (MTB) – Moab is a good old friend. I could ride Porcupine Rim every day for a month and not get sick of it. Fruita is a good new friend…and a kinda kooky friend at that. While the weather limited our outdoor exploration, it helped us make friends at the local bike shop which has a wackier and funnier cast of characters than any sitcom on TV.


Bike Year 2006
Bike Year 2006 is a series of five posts about bicycling and me. 'Cause I'm a nerd like that. And it's all about me.
Part 1: The Numbers
Part 2: The Places
Part 3: The Races - Next Post
Part 4: The Bikes
Part 5: The People

Bike Year Part 1: The Numbers

With over a half million feet of climbing and at least 6,000 miles of riding, 2006 was a great big year on the bike for me. It was so big, I’m not even sure how much I actually rode…the statistics below are incomplete as I went through a period of nonchalance with my record keeping**. I estimate the totals to be low by at least 15%, but let’s just go with these as the official tally:

2006 Combined Totals
Mountain, road and indoor rides combined
Number of Rides: 210
Miles Ridden: 5849.15
Climbing Feet: 468,884
Riding Time: 397 hours, 20 minutes, 2 seconds
Average Speed: 14.7 mph



2006 Road Totals
Number of Rides: 156
Miles Ridden: 5020.97
Climbing Feet: 364,187
Riding Time: 311 hours, 4 minutes, 40 Seconds
Average Speed: 16.1 mph

Longest Road Ride: Feb. 6, Mt. Hamilton Super Loop
112.22m; 11000 feet; 15.8 avg; 7 hr., 5 m., 23 sec.

2006 Mountain Bike Totals
Number of Rides: 44
Miles Ridden: 692.16
Climbing Feet: 104,697
Riding Time: 79 hours, 35 minutes, 22 seconds
Average Speed: 9.3 mph

Longest MTB Ride: Aug. 6 Downieville Epic XC/DH
31.4 m; 5909 feet; 8.6 avg; 3h, 39m, 21s

**- Hopefully the addition of my MotionBased account will make 2007's numbers more accurate.

Bike Year 2006
Bike Year 2006 is a series of five posts about bicycling and me. 'Cause I'm a nerd like that. And it's all about me.
Part 1: The Numbers
Part 2: The Places -Next Post
Part 3: The Races
Part 4: The Bikes
Part 5: The People

The heart of the Bungalow Belt

Christmas in Chicago: My parent's brick bungalow on Melrose Street.
Posted live via cell phone

Reliance Building gave rise to skyscrapers

Christmas in Chicago: The Reliance Building was the first building in the world to have more glass on its exterior than other materials.
Posted live via cell phone