Quick Shots

Okay, got it figured out. Here's the cycling goals for the year - see if you know what I'm talking about. Answer in comments. Person who gets closest to what I'm thinking gets a special prize. 215. 13. 50. 274. Good luck.

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When somebody shows up and says they're from the government and they're here to help, and all you need to do is give them shitloads of power, and a lot of control over your life, you would do well to question whether they are acting in your best interest. There is a distinct possibility that they could be utterly fraudulent, or at a minimum violating the hippocratic oath and doing a hell of a lot of harm right out of the gate. Climategate doesn't prove or disprove anything to me, other than a lot of scientists are on a gravy train and maybe willing to indulge in a little confirmation bias if it wins some more funding. It deepens my distrust. So too does a healthcare bill that even big fans of nationalizing healthcare on the left say will do nothing but enrich insurance companies. Let me repeat that in short form: don't trust people who ask for money and power in order to save you. They are probably lying about the crisis, and about their ability and desire to save you. They do want your money and power, however; you can take that to the bank.

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I am looking forward to riding the Kona tomorrow morning early. Going to hit the W&OD for the regular Wednesday ride with Metro out toward Reston. 28 or 30 miles, moderate pace. The bike needs some upgrades - I had a Thomson stem lying around, but need a Thomson seatpost, some more comfortable handlebars, better brake levers, and maybe better brakes. Seibold is building me a rear wheel this week - a Phil track hub (flip flop) on a Mavic CXP 33 rim. Should be super light, pretty strong. I'm soooo amped about that. Did I mention I really really like the Major One?

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The Paleo diet, for those who asked, is supposedly based on what Paleolithic Man would have eaten - no grains and legumes, nothing processed, lots of lean protein, fruit and vegetables. Or Protein and Produce, as I call it. I'm losing weight at an okay pace but get a ferocious hunger and wind up whacking a big pile of turkey or 2-3 pieces of fruit at a shot. There are headaches and I'm mean as ****. It is extremely hard to ride on this diet, there's just not enough blood sugar and what there is burns way too slow. When (If?) I get into a decent race weight I'm going to integrate some complex carbs back in - steel cut oats, beans a couple times a week. Nothing major. I just don't think this is a permanent long term solution for me, but it seems to be a semi-long term diet I can stick with, which should adapt well to being the permanent fix. You do get carbs, but it's 30-40% of your diet, rather than 60%.

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If Bill Schiecken had an official Chinese rock song, it would be this (NSFW!) song. There's an interesting story behind it; yes, it's a protest song akin to George Carlin's Seven Things You Can't Say On Radio. Anyhow, it's the Song of the Grass Mud Horse (NSFW) and if you don't know why Schiecken is The Grass Mud Horse you've never raced with him in the rain.

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I'm fascinated with Clutch. Here's a spinoff band called The Bakerton Group. It's mainly the guys in Clutch, but they do different stuff. Neil Fallon doesn't sing, for instance, but plays guitar. Pretty cool. And yeah, The Bakerton Group opens for Clutch. Hmmm... that's alternative.

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So I've got a shit-ton of 90% drunk bottles of liquor in the man cave that I have to get rid of to reduce the clutter. Anybody up for a Kill the Sandbagger party sometime between Christmas and New Years? I may do it myself but then you won't hear from me for a few days while I get over the alcohol poisoning.

Oh, say, would you look at that? Looks like its Drambuie, Hennesy and Hornitos night at the Rouleur household. Mmmm. Nice.

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Oh, what the hell. Why not. Here, have a flaming shot of badassedyness.