MTB in Palo Duro Canyon and Abq foothills.
Wish you were here?
-- Sent from my Palm Pixi
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Speak and Spell
There is a theme here and it is not intentional. Or is it? Anyway the first time I heard Depeche Mode was on a ski trip, but it was not a church trip, it was to a lodge in Colorado where families would ski and fellowship (Ok, Churchy but not an organized church trip). We were in the game room playing pool and ping-pong, someone had a "boom box/ghetto blaster" and Speak and Spell was playing. Now at this time I was used to "jamming out" to Twisted Sister and Ratt, so hearing Depeche Mode was not a big eye opening moment, but somewhere in my subconscious it left an indelible mark to be revisited later, much later.
Flash forward to 1990 and the spring of my freshmen year. "Personal Jesus" hit college radio and I was in deep. Had to get a ride into town and buy this single. Things are a little slower in rural TX and by the time "Personal Jesus" was on the radio, the album was already out. Decisions, decisions. Do I buy the album or just the single? I took the plunge, bought Violator and hurried to get the cassette out of the case and into the tape deck of a friends car.
"World in My Eyes" was the first track. The first track to get my attention and then "Sweetest Perfection". I already liked "Personal Jesus", then "Enjoy the Silence" and "Policy of Truth". This album to me is the lynch pin of Depeche Mode's catalog. It was dark compared to earlier albums and they were changing musically with this being their seventh album in a span of nine years. Violator was nowhere near the the Speak and Spell that I had heard years earlier.
With Violator I became a fan, and started buying more, Music for the Masses was next for me, and imagine my surprise when I played the album for the first time and actually knew songs. Wow, really? Who knew. A few years later my senior year, I picked up Songs of Faith and Devotion. Once again David and Martin were keeping up with the times and put out an album that was different from the rest, but yet was still true to their craft.
Depeche Mode is one of the groups that I can always go back to and play. And when I do click a little icon or push a button I am transported back to an earlier time when things were new and different. A time of growing up, learning, pain and joy. Girlfriends past, friends past, times past, listening brings it all back. Take something off the shelf that you have not listened to in a while, dust it off (so to speak, in this digital age) and see where it will take you. Careful... music has sharp edges and can open old wounds, or it can be a beautiful thing. Happy listening.
Flash forward to 1990 and the spring of my freshmen year. "Personal Jesus" hit college radio and I was in deep. Had to get a ride into town and buy this single. Things are a little slower in rural TX and by the time "Personal Jesus" was on the radio, the album was already out. Decisions, decisions. Do I buy the album or just the single? I took the plunge, bought Violator and hurried to get the cassette out of the case and into the tape deck of a friends car.
"World in My Eyes" was the first track. The first track to get my attention and then "Sweetest Perfection". I already liked "Personal Jesus", then "Enjoy the Silence" and "Policy of Truth". This album to me is the lynch pin of Depeche Mode's catalog. It was dark compared to earlier albums and they were changing musically with this being their seventh album in a span of nine years. Violator was nowhere near the the Speak and Spell that I had heard years earlier.
With Violator I became a fan, and started buying more, Music for the Masses was next for me, and imagine my surprise when I played the album for the first time and actually knew songs. Wow, really? Who knew. A few years later my senior year, I picked up Songs of Faith and Devotion. Once again David and Martin were keeping up with the times and put out an album that was different from the rest, but yet was still true to their craft.
Depeche Mode is one of the groups that I can always go back to and play. And when I do click a little icon or push a button I am transported back to an earlier time when things were new and different. A time of growing up, learning, pain and joy. Girlfriends past, friends past, times past, listening brings it all back. Take something off the shelf that you have not listened to in a while, dust it off (so to speak, in this digital age) and see where it will take you. Careful... music has sharp edges and can open old wounds, or it can be a beautiful thing. Happy listening.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
motivation
I am struggling. I have not been on the bike since the Thursday night trainer session, and before that a Monday torture session with James and Brown Bear. The Holidays and weather have just not been helpful in getting me on a bike or doing anything.
I have spent quite a bit of time on the couch and have been giving the TV quite a workout. I am logging hour after hour watching nothing. I have a little issue with becoming sedate when it is cold and crappy outside. Who likes to ride the rollers or trainer inside going no-where? I don't, and I haven't.
I am having motivational issues. I don't want to do anything. I don't even want to write on the blog. I haven't written or even felt like writing anything since Monday. Could be I have nothing to say, well, when do I actually have anything to say?
What is motivation? So I look up motivation, and it is defined as "the act of motivating". Not much help there. How about -"Desire to do, interest or drive" "incentive or inducement". A little better. Looking at what motivation means, I try to decide what "drives" me? What is the crowbar that gets me off the computer, TV or couch? I don't know? I can't say that I know what force, what poster of a kitten, what image is my key to the shackles of my laziness. It is a sheer act of violent nature that gets my body from the horizontal to the vertical plain. Completely unexplainable, I can't tell you what makes me want to do what I do, I just do it. -Sometimes I don't.
I have spent quite a bit of time on the couch and have been giving the TV quite a workout. I am logging hour after hour watching nothing. I have a little issue with becoming sedate when it is cold and crappy outside. Who likes to ride the rollers or trainer inside going no-where? I don't, and I haven't.
I am having motivational issues. I don't want to do anything. I don't even want to write on the blog. I haven't written or even felt like writing anything since Monday. Could be I have nothing to say, well, when do I actually have anything to say?
What is motivation? So I look up motivation, and it is defined as "the act of motivating". Not much help there. How about -"Desire to do, interest or drive" "incentive or inducement". A little better. Looking at what motivation means, I try to decide what "drives" me? What is the crowbar that gets me off the computer, TV or couch? I don't know? I can't say that I know what force, what poster of a kitten, what image is my key to the shackles of my laziness. It is a sheer act of violent nature that gets my body from the horizontal to the vertical plain. Completely unexplainable, I can't tell you what makes me want to do what I do, I just do it. -Sometimes I don't.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
You've just been dropped
I rode with two of my favorite team riders today, both have similar styles. If you consider bringing the pain style. Brown Bear is a kid, I mean that in the best possible way. He is all of 16 years of age. With the way he brings the pain on a ride, some might call him a Punk, actually I do call him a punk. If you find yourself on a ride sandwiched between James and Brown Bear, you had better have your big boy pants on.
What was I thinking going on a ride with two of the team's cannibals? I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, so bring the pain. Mission accomplished. Brown Bear and James put it down after our rendezvous at the skatepark out 21st. Avery saw Brown Bear pushing the pace into the mid 20s. I went up front for a pull and felt good, James rotated to the sharp-end and pushed it into the high 20s low 30s on the short piece of HW51. Thanks for that.
There is something about riding with guys that are stronger than you. It can crush you, eat you up and spit you out, or it can elevate you to a different level. I generally find myself in the company of riders that bring hammers in their jersey pockets. As the saying goes "sometimes you are the hammer, sometimes you are the nail" and if you happen to ride with James and Brown Bear and you are the hammer, you will probably get dropped.
What was I thinking going on a ride with two of the team's cannibals? I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, so bring the pain. Mission accomplished. Brown Bear and James put it down after our rendezvous at the skatepark out 21st. Avery saw Brown Bear pushing the pace into the mid 20s. I went up front for a pull and felt good, James rotated to the sharp-end and pushed it into the high 20s low 30s on the short piece of HW51. Thanks for that.
There is something about riding with guys that are stronger than you. It can crush you, eat you up and spit you out, or it can elevate you to a different level. I generally find myself in the company of riders that bring hammers in their jersey pockets. As the saying goes "sometimes you are the hammer, sometimes you are the nail" and if you happen to ride with James and Brown Bear and you are the hammer, you will probably get dropped.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Soothes the Soul pt. 2
Violent Femmes first album is a must own. If we did not have digital this and download that, it would be one of the albums that I would save if my house were on fire, after I got the dogs out. You get my point. I was introduced to Violent Femmes on a Church ski trip many many moons ago, by Becca Johnson. She was two years older than me, and at the ripe ol' age of 13 that is a continental divide. All the guys in the youth group worshiped at the alter that was Becca. I was 13 and a little behind the "girls don't have cooties" power curve. Anyway Becca and I were "buds" as she put it, because I could ski. I could ski up to her ability and none of the other kids could.
So I'm sitting on the church bus headed to New Mexico in search of the pow pow, Walkman plugged into the ears and a suitcase full of tapes. That's right, if you grew up in the '80s you know what I speak of. Walkman=tapeplayer and a suitcase full of cassette tapes. Your tape box was your pride and joy, sometimes alphabetized, arranged by genre, or just a mess. I preferred alphabetized, but not completely, just the a's together b's together and so on. Didn't want to look to anal. Becca sits down next to me and checks out my catalog, pops open my player and slips a tape into it, and presses play.
I was introduced to the Violent Femmes with the track Add it up. I would love to reprint the lyrics, but it is better served up by listening than by reading, experience it for the first time with your ears. If you are familiar with this song then imagine what it did to a Texas farmboy at the golden age of 13. I think at the time I was into the hair bands of the '80s, but after this I had a revelation and a coming of age in my musical taste. If only at such a young age I would have know what it all meant. Oh, well can't cry over milk that was never spilt.
This album became the soundtrack for my relationship life in middle and high school. It may be a few decades old, but boys and girls and songs about their relationships will never lose its relevance. I would have to say that it is timeless, yet has a nostalgic quality for me. If I still had a Walkman and some tapes I would pop in the 'Femmes and listen to Gordon and crew.
*Warning* there are some explicit lyrics on this album -don't say I didn't warn you
So I'm sitting on the church bus headed to New Mexico in search of the pow pow, Walkman plugged into the ears and a suitcase full of tapes. That's right, if you grew up in the '80s you know what I speak of. Walkman=tapeplayer and a suitcase full of cassette tapes. Your tape box was your pride and joy, sometimes alphabetized, arranged by genre, or just a mess. I preferred alphabetized, but not completely, just the a's together b's together and so on. Didn't want to look to anal. Becca sits down next to me and checks out my catalog, pops open my player and slips a tape into it, and presses play.
I was introduced to the Violent Femmes with the track Add it up. I would love to reprint the lyrics, but it is better served up by listening than by reading, experience it for the first time with your ears. If you are familiar with this song then imagine what it did to a Texas farmboy at the golden age of 13. I think at the time I was into the hair bands of the '80s, but after this I had a revelation and a coming of age in my musical taste. If only at such a young age I would have know what it all meant. Oh, well can't cry over milk that was never spilt.
This album became the soundtrack for my relationship life in middle and high school. It may be a few decades old, but boys and girls and songs about their relationships will never lose its relevance. I would have to say that it is timeless, yet has a nostalgic quality for me. If I still had a Walkman and some tapes I would pop in the 'Femmes and listen to Gordon and crew.
*Warning* there are some explicit lyrics on this album -don't say I didn't warn you
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Tron
No Spoiler
I saw Tron last night. I'll give it 5 stars. Out of ten.
Let's start with the good and I will finish it up with the bad, well on second thought let's finish on a positive. Don't want anyone going home crying.
It was a little long, not in actual time length, but action loaded up front and then it took a Disney nosedive into slow motion no plot. The plot, what plot? It was good vs evil lame, no twists, no turns. Classic Disney. The only thing it had going for it was visual. Visually it was stunning, but not 3D. The 3D was nonexistent. DON'T WASTE your money on 3D. The credits had better effects then the actual movie.
Don't believe the hype, but don't get me wrong either. Visually, this movie was stunning, beautiful, worth seeing on the big screen. It's only redeeming quality was the visual, albeit non-3D, but eye candy galore.
The plot was thin at best, but when it looks this good who needs plot? Kind of like people. There was a little world-domination Hitler going on, not sure what that was about. Walt would not have been happy with that. Anyway, I should not have expected much, you could tell they were trying to make a good movie, but missed the mark. You can turn the mind off when you see this one, but just enjoy the pretty pictures. Don't worry about getting lost in this film, just get lost in it visually.
Go see this movie if only to see it, and only see it in 3D if you absolutely have to.
I saw Tron last night. I'll give it 5 stars. Out of ten.
Let's start with the good and I will finish it up with the bad, well on second thought let's finish on a positive. Don't want anyone going home crying.
It was a little long, not in actual time length, but action loaded up front and then it took a Disney nosedive into slow motion no plot. The plot, what plot? It was good vs evil lame, no twists, no turns. Classic Disney. The only thing it had going for it was visual. Visually it was stunning, but not 3D. The 3D was nonexistent. DON'T WASTE your money on 3D. The credits had better effects then the actual movie.
Don't believe the hype, but don't get me wrong either. Visually, this movie was stunning, beautiful, worth seeing on the big screen. It's only redeeming quality was the visual, albeit non-3D, but eye candy galore.
The plot was thin at best, but when it looks this good who needs plot? Kind of like people. There was a little world-domination Hitler going on, not sure what that was about. Walt would not have been happy with that. Anyway, I should not have expected much, you could tell they were trying to make a good movie, but missed the mark. You can turn the mind off when you see this one, but just enjoy the pretty pictures. Don't worry about getting lost in this film, just get lost in it visually.
Go see this movie if only to see it, and only see it in 3D if you absolutely have to.
Bite the Hand
I thank my lucky stars that we have some sort of cycling coverage on TV. I know it was not always like this and to get the latest info you had to have a VeloNews handy or call a phone number to get the latest pre-recorded race results. So, yes we are privileged in the access that we have to races the world over. Not to mention the world wide web. Our savior for all things cycling. So, here is my open letter to Versus.
Dear Versus,
I have some ideas that might help your cycling coverage.
1. We are already watching your station, we don't need to know about the up coming PBR (pro bull riding) (I thought it was a tasty beverage) event in slow motion. Spandex does not mix with chaps -well not in this crowd. Your commercials alone are enough to get me to STOP watching
2. I will most likely never drive a Cadillac or buy Michelob Ultra. Please for the love of all things holy sell me something I can and will use. If we are in front of the TV and watching cycling, you can reasonably assume that we are cyclists. Beer commercials are good, and you need more of them. I know, I know you are limited to commercials that the sponsors are buying.
3. Paul and Phil, love 'em. They need a third person in the booth to keep them on track.
4. On the same lines as Paul and Phil. They are given a quota of how many times they can mention Lance outside of the actual action. If Lance is somewhere at the back of the peloton, we don't need a camera on him and 5 mins of commentary. If he is at the front, bridging, attacking, etc... fell free to give him some love. Seriously if you are in love with Lance, let him know move to Vermont and do the deed.
5. I want a Brian Holm and Rolg Aldag show. Mic these guys up and put 50 cameras on them. If you haven't seen Chasing Legends you won't know what I am talking about. These guys are awesome.
6. Jens Voigt. Give us Jens. Lots and lots of Jens, mic him up and put a tracker on him so we know what he is doing at all times.
7. How about introducing America to other cyclists other than Lance? There are some legends out there, that many people have never heard of. Throw us a freakin' bone.
8. How about some coverage on the other jerseys in a Grand Tour? Yes, we know the leaders jersey and the Sprint, but show the battles for the KOM and the Youth.
9. Show the start of the race, interview some riders, show how the break formed. I mean really show it, you have plenty of time, a five sec clip of two guys going off the front does not cut it. Show feed zones, show the intermediate sprints, same thing here 5sec is not enough. Show the peloton with the teams getting their riders in position to start the sprint.
10. And by all means send me a bottle of wine so I can enjoy it with your cheese.
Thank you for your considerations, I am available for a position to help you with your production. We will also need to get the rights to every ProTour race. I have watched your programming, and it is not like you can't make the room for a little cycling. Whacked Out Sports???? are you kidding me? With me on board we can do much better. Seriously MMA, PBR, NHL and Cycling on the same network? How much are you drinking and smoking when programing?
Glenn Duh
Dear Versus,
I have some ideas that might help your cycling coverage.
1. We are already watching your station, we don't need to know about the up coming PBR (pro bull riding) (I thought it was a tasty beverage) event in slow motion. Spandex does not mix with chaps -well not in this crowd. Your commercials alone are enough to get me to STOP watching
2. I will most likely never drive a Cadillac or buy Michelob Ultra. Please for the love of all things holy sell me something I can and will use. If we are in front of the TV and watching cycling, you can reasonably assume that we are cyclists. Beer commercials are good, and you need more of them. I know, I know you are limited to commercials that the sponsors are buying.
3. Paul and Phil, love 'em. They need a third person in the booth to keep them on track.
4. On the same lines as Paul and Phil. They are given a quota of how many times they can mention Lance outside of the actual action. If Lance is somewhere at the back of the peloton, we don't need a camera on him and 5 mins of commentary. If he is at the front, bridging, attacking, etc... fell free to give him some love. Seriously if you are in love with Lance, let him know move to Vermont and do the deed.
5. I want a Brian Holm and Rolg Aldag show. Mic these guys up and put 50 cameras on them. If you haven't seen Chasing Legends you won't know what I am talking about. These guys are awesome.
6. Jens Voigt. Give us Jens. Lots and lots of Jens, mic him up and put a tracker on him so we know what he is doing at all times.
7. How about introducing America to other cyclists other than Lance? There are some legends out there, that many people have never heard of. Throw us a freakin' bone.
8. How about some coverage on the other jerseys in a Grand Tour? Yes, we know the leaders jersey and the Sprint, but show the battles for the KOM and the Youth.
9. Show the start of the race, interview some riders, show how the break formed. I mean really show it, you have plenty of time, a five sec clip of two guys going off the front does not cut it. Show feed zones, show the intermediate sprints, same thing here 5sec is not enough. Show the peloton with the teams getting their riders in position to start the sprint.
10. And by all means send me a bottle of wine so I can enjoy it with your cheese.
Thank you for your considerations, I am available for a position to help you with your production. We will also need to get the rights to every ProTour race. I have watched your programming, and it is not like you can't make the room for a little cycling. Whacked Out Sports???? are you kidding me? With me on board we can do much better. Seriously MMA, PBR, NHL and Cycling on the same network? How much are you drinking and smoking when programing?
Glenn Duh
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