Benazir and Tyler

So its been a while since my last post, what with the holidays (fill in cliche excuse here.)

So much has happened and yet I find myself trying to figure out what exactly I can write about.

The first and most obvious choice is the news of the day; in this case the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. This is a tragedy whose repercussions will be felt for years to come. She was the one truly humanist person who could actually lead Pakistan out of the custerfuck its in. Wildly popular and uncommonly pragmatic, she posed a serious threat to the interests of many throughout that part of the world. A threat to Musharraf in the fact that her party would probably have been able to enough people in office to vote her in as Prime Minister. A threat to Islamic extremists and Al Qaeda because not only was she a woman of power, but she was educated in the west and would have increased liberties and education of women and the population as a whole, which would lead to losses for their causes.

This said; I wont go on, because I dont really know enough about the situation and this part of the world to speak with any kind of confidence or offer any sort of insight. What I do know is that it is a loss of immense proportion for the people of Pakistan, for the United States, for the stability of that part of the world, and for Democracy world wide.


On to something of for less import. BIKE RACING!!!

Michael Ball, the bombastic owner of Rock Racing, of whom I've spoken here before, has hired Tyler Hamilton to race here in the US. Now let's get this straight, Tyler has served his time and deserves the right to be able race his bike. Racing organizations in Europe aren't going to let this guy race on any kind of real stage, so welcome home Tyler. It'll be good for American Racing, it'll be good for both the domestic teams and the promoters. Michael Ball and his strategy of hiring the best "doping orphans" will certainly raise both the level of the racing and the profile of those races. If this is how we get more people on bikes and more bikes on TV, I'm all for it. Good on Ya' Mike and Rock Racing!! If Rock Racing implodes in an avalanche of doping scandals, I'll be the first one in line with my "Dopers Suck" shirt looking for the Rock Racing team vehicles.

And no I'm not buying a Rock Racing Jersey (yet)

Go Slipstream!!

Oh That Christmas Spirit

So even tho I now count myself as one of the angry heathen non-believing masses. I was raised as your basic church twice a year christen for the most part. Early on, we even went more than that. Essentially what I'm trying to say is that Christmas isnt exactly a foreign idea to me. I get it. Celebrate our love for the people in our lives and show that we value them, by giving offering to them. Problem is, that this basic idea of giving of ones self to others in celebration of peace harmony and togetherness came off the tracks somewhere.

Now while I am all about showing your love for those in your life, family friends and otherwise, I am increasing baffled and irritated that I am forced into a sacred holiday of consumption that I dont believe in, in the first place.

Lets break it down. I'm an atheist. No God in my life. Seems silly for me to celebrate the birth of Jesus, doesnt it?? (We wont even start on the fact that Dec. 25th was picked by early Vatican leaders in order to usurp the pagan holiday surrounding the winter solstice, that's another post). Hey that's ok, I can find other things to be thankful for; oh wait, that holiday was last month. Let's go with, I can still get into the spirit of the season.

Then there's the obligatory gift giving. Actually, I dont really have too much a problem with this in concept. But this is where it pretty much ends. When I was a kid, (isnt that the way all grumpy old guy whining starts??), Giving was special, it was a treat. It was because you wanted to do something special, not because you had to. And even then, it was usually something, different, something you wouldnt necessarily buy for yourself. It wasnt frickin $1500.00 either. There was some sort of modesty and restraint shown. Respect. Anymore its a ridiculous show of gross consumption. My love for you is somehow directly tied to how much money I can throw around on trinkets that will either be broken or forgotten in 6 months.

Many over spend, some put themselves in so much credit card debt they spend the rest of the year trying to get out of it. I'm lucky. I've got a good job, a wife who loves me, a roof over my head, and no kids. Which means I can pretty much afford whatever I want, short of a Porsche. Most of my family is the same, save for the kid part, but hey they brought that on themselves. Either way, there's nothing I want for. There's little that I need. Yet I am somehow disregarded or called a scrooge when I ask to be dealt out at Christmas. We still gets all the kids something. Its just the consumerism of it really starts to offend me. I dont want anything more, you have most things you need. And yet people go ahead an continue to spend XX amount on stuff, that is then opened on an assigned randomly picked day, oooo aaahhh, thanks very much, and garage saled in the spring. Then they demand that I behave in kind.

Remember what your savior stood for people! Help those who need it most! Instead of giving Johnny the newest X-Box, cause last years is sooooo out of date, tone down your own consumption of crap and give to those who actually need it. Throw some money at the charities that do nothing more than make other peoples lives better. Figure out what you believe and help them out somehow. Buy XX amount of $$ worth of blankets from the Thrift store and drop it off at the homeless shelter. Make a special trip to the grocery store, and drop it all off at the food bank. Throw some money at the charity of your choice. Or even better; you know someone like me, take the money you spend on me and give it to the ACLU, Whitman Walker Clinic, Bikes Belong. Hell, how 'bout some carbon credits to help offset that Hummer you drive.

Are you pickin' up what I'm layin' over here people?? Christmas isnt about the stuff you give or receive. Its about the love you feel, for your belief and those that make your life better. You know what your Mom wants?? I do. She wants you to have her over for dinner and spend some time with her, just because.

Merry Fricken Xmas Dammit

When it rains, it pours

So much going on, way does it always happen all at once??

The Dems cave again. And again they blame senate republicans for "filibustering" the timetables involved in the original bill. Whatever, and if I shit gold I'd live in a bigger house.

Seriously folks, either talk tough and deliver or say outright that your going to bargain to get what you can, but dont tell me its all his/her/it's fault when you dont put up *any* kind of fight and fold in a stiff breeze.

Senate Republicans were also to blame when it comes to no new CAFE standards or reinstating taxes on the record breaking profits of the oil companies. Why you say?? Because oil companies wouldnt dare cut into their margins, they'd only raise prices.

They Assholes!! Thanks alot for repesentin those that brung ya'. Namely corporate interests that fund your re-election campaigns over what your going to leave your kids to clean up environmentally and economically. Seriously, pull your head out of your ass for 10 minutes and take a look around, what do you think is really going to happen?? News Flash!!! Sometimes you just gotta do whats right anyway.

The Mitchell Report came out, and shocker!!! Baseball players are doing steroids like their jobs depend on it. Who Knew?!?! FU all you redneck fucks who thought cycling was dirty, but nobody cheated in baseball.

So they figured out that all the guys setting all these records and that are all shoe-ins for the hall of fame are doping to the gills. Why is this a surprise?? We're talking about millions of dollars, hell I'd do it too. Hey sports fans welcome to the real world.

Trek is backing Astana. Told Ya So, Told Ya So. Different uniform, same team. lets see what happens.


Yeah its been a hell of a day. When are we gonna run out of stupid ya think??

Bike VA

w00t!!
Excuse for bein' stupid, but the Bike VA folks just came out with the first 2008 route details.

This is one of those basic state tours that changes routes every year and offers 5 days or so of supported rides. Couple of metrics, couple of full centuries, a little camping and wayyyy too much hokey, sanitized for your protection, family entertainment ( although the first year I went they showed " The Triplettes of Belleville" in a indoor pool, that was cool). There's the usual "camping" in a high school practice field. The school cafeteria breakfasts, bad white bread sandwich lunches, but all in all a good time.

Usually there is some sort of diversion at most of the rest stops, usually themed according to the theme of that years ride. This year, it's "the Crooked Road", Virginia's own roots music. Now, I'm not much on modern country music, but old skool?? Oh hell yeah! Too bad so much of it is reproduced so poorly. Hopefully, I'll be proven wrong in this particular case. I like me some Bluegrass and Ol' time and this is the place for it.

I usually dont submit myself to the dinners on these things, opting instead for the local cuisine. This can be hit or miss for the most part. 1st year was in BBQ country so we ate pretty well. Last year we found a bar that had ok food, and good drinks. Everyone gained weight.

Mostly tho, its nice to have the chance to ride in some else's back yard and have most everything taken care of. Bring a bike, a tent and some beer money, sit back relax and put some miles in. Yeah, I'll be there again this year.

BikeVA 2008

VELOCIO, Man, Myth, Legend, Card Carryin' Bad Ass

First off, I lifted this off the Drunk Cyclist directly. It however was lifted from somewhere else, so I only feel so bad. Besides it's good to know "from whence one came".

VELOCIO, GRAND SEIGNEUR
by Clifford L. Graves, M.D.
May 1965

When a throng of cyclists from all corners of France converged on Saint-Etienne one day last July as they had done for more than forty years, they were paying homage to a man who accomplished great things in a small corner of the world. He was a man who devoted a lifetime to the perfection of the bicycle and the art of riding it, a man who inspired countless others through the strength of his character and the beauty of his writings, a man who even in his old age was capable of prodigious riding feats; in short, a man who might well be called the patron saint of cyclists. That man was Paul de Vivie, better know as Velocio.

Read the Rest Here

Its Long but well worth the read.

Thank You Big Jonny and Pistol Pete for droppin the knowledge.

I suck

Wanting to ride and manning up and actually riding are 2 waaaaay different things. I of course pussed out and didnt ride. Not that it was that cold, but it was chilly enough. and gray, and -looked- like it was going to rain. So I was a pussy. Instead I went to look at crap I had NO intention of buying and drove an hour (as long as I was 1/2 way there anyway) to see friends at their Xmas tree farm (no I didnt bring one back for us). And that was pretty much my day. Whole fat load of nothing, and I'm only a little annoyed at my fat self. Not nearly as annoyed as I should be. No givin others crap when I cant manage to pound out the miles either. I did manage to get in 18 yesterday to and from the soccer fields, late in the day. I would've gone farther, but I didnt want to run out of day light. Or at least that's my excuse.

I suck.

Wont Get Fooled Again!!

GODDAMMIT!!

FU GW!!

The presidents own intelligence report (the NIE) has confirmed what most of the rational world suspected all along. IRAN IS NOT A THREAT!! And yet our president in all his wisdom carries on. Essentially saying Iran is a threat because they were a threat. They once had a secret weapons program, so you never know when they are going to restart it.

Well no shit. You know what else I know?? I know that the leader of the one time most respected country in the world has started and illegal war based on lies and fallacies that he knew were nothing more than illusion when he set upon a course that would lead directly to the death of 100's of thousands of innocent Iraqi's. Granted they are not all innocent, but they aint all insurgents either. He is responsible for more Americans deaths than Al Qaeda (3800 and counting). Now he wants to lead us again into another illegal war with an Army that is already strained and suffering.

Less than 2 weeks ago this man proclaimed that unless we acted with urgency, we were facing WW III. Now we find out that really these guys aren't so much a lunatic fringe. They react as most rational leaders do to international pressure. Our president on the other hand continues to insist that the only option here is a violent one that will only mean the deaths of thousands of people American, Iranian and anyone else that is standing too close. I ask you who is more dangerous??

It gets worse. Oct 17th Mr President first puts forth the idea that allowing Iran to continue its nuclear ambitions could end in WW III. As it turns out, the NIE has been in government hands for a year now. The last 6 months it remained almost unchanged. In Aug. a senior member of the Bush intelligence team told Fearless Leader that there were new developments in the Iranian Weapons program. I would have asked questions. You would have asked questions. Any chimp who can form coherent thought would have asked questions. Wanna guess who did not ask questions??

Mr. Bush claims that he had no knowledge of the change in status in Iran. Yet he is the most briefed individual on the planet when it comes to current foreign intelligence. He receives daily morning briefings from the CIA, NSA, DOD, and really anyone else he wants to talk to. He's telling us, he didnt know what his own intelligence operations were learning about in Iran as he and Darth Cheney were beating the war drums with vim and vigor not seen since 2002??

I knew when the Florida election was taken out of the hands of the voters and G. W. was appointed President by a split court that we were going to war with Iraq. I had no idea that so much damage could be done to our constitution and standing in the world as this man has done in 6 years.

The worst part of it is that we let it happen. We did not ask the questions. We did not demand that people be held accountable for their acts. We allowed our rights to be taken without protest. We allowed the cronyism. We allowed the no bid contracts, the mercenaries, the extordinary rendition, torture, the secret prisons . We allowed those who would profit most to write the policy that we the people pay for. We allowed our schools to be eroded from within. All the while all we had to do was support our President and buy stuff.

Shame on "We the People". We know better. We deserve better. And we damn well should demand it! Your either a liar or a fool Mr. President, which is it??

The Muse is a Fickle Creature

My writing muse seems to be a fickle creature. The other day I was all wound up about one political thing or the other, but since I had just posted a political commentary, I was hesitant to post another so quickly.

Lesson learned. Play the cards you got boy, cause you dont know what the next hand is gonna deal ya'.

Since then I have to some extent had to work to come up with anything worth blathering on about. And apparently today, I am working harder than any day to this point since I'm whining about having to write about, having nothing to write about.

There are somethings I wonder about. Things that I dont really know enough about to comment on in an intelligent manner. (when has that ever stopped me before??).

Things like;

Why hasnt the writers strike garnered more attention by either the electronic or print media?? This strike will probably have some sort of impact on intellectual property royalties for years to come. They're discussing what internet revenues are worth to artist as residuals.

Why isnt anyone the least bit interested in the fact that our President is currently discussing the future of the US military in Iraq with the president of Iraq in terms of bases and troops that will remain there as semi permanent installations. The agreements that he is looking to create will be approved by the Iraqi parliament, but not our own congress. He (GW) has spoken of a presences in Iraq that would use Korea as a model. The US has been on the Korean peninsula for more than 50 yrs.

Where's Osama??

What ever happened to Walter Reed??

Why are we continuing to hold people around the world in prisons both run by states that have no qualm what so ever in using torture, and why have we NOT clearly defined our own policy concerning torture?? And no, "the US does not use torture" we use enhanced interrogation techniques is not a clearly defined policy??

Why does the US recognize corporations as individuals, in the sense that they share the same rights?? Corporations dont need clean air and water. They dont need healthy food, or safe pharmaceuticals. They can change their identity at will. They pay less in taxes. The government will bail them out if they over extend themselves. When was the last time the government offered to pay your January credit card bill?? When corporations move off shore for more favorable tax rates or to protect their CEO (Haliburton) from prosecution, they still continue to receive all the benefits they had before they left. They have greater access to your senator and congressman than you do. And they dont die, so all they do is continue to accrue money and power.

Uh.

Who knew, guess I had something to say after all.

End Of an Era

Its the end of an era in Cycling. Team T-Mobile is done; stick a folk in 'em its over. Too bad really, I've got fond memories of watching big german guys dressed up in pink riding rough shod over everybody else in the mid 90's. They came from almost no where. At the end of the 80's there no german cycling teams at all. By '95 not only was there a solid team, that team had chalked up a big pile of race wins including multiple green jerseys (courtesy of Eric Zabel) and the first of two tour de france yellow jerseys. Thank You Bjarne Riis and Jan Ullrich.

Ullrich had the unfortunate timing to run directly up against Lance Armstrong. Jan finished second to Lance 4 times, and second to Riis in '95. Quite possibly the most bittersweet palmere in the history of cycling.

Either way starting in 2005 and coming to a head in June '06 with the firing of Ullrich, T-Mobile was plagued by doping allegations dating back to the good ol' days. Most of the major players from that time have coped to doping and the German press has been quite happy to hammer away at them for it. Dont get me wrong DOPERS SUCK.

In 2006, after the firing of Ullrich and Godfroote (team director since 92) the now T-Mobile hired American Bill Stapleton as team director. Bill made significant changes. He fired the team doctors, who both later ended up being charged by the german authorities for distributing doping products. He hired a bunch of new young talent, and he did pretty well this year. Some good solid wins, inc. a mountain top finish at the tour thanks to the baby faced Linus Gerdemann.

But there were more doping convictions, Patrick Sinkewitz being the final straw. Even tho T-Mobile reaffirmed their support for the team in Aug. The new CEO Hamid Akhavan could continue to risk negative exposure and terminated T-Mobile's sponsorship effective immediately. Such is life

Bob Stapleton has promised that the team will continue without its title sponsor under the name of "Team High Road".

Thank You Bob Stapleton!! Good Luck Team High Road!!

I'll still be rooting for Slipstream this year.

Dopers Suck.

Good News, Bad News

First the good news; Trent Lott has added his name to the growing list of Rats abandoning the ship. Trent has set his date for leaving to be sometime in December, barely a year after winning re-election. Probably most recently remembered for his incredibly, stupid comments at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party a couple of years ago (something akin to " we wouldnt be having all these problems now if you had been elected" Thurmond ran on a segregationist platform). I can actually understand how the comment came to be made. It doesnt make it any less offensive or stupid tho. Lott has been a heavy hitter in the GOP since 1972. He retires as party whip, the second most powerful Senator in his party. Now all of this would probably have most people scratching their heads especially considering that Lott is only 66 and has denied any health problems whatsoever. Then there is the little detail of the new senate rules that take effect Jan 1st. The most interesting being the new rule that senators must wait 2 full years before taking jobs as lobbyists.

Maybe he just wants more time to spend with his family.

Now for the bad news;

Saul Raisin has given up his quest to return to the professional peloton after his terrifying accident almost 18 months ago. Saul was a great prospect for American Cycling and a great personality. Always smiling and never taking things too seriously, he remembered the joy of just riding a bike.

More here

An Evening to Remember

So my wife and I celebrated the 10th anniversary of our meeting by going to Restaurant Eve in Alexandria VA. For those of you who dont know, the chef there is named Cathal Armstrong. A native born Irishman, he has been making news right and left here in DC. Restaurant Eve has a bistro, and "The Tasting Room". Probably needless to say; we had reservations for the tasting room.

Now, I am a firm believer the much "Haute" cuisine really relies as much on an air of exclusivity as anything else. There are precious few chefs who truly are doing something all the others aren't. Cathal Armstrong is definitely doing something different.

Starting with cocktails in the bar, (they have their own bar master in charge of developing their own drinks), the evening was just non-stop. One new thing after another. A gentle mix of good solid traditional technique with flair and style. Dont get me wrong there was a little "lets use the fancy name instead" going on, but this was truly a meal that was beyond the skill or imagination of 99.9% of the chefs out there.

There was pureed salted cod quinelles, yellow tail snapper tartar (yeah I know, not that special, but I like it), fresh water eel, skate wing with ox tongue and bone marrow, butter poached lobster (med. rare), blue foot mushrooms and grass fed steak, partridge with duck confit. It just went on and on. All of it beautifully prepared (partridge was a little dry, but hey life is hard). Taken separately the components of each dish were very good, but eaten together; it was a whole different experience. At one point my wife was laughing at me, apparently I had lost the ability to speak coherently.

Throughout the meal everything was at its appearance simple and straight forward, but the execution, the combinations and subtle flavor accent was truly masterful and unique. Most chefs charge ahead with big bold flavors, which is not a bad thing. I like big bold flavors. But in big and bold there is a whole other level that is simple to miss. Balance and subtly is often overlooked or forgotten. Last night was all about detail and subtly. It takes a light hand and immense patience to balance flavors like they did last night. Armstrong reminds us of why European and more specifically French cuisine is regarded as the mother cuisine.

It was an evening I wont soon forget. It was everything I expected and even more.

Thank You Mrs Culimerc, I love you.

Fall Riding

So I went out for a ride on my usual "hilly" loop. It's not all that long, but its never really flat either, so you get a good bang for your buck, training wise.

When I started it was in the hi 40's and the wind was blowing around. I was sitting on the couch watchin tube, knowing I should go out. Knowin' that it wasnt *that* cold. Why is always so hard to get rolling once the weather changes?? All I want to do is sit on the couch, drink beer, eat something hot and starchy, and watch movies I've already seen a dozen times. I had a good time once I got warmed up. And I considered stretching it out a bit. Another 5-10 miles or so. Oh well. Beer is good.

In other news;

Chris Horner, Chechu Rubiera and Vladimir Gusev have all signed with Astana for next year. Rumor is that they'll be riding Treks. Ahhh, the new look Disco boys. Will they actually have *any* Kazakh riders on this team or what. In a solid move to improve the image of both Bruyneel and Astana, they have hired the Doctor (Rasmus Damsgaard) that ran CSC's drug testing program last year. Last year 28 CSC riders subjected themselves to over 600 doping tests. Lets see any major league team of any sport live up to that. Good luck Astana; you've got a HUGE hole to dig yourself out of, but at least your trying.

GO Slipstream!!

F U Barry Bonds.

Solving the problem, not the symptom

So why is it that when people get all wound up about immigration, its always about what to do with people once they are here?? Pretty much can chalk that one up to "closing the door after the horse has bolted" isn't it?? A better question is why are people leaving their homes and families to travel thousands of miles, submit themselves to days and months of sun, storms and the like. Thieves, gangs, coyotes (both 4 and 2 legged) only to go somewhere thats cold as shit, you dont speak the language, you going to live below the American poverty level, and you risk arrest just by showing up.

Cause there's nothing better at home thats why.

Most of the people that show up here undocumented, are here cause there aint shit at home. Most live in the kind of poverty that only the homeless can even begin to fathom.

Wanna solve the immigration "problem"?? Give'm a reason to stay at home. A way to make a living. Ditch NAFTA. Rewrite it to insure that all companies that leave our soil to make things South of the Border, or anywhere else for that matter, are adhering to American employment standards there, or risk tariffs and penalties. 40 hr work weeks. Reasonable wages. Etc. I'm not saying that an employer should being people American wages, but for gods sake pay them equitable wage that would allow an auto worker in Honduras live in the same standard as an American one. By creating A) a family sustaining income, suddenly people get to stay home with their loved ones. B) You also create jobs for people supporting those who now have the means to feed their families.

This is simple demand side economics people, it's not that hard a concept.

The jobs I'm talking about here are the ones that have already left, or will anyway. A farm worker in Mexico should make something that would allow them to own a house, feed themselves and goto the hospital just the same as an American worker. If they are hurt on the job, they shouldn't fear getting fired. They should know that their hospital bills will be paid for, like workers comp does here. Any "free trade" agreement should always demand these standards. Otherwise how equal is the trade?? Maybe rather than a "free trade" agreement, we should concentrate on a Fair Trade agreement.

Do you honestly think that a wall is going to keep anyone out?? Round up 12-15 million people?? How much would that cost?? $500.00 ea?? Do the math on that one. Throw employers in jail?? Without these workers the hospitality industry, agriculture and construction industry would collapse tomorrow. Who do you think is slinging that meat puck at McDonald's, changing the sheets in your hotel room, pouring the cement at that office building going up or picking the oranges for your kid's OJ??

It's time to stop all the racism and hate. It's time to talk about real solutions. Long term solutions. Pragmatism folks, its not just for breakfast anymore.

In the Beginning.........

So here it is the obligatory mental masturbation that is anonymous blogging. The question at this point is really three fold.

1) Will anything I say or think make sense and if it does will anyone give a rats ass.

2) Will I update this thing on any kind of regular basis, or will it become what most blogs do; a timeless electronic billboard of misplaced ambition and neglect.

3)Will I end up on some FBI/Homeland Security watch list or hunted by fanatical right wing conservative jihadists.

So let's set some basic expectations down. First, I am a cyclist. I'm not completely around the bend about it, I actually own and use a car everyday. I don't race but I like to spend time outside riding my bike around in circles. I've been at it since college. I've never really understood riding indoors, but then I didnt understand road riding earlier when I was a mountain biker earlier either.

I spent a good deal of my professional life in kitchens as a line cook and sous chef. I've worked in some really nice places and some really bad places. I like food. I like to cook food. I absolutely dont understand those who spend so much of their life never learning to one of the most basic aspects of our lives at least enjoyable. I do occasionally eat fast food, I'm not saying that you've got to eat only haute cuisine or your crap. I love a good chili dog as much as the next guy, just use good chili and a good dog. 7/11 doesnt have either.

And I'm a life long democrat. LIBERAL! The only reason I still vote democrat is that there isnt a viable more liberal party available. I'm an atheist. Just because I dont believe in God doesnt mean that you shouldnt, just please respect my religion or lack thereof. Government should provide services to its people and protect them from injury from others. It should work hardest for the poorest, because they have the least ability to protect themselves from others taking advantage of them. It should not dictate morality. It should provide education all the way thru college. It should provide roads. It should provide police. It should provide a standing army to protect us from foreign aggression. And Yes, it should also provide some sort of basic health care to EVERYONE, just like, literally, every other civilized country in the world.