On a positive note

It may be 9 degrees right now, but minute by minute we start gaining daylight today.

Merry Christmas

Hogan the dog says 

"the internet, giving spines to the spineless since 1998.  Get to fucking  work"

Beer Review:

Boulevard Nutcracker Ale and Anchor Steam Christmas Brew 

both excellent.

More random

These guys used to own the Blue Note 89-92.  

I vote that Jim does this with his beard

Random

Not much to report.  Busy at work.  Head cold.

Went on a road ride with Jimmy St. Louis, Bud and McQ up around Fellows Lake into a 20-25 mile an hour headwind.  Wind chill about 30.  Good times.

Thinking about a tattoo 

Something like this, since I'm already fully sleeved.

What I'm reading

It's a page turner.

When you wear your PJ's to the DMV. . . .

at 11 am on a Wednesday, I think it is safe to say you have pretty much given up.  Make's Costanza sweatpants look like a tuxedo.

I have seen PJ's at the courthouse before, but not paired with a robe. Fantastic.

(Sorry for the bit of picture breakup, I was on the move.) 

What the hell is the matter with people?

Left court in Christian County this morning and  had to run out the the old home stead  to pick up some Thanksgiving equipment from the Krabman's mom's house.

She had not one, not two, but three trespassers out hunting on her property including this asshole.

They weren't even together.  The first two hillbilly's were out deer hunting.  Mr. Flexfuel was apparently hunting quail.  Safety first.  The hillbilly's at least had the good sense to park down the road (and lie about having permission), but this jackass parks right in the middle of the field and stays hidden. 

 I used to hunt a lot and I lived by two rules my old man taught me, 1. Act like every gun is loaded and 2.  Stay the fuck off other people's property if you don't have permission.

This isn't over.

(Cmac and Mertz this message does not apply to you.)  

This could be you Jim

Look out

This is not a new problem.  I was dealing with these clowns three years ago.  This may be the least of their problems.

This article is fascinating on so many levels. The baptist minister, the fact that they thought these were simple transactions, the fact they admit to using client funds to pay their expenses.  

Don't ever buy or sell a house on a contract for deed. Ever.  

If you choose to ignore this advice and buy under this method, at least make sure the deed is escrowed with Hogan.

Here's to all the Veterans

Veteran's Day always make me think of my three favorite veterans: my grandfather, Uncle Bill and old neighbor Gordon Mayfield.  

Grandpa was an Army Master Sergeant who fought in Italy  and saw Rome fall.

I'm not a real rah rah guy, but bar none the proudest I have ever been in my life was seeing the stars and stripes draped on his casket.  The lady from his church played O Sole Mio on the piano

He wasn't Italian, his time in Italy meant that much to him.

Uncle Bill was a submariner in the Pacific. His stories of 

life on a sub used to fascinate me and give me nightmares.

Gordon Mayfield won a couple of bronze stars in France 

and came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day. Getting stories from him was like pulling teeth. You would have never known he was a bona fide war hero.

And heres to one I don't know: Frank Buckles. Now that is an interesting life.

This looks like something from The Onion, but alas it is not.

Maybe the Fed is treating this guy like George Costanza, whatever he says do the opposite.

 

 By the way New York Fed, in addition to the SEC is responsible for overseeing Wall Street.

    Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of New York
hired Michael Alix, the former chief risk officer of Bear
Stearns Cos., into a group that supervises banks to maintain
their safety.
     Alix was chief risk officer of Bear Stearns from 2006 until
2008, when the bank was forced to sell itself to JPMorgan Chase
& Co. to avoid bankruptcy. He was global head of credit risk
management from 1996 to 2006 and worked previously at Merrill
Lynch & Co.
     Alix will be a senior adviser to William Rutledge,
executive vice president of the bank supervision group,
according to a statement on the New York Fed's Web site. Staff
in the group ``assess the safety and soundness of domestic
banking institutions,'' according to the Web site.
     New York Fed spokesman Andrew Williams declined to comment
on the hire.

The government shouldn't have hired this guy to deliver mail.  Did anyone check his references?

You know there was a time in America where a loser of this magnitude would have had the common courtesy to jump off a bridge or stage a "hunting accident" to avoid shaming his family.  No longer.  He will be overseeing your 700 Billion.  

Don't be an jackass

A wise man said "If you haven't voted yet, vote! If you don't, never complain about any aspect of the outcome."  

I don't care how long the line is.   Some people have no chance to vote or worry about someone blowing up the polling center or trying to shoot them on the way to vote. I was drinking coffee while waiting in line at 6:00 am.  Its not a chore, its a privilege.

29 and Single

Off the chain too.  

Took the new mint green and tan whip out on a little spin to Sac for a couple of luke warm laps.  So far so good.  

The belt is pretty cool.  No stretch or give like on the road SS with the chain (obsolete technology).  Dead silent too.

 I chased a deer that kept stopping and looking back at me wondering what was going on.  I was waiting for Cmac to skewer it.

Special thanks to Patrick at A & B for making things happen.  Good call Skip. Spot on as usual.

Now that was alright

Back in 1990 I witnessed a robbery, the Missouri/Colorado 5th down game.  

Last night me and 68,000 witnessed a murder.  Missouri 58 Colorado Nil.   

That's big time college football.  

Let's be careful out there

As I have stated previously, in my business you see the same things over and over again.  I had another client come in on one of these scammy issues recently and it just hacks me off that people are out there getting ripped off.

 First and foremost,  when somebody rips you off, they don’t put that money in a CD or money market account waiting for you to ask for it back.  It is almost always gone.  Collecting a judgment is often the most difficult part of the process.  There are numerous protections for a debtor and you just cannot get at some assets. This is something that is difficult for many people to believe.  You may be lucky to even find these people.  Very often there is realistically nothing that can be done.  

Avoid problems.

Here’s the list of things to think about:

1. Going cheap.

Don’t confuse cheap with being frugal.  Frugal is smart, cheap is dumb and expensive in the long run.  

For example, if a roofer comes in several thousand dollars cheaper than any other bid, run don’t walk away.  He either is an idiot, screwed up his bid, desperate to get a job (and will probably be looking for another job while not working on/finishing yours) or actively out to rip your off.  

This goes for everything.  Going “expensive” is no guarantee of not having a problem, but cheap is almost always a recipe for disaster.

Buying a business?  Hire an attorney and an accountant.  Don't take the business brokers word for anything.  He doesn't get paid unless you buy.  Know what you are buying.

  2.  Don't invest with or partner with a guy from church.

For whatever reason, I hear this one too much.  

   2 a) Avoid guys with religious symbols in ads, letter head or business cards unless they are a preacher.

See above

  3.  References. Ask for recent ones and  check them out.

I once worked in an office in which I was assigned an assistant.  The assistant almost immediately stated she needed my company credit card.  I was not travelling anytime soon and  refused.  She persisted.  I guess a couple other people had some questions about her.  I spoke to the HR lady who hired her.  The HR lady was more interested in smoking and what was for lunch than doing her job.  After enough questions were raised, HR lady finally  contacts her references.  One of her “references” was shocked he had been listed. He said he had a $650,000 judgment against her for embezzlement.  Nice work HR.  Have a smoke.  ( A few years later I heard a story about this assistant, from a completely unrelated source.  The assistant had started cleaning houses and was caught stealing from a kids piggy bank.  The group of people she was cleaning for then caught her stealing from all their children’s change jars)

If there is a hole resume look into it.  Old references are useless.  For construction guys, ask for their last half dozen jobs.  Call them.

  4.  Unqualified and uninsured

We had a lot of new general contractors out there recently.  Many with zero gc experience.  Usually not good.

Tree trimmer + No insurance = no thanks.

  5.  Use the Better Business Bureau and Missouri Case Net system to check them out.

Look for complaints and or lawsuits against company and owner.  Just having one or two may not be too bad, but look into them.  Default judgments and not responding to BBB complaints are poison.

Also the Missouri Secretary of State for companies.  Look for name changes, new companies or if the owner is the registered agent for several companies.

  6.  Get it in writing.

Hire an attorney, see rule #1.  

I will add to the list as I think of them.  Nothing earth shaking here, just common sense.  Keep these in mind to stay out of a jam and out of my office. 

Its October?

Winter can't be far behind.

Hopefully there will be plenty of this:

And none of this:

Speaking of October, Boulevard Brewing Co. has its seasonal Octoberfest brew out right now, the Bob's 47 Munich Style Lager.  I think it may be the best beer's they make.     And it has a reasonable price.  Support your Missouri Brewery.  But like all good things it won't last.

Came across this little gem surfing the tube the other night.  Check it out.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta 

Best new comedy* of the year.  

I recently took up photography

Here is an action photo from my portfolio.  I think it nicely captures the eternal struggle of man versus machine (or seat post)

I call it: " Three Monkeys In Search of a Football", but  I am open to suggestions.

That must be some hat

From the News-Leader.  Tis a privilege to live in the Ozarks 

Shooting prompted by conflict over woman, hat

DIRK VANDERHART • NEWS-LEADER • OCTOBER 7, 2008

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Depending on who tells the story, a double shooting outside a Springfield nightclub Saturday morning was caused either by a conflict over a woman or a stolen hat.

A document used to charge Ozark resident Johnathon L. Kates in the incident includes both scenarios.

Kates, 21, is accused of opening fire on two men with an AR-15 rifle outside the Electric Cowboy nightclub, 3636 S. Campbell Ave., at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

Later that day, he was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in connection with one victim's injuries.

A probable cause statement filed with the charges sheds new light on what preceded the shooting.

Victim John Miller allegedly told police Kates and his friends "were jealous over a girl that was talking with his buddy," the document says.

When a fight broke out in the parking lot, Miller said Kates went to a pickup truck and "pulled out an assault rifle."

Miller said he tried to wrest the weapon from the man's grip, but was shot in the process. He told police he continued to struggle with Kates and, following several more shots, got the gun away from him.

"Miller said he struck the male with the butt of the rifle and started stomping on his head several times," the document says.

Timothy Merritt, a friend of Kates, told a different story.

He said Kates' hat went missing at some point in the night. The friends later identified a man they believed took it and began fighting with the man in the parking lot, the probable cause statement says. Bouncers broke up one of the fights, but another ensued, Merritt said.

Merritt told police Kates went to the pickup and got a gun, and that he lay on the ground as shots rang out.

Then, there's Kates, who spoke to an officer in St. John's Hospital.

He allegedly told the officer that he didn't know what happened, asking "Did I shoot someone?"

According to the probable cause statement, he then told the officer:

"I keep an AR-15 in my truck and if anyone (expletive) with me, that's the first place I run."

Kates pleaded not guilty to the charges in an arraignment hearing Monday. He's next scheduled to appear in court Nov. 5.

News Flash: Hurricane Karma hit Las Vegas Friday

It looks like Detective Nordberg won't be joining us on a training* ride any time soon.  Apparently what happens in Vegas does stay in Vegas.

13 years to the day after acquittal .  Now that is Karma.

Getting away with a double murder (allegedly) and going to prison on armed robbery for sports memorabilia?  Dick Wolfe would reject that script for Law & Order as too absurd.

An old attorney said it best  years ago after a story came out about a car break-in at the courthouse parking lot before court one morning.  

Pointing at the group chained together for their hearings he said, 

 "You know, these guys aren't down here to pick up their Rhodes Scholarships"

Pro Bono Brew Review

I had a disturbing experience this over the weekend.  I shared this with Jim while training tonight.  After I got home, showered and sat down with a quality brew I felt that it out be an important public service to share my opinion on the matter.

We went to the the in laws in Wildwood this weekend.  (I will post a great route map for those who make it to St. Louis with their road bike in the future.)  After the ride, at lunch, my father in broke out a "gift" some one have recently given him.  He was appalled at this "gift" and insisted that I try some. I demurred.  He insisted.  I resisted, I knew this was a bad idea.  The little lady stepped in and accepted one.  The "gift" in question? 

 A six pack of Bud Light Lime.

As both of my readers know, I enjoy a good beer.  I'm not a wine guy or a single malt scotch whiskey guy, just a beer guy.  Nothing wrong with liking wine or scotch, its just not for me.  I'm generally a big experimenter with various beers from around the country and the world.

As an experiment, I took a swig.  How bad?  Worse than I imagined.  Sickeningly sweet with a beer aftertaste.  Super. 

A beer with a shot of lime? 

 Why?  

Who is the market for this thing?  High school girls?  People who can't manage to get a lime in a Corona?  I suspect the next rowdy, underdressed (not in a good way), sunburned, drunk chick you see acting like an idiot at a concert or pub crawl will have a Bud Light Lime in her hand.

Beer and sweets just don't mix.  Period.

 Look at what goes with beer:  brats, pretzels, pizza, steak just to name a few.

What's not on the list: Fruit.  

The orange slice in a wheat beer?   How did this become standard operating procedure?

The lime in a Corona?  It was to cover the taste.  For years the reason people liked it was because they were on vacation when they were drinking it.  As Jim corrected pointed out, its now brewed in Chicago for the U.S. market, so the taste improved.

Adding a shot of "100% natural lime flavor".  

Whatever that is.  Will it stave off scurvy?

My father in law is a Bud man and a Bud fan.  He's a shareholder and a big supporter.  Even he was at a loss to explain this product.

Maybe one of the few good thing about summer ending is that hopefully this will all go away.  Save your money. 

This guy must have a fantastic trust fund

He's at every race.  I saw this dork back when he was only a longhorn.   Bastille Day 2004.   The gendarmes start telling people to get off their bikes. The closer to the finish line, the bigger the gendarme.  Mizzou football Saturday highway patrolman working the intersection of Stadium and Providence big.  It is probably about 30 minutes before the publicity caravan came through.  The gendarmes became more and more “serious” in their warnings to stop.  Then begin physically stopping people.    Like Dalton, they were nice.  But firm . About 10 minutes later Longhorn comes riding up. This gendarme stops him, he gets off his bike and starts walking.  After 5 feet he hops back on his bike. The gendarme walks over and picks up his bike by the seat post and panniers.  He was still on the bike.

This was the same day I saw Richard Virenque and Axel Merckx in the break.  Virenque dropped Merckx up the road from us and won on Bastille Day.  The French celebrated. 

I did not know a human could sweat like Merckx.  It looked like he had a water hose in his helmet.   It was pretty  macho. 

Is anyone training Tuesday?

Sometimes nothing can be a pretty cool hand.

Now there goes one cool dude.

S

Thanks but no thanks

I the interest of avoiding having a blog full of stories that all end "and I dropped off the back" I thought I might on occasion share some "legal" stories that both my readers may find interesting.  

In my business you come across all types.  I am surprised that I still get surprised at what some people expect.  

 This little gem occurred this week  

I recently had a prospective client show up at my office unannounced demanding to see me.  I was in court out in the country and this person scheduled an appointment for the next day.  According to my assistant this person then waited in the parking lot for about an hour for me.  

Next day this person shows up and demands some pro bono work from me.

pro bono publico |ˌprō ˈbônō ˈpoōbliˌkō; ˈbōnō ˈpəbliˌkō|
adverb & adjective
for the public good : [as adv. ] the burden they carried pro bono publico.
• (usu. pro bono) denoting work undertaken for the public good without charge, esp. legal work for a client with a low income : [as adv. ] the attorneys are representing him pro bono | [as adj. ] pro bono legal services.
ORIGIN Latin.

What was the emergency you ask?  How could I serve the public good you ask?  

Was this a situation were I was saving widows and orphans from  Snidely Whiplash?  Was I to defend some poor soul against the man?  No.

This person wanted me to negotiate with and/or file a lawsuit against his/her mechanic to get his/her Mercedes out of the shop.  The shop was threatening to sell it for failing to pay a repair bill from a collision. This person had spent the insurance money on something else.

Now your saying,  “Kman this person needs that Mercedes to go to work.  I’m sure that car is this person’s only dependable form of transportation. What type of bike did they ride to come see you?’

This person was driving their other car.  

Surely it was a Yugo or Reliant K you say.

You would be wrong,  it was a Humvee.

As Jim would say "thanks for coming"  

 

In the show even the world champion wrenches

The halo effect of owning a (real) rainbow jersey.

Watching Lars Boom and the Rabobank crew break down the team bikes was pretty amazing.  I don't think it was their first time.  Thanks for the hat, Lars.

Vande Velde

Jim and Skip were there Sunday also.

Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright passed away Monday.  You couldn't grow up in the 80's and hit college in the early 90's without having a little Pink Floyd in the background.  You just couldn't.  I broke out the cassette tapes this week.  They were talking about touring next year.  I was in.   Shine on you crazy diamond.

 Were have all the good bands gone?

Here's one for the Phi's and Mom Miller

I'll come back with something a little more current but here is an old school photo back when the peloton was ruled by the hard men.  

I think this guy is from Belgium.

Here's a couple of more photos from St. Charles.

Does this thing work?

I figured now was as good a time as any to dork out and start a blog.  

Here are some photos of the St. Charles Stage of the Tour of Missouri.  We used the "rain" camera, so these are not Hogan quality.

The little lady and I headed to St. Louis for the final stages of the Tour.  We caught the stage in Augusta at the Augusta Brewing Company right on the Katy Trail.  These folks were cool enough to let us camp in their beer garden 7 years ago when we rode the Katy Trail.  Good food, good beer, good setting.   Highly recommended.

We stood at the top of a hill, right outside the brewery.  Huff said he saw us, but we missed him.  We then headed over to Defiance, but just missed the riders.  

Then on the St. Charles.  It was packed.  Saw these two idiots

We stood about 50 meters from the finish with a good view of the video board to watch the last 10K.  Huff came by about 7 or 8 back and looked great.  3rd place.  Here are some post race more to come.