Velo Lex

Good news

2011-03-08T19:00:00.004-06:00

Underrated

2011-01-14T20:20:00.017-06:00

Downloading some music from on old ipod and I realized if you don't like The Cult, you're pretty much a pussy.

Hey now

2011-01-02T09:16:00.005-06:00

In a world in which network tv programming involves fat people crying or half ass "talent" contests with half ass "celebrity" judges, it is a real treat that the IFC channel is showing my favorite show of all time, The Larry Sanders Show.

They are also showing the classic Mr. Show and the very good new The Increasing Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret.

Please reward this behavior.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-19T19:11:00.009-06:00

Drastic times indeed

2010-09-09T20:49:00.002-05:00

Guts

2010-08-09T18:58:00.007-05:00

You know I was going to do a post about 15 years since the Fat Man died. I was in law school then. The attack on the volunteers in Afghanistan instead makes me think of my friend from law school Fern. She liked the Fat Man too. Puts a lot of stuff in perspective.

Fantastic

2010-08-04T17:51:00.001-05:00

I love the Tea Bag movement.

Good Stuff

2010-07-21T18:41:00.003-05:00

Jens does it again.

Best video with a dinosaur puppet I have ever seen.

a few more from verona

2010-06-21T15:53:00.002-05:00

Terrible picture of Cadel. Out of the car and on the bus in a flash.

A few more

2010-06-14T09:29:00.002-05:00

The Lion King and the Chicken

2010-06-09T15:57:00.004-05:00

Super Mario taking a group out on a preride of the course. Biggest cheers of the day.
Rasmussen.

Thin.

Walking around in a leather coat in 85 degree weather didn't look odd at all.

Giro 4

2010-06-06T09:31:00.002-05:00

Giro 3

2010-06-04T14:10:00.000-05:00

Giro 2

2010-06-03T07:03:00.002-05:00

Roman Holiday

2010-06-02T07:16:00.004-05:00

genius

2010-05-17T15:45:00.002-05:00

Now this is old school

2010-05-09T20:05:00.004-05:00

Watch what you throw in the river, it may be around for awhile.

It felt like an aluminum bat.

Nasty

2010-04-30T16:06:00.009-05:00

New trail: Skip Nasty approved.

Trail tour led by the design team. Thanks for the work. Sweet.
Anyone ridden this? Right next to these:
McCloud strain. Note the "thumbprints" down the side.
Everyone is checking out the new trails at the Sac.
We had a pretty good run of weather here is the Ozarks.

April

2010-04-21T17:34:00.008-05:00

Honey Run, Post BurnNight Fishing
Sac Morning ride
These guys heard I was headed out on the Tuesday night world championships.

Time is flying by

One of the better shows I have ever seen.

update

2010-04-04T19:56:00.009-05:00

Hit the Sac early Friday morning before court in Forsyth. Trail was in great shape before the rain. Kudos to the builders of the new trail. Very nice.

Another early riser

After court made my way over to the dam. Fishing in the rain caught a bunch of dandies.

Things to do in Denver

2010-02-24T19:37:00.005-06:00

Travel tip: If flying from Denver on a Sunday, plan on at least 3 1/2 hours to get through the United and TSA line. Or maybe 3 for United.

I could fire off a comment about the terrorist having won, but it really is that customer service has lost. Big time.

Everything else was pretty tight. Got some sweet skiing in with the K Lady the went to Boulder and saw the K Grandma and my Aunties (emphasis added).

Had some killer local Colorado Beer that we can't get here.

I'm in

2010-02-12T19:20:00.011-06:00

If you are an American man of a certain age you probably are too. Until I was 9 years old I thought Brezhnev was going to eat my dog and we were would be fighting Russians in the streets like Swayze did a couple of years later in Red Dawn. I felt better about our chances after Jim Craig held off the Red Army team. Bar none the most exciting thing in my life to that point and still the greatest sporting event I have ever seen.

God bless Herb Brooks.

Stay classy

2010-01-20T17:46:00.002-06:00

What's going down?

2010-01-16T15:47:00.005-06:00

I rode my bike outside today. Fantastic. I think I may have doubled my mileage for the year. It was like a heat wave.

Beer review

Sam Adams Noble Pils, pretty good.

Bell's Hopslam is out its like another Christmas in January.

Founders Pale Ale, outstanding.

Sierra Nevada Celebration, disappointingly weak this year usually very good

Great Divide Hercules Double IPA, pretty good

How about Pat Robertson? We need fewer of him and more people like this.

Something that has been bugging me: NFL pre game shows where they go to the studio "field" and try to show us something important with all 9 panel members. Its lame and invariably one of the ex players tries to show he should still be playing when they go to commercial. Painful. How is this still happening? I'd say lets scrap the whole show, but how would I know turnovers are bad, starting strong is good and converting on 3rd down is key and other such gems? I miss Irv Cross, Musberger, Jane Kennedy (google her) and Jimmy the Greek.

Photo dump

2009-12-22T20:27:00.005-06:00

Traffic backed up past the office.

A frozen Sac

Im here from downtown

2009-12-17T20:43:00.008-06:00

Happy Holidays

2009-12-06T20:54:00.005-06:00

From the K Man and the K Lady

Breaking stuff

2009-11-13T19:25:00.010-06:00

About 3 miles later I broke this MF.

Had a couple of good road rides, including a wicked night road ride on the SS with Skip, Bud Light, Chris Moore and J Edgar. We saw more deer that Cmac and Nelson combined for the year including a monster.

Epic spiriting under the head lamps ensued. I broke this MF. Sometimes the sprinters get it wrong. He did have the worlds greatest victory salute on the last sprint though.

I took my best looking fishing buddy and headed up to Bennett to open the catch and release season today.

I broke this MF and a bunch of his buddies.

The K Lady broke these MF's and a bunch of their buddies

Benton County

2009-11-01T20:28:00.012-06:00

The K lady and I ventured to Warsaw. Trails were in good shape and for the most part leaf free. We were talking to some guys at the trailhead, they said have a leaf blower on a trailer that they pull behind a bike. It was pretty sweet. Nelson would like it, they have a bunch of squirrels.

We saw a couple of camels around Urbana grazing in a field. That was unexpected.

Audible

2009-10-28T21:28:00.012-05:00

The K Lady and I made an audible Saturday and skipped Mizzou homecoming. I think it may be the first time I have missed in about 20 years. I needed some exercise. Too much time sitting on my ass in court the last month. We headed down to Lake Leatherwood. If you remember correctly, this was the site of JB's victory earlier this year. I couldn't find a plaque, so maybe we were in the wrong place. Then we had a little BBQ at Bubba's in Eureka Springs. Outstanding.

Today had a little court in Camdenton. What a difference a week makes. I was up there a couple days last week and the leaves were poppin. They are all down now. I hit Honey Run. Trail was hard to see the leaves were so thick. I had to use the Force. But I did see a Big Wheel in a tree. So I got that going for me.

Good stuff

2009-10-24T09:27:00.004-05:00

More horseshit

2009-10-18T19:47:00.006-05:00

Nads and I caught 5 or 6 high school kids riding horses at Sac, (including a black kid riding a horse that had a confederate flag blanket under the saddle). Words were exchanged.

Random questions

2009-10-15T15:28:00.009-05:00

Does anyone else have a couple of people in their office that "overlaugh" at each others stories? How do you not punch these people?

How is it that within the span of 10 minutes you can see someone in bankruptcy driving a BMW and someone with several enormous judgments and tax liens driving a Lexus?

How can a person attempt to to park 4 times, in a parking lot, and fail while talking on the phone?

Who calls a lawyer at midnight to talk about real estate?

Why does this weather here suck so much?

Brew review:

Boulevard Pilsner is excellent.

Sam Adams Coastal is weak.

Founder's Centennial IPA is outstanding.

Happy Global Handwashing Day!

Sunday I went down a rode an opener loop at Chadwick on the single speed with JB, Jimmy St. Louis and CMac . Terrible idea on my part. Here's a better opener:

(Best part is about 3 minutes in where Bramhall looks a Trucks with a "how cool is playing with Clapton?" look.)

Im chafed

2009-10-03T19:49:00.004-05:00

Universal Sports was on a temporary channel.

blah blah
>
> Please be advised that Universal Sports was a special temporary channel to broadcast the Tour of Spain and is no longer available.
>

Speaking of chafed.

The Tao of Dalton

2009-09-14T20:14:00.005-05:00

"All you have to do is follow three simple rules. One, never underestimate your opponent. Expect the unexpected. Two, take it outside. Never start anything inside the bar unless it's absolutely necessary. And three, be nice."

Words to live by.

Add that to Warren Zevon's "enjoy every sandwich" and you pretty much have my personal credo.

Time travelling

2009-09-13T18:21:00.006-05:00

Went down to horseshit junction Saturday to remind myself why I never go down there. It is pretty though. East red was good.

Last time I was at Busiek things looked a little different. But alas December is around the corner.

WITMF?

Another time traveller has been recruited.

Sunday Skip, JB, CMac and Jimmy St. Louis met for a couple of hot laps at the Sac.

We were soon joined by Bud "Light Rider" Hogan. Good times were had by all.

FYI if you send a nasty email to Directv about Versus, you may or may not receive a bunch of movie channels through the end of the year gratis.

I must say Universal Sports may be my new favorite channel on TV. Schlager(sp?) and Gogulski are growing on me. Fast.

On the road

2009-09-03T07:45:00.013-05:00

Had a little work to do in Lee's Summit and Jeff City last week.

Hit Cosmo park in Columbia on my way back from the Summit. Cosmo is a great park, I wish we had something like it here. I used to fish out there back in the day. Hit Rhett's Run for about 30 minutes and then this happened last Thursday.

After a visit to the Cole County courthouse and brief stop at the Capital it was off to the Lake and the K Lady's family reunion. Make a couple of appearances at Honey Run. Got into the worst case of seed ticks you can image. Apparently there is a strain of OFF resistant ticks in Camden County.

What is better this guys license late or his business name? Stay classy Springtown.

Took my 300th victory of the year over Farasy on the Tuesday nighter.

Hit Sac last night. Turned over a grand on the time machine.

Check this out.

Bullriders and Bicyclist Unite!

2009-08-21T21:03:00.007-05:00

Watching the Tour of Ireland on Versus. Direct TV is running a scroll at the bottom of the screen that they may quit carrying Versus August 31 due to a contract dispute. Is that a negotiating ploy? Am I supposed to call Phil and Paul or "a certain Mr. Lance Armstrong" and tell them to cave in? What that did was have me confirm that Dish has Versus, Speed, Fox Soccer and Fox News (Beck and OReilly = greatest comedy team since Martin and Lewis). Way to drive your customers to check out your competitor. Dumbass.

Direct TV, I've been with you since the Prime Star days in the bachelor pad, but I fully intend to follow up on my email tonight that I will drop you like a hot rock if I don't have Versus on September 1.

Speaking of dumbass check this out. Good thing he doesn't have any power in this deal or anything. Oh wait he does. What a dick.

Man I feel old

2009-08-06T17:14:00.009-05:00

John Hughes died. Check out this list. 1983-89.

Thanks for the laughs.

80's weekend

2009-08-03T13:52:00.008-05:00

The K Mobile 1989-1995. Best car I ever owned. Saw this beauty coming back from the courthouse last Thursday. This baby still has the crease in the gas tank cover from attempting an ill advised fueling attempt late one evening.

Speaking of ill advised.

Notice the heater at the end of the propane box. Genius. I took this by Six Flags on a ride up at the in-laws Saturday around Wildwood.

They paved the roads again around Wildwood(they were about 2 years old). This is the best ride around.

Hit Castlewood Friday evening with the K lady and the father in law (his home course. He lives 3 minutes away from a connecter trail. That's rough.)

Ran into the K Lady and her father Saturday.
Went to the little lady's high school reunion. It was fantastic.

I avoided mine like broken glass, but going to someone else's is great. I highly recommend it.

A few highlights:

Some guy may or may not have brought a stripper (judging by her outfit/dancing, I voted yes).

Some guy was going on about how much money he made, till someone called him out for a recent bankruptcy.

Some girl came up to one of the k lady's friends and said "you know, you were a real bitch in high school, but I kind of like you now".

Sunday went to the ball game.

If could go back in time

2009-07-28T21:43:00.011-05:00

Seeing Shatner on Conan reminded me of this gem I found a few years ago. If I could go back in time I would pay $100 go back to 1978 to sit in the audience at this award show.

Nice farewell speech by the pitbull. Why don't you stop talking for a while.

Know your farmer

2009-07-27T21:14:00.006-05:00

After the sugar buzz crash from the sudden withdrawal of the nightly Tour de France fix, the K Lady and I ventured back into the real world.

Went to see Food Inc at the Moxie

Fantastic. You will feel like a dickhead for eating fast food.

WWJD

2009-07-21T21:29:00.005-05:00

You know the germans make good stuff.

Help a brother out

2009-07-19T20:10:00.006-05:00

One of the down sides of having a sweet wife is that on occasion you wind up with a few of these. This little son of a gun was found at the garden.

About 10 weeks old. A pretty nice little fella.

I am paying for shots and snipping.

Perfect for Sophia Nelson or Eliana Farasy.

Somebody take this thing off my hands.

I couldn't believe my eyes

2009-07-14T19:56:00.005-05:00

Mike Mertz.

Approximately 7:15.

On his bike.

Near the James River bridge.

No helmet.

Still looks fast.

Wow

2009-07-10T19:49:00.005-05:00

That's Dumb.

That's odd.

That's a train wreck

Random thoughts

2009-07-06T20:31:00.005-05:00

I overhead two women at lunch talk about John and Kate plus 8 for 45 straight minutes. Who gives a shit? Is this where we are? Is this what accounts for doing something, getting a TV show because you have a bunch of kids. American Idol contributes nothing but shitty pop music, but its a phenomenon. How many people can name the other ten men who walked on the moon after Armstrong and Aldrin? How many people can name a Medal of Honor recipient? We have a couple wars going on, health care is ruining the country, the economy is in the tank but apparently the only thing that carries any water in this country is going on TV and acting like a dick.

I will not be watching Fanarchy on Versus (see previous comment). Makes me long for the Tapout ads.

That Lance Armstrong is one savvy bike rider. I'll bet Contador is muy furioso.

Who is the target market for the Progressive insurance ads with Flo?

That Roger Federer is one savvy tennis player. What a match.

The Basque and the Dutch have some great names.

Found some Hamm's. A little thin.

Movie review

2009-07-03T07:48:00.003-05:00

I have seen a few good documentaries recently

Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders

Sicko

Blood Sweat and Gears

(Springfield has another movie star)

Non documentary

Les triplettes de Belleville

best silent french cartoon about cycling I have ever seen

Put your hands together

2009-06-29T16:53:00.010-05:00

Took a break from secret training with J. Edgar for a little

convention at the Lake of the Ozarks over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Hit Honey Run a couple of times. May be my favorite single speed trail.

The crew that maintains that trail is good.

Watched a little Versus Sunday with the old Tour stages

from the Postal era.

Two things:

1) The pros look cooler sans helmets. They just do.

2) Lots of guys with "blood value issues" were

doing pretty well

Book Mobile

2009-06-22T16:15:00.004-05:00

Received my VeloNews TdF special issue last week. I feel like a kid at Christmas receiving the Sears catalog.

Picked up up some Schlitz a couple weeks ago to go with the PBR. Outstanding. Don't know why either ever went out of style.

I am looking for some Hamms right now. I haven't seen any since I moved from Columbia. Those cartoons from the 70's are paying residual returns now.

Turtle Head

2009-06-04T20:19:00.006-05:00

Went up to Warsaw with the K Lady last Saturday to check out the trails. Lots of switch backs and deep steep ditches, but nice. I guess there was a race coming up.

Turtles were on the move. I saw about 50 on the way there and while riding.

Sunday rode up to Sac on the time machine and did a couple of laps and rode home blown. I hadn't been to Sac in several weeks. I thought it looked pretty good, though Skip was complaining about the high weeds.

Here is my obligatory shot of the river and trail by the river for the non locals.

Camp Swampy

2009-05-17T21:12:00.006-05:00

After a couple of good Riverside rides with J. Edgar St. Louis this week, I went down to Neosho with the K lady for some dry trails to check out the time machine. Tour de Tick is well named. Nice trail.

Gas crisis must be over

2009-05-05T15:33:00.007-05:00

Honey Run is dry

Spring is here

2009-04-25T19:42:00.013-05:00

Spoke to an engineer at Gates. He confirmed what I suspected. It was not a rock, but raw unadulterated power that snapped the belt. They want me at the plant in Kentucky for testing. Or maybe it was the belt they wanted. Anyway a couple belts are on the way (comp). Since I had no propulsion for the time machine and the wind was blowing 30 miles an hour I demurred on the road riding. The K Lady and I did a little farming and put in the bulk of the garden.

Interesting side note, on the way to the garden (located on some of the Kman's mom's property out in Rog) I encountered a lone rider machoing it straight into the wind. I was impressed. Aero bars, sleeveless with his helmet on backwards. It wasn't an aero helmet or anything, just a regular Giro I believe. I was not impressed. Is this some tri training technic? That can't be comfortable, but I believe he was well ventilated.

Gentlemen the bar is open for post ride refreshments.

Some of the K lady's handy work on the flowers.
Dogwood Lawn Care. Tight.

This is one farmer that will not go broke buying new implements he doesn't need. This thing was my grandfather's and may be from the old country. ( You know the Germans make good stuff.) I wish I knew how many hours I pushed this thing as a kid.

Power

2009-04-23T20:13:00.004-05:00

Raw fucking power.

Actually there was a tiny rock that had wedged in and made a hole where it snapped. Guess I am not playing hooky and riding tomorrow. Glad I was testing the new tire in the neighborhood before I drove north to ride.

Two pretty good brews. Not a fan of wheat beer, but I bought the Anchor Steam without looking too close. Excellent, not really a wheat beer taste at all. Sierra Nevada Lager was fantastic.

Nice little Saturday

2009-04-13T19:36:00.005-05:00

Went to the in laws place at the lake for Easter. Hit the Honey Run trail Saturday and Sunday.

The father in law (67 in June)

The K Lady.
Honey Run was in great shape. The old Mud Skipper was missed. Saturday rode with the little lady and the father in law. Sunday went out solo. A lot colder but still excellent.

Sunday

Nice way to end two days of riding, a nice even number.

Got about 5 hours in over both days. Had a couple of delicious meals. Drank a few of the father in law's delicious brewery fresh Budweiser's. How cool was that? How was your time at the in laws?

Comic Genius, Sir

2009-04-03T23:26:00.006-05:00

It's hard to come by. These two have it.

Jimmy St. Louis may have.

On the bright side, I did win the sprint into Bonkville

2009-03-24T06:38:00.006-05:00

Went down and did the Dogwood on Sunday. High winds and a high pace. Felt great for about 46 miles. Unfortunately Dogwood is about 57 miles with Jim's recon up the second lap climb.

Apparently Annie has a new job with Amgen. Skip has been getting into the samples.

Like an obvious foreshadowing scene in a bad movie, as Jim took off on the recon climb, I turned to Skip and ominously said, "you know, I don't think I had enough to eat this morning" That played an important part in the final act of our little drama.

There is a new bar in town. Everyone does indeed know my name here.

Here is one I forgot

2009-03-19T06:14:00.005-05:00

Eki. One of the all time hard asses.

Herd of deer at Sac last night. Objects closer than they appear.

Any reports of a brown wolf at Sac are attributable to this guy and the K lady.

This is horseshit!

2009-03-10T16:29:00.005-05:00

I guess completely ruining Busieck is not enough for our equine riding friends. Now they are after Sac. I saw a group of 5 or 6 Sunday and a little fresh "evidence" this morning.

What am I missing here? The sign at Sac clearly says no horses.

Sec. 82-1. Park rules generally.

(a) Adoption; prohibited acts. Those rules and regulations adopted by the public park board of the city on March 16, 1971, relating to conduct within the parks of the city under the control and operation of the Springfield/Greene County park board are hereby adopted and approved by the city council, which rules and regulations read as follows:

(1)   Conduct in parks.  It shall be unlawful for any person while on property or in buildings under the operation and control of the park board to: 
t.   Allow cattle or horses to be driven through, run loose, be staked out, or in any other way to be in a park except in such an area as designated for showing or riding such animals.

If you are coming to my house, you better call ahead

2009-03-05T17:12:00.002-06:00

A few more

2009-03-03T18:45:00.002-06:00

I took hundreds.

I watched 10,000 BC the other night. Who knew that mammoths were used to build the pyramids. Can a movie actually make you dumber?

The hard way

2009-02-28T20:19:00.005-06:00

Three of the hardest sons of bitches ever to throw a leg over a bike in Southwest Missouri met up at Sac today for a couple hours in the snow and mud.

And then we went and had fancy coffee.

Hey Lance

2009-02-27T19:19:00.004-06:00

"That guy with the camera looks like he can throw some huge watts"

"Huge, Chris. Huge."

Frank the Tank

2009-02-25T18:10:00.007-06:00

This cat is thin.

Beer review:

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA. We may have a new go to brew at the Casa de K. Nice and hoppy.

More Cali

2009-02-23T18:06:00.008-06:00

Random thoughts from traveling:

After being force fed his show at the airport, Fox's Glen Beck seems like the kind of neighbor I would drive around the block to avoid talking to. What an asshole.

I know the era of high style during air travel is long over, but some people really need to look in a mirror before heading to the airport. (I once flew to London with a guy who wore a sweater vest and no shirt. Although it was hard to tell it was just a vest)

Danish pancakes. Excellent.

Pound for pound the K Lady may be the Kobiashi of stone crabs. Impressive.

Chicks dig Tom Boonen.

SoCal Traffic. At least Californians use their turn signals which is oddly strange.

Jens Voigt is exactly like he is in the movie "Overcoming". He seems like he would be a great guy to drink beer with. He should host the Price is Right.

Huff knows everybody in cycling and they love him.

We're back

2009-02-22T21:37:00.008-06:00

Solvang may have an advantage on Branson for a time trial venue.

Pretty nifty little town. All the big names were there

   Jens
   Boonen
   Huff
   Sastre

And most notably 7 time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong (with Byron's arm)

You lose 100%

2009-02-14T22:26:00.001-06:00

no way to win

How about a cold one?

2009-02-12T20:04:00.002-06:00

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article5707554.ece

WTF?

Now that's tight

2009-02-04T19:27:00.004-06:00

The Langster got a little upgrade today. I got tired of loose chain comments.

I predict a 8-13 watt increase. Minimum.

I had an idea this week. I currently have 6 bikes. If I went and bought 8 today would somebody give me a reality show? How about free tubes and chains for life?

Rudy needs a dictionary

2009-01-30T18:35:00.008-06:00

"Somehow take the bonus out of the economy"? I don't even know where to start. And i am too tired of dealing with dip shits, morons and assholes to try.

This guy is the second biggest asshole I am aware of right now

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Bonuses for Wall Street fat cats are easy political fodder in uncertain economic times, but former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Friday cutting corporate bonuses means slashing jobs in the Big Apple.

Rudy Giuliani says that when he was mayor, he gauged the New York City budget by Wall Street bonuses.

"If you somehow take that bonus out of the economy, it really will create unemployment," he said on CNN's "American Morning." "It means less spending in restaurants, less spending in department stores, so everything has an impact."

President Obama admonished corporate America on Thursday after the New York comptroller reported that Wall Street bankers received $18.4 billion in bonuses in 2008.

"This is the height of irresponsibility. It is shameful," the president said. Watch Obama blast Wall Street »

These are the same institutions "teetering on collapse" and asking taxpayers to bail them out while taxpayers are dealing with their own tumultuous finances, he said.

Last year, Congress passed a $700 billion bailout for financial institutions, and an $819 billion economic stimulus package is presently making its way through the Senate after garnering House approval Wednesday.

"There will be time for [bankers] to make profits, and there will be time for them to get bonuses -- now is not that time," Obama said of the bonuses, which were about equal to those of 2004.

When Giuliani ran for the GOP presidential nomination, pundits said his stances on issues like abortion rights separated him from self-proclaimed Reagan Republicans in the field. Not up for debate is Giuliani's alignment with the 40th president on "trickle-down economics," the theory that keeping the rich wealthy creates jobs and solvency for the lower classes.

"Those bonuses, if they are reversed, are going to cause unemployment in New York," the self-described fiscal conservative said. "I remember when I was mayor, one of the ways in which you determine New York City's budget, tax revenue is Wall Street bonuses.

"Wall Street has $1 billion, $2 billion in bonuses, the city had a deficit. Wall Street has $15 billion to $20 billion, New York City had a $2 billion, $3 billion surplus, and it's because that money gets spent. That money goes directly into the economy. First of all, it gets taxed as income. Secondly, it gets taxes again when somebody buys something with it."

In announcing the Wall Street bonuses Wednesday, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said the $18.4 billion represented a stark dip from 2007's bonuses, which totaled $32.9 billion

"A 44 percent decline in the bonus pool will ripple through the regional economy and the state and the city will lose major tax revenues," DiNapoli said in a statement. "The securities industry has already lost tens of thousands of jobs and the industry is still continuing to write off toxic assets. It's painfully obvious that 2009 will probably be another difficult year for the industry."

This pretty much sums it up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufCiJs-DwWU

More proof it is cold

2009-01-27T19:59:00.003-06:00

The pond at the office is pretty much frozen over.

Anybody know what the blue bill is?

Freeze dried to lock the flavor in

2009-01-25T17:26:00.006-06:00

Gore wind blocker jersey + long sleeve shirt + short sleeve

Wool knickers + tights

Am Fib + liner gloves

2 pair of wool socks + shoe covers

That was a cold ride.

I think it was the Beatles or Kip Winger that said:

Happiness is a warm gun or a frozen water bottle or something like that.

More average quality photos

2009-01-24T10:10:00.003-06:00

Came across a herd of about 10 deer out by the barn at Sac late Friday. I was within about 20 yards of two standing in the middle of the trail, but couldn't get my camera out in time. Forgot to fix the zoom from last time.

Further proof of the demise of civilization. I'm at Big Fat Burrito around noon Friday behind some fat guy who answers his phone in the middle of his burrito order. He starts taking instruction from what sounded like his wife. There are like five people in line and he just stops ordering and starts talking to his wife. Everybody is just standing there looking at each other. I finally gave my best "You gotta be kidding me" and pointed at him to the girl putting his burrito together, she laughed and he pulled his head out of his ass and hung up the phone. No apology to anyone. Stay classy Springfield.

This country is going to hell

2009-01-19T15:08:00.004-06:00

and it has nothing to do with politics. Common courtesy and manners are just gone. I stopped at Target after lunch to get some gum. Bad idea, long lines. I am standing in line behind soccer mom and two daughters. One may have been a teenager, the other was not even that old. All three were on cell phones trying to talk over each other louder and louder so they could be heard on their respective calls. Someone tossing her a live grenade could not have surprised the mom anymore than the idea that she was going to have to pay for her items. She is fumbling through her purse and continuing to talk on the phone. The poor guy trying to check them out.

Let's just say none of the calls involved solving the issues in the Middle East or a cure for cancer. We can all hear you you morons. TMI ladies. The funny thing was, mom's conversation was just as JR. high and pointless as the daughters.

Use your cell phone to take more of these:

Average quality outdoor photos and less inane phone calls.

Here's one from the way back machine.

2009-01-09T20:34:00.014-06:00

Back when I used to listen to a lot of the Dead, I would get into

philosophical discussions with some buddies.

We all used to put on some Dead, sit around the fire and get

into long discussions about all kind of strange things

like the world's most dangerous animal that nobody

realizes is dangerous. (Verdict: Hippo. Funny enough we may have

actually been right on that)

I got an email from one the the "discussion group" the other day. We sent a few back and

forth and came up with a new topic:

If you were going to name a band what would you name it?

The goal is to name bar band names that sound tongue in cheek or a little dirty,

but can be justified if needed by a explanatory

hand bill.

I can't be too dirty or obvious that it can't be said on

the radio to promote a show.

Right now I am leaning towards naming my fake band:

Massive Dump (w/ corresponding photo of a huge snowstorm

or snowplow going down the street)

We rode by the new airport today. Looks impressive from the

runway side of the building. Somebody call Southwest Airlines.

The K Lady recently looked at flights for a business trip.

It was $200 cheaper to fly out of Joplin than Springfield.

Cmac's fu manchu is slightly reminiscent of Lemmy's (sans pork chops).

Greatest three man Canadian band ever

2009-01-06T22:19:00.008-06:00

VH1 Classic 2009 for 2009 is the greatest thing on TV in years. That was basically

what MTV used to be: Videos. Good times.

Random thoughts:

What happened to Glenn Close's face? FX needs to run a

warning.

Tropic Thunder may be the most quotable movie

since Caddyshack.

The K Lady has already had enough of my Kirk Lassiter

impressions.

How much does a Snuggy cost to produce? I can get 2 Snuggies (sp?) and 2 book lights for $19.95 plus shipping and handling? How is that possible?

Is shipping and handling $39.99? Even for cheap Chinese junk, that is impressive.

Has anyone seen one at a sporting event? I am fascinated.

How many diet and or weight loss/fitness infomercials

or commercials are on at any given moment on satellite

or cable in the month of January?

Some guys I ride with don't know how to plan a 3 hour ride.

On a positive note

2008-12-21T22:17:00.002-06:00

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

Merry Christmas

2008-12-19T20:51:00.010-06:00

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

2008-12-12T19:57:00.012-06:00

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

I vote that Jim does this with his beard

2008-12-09T18:17:00.003-06:00

Random

2008-12-06T16:51:00.005-06:00

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. . . .

2008-11-26T11:20:00.005-06:00

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?

2008-11-25T18:27:00.004-06:00

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

2008-11-19T18:52:00.001-06:00

Look out

2008-11-13T06:16:00.004-06:00

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

2008-11-11T19:02:00.011-06:00

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.

2008-11-04T17:48:00.006-06:00

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

2008-11-04T13:47:00.003-06:00

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

2008-11-01T17:36:00.006-05:00

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

2008-10-26T20:51:00.004-05:00

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

2008-10-21T22:46:00.006-05:00

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:

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?

2008-10-14T18:16:00.010-05:00

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

2008-10-08T16:13:00.005-05:00

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

2008-10-07T08:06:00.002-05:00

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

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

2008-10-04T07:55:00.010-05:00

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

2008-09-30T19:31:00.003-05:00

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

2008-09-29T21:55:00.007-05:00

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.

2008-09-27T11:42:00.004-05:00

Now there goes one cool dude.

Thanks but no thanks

2008-09-26T07:16:00.005-05:00

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"