So we do have a chance.

It turns out more of us have a chance to be a "superstar" athlete. That certain, je ne sais quoi that legends like Gretzky, Bird, and Montana possess turns out to be trainable. Wired has an article on scientists studying the magic that is "field sense".

Wayne Gretzky-Style 'Field Sense' May Be Teachable


Such talent has long been assumed to be innate. "Coaches tend to think you either have it or you don't," Vint says. Unlike a jump shot or a penalty kick, field sense — which mixes anticipation, timing, and an acute sense of spatial relations — is considered essentially untrainable, a gift. Gretzky himself once fuzzily described it as having "a feeling about where a teammate is going to be. A lot of times, I can just turn and pass without looking."

But Vint rejects the notion that Gretzky-style magic is unteachable.

I Could Have Danced . . .

The Rain in Spain

Becky sang "The Rain In Spain" and "I Could Have Danced All Night" at the Haslett Choir Cabaret this week. If you missed it here's your chance to catch up.

Power Cranks live up to their name

Pez Cycling has a testimonial for Power Cranks from a 38 year old former pro rider who tested his power output and VO2 Max both before and during his training. The results are impressive.

PowerCranks.com also has some research reports and video testimonials from cyclists and triathletes.

Now where can I find the money for these and a Power Tap.

Dig the Swiss

The BBC has a story on our new record setting tunnel at 35 miles.

Swiss dig world's longest tunnel

I have driven this region and this will certainly save a lot of time. Fortunately it will only be electricity powered trains passing through, so there won't be choking exhaust fumes like in the current Goddard auto tunnel. Dad would try to hold his breathe through that one.

Dance Dance Immolution

How about getting hit by a flame thrower if you evey time your other left foot gets in the way. That's Dance Dance Immolation and it's not a joke. It's the hottest thing in dance since the Macarena!

Swiss Army on the Move

USA Today reports on the Swiss Army's first invasion. They penetrated Lichtenstein by a mile without being noticed. Sounds like the U.S.-Mexico border, only with soldiers with unloaded guns instead of elephants and a mariachi band.

IF you're thinking of Investing in HD

This Wired piece is the best HD primer I've read.

The High-Def FAQK


Here's the writer's signature: "Born helpless, nude and unable to provide for himself, Lore Sjöberg eventually overcame these handicaps to amass an impressive collection of remote controls."

Monty Python Dead Parrot

This Monty Python Dead Parrot sketch is legendary.

When I watched it yesterday, however, it didn't seem to have the same effect on me as it did in my younger days. I'm guessing it didn't get me laughing the same way because I usually see it in the context of a group of silly Python sketches, so my laugh engine has already warmed up, and I usually see it in the evening, so you've got that tired slap-happy thing going, too.

Or maybe it's because I was pining for the fjords.

Sarah's Igloo

Inspired by the U.S.S. Rock, Sarah and I quickly constructed an igloo with the wet, melting snow last night.

It's still up today, but it's days are numbered. If only we could create a product with the opposite effect of Summer Wheeze. Winter Breeze would make snow and ice impervious to melting.

More of the U.S.S. Rock

Reporting from Novi, my brother writes "The two tunnels are about 15 and 25 feet each and they connect in the middle, making for about a 40 foot tunnel. The meting has begun. The picture has Jacob and some neighbors in it."

My Brother's Snow Fort Tradition Continues

Christened the U.S.S. Rock, this masterpiece was created with the assistance of the kids of the Rock at Oak Pointe Church and a few neighborhood kids. The eldest laborer was Grossmutti who assisted in the early stages of the project. The interior features a home theater room with stadium-style seating and a billiard room. Local media are being notified of the project.

The Happiest Place on Earth

Apparently,"The Happiest Place on Earth" is not Disneyland but, Denmark. Dang it, I knew it began wih a D.
Of course, Switzerland is No. 2. Sorry Noel, but Finland only made No. 6.

Psychologist Produces The First-ever 'World Map Of Happiness"

The 20 happiest nations in the World are:
1. Denmark
2. Switzerland
3. Austria
4. Iceland
5. The Bahamas
6. Finland
7. Sweden
8. Bhutan
9. Brunei
10. Canada
11. Ireland
12. Luxembourg
13. Costa Rica
14. Malta
15. The Netherlands
16. Antigua and Barbuda
17. Malaysia
18. New Zealand
19. Norway
20. The Seychelles

via Guy Kawasaki

Quote of my life

“One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it.”

- Oswald Chambers

It's so easy to live inside your cranium. Well, actually, my cranium.

I've officially labeled myself a theoretical person. I'm trying to be less in theory, and more in reality. My theories show it should work. ; )

When your battery dies on a bike ride.

For the longer rides, when ither'es no power outlet to recharge your phone,
now you can mkae your own with a bike powered phone charger.

What Does 200 Calories Look Like?

What Does 200 Calories Look Like?

A thought provoking set of images. Check out the butter and the Doritos.

Hair Care or Digital Audio?

I scored 13/14. I guess that's what happens when your "in the business", and I'm not talking hair.

Logo Quiz: Hair Care or Digital Audio?

via daringfireball.net

Asteroid's Revenge

It's payback time for all those poor asteroids who have been victimized by those naughty, naughty projectile-firing triangular spacecrafts since the 1970's.

This time it's personal.

Asteroid's Revenge

via DaringFireball

DALMAC 2006 Pictures

I snapped a few shots with my camera phone on the Four-Day West Route DALMAC 2006. See them here.

DALMAC 2006

Pedal, drink, eat, sleep, repeat

OK, OK, it was a lot more fun than that description. In fact I've been a little bummed out ever since it ended.

The weather was great. Maybe a tad cool as I had my leg warmers on most of the ride every day, but nothing to complain about. Heck, we were outside and not getting rained on, frozen, or cooked. Can't ask foir much better. Day 1 we had a strong NorthEasterly wind. That was less fun than days 2 through four where winds were neglible upon us and mostly shielded by trees.

"The Wall" was all we seemed to talk or worry about for the first 3 days and a couple hours of day 4. We tried to conserve energy on day's 2 and 3 to make sure we had legs left for "the Wall".

When we turned the corner just out of East Jordan and "The Wall" came into sight, It seemed incredibly small to me, compared to it's legend. I asked some riders passing us as we approached it if this was "The Wall", and one replied "No, it's after this one", he then turned to his buddy and said. "Im messing with thier heads" (Max was right beside me). It just seemed the lead up from East Jordan was far less steep than we were led to believe sO I had to question whether this was it. "The Wall" itself was much less awe inspiring, but with the turns following what I had memrized on the map and the STEEP HILL sign, this was it.

Now don't get me wrong, what it lacks in size it makes up for in steepness. My cyclecomputer registered grades of 19% at the top. It basically gradually increases in grade as it rises, maxing out just before the top. Speaking of maxing out, my heart rate, hit the 170's at the top. I had to stand up on the pedals to keep the weight from shifting off of my front wheel half to two-thirds of the way up. As I came to the gets your atention part of the hill, one rider zoomed past while another pulled even with me on my left and held there for a while. Referring to his faster buddy, I asked him, "Is it easier to ride it fast?", he replied "For him it is." I ask, "Why's that?". With a laugh in his voice, he says "Because he's insane". I ended up surging at the top to pass this young whipper-snapper. These are my memories of "The Wall".

Much to my surprise. I didn't pass out from exhaustion on the bus ride home that night, although I did nap briefly, probably for less than an hour. I'd heard that everyone sleep on the bus home, but I'm guessing only half the passengers did.

Max is already asking about next year. Will it be DALMAC or Ride the Rockies.