2009 Planes

This just in from the Boeing Co. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008794133_webboeingcapital27.html

2009 is a lot of planes, how many did they build last year?

Chapter 88

Chapter 88

"You are taking pot shots at the messenger, again", she scolded.

"I'm sorry, it's just..."

"I know."

"I am just using your intelligence and sensitivity as a sounding board so that when I take this to the web, it is valid and has a sliver of credibility."

"It is and it does. But please don't point that finger at me and twist the volume knob to 10 because it makes me feel like I AM THE ISSUE."

"Oh Jesus, I am so sorry, you know I don't mean that. I just get carried away sometimes, and..."

"I understand, and it's OK. Maybe you should think about trying to share instead of trying to sell. Maybe that would soften the tone enough to get the message across without alienating the undecided or ill informed. "

"Do I do that?"

"Sometimes."

"Sometimes?"

"Most times."

His hands cradled his head as it slowly rocked east and then west.

"At least I'm not as bad as those assholes from the Warner Music Group."

"No-one is darling."

The Good, The Bad and Thin Porridge

The Good (REAL good) http://www.randomhouse.com/features/murakami/site.php?id=
The BAD (very Bad) http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2009/03/politics-of-the-plate-the-price-of-tomatoes
and Thin Porridge http://www.slate.com/id/2212229/

Don't Worry

Some good stuff here:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/happinessproject/archive/2009/02/24/happiness-is-sort-of-a-trick-but-kissing-a-crush-always-works.aspx

OK, so I think I need to post an addendum. Here are the FIVE things that make me happy at this tenuous juncture in the time/space/energy continuum known as my life. Please feel free to add your own (so maybe we might mix and match).

1) Spinning
2) Video
3) The hope and challenge of tomorrow
4) Music (in myriad forms)
5) Knowing that I am responsible for my own happiness.

Your turn. Comments tab below. Let the happiness fall like raindrops.

Post Chilly

We made the front page of the P.I. More photos here: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/

Congrats to all who traversed our 33 famous miles.
Greg's wrap up Mardi Gras bash was a blast, and,
looks like WMG (Warner Music Group) has silenced yet another of my videos due to me trying to promote one of "their" acts. So I am re-cutting ToC III with an altogether new track. This is such a disservice to artists and the GP. Even the suits lose as, like many things, there are other choices. You'll now get Santana and the Stone Coyotes. Tomorrow.

ToC III

Without further adieu, then:



And please remember that you can watch this in high quality by clicking on the "watch in high quality" tab at the bottom of the YouTube screen (read: night and day) here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8x5m66qV2w

ToC II

Part Two of the ToC Trilogy (Return of the King of the Mountain). There is some fun stuff here. Music is When Water Comes to Life by Cloud Cult, Body Snatchers by Radiohead and Blue Jean Pizza by moe. Part Three is in the can and rendering so it'll be up even earlier than promised (I have no life). Tomorrow we ride the 37th Chilly Hilly and then go to Greg's for some Mardi Gras festivities. If you are too tired from the ride, not to worry tires are optional. It is also the One Year Anniversary of the RCVman Blog. I will tally up the postings later, even though the initial goal was to do one a day. Never knew what I was getting into. So please my friends, today, tonight, tomorrow and on into March, let us all...enjoy the ride.


And HEY, if ya really want to see this puppy sit up and bark, watch it in high quality here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjriOJgYAmo

ToC One

In 2007 I had the privilege of being embedded with the Tour of California. It was the RCV beta and I got to shoot every inch of the 640 miles between the Embarcadero in SF and Ocean Bl. in Long Beach. It was truly a learning experience and I am insanely sad that we have not returned in the two runnings since 07. At the time we were shooting off the front as the Super Shooter Scooter had yet to be designed, so all the RCV footage is nude, or without riders. We had every technical issue you can imagine, camera stabilization, data capture, communications, logistics. Everyone on the crew was sick and the only thing that kept us going was that about once a day (if we were lucky), we would capture some absolutely stunning video.

Here then, is ToC One. It is nine minutes of highlights from the Prologue and the 97 miles of Stage One, Sausalito to Santa Rosa. I am cutting ToC Two today and might have it done by Sunday. Music is "First Breath After Coma" by the Texas monsters Explosions in the Sky, and "Take Me to the Riot" by Stars. Both pieces are available on iTunes for a ridiculous .99 apiece. BTW, that is how I justify using their stuff, a practice 99.9% of indi-rockers approve of and Warner Bros. continues to fight. But that is another story altogether (that I will soon get to).

Enjoy the Ride.

Post Ride Mardi Gras

More Good News. This from Greg who is hosting a post Chilly Hilly Mardi Gras gig at his place from 3-7 on Sunday. It's at 9118 Hiden Cove Rd. (on the course) and I love the ending request: Esprit Required. Nothin' like a little Esprit after 33 miles!!! Hope to see ya there!

Click on invite to enlarge.

Dem Bones

Here is the link to the LAT article referenced this morning. http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-cycling16-2009feb16,0,1785648.story. Dr. Coggan is a frequent contributor to Slowtwich.com and knows his stuff. The author, however, does a great disservice by failing to mention that the best all-time form of bone strengthening is from walking. So please don't go out and join a soccer team and give up cycling just to keep from osteoporosis (as they suggest in the link). Park you car as far from the entrance to the Safeway as you can and walk. Then do 50 meter jogging intervals with your kids at the park, beach, ball field, circus, zoo, playground or grandma's backyard. That's all you need. That and more spinning. As EJ would surely agree, journalism (even the type still found in daily newspapers) that only gives one side of the story isn't journalism at all, it's propaganda. And this article was not only bad reporting, it was sloppy and dangerous as well. Soccer? I guess one doesn't have to worry about bone density when one has titanium knees. Sheesh.

Think Moo II

A slightly different approach. Same video, new twist. I like the .2 version better. Graphics vs scrolling text. Your comments would help sell it to the boss, so we can get all 112 miles of this event to DVD. As I mention in the YouTube info box, a milk-pail full of thumbs-up from you Midwestern tri-geeks, would help a lot. Fans of F.L. Wright, too (as his work and his bust now become the SECOND world famous architect to appear in a RCVman vid)! Happy Prez's Day folks, some ToC RCV footage later in the week.

Think Moo

Had the idea for a new treatment to the RCV intros Friday, so naturally I spent all day Saturday in the studio seeing if the 'vision' was worth anything more than time spent in experimentation. I am pleased to report that I think it was, and below is the first run of the concept. It is Ironman Wisconsin shot last September. It is a little rough in spots (much like their roads) but I think you'll get the idea. I am working on another sequence today that will, with any luck at all, be improved much like a filled pothole.

Be advised that it being a beautiful day here in the PNW, and my feeling stronger by the hour in recovery from that nasty flu bug, I might opt for a long ride vice a long editing session. Maybe even BAC 'n Fort. (The seed has been planted). So if you don't see another version till President's Day, you know the reason why.

Also please remember that to watch any of the imbeded blog videos in YouTube high quality (and it is) you need to go to the RCVman site there/here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv68SMmsc9s

Please let me know what YOU think.

Move Your Body

This from todays Daily OM http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2009/17202.html

1. Live simply and live deliberately
2. Stay in touch with yourself.
3. Support or teach others as often as you can.
4. Consciously choose what you will allow into your being.
5. Acknowledge the beauty that resides around you.
6. Nurture your ties to your tribe.
7. See the larger picture.
8. Embrace the challenges that life presents to you, and challenge yourself often.
9. Move your body.
10. Make time for stillness, silence, and solitude.

More from Scott Blum: http://www.scottblum.net/books/waitingforautumn.html

Recession, what recession?

THIS JUST IN.....

Seems that the 'black market' price of the CompuTrainer Ironman Australia Real Course Video has reached, $1,250.00. Here is more on this amazing market trend. http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=2179484;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread
And for those of you who prefer to buy your RCVs legit and off the shelf, they are here, TWO for $79.95/ea. http://www.computrainer.com/rm_inc/IRCVideos.htm Lastly, in case you forgot, here is a two minute intro to the "Thunda down Unda."

Entropy

The goal of the road is......

The opposite of entropy is focus. Instead of letting our time, and energy and resources slip away, focus means that we put them to good use--our use-- instead of ceding them to every distraction that happens by. Perhaps that is why success is so rare, compared to the number of people who claim to be interested in succeeding. Few of us ever learn how to fight entropy, in fact, few of us even know we are at war--a war with the natural tendency to allow our precious time and energy to dissipate...Entropy tugs at us every step of the way, making it easier to forget than to learn, easier to destroy than to build, easier to kill than it is to grow.

Easier to quit than to peddle on.....and to realize that the goal of the road IS the road.

Excerpt from The Magic Lamp by Keith Ellis.

Focus is

Good friend just sent this over as a "cheer up" jpeg. Did the trick.

Koura Moonset

On way home from 'lecture' this morning, ran into this photo-op and slid to a stop on the black ice to snap some iPhone shots. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but Photoshop can fix a lot of ills. Maybe I will use the RX function to create a pill that will rid my nose and lungs of this crud. Now I know where they got the idea for The Blob.

On a side note (oasn), it is amazing how connected we truly are. I heard more nice tings today, and was on the receiving end of many a compliment and positive anecdote. I am touched. And they all came just as I needed them most, feeling like crap and wanting to crawl in a (warm) hole. The power of our words is astounding. Therefore please accept my sincere thanks to all of you who have journeyed with us so far. We have many more moonsets to see.

Si Tri

This just in: My buddy and triathlon coach extraordinaire Simon Ward (right) was recently named Coach of the Year by the prestigious UK magazine 220. Here is the link to 220 Magazine http://www.220magazine.com/index.php?page=news&news=50980, to Simon's coaching web site http://www.thetriathloncoach.com/and a clip we shot in Kona last October. The video clip is part of an instructional DVD that is in production. As with all the YouTube videos posted here, they can be viewed in High Quality by navigating to the RCVman site on YouTube and clicking on the blue text at the bottom of the screen. http://www.youtube.com/user/RCVman

Congratulations Wardy!!!!!

Da Flu

Yet another opportunity to test the system has arrived at my doorstep. This time of the physiological variety. Seems I have succumbed to a virus of sorts, a bug, although I am quite sure not the dreaded Gromphadorhina portentosa, that is causing an annoying runny nose, dry throat and mild headache. I, like all, have been here before. The big question is, as asked many, many times prior; Is it better to work out or rest during these periods of viral occupation?

Conventional medical wisdom (and that includes Old Wives, Shaman, Natureopaths and Chinese) suggest that we separate the body into an upper section and a lower section, the line drawn at the neck. If you are experiencing pain ABOVE the line, it is OK to workout (at moderate levels). If, however, your pain is BELOW the tie line, it is NOT OK to workout, and rest is a better alternative.

There are many subcategories and circumstances well beyond this simple guideline, but for our purposes these will suffice. That being said in pretext, following is tomorrows spinning experiment along with a warning.

The experiment: I will attempt (I believe for the first time ever) to moderate the class at a RPE of 5. There I said it. FIVE. We will go steady, calmly, efficiently and merrily for our 50 minute session, listening to our internal stethoscopes the entire time to monitor effort, i.e. cause and effect. Those who use a HR monitor will stay in the 55-65% zone. We will NOT climb Baker Hill, we will NOT sprint at 130 RPM and we will NOT visit Max (I will copy him on this). This may be, rephrase, this WILL BE the "easiest" class you will ever attend as orchestrated by RCVman. But it is change, it provides a great opportunity to test this theory, and it obviously applies our collective wisdom and acumen in being flexible and aware. Now the warning.

1) If you have the flu or cold like symptoms BELOW the neck, especially in the lungs, you are most likely better of staying home and resting. 2) If you are so conditioned to doing our infamous HIT (high intensity training) sessions that the thought of going any less than 110% is preposterous, you may join us and do what you need to do, just be advised that the music may be more Hall & Oates than haulin' ass. 3) We need to recognize that our revered House of Pain is a breeding ground for germs, and henceforth dial up our efforts to clean and sanitize before and after every session. Spray the disinfectant into the towel and then wipe down your bike before and after every use. Also, during the time of crud passing, drink lots of water, eat your veggies, manage stress and sleep well.

Take advantage of tomorrows 'easy' experiment.

Because on Friday (if the plan works) we will GO LIKE BATS OUTTA HELL.

Here is some additional reading for you on this subject.

http://www.blackmores.com.au/News/Detail.aspx?ArticleId=9342
http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/1064-cold-flu-remedies.htm
http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/1064-cold-flu-remedies.htm

CC: Max

Our Home (The Planet Earth)

If you haven't seen this, PLEASE check it out asap. THE BEST videography ever, simply put. You will be moved. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/planetearth/

Do a search at Amazon.com for used bargains or get the Blue-Ray (if you are so equipped). Prepare thy self.

Scooped again

This is what I had in mind all along, only a touch less pricey.

More here: http://www.spinning.com/spinning-shop-spinner-bikes/spinner-bike-espinner.asp

Hoop Hos

Our little island made the front page of the Seattle Times today. In two seemingly unrelated stories, the boys basketball team beat perennial powerhouse Rainier Beach in OT and four prostitutes were arrested in a five agency police sting. At this time an unnamed high ranking police spokesperson (speaking under the guarantee of anonymity) says that RCVman is not a suspect in either case. More here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008717622_bainbridge07m.html

Grim Reaper

Wednesday was tough. The client said that the project I had been toiling over for 90 days needed more work. I was crushed like an ant under foot. I broke a personal rule and took it personally. I considered it a failure on my part and a disservice to the company. I felt like I had been fired, terminated, let go and RIFed all at once. It was a blow to my ego, a knife in the gut and a slap on the face. It seemed to me to be a sentence of death. Life, as I once knew it, was no more.

I have had dreams of dying before. Anxious, sweat-filled, heart-pounding dark and troubled visits from demons that only I could see. Long have I wondered what their message was, what did they portend?

The first once came on like a scene from the Matrix. Is this real, I wondered in deep REM? There was an atomic clock franticly spinning time down to the thousandth of a second, backwards, telling me of my time remaining on this earth. I hit the panic button, what do you do with thirty seconds left to live? 29, 28, 27....... Find a way to stop the clock, where are my wire cutters? 17, 16, 15.....Use your Swiss Army Knife, shit, I'm naked in bed, 9, 8, 7.....DO SOMETHING.....

All went black in the white light. Was I dead, in another world, or still dreaming? I guess if I can think this at least I have my consciousness, so maybe a little rest would help ease the transition, so r-e-l-a-x and b-r-e-a-t-h-e.

The second one was Groundhog Day all over again, the Deja-vu of the Dementors. There was the clock re-set to thirty seconds (am I getting another chance?) and as soon as my (new and improved) consciousness became aware of its presence (imagine that) it started. OH, I AM IN CHARGE HERE? This is a test of what I have learned? OK, fine, 25, 24, 23...I am going to spend the last twenty seconds of my life (this one) in perfect harmony with, 18, 17, 16....the spirit of light, energy and oneness with all, 9, 8, 7....and I do that by ACCEPTING THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF MY HERE AND NOW AND R-E-L-A-X-I-N-G AND B-R-E-A-T-H-I-N-G. This might even be fun.....3, 2,1.....

At zero I awoke in a state of wonder, joy and peace. If I was dead, this was a whole heck of a lot better that when I last went to sleep. Then the meaning of the dream came crystal clear, and for the first time in my four decades of dream practice, a message was as obvious as the snow is pure.

Three days later I still walk in the mirror-like glow of that moment. Grim Reaper, HA, from now on I'll call you by your real name.

More CH

Another clip from the CH ride last week. I finally got everything debugged, operating and cranking product. We'll spin to all 33 miles and two hours on Sunday, early at 9a, and again at 1pm. The two minutes is at Frog Rock where Tony perfects his steady-Flip technique. Everybody who completed one of the 4 two-hour session gets a DVD. Jacket is shown here also.

Gromphadorhina portentosa

The software that has been running so smoothly over the course of the last two years has apparently been infiltrated by a bug. Since last Sunday (Jan 25) I, and my G5, have been jointly laboring over the re-creation of the 33 mile Chilly Hilly bicycle course. I have done this no less than 50 times prior, from the five hours and 112 miles of Ironman Hawaii to the 18 miles of Escape from Alcatraz. It is a long, slow, tedious, and sometimes painful process that gobbles RAM like locusts devour crops.

I am on my third pass, the rendering process running 24/7. I hope to be done in time for Sundays two spins, but it is 99% out of my control at this point. I have tried several work-arounds all ending with the same result: failure.

So today, in keeping with the true didactic nature of the RCVman blog, I will leave you with this fascinating discourse on the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, compliments of National Geographic.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/madagascar-hissing-cockroach.html

I suppose the lesson is of tenacity as I have yet to see a cockroach give up.

Farrago

I have been remiss. Actually I have simply been very busy trying to finish the Chilly Hilly video for today's two spins. We did the two, two hour sessions and I am cooked. Had to make an executive decision at the 11th hour Saturday night and decided to show Northwest Triathlon 2005: Farrago as the opener and then 40 minutes of the CDA RCV. It was fun to watch all the triathlon eye candy that pretty much comprises the film. As I told the assembled spinners, there are a few moments of brilliance wrapped around long stretches of obscure noodling. Such is life. I am reworking the Chilly Hilly video so we can play it next week. Guess all I really lost is some sleep. I will leave you today with this from Robert Hunter/Mickey Hart as it seems somewhat appropriate at the moment.

Long-distance runner what you standing there for?
Get up, get off, get out of the door
You're playin' cold music on the barroom floor
drowned in your laughter and dead to the core
There's a dragon with matches loose on the town
Take a whole pail of water just to cool him down.

Fire-fire on the mountain
Fire-fire on the mountain

Almost aflame, still you don't feel the heat
Takes all you got just to stay on the beat
You say it's a living, we all gotta eat
but you're here alone, there's no one to compete
If mercy's in business I wish it for you
More than just ashes when your dreams come true.

Fire-fire on the mountain
Fire-fire on the mountain

Baby's in scarlet, her shackles in gray
If love's to love she's got it salted away
Out of the rat trap and under the wire
Out of the frying pan and into the fire
Put it down heavy, strip it down lean
Got to lay it down dirty and play it back clean.

Fire-fire on the mountain
Fire-fire on the mountain

I had also forgotten about the closing comment from the film:

May your farragoes never be dull.

Thanks to all who showed up and went hard for two today.