Quick Post

I really should have posted this last week but there was quite a contrast between the MotoGP race and the F1 race.

F1 was making a return to Spa, perhaps the best track in the WORLD. It was a total snooze-fest.

I watched the MotoGP race from Estoril and it was BANANAS.

If you caught the race (which I doubt) you probably saw some of the slow-mo footage at the end of the main straight. Some of the riders (Rossi and Elias were the ones I remember) were getting their rear tires off the tarmac under braking! It was amazing to watch the bikes twitch at 300 km/h and balance on their front tire.

The amount of control these guys have on their bikes is jaw-dropping. When Rossi made one of his passes you could see daylight between his Michelin rear and the pavement. It is normal to watch the front wheel come up on these types of bikes under acceleration but dang!

This is why MotoGP is so compelling to me, the rider makes a MASSIVE difference on the bike. The Doctor put on another clinic at Estoril and shows why he has won so many titles. Casey Stoner will win the Championship this year but Valentino Rossi has nothing to be ashamed of.

Happy Times Ahead?

As many of you already know, I am a competitive swimmer. I've competed off an on since 1982 when I was in 7th grade. Swimming is one of the few sports that I am good at, so I have stuck with it for over two decades.

From time to time, I take a month off to recharge my batteries. I used to go cold turkey and do other things, like lifting weights or other physical exercise. Lately though, I have changed things around. Instead of stopping altogether, I will go once a week to stay water-wise and do other kinds of training.

This works better because when I decide to get serious about my training, I can get right back to it faster. Try swimming hard at workout after taking a couple months off and you will discover this feeling.

But now, I am feeling happy about my training again. My focus is on some short-course meters meets this fall. If I can, I want to do the SPMA Regionals in Long Beach. Word is that it is a fun meet in a fast pool with a lot of good swimmers. We will see if everything comes to pass.

So now my eyes are focused on getting ready for these upcoming meets. I need a goal to concentrate on, otherwise I tend to drift and stagnate. So stay tuned for updates on my progress, hopefully there will be much good news to share in the near future.

It's a Dirty Job...

I don't watch much TV, there just is not much good on these days. My low-information diet keeps me away from the news channels and I can't stomach regular network TV. About the only thing I watch consistently is Formula One, MotoGP, and...

Dirty Jobs

Yes, I really dig Dirty Jobs. Don't know what I mean, well let me show ya!



Call me strange, but I love the show and thought the song (and video) was a riot. I guess I have a strange sense of humor.

Another New Website

You now have another site to buy stuff from me. Not only do I sell a sundry assortment of internet services on the Uzipa site, I have a site devoted to selling shaving oil.

I see you scratching your head in confusion, allow me to explain.

Years ago I got a sample packet of shaving oil when I purchased some clippers online. My thought was "what is this?" and gave it a try. No kidding, I got a smooth shave without any irritation (I have sensitive skin) or ingrowns! There must be something to this, so I began purchasing small bottles of it online for almost four years.

Then it hit me, why not try and sell it...

So I contacted the manufacturer and signed the agreement with them. I purchase at wholesale and sell the product on eBay, Froogle, and now The Shaving Oil Store. Which means you can buy it from me in whatever way you please.

Today is indeed your lucky day!

So when you have a few moments, stop by the new store and check it out. You can also click on the link on the right-hand side of this page and it will take you there. Thanks for visiting!

Low Information Diet

I am on a low-information diet these days. That means no newspapers, no TV news, no news magazines, no blogs or websites. Ok, maybe just a little bit every now and then. For the most part though, I stay away from taking in information.

Some of you may laugh because in my younger days (actually up until recently) I was an information sponge. I would be up on current events like nobody's business and know what was going on. But lately, I have re-evaluated this habit along with many others to see if it is worth my time and energy.

As David Allen would say "What is the next action?"

The answer usually is "nothing" because in most cases there is nothing you can do to affect the outcome. People (including myself) get wrapped-up in news, things going on in the office, chat, email, phone calls, tasks, to make ourselves feel important. The hard fact is most of this is noise that does not matter and can be turned-off with no harmful consequences. So a few months back I started to do so...

This is liberating once you think about it and accept it. Turning things off and getting rid of noise frees you to actually be productive! What's more, there are fewer distractions vying for your attention and you can become effective! Wow, that is some one-two punch. Most folks don't get it and never will but I see the truth in this approach.

Less is more in so many ways, you become free and more alive as a result of giving things up. This is deep stuff that is really sinking in with me and is altering how I live my life. I still have some habits to correct (like checking email more than three times a day) but am making progress.

It starts with a low information diet.

Misano MotoGP

Against all odds, it looks more and more apparent at each race that Casey Stoner has the MotoGP field covered. At first I thought that the Ducati would go well on the big, fast tracks with long straights. After Rossi won a couple races early in the season I thought it would be nip and tuck all the way 'til the end. But as the season progressed, the Stoner/Ducati/Bridgestone package got stronger. Barring any major accident or mechanical failures, Casey Stoner will be the next MotoGP World Champion.

Witness Misano...

He came to a track that had not been used by MotoGP in over a decade, took pole, and walked away with the race. The Suzukis were strong again, which makes me question why Hopkins is leaving. Melandri had a good race coming from 12th to 4th, of course his Honda had Bridgestone tires... The factory Honda team was (again) beset by a collision not of their own making. Its one of those years for the Repsol Honda Team but that's racing.

Meanwhile, nobody had anything for Stoner, who rode a controlled and consistent race. I really think his riding has improved during the season. Some of the early races he looked ragged under acceleration on some corners, but now he looks glass smooth.

Rossi has to be scratching his head over this season. I really think tires have played a large role this season but when you compare Stoner to the other Ducatis, he is miles ahead of them. Right now, I would say that the factory Ducati team has the 800cc bikes figured out better than anybody else. Well done.

New Website

I have (re) launched one of my websites from several years ago. This time I am actually going to make money off of it. How do I know this you ask? Because you are going to buy stuff from it.

If you need web hosting, domain name registration, shopping carts, SSL certificates, or a host of other services, don't go to a stranger when you can go through me! All of my services are supported by a VERY large company so you will get rock-solid reliability and great support. Not only do I resell these services, I use them myself!

Geez, now I sound like a salesman!

Even if you don't buy services from my website, save it in your favorites and tell others about it. That way you can help me generate some business, which I will not forget.

Remember, reciprocity is what makes the world go 'round. If I can help you in any way with your business I will do so..

Ten Years Ago...

This blog does not focus on popular culture, Hollywierd, and other vapid distractions. I don't give a d*** about so called stars, celebrities, and the like. To me, its all a bunch of vapid silliness.

Witness the last couple of days.

Ten years ago, a famous woman died who had devoted her life to helping the sick, poor, and forgotten.

Of course I am talking about Mother Theresa.

...and you thought I was talking about Diana Spencer! Well, the world apparently believes that she is an important person. Witness the blanket coverage on TV! This is crazy, you would think that some great head of state had just passed away. In the grand scheme of things, "Lady" Diana is neither a person of substance nor real importance. This does not stop masses from considering her some sort of saint.

As opposed to a real one.

I think Cromwell was right to get rid of the monarchy, too bad he couldn't make it stick and we could have been spared all this insanity.