Saturday, October 1, 2011

Toby Keith Supports Gay Marriage














Congrats to Toby Keith for coming out and saying
he supports gay marriage, and that it shouldn't be
an issue if two people of the same sex want to get
married.

He has also supported gay people's right to serve in
the military.

Hats off to Toby Keith!!!!

Back to the Arena

Yesterday we took Brennan down to play in Becky's sandpit. He worked very well, even if he was a bit distracted whilst we got him ready (sheep + a brand new enormous pile of wood for splitting next to the stables not to mention the someone who was shifting cattle next door = brain overload!). Today it's back to the arena but this time for a lesson. Brennan is now ESNZ registered and has his first official first level start in two weeks. Watch out Bren, thinks are gettin' serious now!











Must Haves: Dropbars with Flat Ramps

Randonneur, Charles River
While dropbars tend to all look the same to those who are new to them, there are in fact lots of variations - most of which I find uncomfortable. This is particularly true of vintage bars, and it does not surprise me when others write to tell me they have trouble riding old roadbikes for this reason. What's uncomfortable about these dropbar designs, is their lack of flat "ramp" areas leading up to the brake hoods. When the brake lever is positioned on a dramatic slope, some report that their hands feel awkward and start to hurt on long rides. By contrast, famously comfortable handlebars - such as the Nitto Noodle and Randonneur models - have spacious, flat ramp areas that support the hands - both when on the hoods and behind the hoods. Rivendell explains about this feature here. And this comprehensive post about the difference in dropbar shape is definitely worth reading. My favourite flat-ramp dropbars so far have been the Grand Bois Maes (pictured above). They are similar to the Nitto Noodles, except that the ramps feel a bit longer and flatter, and the drops are parallel to the ramps. My hands absolutely love the feel of every part of these handlebars.

Chorus Ergo 11 Sp Shifters
One thing that has me curious when it comes to the flat ramp design, is its origin. Until recently, my understanding was that it was a modern invention: a byproduct of the compact/ anatomic handlebars ushered in by the brifter era. It is often said that the Nitto Noodles basically combine this modern design with a vintage look, which is what makes them so popular. However, that does not jive with the description of the Grand Bois Maes bars as a remake of a 1950s Phillips Professionel model. Turns out that what many think of as a modern design is actually a mid-century design, which is rather fascinating. I would love to know the original inspiration behind this shape and why it was not more popular. After all, it is very difficult to find a set of vintage dropbars with flat ramps.

What has been your experience with drop handlebars? Can you tell the difference between the various shapes and do you have a favourite?

LC and arms

Combo 14kg

Lc 2x24kg: 2x 5reps
Lc 2x32kg: 3,6,4,2,4,4,4 (sum 27reps)

Biceps curl w barbell: 3x 10reps
French press w barbell: 2x 10reps
Push ups: 2x 10reps

Bridge & stretches

Still, feel a lot weaker than before the Illness. There were a couple of press-outs and press trajectory reps in the lc. But, there were also several reps and lockouts that I was very happy with. Ah, it's just a hobby anyway :-).


SORAYAMA

Random Thoughts on Various Subjects

1. ASHTON KUTCHER AND DEMI MOORE

I admit that I take a certain interest in celebrity gossip. I don't know why, but there is something about celecrity misery that piques my curiosity. It is essentially gossip on a larger page. So, I admit with some glee that I am laughing my ass off over rumors that Ashton Kutcher has been getting some ass on the side and that he and Demi are splitsville. Love is such bullshit. Bitches deserve every ounce of misery they get.

2. ANWAR AL-AWLAKI

News that the USA Assassination Corps has taken out an American citizen and some collateral damage without due process is greeted with glee by the fasctards and with trepidation and dismay by civil liberties people, libertarians, and the broader antiwar movement. Why does it matter? Wasn't that guy scum?

There is a reason we have things like the Bill of Rights and the rule of law. These things keep the government and the clamoring mob in check. Yet, if you are Arab, you can virtually kiss your constitutional rights good-bye. From Guantanamo Bay to assassination, we have moved far away from the principles this great nation was founded on. Both Ron Paul and Gary Johnson have questioned this latest move, and I am in agreement with them. Where will all this lead? And are we so far down the road to tyranny that it doesn't even matter?

Due process matters because we cannot let the guilt or innocence of anyone be determined because of the whim of an elected leader especially when that leader gets to carry out the death sentence. People will say that scum like al-Awlaki don't deserve due process. This is absurd. Are we going to say that Charles Manson didn't deserve due process? Or Ted Bundy? Or the Unabomber? Or Tim McVeigh? If we say that only the good people deserve due process, then there is no due process. Due process is for bad people or at least people we think are bad. It is a check against the impulse to falsely condemn, sentence, and execute people. We already see how this has happened with the West Memphis Three, and they did get due process.

Things are so fucked up in this area now that it doesn't even matter anymore. Until the outright atrocities occur, things on the civil liberties front are not going to change. The fact that a lefty is POTUS when all this shit has gone down shows the utter absurdity of it all. There are no principles when it comes to government. There is only PR. Due process was good PR for a different time. But as the dirty cops used to say in New York, "It's Giuliani time!!"

If obama can unilaterally decide to assassinate an American citizen [slave], he can assassinate ANY American citizen. He should be impeached and charged with murder immediately.--SID LEROUX

3. BANK OF AMERICA DEBIT CARD FEES

BOA has really fucked up with their proposal to charge $5 a month for debit card usage. This is the bank's scheme ever since the collapse. They look for a hundred different ways to bleed your account with fees. Other banks are certain to follow suit. I have already decided to move my Wells Fargo account to a credit union. The irony is that when I do this they will probably charge me a fee for leaving their bank.

I understand banking is not free. The way it works is that you deposit your money to earn interest. The bank then uses this money to lend to others. Things like free checking and ATMs are there to entice depositors to put their money in that bank. Charging fees for this is akin to Google charging people for search or Facebook charging you to post links or connect with friends.

These fees are backlash against the government coming in and taking away the bank fees on bounced checks and other things. So, the banks have responded. I think the government should have stayed out of this, but they didn't. But this response is bad business on the part of the banks. As a man on the street, I can tell you that there is palpable anger against the banking sector amongst the public. Banks are hated now. A backlash is growing.

4. WALL STREET PROTESTS

Lefties are protesting on Wall Street while Wall Street fat cats laugh and sip champagne. I don't know who is dumber. Is it the leftards who chose Wall Street instead of the Federal Reserve or Washington for their demonstration? Or is it the Masters of the Universe types thumbing their noses at the Marxist horde? I hate to say this, but I am not going to be terribly broken up over it if those champagne sippers get looted to hell and back. I remember them getting taxpayer bailout money. I suspect they are now going to discover the true price of those bailouts. It's like the price of getting a loan from the Mafia. The conditions of the agreement are subject to immediate and unpredictable revisions.

WALES TEAM v FIJI


WALES FOCUS ON FIJI
There are seven changes to the Wales team for their final World Cup Pool D clash against Fiji at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Sunday (kick-off 6.00pm).
The seven changes from the side who sealed an impressive 81-7 victory over Namibia last time out see Scarlets wing George North, his club-mate Rhys Priestland (outside half), Blues centre Jamie Roberts and Bayonne scrum half Mike Phillips all return to the backline. They replace Aled Brew (Dragons) and Stephen Jones, Jonathan Davies and Tavis Knoyle (all Scarlets).
North’s return sees Leigh Halfpenny (Blues) switch wings to the left side vacated by Brew and a further positional change in the centre sees Scarlet Scott Williams move out one spot to accommodate the return of Roberts at inside centre.
Wales’ most capped player, Stephen Jones (101), and centre Davies are on the replacements bench with scrum half Knoyle and wing Brew omitted from the 22-man match-day squad on this occasion. Up front, hooker Huw Bennett and prop Adam Jones return in place of Exeter Chiefs prop Craig Mitchell and Dragons hooker Lloyd Burns, with Burns on the bench.
In the second row Blues lock Bradley Davies is retained and partnered by Dragon Luke Charteris, with Osprey Alun Wyn Jones asked to provide cover as a replacement.
Elsewhere on the bench Blues scrum half Lloyd Williams keeps his place after making an impact last time out in New Plymouth, back rowforward Andy Powell (Sale Sharks) is also retained and Ospreys prop Paul James completes the line-up.
Not considered for selection this week were Shane Williams, who is recovering well from a thigh strain, Dan Lydiate (ankle) and James Hook (shoulder).
“Shane might have been available to us if we had pushed him, but he has taken a limited part in training this week and we are happy with the back three we have been able to put on the field for this game,”said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
“Alun Wyn (Jones) and Jonathan (Davies), are two of the players who have started in all three games so far and so we have freshened things up a little in the second row and the centre, but have both of them on the bench if we need them.
“In the front row Huw Bennett comes back in after resting up last week and Adam Jones also adds his extensive experience. Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips, Jamie Roberts and George North are all also back in and we will be very much asking them all to continue where they each left off the last time they took to the field.”
Wales’ Pool D opponents South Africa and Samoa meet in Auckland and, with the meeting with Fiji not occurring until 48 hours later, Gatland and his charges will know exactly what they have to do before kick-off in Hamilton on Sunday night – but he is not expecting any change of mood as a result.
“Our focus is entirely on Fiji, we know if we can win one more game, and win it well, that will give us the best chance of reaching the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup with significant momentum,” added Gatland.
WALES: Lee Byrne; George North, Scott Williams, Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Ryan Jones, Sam Warburton (captain), Toby Faletau
REPLACEMENTS: Lloyd Burns, Paul James, Alun Wyn Jones, Andy Powell, Lloyd Williams, Stephen Jones, Jonathan Davies