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I'm Going to Alabama on Vacation.........
Via Montana.
Yeah Montana. So There. Yes, always pay attention to the signs when you travel.

I've got 3 weeks vacation time lined up and have decided to head West. Before going South.
I originally thought about a trip to the Washington, DC area to see the sights there but never got a call back from the old Army Buddy who lives in MD. As it turns out, I DID receive a call back from the Old Army Buddy in Montana. So there you go.

See how easy that was?

I've got 3 weeks scheduled off from both jobs and I hope to take TheBigBluePlasticKawasaki on a long leg stretcher. Or Butt Buster. Depending on how you look at it.

My main riding buddy, Mr. T, the Xray Wizard, is taking his Significant Other East for a short break during the same time period and we hope to hook up at Barber Motorsports Museum in Alabama and ride home together.

The odds of that working out are ........ Oh, roughly 3:1, but that's the plan for now and we'll stick with that till it falls apart. I only give it 3:1 odds because He's going to the East Coast and I'm heading 2000 miles in the opposite direction.
And we're gonna meet in Birmingham, Alabama on a specific day, 2 -1/2 weeks later. Sounds good, but we'll see how it goes.

I hope it goes ok, as The Barber Museum was the only place we had on our "Gotta Go To" list this year. Would kinda suck if we only have one place on our list and don't even get that right. So I'm gonna do my part to make it happen.

I've got the bike prepped pretty well. Got a new Corbin seat the other day for it and that's gonna help. The old stock seat was wore down bad. The Corbin is hard as a rock but it gives you some movement. So, while it's not the best thing, it's a hell of a lot better than what I had.

I've been gathering shit together for several weeks now and have a huge pile already. I'll have to go thru, prune and toss a bunch till I get the packing list right.

I should make a damn list and commit it to paper. I go thru this every time and say the same thing. Does that surprise anybody?

I always end up leaving some little bullshit at home and buying it on the road. Eh. Could be worse. At least I'm out there on the road.

What I do need to do is get in RIDING SHAPE.

Most folks don't realise what I mean when I say "Riding Shape". There's a huge difference between riding your bike to work everyday and doing 500 or 600 mile days routinely for 3 weeks straight.

It's been about 2 months since I had a 300 mile day. Yeah, I ride almost everyday and have put 10,000+ miles on this year, but it's just not the same as riding long distances everyday. So I'm gonna by hitting it hard for the next few weeks and working myself into shape.

Yeah, what a bitch, eh? I gotta ride a lot to get in shape for a friggin vacation. Ha!Ain't it good to be living in the USA?

I do expect to be going through Utah, so I'm studying everything I need to know.

I’ve been on the couch nursing my right knee for a month now (stress fracture and tendonitis was the diagnosis, but neither are severe), and I must say, it has been surprisingly refreshing to take a break from training. I sure was a mess the first week – depressed, longing for the trails, wondering if I was ever going to run again – but once I broke from the pattern, I was able to fill my running time with a bunch of things that could help maintain my balance and sense of adventure. Who knew it could be so much fun to NOT run?

I didn’t realize how addicting running can be until I was forced to take a break. It really is like trying to quit smoking or crack! Well, maybe not crack, but it's up there. My legs didn’t get the memo from the doc about a “mandatory month of rest”, and they would start shaking and twitching around 6am every morning, ready for that daily run. When they didn’t get their fix, they sent a message right to my brain – get depressed, angry, or something, but get back in the running groove! Finally Christi set me straight, and said I had to change my daily routine so I wasn’t “missing” my workouts. Much to my surprise, I found great satisfaction in doing housework, spending long chunks of time with Sophie, slow swimming, and reconnecting with Debby Weil who is recovering from her cycling accident.

One of the first things I wanted to do was give Christi, my wife, a break every day that I could. She has been great about giving me the time to train in the mornings and weekends, and I wanted to return the favor even if she doesn’t obsess about exercising like me. I made sure I was the first up in the mornings, feeding Sophie breakfast (or “breckee” as we call it), washing dishes, cleaning up, etc. Christi spent the time sleeping in, working out, or reading a magazine that had been gathering dust for months. On the occasional weeknight, I took Sophie out on “dinner dates with Daddy” to give Christi some time to catch up with friends. Turns out it is quite a work out! I certainly have a new appreciation for the sacrifice Christi and Sophie make just so I can get my daily run fix.

I have spent a lot more time with Sophie in the last month, and it has been wonderful to experience our bond grow. She’s almost one year old, and changing every week (not walking yet, but darn close). It was nice to have her for big blocks of time, and be able to hit the zoo, walks in the park, going to weddings, try out new words, etc., instead of constantly wondering how I could fit her in or around my workout schedule. No surprise, I have more photos on HER blog these days. ;-) If you’re a running blogger with an entry in the last month, Sophie has probably heard your adventure read out loud (that means you, Vermont 100 winner AJW, Olga the 12-hour dominator, Peter Lubbers the Ultrarunner.net leader, Jean Pommier touring France, Mark Tanaka chasing ghosts, Rick Gaston mastering the Headlands Hundred, and many more!). It’s been great to live vicariously through you all, and Sophie hangs on your every word.

Christi was quick to point out that I might enjoy some light swimming, if anything just to get my heart rate up for a few minutes. I joined the gang at Ladera Oaks during the noon hour, plodding along in the slow lane and doing lots of pool running. Turns out that pool running can be quite a workout for the heart and muscles, without the strain on your bones and joints. Water aerobics is not for wimps! Christi was right – my mood improved, even with 1-2 pool sessions per week.

I also made a pact with myself to make time to meet Debby Weil, the cyclist who had been in an accident on Memorial Day weekend (read blog post here). We had exchanged voice mails since she got out of ICU in late June, but I never seemed to have the time to stop by and see her. Perhaps part of this was due to the fact that I knew she was still in bad shape – how could she not be? But wouldn’t I want visitors if I was strapped to the couch? Absolutely, so I called her up and scheduled some time. When she opened her door to welcome me into her home, I simply couldn’t believe it – she looked great! I had to apologize for staring, because I was having a hard time seeing “Debby from the accident” somewhere behind her glowing smile. Over the next few hours, she told me about the insane recovery (four weeks in ICU, more surgeries than I could count, 19 plates in her head and arms, taking 5 days to learn to swallow again, a new nose and chin, learning to grasp a cup all over again, etc.) and how she still has a ways to go. But to me, the fact that she could be alive with her sense of humor intact was nothing short of a miracle. I gave her some ultrarunner tips on how to stomach Ensure (blended with fruit and almond butter is best), and shared tidbits of the accident that she was curious about but thankfully doesn’t remember. She wanted me to pass on a thank you to all of you who wished her well and kept her in your thoughts and prayers. I was simply aglow when I returned to work. She is the closest thing to an angel I have ever experienced, and I’m hoping we can stay in touch.

The x-rays and bone scans are good and the docs have cleared me to run again (right after the mandatory speech about how people shouldn’t run that far, yada, yada). So I’m ramping up slowly, being careful to step cautiously and not hit the hills too hard. So far no pain but my stride is as awkward as a newborn giraffe. It’s good to connect with the trails again, but I’m setting my clock extra early so I can get back in time for breckee with Sophie and hopefully the snoring sound of my wife. This last Sunday, I took them both out on a date instead of worrying about the long run. I’m going to stick with the pool sessions to do my “speed work” – there is definitely a link to running stronger in there, but I need more experimentation. Looking forward to seeing you all again soon, refreshed and ready to run!

SD

Brian Dayton successfully defended his USATF 50k trial at the Marin Headlands earlier today, clocking a 3:55:25 to win by over 7 minutes. Beverly Anderson-Abbs beat out a top-notch Women’s field to win in 4:42:32, her first 50k national title.

Brian had some early competition from Ed Baker, a 2:21 marathoner training for the Olympic Trails in NYC this year who had decided to run the Headlands 50k at the last minute. Ed hung onto Brian for 20 miles, then broke out in the lead for 8 miles (clocking a few 5:10 miles along the way) before “seeing stars” and having to slow down in the last few miles. Mark McManus (4:02:18) and North Carolina’s Jason Bryant (4:02:51) also caught Ed in the final mile before he finished in 4^th with a debut 4:04:43. Brisbane, CA’s Cliff Lentz (4:15:17) took the Master’s title with his 6^th place finish.

Bev Abbs, 43, held off 39-year-old Caren Spore (4:48:25) and phenom Devon Crosby-Helms (4:58:29) to claim her win, after taking the lead around mile 10. Her finish was good enough for 15^th overall, and showed that the Master’s are often the ones to catch.

You can read a full story here at the Marin Independent Journal (thanks for the link, Kate!). Congrats to everyone who finished!

MEN

1. Bryan Dayton (34), Boulder Colo., 3:55:25
2. Mark McManus (33), Mill Valley, 4:02:18
3. Jason Bryant (35), Elkin, N.C., 4:02:51
4. Ed Baker (28), Palo Alto, 4:04:43
5. Peter Fain (35), Truckee, 4:08:13
6. Cliff Lentz (42), Brisbane, 4:15;17
7. Victor Ballesteros (37), San Rafael, 4:15:37
8. Chikira Omine (24), San Francisco, 4:16:50
9. Michael Buchanan (33), San Carlos, 4:17:16
10. Steve Stowers (42), Berkeley, 4:17:59
11. Jean Pommier (43), Cupertino, 4:23:43
12. Erik Skaden (35), Folsom, 4:32:51
13. Robert Evans (41), Pacifica, 4:38:19
14. Kevin Rumon (46), San Rafael, 4:38:52
15. Paul Cox (44), Davis, 4:43:11
16. Ron Gutierrez (40), San Francisco, 4:43:50
17. Mark Tanaka (39), Castro Valley, 4:49:50
18. Howard Troy (34), Walnut Creek, 4:57:55

WOMEN

1. Beverley Anderson-Abbs (43), Red Bluff, 4:42:32
2. Caren Spore (39), Davis, 4:48:25
3. Devon Crosby-Helms (24), San Francisco, 4:58:29
4. Julie Young (41), Auburn, 5:09:43
5. Florencia Gascon-Amyx (43), Mill Valley, 5:25:14
6. Nicole Duke (31), Aptos, 5:29:44
7. Robin Sanderson (36), Mill Valley, 5:35:41
8. Moriah Buckley (29), Novato, 5:42:58

Overheard in the ER...........
35 year old male comes in by EMS. Extremely intoxicated and suicidal. The conversation as I remember it.

ER Nurse: So what's going on today?
Drunk Asshole: I don't wanna live anymore if my wife's gonna leave me.
ER Nurse: Let me guess,. It's got something to do with your drinking, right?
Drunk Asshole: That's what she said.
ER Nurse: That's not it. She's really mad because you don't have a job.
Drunk Asshole: How'd you know?
ER Nurse: Just a guess.

A press release from RunnersWeb:

Athletics: Pacific Association Runners Will Contend For Titles At USA 50K Trail Championships

MARIN COUNTY, Calif. - August 22, 2007 - Top Pacific Association/USA Track & Field (PA/USATF) runners will vie for bragging rights at the 2007 USA 50 Kilometer Trail Championships on Sunday, Aug 26. The national USATF championship is hosted by the Golden Gate Headlands 50K for the fifth straight year. The event starts (7:00 a.m.) and finishes at Rodeo Beach in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area/Marin Headlands, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Devon Crosby-Helms (San Francisco) is favored to grab the USATF national women's trail 50K (31 miles) title. On the men's side, defending national men's champion Bryan Dayton (Boulder, Colo.) will have a decided advantage over the rugged trails that compose the Golden Gate Headlands race course.

Crosby-Helms, 25, is one of the fastest rising stars in ultra distance running. She is preparing for the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) 100 Kilometer World Cup (September 8 in The Netherlands) as a member of the USA 100K world team. Last year, in her very first ultramarathon, she placed 7th at the USA 50K Trail Championship. Then, Crosby-Helms won the Jed Smith 50K in 3 hours and 32 minutes, posting one of the fastest 50K times for American women in the past 10 years.

Crosby-Helms also won this year's Napa Valley Marathon, the Quicksilver 50K, and she placed second in her 100K debut at the Mad City 100K USA National Championships.

"I've been running the trails [in the Marin Headlands] for quite a while in preparation for this race and the 100K World Cup," said Crosby-Helms who is a culinary arts student at Bauman College in Berkeley. "But I don't know how fresh I'll be. I have a culinary event where I'll be on my feet for two days right before the race."

Caren Spore (Davis, Calif.) could challenge Crosby-Helms if she falters. Spore placed third at this championship last year, nine minutes behind winner Kami Semick (Bend, Ore.) who finished in 4:25:15. Spore is the current women's Senior Open division (ages 30 to 39) leader on the 2007 PA/USATF Ultrarunning Grand Prix circuit.

Also, 43-year-old Beverley Anderson-Abbs (Red Bluff, Calif.) could place on the medals podium. Anderson-Abbs was the 2005 USA 50K Trail Championships runner-up, and was second female at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run in 2006 and 2007. She won this year's Way Too Cool 50K, the Pony Express 50K, and the Mount Diablo 50 Mile races.

Among men, all contenders will be eyeing Dayton, 34, who was crowned last year's USA 50K trail champion with a winning time of 3:59:53. Plus, Dayton has finished in the top three in the USA 50K Trail Championships in three past years (2002, 2003, 2005). He knows every aspect of the championship trail course for which he is perfectly suited.

"Dayton is a fantastic runner who lives in the thin air of Colorado year-round," according to Race Director Guy Palmer. "He has phenomenal uphill, and particularly downhill, running abilities."

Fast downhill speed is an asset on the singularly beautiful, but exceptionally hilly, trail course said Palmer. There are seven major hills, with a cumulative climb of over 7,000 feet, on the route that runs through the coastal headlands of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Mount Tamalpais California State Park.

"When people think about the Headlands, they often picture the endless uphills," he said. "But that's only half the picture. Some of the downhill sections go on for about three miles. It takes tremendous conditioning to keep the legs turning over and striding out."

PA/USATF Ultrarunning Chair, Hollis Lenderking, agreed that Colorado's Dayton is the men's favorite.

"He's a speed merchant within the ultrarunning spectrum who can excel at 50K," Lenderking said. "On the other hand, California's ultrarunners tend to be stronger at longer ultra distances, 50 miles and up."

Among the Californians, Eric Skaden (Folsom, Calif.), who placed second at the 2006 and 2007 Western States 100 Mile, may challenge Dayton for the national title. Skaden also won this year's American River 50 Mile run. Other top Northern California/Pacific Association men's contenders include Jean Pommier (Cupertino), Chikara Omine (San Francisco), Mark Tanaka (Castro Valley), Michael Buchanan (San Carlos), and Bradley Niess (Oakland).

Mark McManus (Mill Valley) throws a wildcard into the men's field. Although his ultrarunning credentials are thin, the former NCAA Division II All-American for the University of California Davis trains on the flanks of Mount Tamalpais. Plus, McManus has registered the fastest times at the 7.1-mile Dipsea Race over Mount Tamalpais in 2006 and 2007.

The 2007 Golden Gate Headlands 50K also serves on the 17-event PA/USATF Ultrarunning Grand Prix circuit. The race is organized by the Tamalpa Runners. About 150 competitors will participate. A minimum of $3,500 in prize money will be awarded to top finishers.

"USATF applauds the Tamalpa Runners for stepping forward and organizing a race within a race by hosting the USA 50K Trail Championships," said Nancy Hobbs who chairs USATF's Mountain/Ultra/Trail (MUT) Sport Council. "This year the MUT Council is thrilled to support 10 national championships which provide USATF members with numerous opportunities to compete for national titles."

For additional information and historical facts about the USA 50K Trail Championships, visit www.usatf.org (select "Events/Calendars" and then "National Championships") or www.headlands50k.org.

The Pacific Association is the largest member association of USA Track & Field (USATF). We serve northern California and northwestern Nevada. USATF is the National Governing Body for track and field, long distance running, and race walking in the United States. For more information about the Pacific Association, visit our Web site at PAUSATF.org.

Yer Unk Has Had a Major Computer Malfunction.....
"The old Grey Mare, She ain't what she used to be".

Had a major malfunction and just decided to quit upgrading a 10 year old computer.
I am now breaking in the new computer here & I've come to this conclusion already - Windows Vista? Pretty Much Sucks.

I actually got along pretty well with XP. So far, not digging the Vista to much.

Ok, on to other things.

I hope you like the new co-host here. I have to go figure out how to configure Blogger to allow him to post under his own name. I'm sure that will be another ex cerise in frustration. Eh, what the hell.

I have to recover all the cool pictures and what not from the old computer yet and reinstall or move things over here too. That's gonna keep me busy for a lot longer than it would for most Capuchin Monkeys, but that's the way it goes.

OK. Just wanted to say Hi and let all 3 of you know I'm still alive.

Welcome to flavor country...

Normally, this is where your Crazy Uncle would hit you with something slick and funny but I ain't that guy. I've been recruited by the Unc to come in and drop some knowledge on you avid readers so he can have a breather and catch some more ride time before Summer craps out. First off, a little about myself, I am a Southerner by birth and proud of it. And no, that doesn't mean I belong to any exclusive gentleman's clubs where white sheets are required attire. It does mean that I am a little different in my way of thinking and that will be reflected in my prose. My interest are many and the articles may be a little random at times but, variety is not a bad thing. (Unless you ask your wife.) Anyway, lots of ground to cover so let us get started.

Isn't that a great looking couple?












A lot to be said for a successful couple enjoying a hard earned vacation somewhere exotic. Just look at them. No doubt they are going to have some nice kids to go on and do some good for the stars and bars. That is what America is all about.

Now how the hell did these two get into the picture?











Well, honestly, they have always been there. In fact, it is nearly impossible to weed them out of any scene. Why, do you ask? Well, for same damn reason they are a lot more successful at breeding then the more affluent in our society. It could be that since they likely have no jobs or responsibilities it opens up quite a bit more time for them to indulge in recreational and unprotected sex. And that, my friend, leads to babies. Lots and lots of babies. So many babies that they are out breeding the tax payers at an alarming rate. On one hand, the baby boomers are retiring and becoming more reliant on the government while on the other, all these new babies from the legion of sexually charged unemployed flood us with new expense. That leaves you and I in the middle of a candle burning at both ends. Yep, you see it every time you go to Wal-Mart, hordes of these little devils running around with parents you just know are doing a good job. Yet, at the same time you see what appears to be intelligent well-dressed folks of breeding age oddly, with no kids. Eerie. Just what is going on with that. Every day in my line of work I see yet another trailer park honey inseminated by some near-do-well (age 16) while some of the ladies I work with are having fertility problems. What is up with that? I have worked in numerous different hospitals since '99 and it seems like in everyone of those I knew a young educated couple that was having a hard time trying to conceive. While at the same time, people that shouldn't be having kids are spitting them out like pop-tarts out of a toaster. Yeah man, sometimes two at a time. There has to be something primordial going on here. Something not on the surface. Maybe even something on the genetic level, bound in our very DNA. Perhaps we should look to nature for an answer. But first, we need a good example. Got it!

Enter the sea turtle.








Sea Turtles? Yes, sea turtles. Sea turtles are a dim-witted amphibian that swim in the open ocean and lay eggs but once a year. However, when they eggs they lay them over a hundred at a time. Why is that? Well, sea turtles don't hang around to raise their young so that makes them a little more susceptible to harm. In addition, when the eggs hatch all the baby sea turtles make a mad dash to the sea guided by instinct alone. During this period many of the hatching's are eaten by predators, become lost, or die of exposure. So, let us recap: parents not around, vulnerable youth in a strange place left unattended, predators at large. Yep, that sounds about right. See where I'm going with this? Let me elaborate some more. Nature recognizes that slow dim-witted animals fall prey to circumstance and accident far more often then creatures that have nurturing parents that keep their young from harm and teach them as they reach maturity. Hence, to compensate the less intellectually advantaged animals produce many more offspring to ensure that at least a few make it to breeding age. The real question is can this happen within a species? I think it can and has.

This is what the line to the tilt-a-whirl looks like at the county fair.


"I'ma going to get me that Motley Crue bandana."



The theory of evolution works on the premise that only the strong survive and that if a species does not adapt they will become extinct. Perhaps, we are seeing some of that here. If dumb parents are left to their own devices it is likely that very few of their offspring would make it to adulthood. These parents make poor choices for themselves and this extends to their young. Choices like: letting your kid eat poison berries, loosing track of your child, using them for bait to draw in predators, and of course poor hygiene and disease. On a modern note this is compounded by: drug abuse, fetal alcohol syndrome, exploitation, loading all the kids in the back of the pick-up with old Smokey the family hound, and living in a flimsy aluminum structure between the seven and ten pins of tornado alley. I surmise that these individuals are endowed with greater fertility to offset the likelihood of high infant mortality rates, accidents, and neglect. It is a plausible answer for the question at hand. Don't believe me? Well, go down to the local watering hole and witness the increased libido on display by this sect of society. In fact, an enhanced sex drive may be the mechanism by which they propagate this class of society. Oddly, it seems that all they have to do is have relations one time and, no matter what time of the month it is, it takes. Consider this, in most high schools lots of kids are having sex and a lot of that sex is unprotected, okay, now whose kids always end up pregnant? It ain't the captain of the football team, is it? And we know he is doing just fine in the hook up department so, there has to be something more. Who gets knocked up? Yeah, the guy in introduction to addition third year running and BeBe who failed home economics. Sit there and tell me that is perfectly natural. In nature the alpha male and alpha female are the most fit to breed and yet, the beta pair in our society is winning hands down. Moreover, in nature this would be circumvented because the less desirable offspring would have lower survival rates because they would fall to predation and disease quicker than the stronger members of the herd. Conversely, in our modern world they are protected from most predators (except uncle Albert, pervert.) and cured from disease. So, when little Johnny takes a handful of mom's cymbalta what happens? 911 to the rescue. When little Jenny gets in a knife fight for her colors, you guessed it, EMS stops the bleeding. Yes Virginia, Darwin is being defeated not by right wing bible thumpers but by nosey old ladies that have telephones. And all the while this is going on the smart couples are having to gulp clomid by the handfuls or are choosing not to breed at all. There it is old pal, the sea turtle theory. To recap: dumb people do dumb things and this leads to higher rates of disease and death, to offset this they are able to have more children, smart people have smart kids that are more likely to make it to adulthood, they don't need to have as many children. Consider the bald eagle.

Where can you find sea turtles? Well, the ocean is a good place to look for the real McCoy but we are talking about human turtles so, here are a few of my favorite places: the fair, Wal-Mart, monster truck shows, biker rallies, emergency rooms, any waiting room with cable, any venue where toplessness is smiled upon, crack houses, any form of motor vehicle racing where right turns are prohibited, taco bell, KFC, and you bet your ass a Chinese buffet. Okay kids, now for a scavenger hunt. 5 points for any turtle, 7 for a turtle with mutation/deformity, 10 for turtle with at least one parent within a 50 yard radius, and 600 points for a traditional nuclear turtle family with two parents within a 5 yard radius which is the rarest of all breeds. Winner with photographic proof gets an all expense paid trip to see Moley Hatchet at the Nipple Hut.

Hold my beer and watch this!!!



Sea turtles can often be found at these venues on Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!!





Handy to have around the house.








This is the FN PS90, it is now available for civilian sale and is a great implement for those seeking a personal defense weapon not enamored by the AR-15 series of carbines. It is light, has great ergonomics, and is available with a 50 round magazine. It fires the 5.7x28mm round which is nothing more than a .22 cal round in a 28mm bottleneck case. Usable bullet weights for civvies is 40grs and muzzle velocity is around 2300fps. You do sacrifice some terminal energy compared to the 5.56 NATO round but you gain 20 rounds and it is a good bit shorter. FN offers a tri-rail model which allows you to mount the optic of your choice along with any light cluster you desire. 16" barrel is standard on the civilian model versus 10" for class lll. The gain is more velocity, the rub is more length. This would be a great weapon for home defense as it is loaded with frangible varmint bullets and is far easier to aim at any distance than a pistol. With optics and illuminators weight would be around 7-7.5 pounds but it is kept much closer to the body and would be a little bit easier to get around corners. Go to FNUSA.com and check it out for the complete specs. One word of caution, hold out for the tri-rail as the original sight sucks. Real world price around $1600. Ammo-about a buck a round but it is reloadable.

The official results are in - Meghan Arbogast and Mark Lantz have won the USATF 100k Trail Championships at the Where's Waldo 100k near Oakridge, OR, this weekend. Meghan (who guest blogged about the WW100k here last year) won overall and claimed the Women's Master title, with Jeff Browning coming in 2nd overall (not a Masters), and Mark Lantz overcoming a 40-minute detour to come in 3rd overall and 1st Male Master.

Here's the Top 10 (more results at the WW100k site):

1 Arbogast, Meghan 46 F Corvallis, OR 10:48:48
2 Browning, Jeff 36 M Bend, OR 10:50:35
3 Lantz, Mark 42 M Folsom, CA 10:56:13
4 Anderson-Abbs, Beverley 43 F Red Bluff, CA 11:09:08
5 Weatherley-White, Matthew 43 M Boise, ID 11:09:13
6 Burke, Mike 56 M Beaverton, OR 11:11:51
7 Murray, Mark 44 M Sacramento, CA 11:15:46
8 Clifton, Eric 49 M Winchester, CA 11:54:31
9 Stevens, Michael 38 M Hailey, ID 12:00:52
10 Petrie, Ragan 41 F Atlanta, GA 12:13:19

Nice work, guys!

- SD

Update on "Mom Trades Baby for a Car" Story.......

Back in February, I noted In This Post about the Colorado mother who attempted to trade her kid for, of all things, a Dodge Intrepid.

Well, the internet being what it is, here's a video from the Car Dealer where it all happened.

This is some funny shit.

Dude, Where's My Leg??????????
Straight from the "OH SHIT" File comes this - Biker fails to notice missing leg.

"TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese biker failed to notice his leg had been severed below the knee when he hit a safety barrier, and rode on for more than a mile, leaving a friend to pick up the missing limb."

Seriously, just how focused can one man be to not notice something like ........... Having yer Friggin' leg ripped off.

"He felt excruciating pain, but did not notice that his right leg was missing until he stopped at the next junction..." - Damn, you just know he fell on his ass when he tried to stop, too. Hell of a way to notice "Somethings Missing".

When informed that the Bikers Lawyer was preparing a lawsuit against the city, a Hamamatsu City Attorney remarked, "He was entirely responsible for this accident and doesn't have a leg to stand on" - OK, I made that last part up.

43-year-old Anita Ortiz of Eagle, CO, is one of the best short course trail runners in the US. Since 2002, she has earned four U.S. mountain running titles and finished among the top 11 in the world three times (she's also headed back this year!). She also has won a master's mountain running world championship and collected several U.S. and North American snowshoe running titles.

Brian Metzler of the Rocky Mountain News wrote a great article about how injury steered Anita into ultrarunning last year (2nd at the White River 50m), and now she's happier than ever! Thought you might enjoy how a mother of four makes time for world-class training.

- SD

PS - Recovery seems to be going well. Lots of time in the pool, lots of time with Sophie. Still don't have consensus on the injury, but everyone agrees to stop running for a while. ;-(

I Always Knew the Government Was Inept........

How Inept? Law Dog Has the answer.


Pointing out something I wasn't aware of. That, first of all, The Mustang Ranch was back in business. If you don't know what exactly, The Mustang Ranch is, you really need to read this. It was probably the most famous Whore House in the United States. And that, at one time, it was owned and operated by the United States Government.


In a strange kinda way that just makes sense.

In his words it really does -

"However, while interesting, this is not the part of it's history that is really fascinating. What we're interested in is this little tid-bit buried way down in the article: after several years of tax shenanigans by the owner, the Mustang Ranch became the first (Official. Licensed.) brothel run by the United States Federal Government.

They lost money.

Let us allow that simple, yet profound, truth sink into our synapses, shall we?The Federal Government of the United States can not run a bordello and make money."

Go read the rest because it is great.
If you're not already reading this guy, you're missing out.

Because I'm Such Slacker ........

Almost Overcome with Lust Today......

An interesting article in the NY Times this week about endurance relay events like the Hood to Coast in Portland, OR (with over 12,000 runners), 24 Hours of Moab cycling race, etc.

The opening paragraph says it all:

"WHEN Tara Ruotolo recruited far-flung pals and friends of friends to run the 197-mile Nike Hood to Coast relay race in northwest Oregon, she didn’t choose her partners in grime based on talent or tenacity alone. Her main criteria? Whether or not she wanted to spend an entire day huddled in a van with them, catching up on who’s dating whom and lending clean togs to forgetful teammates."

That and who hogs the pillow. ;-)

SD

[From Wiki]

CONTENTS:
* 1 Golden Age Superman
* 2 Silver Age (Pre-Crisis) Superman
* 3 Post-Crisis
* 4 Modern Era
* 5 Comparative strength
* 6 Alternate versions and timelines
o 6.1 The Dark Knight continuity
o 6.2 Superman: Red son
o 6.3 Kingdom Come
o 6.4 All Star Superman
* 7 Film and Television
o 7.1 Adventures of Superman
o 7.2 Superman Movie Series
o 7.3 Smallville
o 7.4 DC Animated Universe
* 8 Notes
* 9 External links



Golden Age Superman
As presented in the original 1930's comic strip, Superman's powers were indigenous to those of all Kryptonians. In the origin stories of the comic books and comic strip, Kryptonians were shown using the same powers that Superman would have on Earth. Later, Krypton's larger size and gravity was given as an explanation for the character's powers.

When introduced in the late 1930s, Superman had the following powers and limitations:

* Super Strength: The character was depicted as having the ability to move large vehicles, including cars, trains, and ships.

* Leaping Ability: As originally conceived, Superman could leap an eighth of a mile or over that of a tall building

* Super Speed: Superman could run faster than a speeding bullet

* Invulnerability: Superman's skin could not be pierced by anything short of a large artillery shell.




Silver Age (Pre-Crisis) Superman

Superman's powers were enhanced and added to from the 1940s until the mid-eighties. His powers were explained as a result of two factors: the comparatively weaker gravity of Earth, and the intensity of Earth's yellow sun. As such, Superman's powers were negated if he entered an environment similar to that of Krypton, such as the bottle city of Kandor, or if he was exposed to the solar energy of a red sun. In Silver Age stories, the powers and limitations of Superman were instantly possessed by any Kryptonians exposed to Earth or Earth-like conditions. Individuals from the planet Daxam, such as Mon-El, possessed identical powers, but were invulnerable to Kryptonite and highly susceptible to lead poisoning.

1.Super Strength: Superman's strength was increased to the point where he could move entire planets.

2.Super self-propelled Flight: The character gained the power of true flight.

3.Super Run-Speed and Swim-speed: Superman's speed increased to the point where he could travel faster than light. Several stories depict him traversing great distances through space. He could also use this power to travel through time, as shown in his boyhood visits to the 30th century as a member of the Legion of Superheroes. Superman can also swim at speeds approaching Aquaman's speed as well as run at speeds similar to that of the Flash.

4.Invulnerability: By the 1970s, Superman was able to withstand an atomic explosion and even fly through the core of a star. He was also immune to non-kryptonian diseases and all radiation except for that of a red sun or kryptonite.

5.Super Heat Vision

6.X-Ray vision

7.Super Telescopic vision

8.Super Microscopic vision

9.High range[Infrared and Ultraviolet] vision
In addition to X-ray vision and heat vision, Superman was also given telescopic and microscopic vision. The character could see across interstellar distances and observe events that occurred on a microscopic and even atomic level. He could also see across the full electromagnetic spectrum, including infra-red and ultraviolet light.

10.Super-Hearing:
Superman could hear sound at almost any wavelength and at great distances.

11.Super Breath:
Superman's breath was capable of freezing objects and generating hurricane-force winds. He could also hold his breath indefinitely, allowing him to travel underwater or in space without breathing apparatus.

12.Super Leap

13.Super-intelligence and focus

14.Eidetic memory
Superman possessed genius-level intelligence and an eidetic memory. These enhanced mental capabilities were a direct result of his exposure to a yellow sun, as evidenced by the depiction of Superman's dog, Krypto. While under a yellow sun, Krypto's intelligence was boosted to that of a typical human. Superman also possessed the mental ability to screen out the enormous amount of information received by his enhanced senses, and to focus on a single detail, such as a particular voice or location. As well, his speed reading abilities were much like that of the Flash. He was able to absorb large amounts of information quickly, whether it entered his short term or long term memory is hazy

15.Super Ventriloquism: Superman could throw his voice across great distances. This power was used to confuse enemies or protect his secret identity by tricking others into believing that he (or Clark Kent) was in a different location.

16.Super Hypnotism: This power enabled Superman to hypnotize anyone. He could make people forget incidents or obey his commands. This power was often used to safeguard his identity.

17.Super Stamina: Superman could survive indefinitely without food, water, or rest due to the yellow sun's radiation sustaining him.

18.Spontaneous accelerated regeneration: Superman could regenerate physical damage to his body at an accelerated rate. He was able to regenerate when Wonder Woman slit his throat with her tiara in Wonder Woman #219. In the series Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Superman regenerates his body after being reduced to near a skeleton by a special nuke that was designed to blot out sun light and disrupt energy. Superman's healing rate has been inconsistently portrayed, however. In the first issue of the "Superman/Batman" comic, Alfred is able to remove a kryptonite bullet from Superman's body without fear of the wound closing.(probably because the kryptonite was affecting his ability to heal)

19.Enhanced smell and touch senses
Writers of Superman would occasionally experiment with new powers for the character. In general, the abilities that proved popular and useful became part of his regular repertoire, while others would be discarded after a single use. In addition to his other super senses, Superman was occasionally shown as having highly-enhanced senses of touch and smell.

20.Advanced Telekinesis



Post-Crisis

When the Superman character was revised by John Byrne shortly after Crisis on Infinite Earths, it was decided to place restrictions on his abilities. This was designed to make it easier for writers to come up with suitable challenges for the hero, and to eliminate or reduce those powers that had become too sensational or unbelievable for modern audiences. Emphasis was placed on yellow sun energy as a source for the character's powers. Superman's origin story was altered so that his powers developed gradually as his body absorbed yellow sunlight, and stories such as the Final Night series depicted the character gradually losing his powers when deprived of the sun's energy. When Superman's reserves of solar energy were depleted, as in Infinite Crisis or the Death of Superman story arcs, he required an extended period of time under a yellow sun, or some type of artificial solar enhancement in order to regain his abilities.

Power Reduction Superman's strength was reduced to the point where he could still move tremendous amounts, but the character no longer had the ability to move planets. His speed was also reduced so that he could not exceed the speed of light. While still capable of surviving a nuclear explosion, such events would severely weaken him. Superman's sight, stamina and breath powers were also similarly reduced, and the character was also shown as requiring an oxygen mask for prolonged travel in space or underwater. His mental abilities were also curtailed to the point where intelligent humans, like Lex Luthor or Batman, could possibly outsmart him. The powers of super-ventriloquism and super-hypnosis were not generally used during this period, although it was never stated whether they had been eliminated or not.

Tactile Telekinesis An attempt was made to explain Superman's ability to fly with large objects through the introduction of tactile telekinesis. Objects that Superman touched were enveloped by an invisible telekinetic field that allowed him to move them with the force of his will. The ability also explained Superman's ability to fly. This power was the only ability originally duplicated in the Superboy clone, allowing him to emulate Superman's strength, speed, and flight capabilities, but none of his sensory powers. Over time, Superboy, or Kon-El as he came to be known, would eventually develop the same set of powers as the original.



Modern Era
After Byrne's departure from the series, Superman's powers and abilities were once again increased over time. He regained the ability to travel interstellar distances and to hold his breath for the amount of time required to make such journeys. His strength, speed, and sensory abilities were again increased, although not to pre-crisis levels.

The comparative weakness of the Superman character to his pre-crisis incarnation was definitively shown during Infinite Crisis. The Superboy-Prime character, endowed with nearly the same power levels as the Silver Age Superman, was capable of defeating large numbers of DC universe heroes, including the Teen Titans and the entire Green Lantern Corps. The Modern Era Superman and his Earth 2 counterpart were only able to defeat Superboy-Prime after plunging him through Krypton's red sun, thereby reducing his powers.


Comparative strength
While it has not been explicitly stated in the comics, Superman is assumed by many to be the most powerful superhero in the DC universe, although this assertion is debatable.[citation needed] His powers tend to fluctuate depending on the amount of solar energy his cells have absorbed and the writer of the particular story. He has received a temporary boost in power after surviving a plunge into the Sun, and has had his powers depleted when deprived of such energy. The limits of how much energy Superman can absorb, and by extension the maximum limits of his power, has never been stated. Additionally, because of the solar energy that empowers him, he has often been depicted as being potentially immortal, as well as having a different ageing process, as seen in the Grant Morrison written series set in the far future of the DC Universe, DC One Million.[1] The canonicity of this series is unknown.

Characters such as Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter have been described variously over time as equals, near-equals, or, in the last case, even greatly superior.[2] Captain Marvel has been able to knock him out with 1-2 punches by taking him by surprise,[3] and Superman has stated outright that the latter has the advantage in a fist-fight due to his magic-derived powers.[4] When the Modern Era Supergirl was introduced, it was suspected that she was more powerful than her cousin, but this was due to the fact that Superman had learned to restrain his strength through years of living with weaker individuals, an ability that Kara Zor-El had not yet learned.

It is important to note that while Superman may physically be among the strongest heroes, there are many who match his abilities, most notably Darkseid, Bizarro, Lobo, the Cyborg Superman, Eradicator, General Zod and Black Adam, while Doomsday[5][6] and Despero[7] have occasionally been shown as far stronger. Certain heroes and villains with magical capabilities, like the Spectre, Zatanna, and Doctor Fate, have displayed cosmic level power vastly beyond his own capabilities . The Flash possesses the ability to travel at the speed of light, shunting his mass towards infinity, and enabling him to perform such feats as defeating a white martian with one punch,[8] or almost overcoming the Anti-Monitor singlehandedly.[9] Hal Jordan, with the will-fueled power of the Green Lantern ring, has also been cited as being a match for Superman, being able to lay him down with one punch while possessed by Parallax.[10] The Guardians of the Universe allegedly possess abilities dwarfing those of regular Green Lantern Corps members. Kyle Rayner, in his role of "Ion", was recently touted as the most powerful of Earth's superheroes[issue # needed].

One villain that is often portrayed as vastly superior to Superman in every way is the five-dimensional entity Mr. Mxyzptlk. While the limits (if there are any) and nature of Mr.Mxyzptlk's powers is unclear, he is often portrayed as being, for all practical purposes, omnipotent, and his encounters with Superman often amount to him simply toying with the man of steel.



Alternate versions and timelines
Over the years, many alternate versions of Superman have appeared, in Elseworlds books or other timelines. Many of these were limited series' and one shots, so the extent of Supermans abilities is not always explored in great detail.



The Dark Knight continuity
Frank Millers Dark Knight continuity, which includes The Dark Knight Returns, The Dark Knight Strikes Again, and All Star Batman and Robin, has depicted Supermans powers in a variety of ways. All Star Batman and Robin, for instance, depicts a younger Superman traveling from the U.S. to Paris by means of running fast enough to cross the ocean surface, possibly implying that he has not yet developed the power of flight. the Dark Knight Returns Depicts him as having the usual super speed, heat vision, flight, and strength, but it also depicts him as being vulnerable to several things. Kryptonite still harms him, and he is nearly killed at one point by a massive nuclear detonation. Whether this was the result of the blast itself, radiation, or the bomb blocking out the sun, or a combination of those factors, is not made clear. He is also shown to be susceptible to a sound wave device, which causes him temporary pain. In some lines, Batman hints that these weaknesses may be related to him being older, although this is never substantiated.



Superman: Red son
The Elseworlds book Superman:Red Son features a massively powerful Superman, akin to his Silver Age version. Flight, super speed, super intelligence, and massive strength, are all depicted, although other powers associated with the silver Age, such as time travel, are not depicted, and no real limitations are placed on his powers themselves. He is unable to see through lead in this version, and his powers are affected by red sunlight radiation. He is never stated to be immmortal, but it is revealed that he lives for an extremely long period of time. Kryptonite is never mentioned in the story.



Kingdom Come
Supermans powers and weaknesses in Kingdom come are similar to many of his other incarnations. strength, flight, and heat vision are all depicted. He does not seem to any more or less intelligent than an average human in this continuity. His vision is portrayed as being able to easily scan a continent for signs of trouble in a matter of moments, from orbit. During the story, he is caught in a large nuclear blast, and while it does not state that he was unharmed, it does not seem to have affected him at all. He is not exposed to Krpytonite at any point in the story, but Lex Luthor says that it "does not pack the punch it used to", and that Superman is at "the height of his invulnerability." His speed seems somewhat limited, as he is shown speeding across the U.S., form Gotham to somewhere in the heartland, but it is depicted as taking him a few moments to arrive there, placing some potential limit on his speed. It is also worth nothing that Captain Marvel is regarded as equal to or more powerful than Superman, and a potential match for him in battle. Superman is shown as being susceptible to harm via Captain Marvels magic lightning bolt. Another sequence in the story portrays Superman as accidentally cutting his finger on Wonder Woman's sword, to which she responds; "you always were a bit susceptible to magic."


All Star Superman
Grant Morrisons depiction of Superman in the All Star Superman title portray his abilities as similar to that of Silver Age Superman.


Film and Television



Adventures of Superman
On the TV series The Adventures of Superman, Superman also demonstrated some one-time-only powers; in the first season episode "Rescue", he develops the ability to split himself into two (slightly weaker) Supermen. In the sixth season's "The Mysterious Cube", Superman learns how to walk through solid matter. The source of Superman's powers was stated to be his dense molecular structure, a trait that was occasionally mentioned in the comics.


Superman Movie Series
The Superman depicted in films of the 1970s and 80's was based on the Silver Age incarnation and possessed nearly the same capabilities. He is shown performing such feats as stabilizing an earthquake fault line and (infamously) rewriting history by altering the rotation of the Earth. In Superman II, Superman and his Kryptonian counterparts are shown using telekinesis in the form of a blue ray emanating from their fingers. Superman also uses a cellophane-like substance from his S-insignia to trap a villain, although whether this was a power or a device was not made clear. All four Kryptonians in the film also displayed line-of-sight teleportation abilities, and Superman was able to materialize illusory duplicates of himself as well; however, these are potentially the result of moving at invisible super-speed, and leaving controlled after-images (a la the Flash). Superman also has a minor form of telepathy, which he uses to erase Lois' recent memories with a kiss. In Superman IV, he demonstrates a degree of telekinesis as he rebuilds the Great Wall of China by staring at it. Some movie critics dubbed this "Masonry Vision".


Smallville
In the television series Smallville, most of Clark Kent's powers develop over his teenage years. In the first episode of the series, he is aware of his super-strength and superhuman speed, and first experiences his invulnerability when Lex Luthor hits him with a Porsche at 60 miles an hour. Clark's invulnerability undergoes a steady progression over the course of the series: his body is bruised (but not pierced) by bullets and does not immediately heal in early episodes, but by the fifth season episode 'Hidden' Clark is capable of falling from the Earth's atmosphere without sustaining any physical damage. Clark's super-strength also increased over the course of the series to the point where in the sixth season episode 'Combat', Clark exhibited the ability to set off powerful shockwaves with his punches in which he successfully dispatched an extremely powerful intergalactic foe.

Clark developed x-ray vision in the first season episode X-Ray, heat vision in the second season episode Heat and super hearing in the third season episode Whisper. Flight is developed very gradually over time. The first mention is in the first season episode Metamorphosis, where Clark first "defies gravity"; however, this is not really controlled. He is shown to be hovering over his bed while sleeping but falls and destroys his bed once he wakes up. The first real controlled flight is in the second season episode Vortex, although this is with the help of a tornado. In the third season finale Covenant, his "floating" in the air is assisted by Kara,a dead human who has been empowered and brainwashed by Jor-El. In the fourth season episode Crusade, he flies properly, but only in his Kal-El persona. The limitation on this power is due to the "No Tights, No Flights" rule made by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar to make Smallville more believable. As long as the character had no Superboy costume, he would not be allowed to fly. While in his Kal-El persona, he also exhibits telekinesis. (Although it could be argued that the Kryptonian element flew itself into his hand since the key to the ship has also been seen moving on its own. It could also be argued that this power is only applicable to specific Kryptonian objects, as it was repeatedly stated and demonstrated that the elements bore some link to Clark. There has not been any actual reference to a telekinetic ability. That is solely based on interpretation.)(This occurs for the first time in Crusade also.) He discovers super breath in the sixth season episode Sneeze. Clark's breath can create powerful winds, but as of yet, has not shown any freezing abilities.

Clark also exhibits a healing factor seen rarely in the comics. Any wound he suffers appears to heal within seconds. If he suffers injuries during a period of power loss, any wounds will heal up as soon as his powers return. This power doesn't appear to have limits; for example, in the sixth season episode "Wither," an alien plant impales him through the chest for an extended period of time, yet upon the plant's removal, he appeared recovered within seconds. Clark is also noted to have an exceptional sense of balance for he has never tripped without the use of Kryptonite or some form of mind control (stated in "Jynx"). His immune system also provides a defense against virtually all forms of Earth disease, which is broken very rarely (temporarilly by an artificially created and fatal-to-humans virus in "Scare", and once again in "Sneeze", presumably due to Clark's loss of his powers during his time in the Phantom Zone).

In addition to these, Smallville also features a number of abilities not seen in other incarnations, not all of which find their source in Clark's Kryptonian origin, but rather some appear particular to Kal-El himself. The third season episode "Hereafter", explores Clark's immortality and his ability to alter the destiny of others. Later in season three, in the episode "Resurrection", it is said Clark's blood has the power to revive the dead. In addition, his spirit itself is accredited with special healing properties in season four's "Transference". He even affects the moral inclinations of others for an extended period of time. Clark has also shown to have limited defenses against psionic powers. One episode had a character unsuccessfully try to read Clark's mind. However, Clark's mind also seems to have differing vulnerabilities than a humans, as in the fourth season episode "Blank," another character inadvertently wiped out Clark's entire memory, while he was trying to merely erase the last few moments (and his powers were never seen to have any impact greater than that on humans).



DC Animated Universe
In the animated series Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League and its sequel, Justice League Unlimited, Superman is depicted with power levels similar to those he possessed immediately following his 1986 reboot in the comics. Superman possesses the powers of flight, superhuman strength, x-ray vision, heat vision, cold breath, super-speed, enhanced hearing, and nigh-invulnerability. While Superman is immensely strong both in terms of muscle power and ability to take physical punishment, he is not all-powerful. He can be injured, bleed, and conceivably be killed, and sometimes he has been known to strain and sweat when performing superhuman feats of strength, as demonstrated in "Apokolips Now!" when he is ambushed by Darkseid while catching his breath after using his own body to drill several holes in the ground to vent the magma from a volcano.

Superman derives his power from the yellow sun of Earth. Forced under a red sun akin to the red sun of his homeworld, Krypton, or exposed to red sun radiation, Superman rapidly loses his powers, reverting to the stature of a normal human.[11]

Aside from red sun radiation, Superman's main weakness is Kryptonite, radioactive shards of his former home planet. Exposure to Kryptonite will rob Superman of his power, and with prolonged exposure, will kill him.[12]

Superman's only other known weakness is magic, which can injure him as easily as it can any other being.