Things I Think About

Makes Creative Matter

2010-02-03T12:21:00.002-06:00

I've been posting a lot of stuff on the Makes Creative Matter blog lately.

Should you buy a canoe or a kayak

2009-10-07T11:46:00.000-05:00

When I was growing up my father and I would rent a canoe from an outfitter on the Current River and load it with a couple of days worth of gear. Usually, they gave us a 17’ Alumacraft that required a splash of cool water on the seat and gunwale before climbing aboard on a hot sunny day. Think fried ham steaks (which I also hate). These boats looked like they had been through a bad plane crash and, in my eyes, lacked anything that could pass for style, grace or beauty. While they allowed us to successfully navigate or, in my dads words, perpetually crash from the left to the right bank of the river, it always seemed like a fight. The grabby aluminum hulls weren’t able to slide over logs or gravel bars without getting stuck. The boat made terrible noises with every bump of a paddle or rock. There was no chance of observing wildlife in its natural habitat because the animals could hear you coming from a mile away and, frankly, wanted no part of all that commotion. I hated canoes. It got worse too.

Canoe Advantages

Canoes can be paddled solo or with several passengers
Canoes sit up higher giving you a better view of the water
Canoes allow easy access to gear and more room for it
Canoes offer a variety of sitting and kneeling positions
Canoes are easy to get in and out of

Kayak Advantages

Kayaks ride lower in the water and offer less wind resistance and more stability
A skirt will help keep the inside of a kayak and any gear stored there drier
Kayaks are often faster than canoes

Read the rest of the Canoe vs Kayak post on AdventureCanoe.com

ACA Canoe Instructor Training - Level 3: River Canoeing

2009-08-19T07:47:00.001-05:00

ACA Canoe Instructor Training - Level 3: River Canoeing

Start: Oct 23 2009 - 9:00am

End: Oct 25 2009 - 4:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-6

Adventure Canoe is hosting an ACA instructor certification course. Visit this link ACA Canoeing Instructor Course for more information and to register or email jdixson@adventurecanoe.com

The course will be led by Pat Owens and cost $300

USSEC Global News Update

2009-06-05T22:30:00.000-05:00

USSEC Global News Update

June 5, 2009

Largest European Feed Miller Excited by

U.S. Soybean Meal

            ASA TPIA Chairman Randy Mann, USSEC CEO Miguel Escobar, and ASA-IM Europe Regional Director Mark Andersen, along with two researches from the University of Madrid's Animal Research Department, visited the Nutreco Poultry and Rabbit Research Facilities. Following the trip, the company will conduct research comparing soybean meal by origins at this facility.   Dr. Pedro Perez presented the results of a study showing the advantages of U.S. soybean meal over South American meal. Before this study, Nutreco had not considered comparing soybean meal by origin.

              Nutreco, one of the top ten feed companies in the world, operates plants in 30 countries. The results of the study showed a significant difference and advantage for U.S. soybean meal in digestible amino acids and energy. Study results inspired Nutreco to conduct two additional studies of this nature. Nutreco produces 7 million metric tons of feed annually using approximately 51.4 million bushels of soybean meal.

Soy Products Flourish in Mexico's Baking Industry



            ASA-IM Consultant Fernando Maya helped the Productos Rich plant in Mexico City train employees on the uses of soybean oil shortenings in baking. Productos Rich bakes for wholesalers supplying supermarkets, restaurants and institutional kitchens with frozen cakes, muffins and rolls. To provide their products with a healthy dose of protein, the bakery products are made using 10 percent soy flour.

Productos Rich consumes five tons of defatted and toasted soybean flour and 100 tons worth of soybean oil shortenings and oils monthly. Productos Rich hopes to use the knowledge gained through this seminar to develop new products containing soybean derivatives that will increase their overall consumption of U.S. soy.

Dominican Dairy Industry Wins with U.S. Soy



            ASA-IM Latin America hosted a dairy production seminar in San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic in coordination with the Southern Dairy Federation and CONALECHE, a governmental institution dealing with the dairy industry.   ASA-IM Consultants Carlos Campabadal and Pedro Pablo Lora presented on dairy reproduction, health, milk quality and milking techniques for the 80 dairy technicians in attendance. The seminar focused on improving both reproduction and milk production in the dairy industry. These improvements necessitate an increase in U.S. soybean meal usage through higher feed consumption and higher soybean meal inclusion rates.

U.S. Soy Will Help Add Protein to Iraqi Diets

            Concerned about the chronic shortage of protein sources in the Iraqi food system, the new USDA/FAS Animal Health and Food Safety Ministerial Advisor in Baghdad, Dr. Jessica McCoy, met with ASA-IM Regional Consultant Mousa Wakileh in Amman, Jordan to develop a set of joint priorities and coordinated actions that will make U.S. soybeans the solution to the problem.

            ASA-IM market development activities in Iraq place a high priority on full fat soybean meal (FFSBM) production for use in livestock feed.   ASA-IM is pursuing potential U.S. Army financing for FFSBM extruder production projects in Iraq through FAS. Activities will also focus on providing technical support in the Arabic language to both the poultry and aquaculture industries for FFSBM utilization.

            While visiting Iraqi animal industry facilities and meeting with key poultry, aquaculture and animal feed contacts remains a challenge, it will not prevent a determined ASA-IM and FAS effort to implement an expanded market development program that will help Iraqi's to improve their diets with American soy.

High Value Natto Soybean Market Remains Strong in Japan

            ASA-IM Japan participated in four major annual Japanese food bean and soyfood events including the Japan Vegetable Protein Food Association, Tokyo Soybean Wholesalers Trade Association, Federation of Japan Natto Manufacturers Cooperative Society and the Japan Grain Trade Association of Eastern Japan.

At the Tokyo Soybean Wholesalers Association Annual Meeting, ASA-IM Japan Country Director LaVerne Brabant gave opening remarks focusing on U.S. soybean production, the global soybean trade and low inventories forecast by the USDA. He also expressed appreciation to customers for their continuing support of U.S. soybean farmers. Japan imports 80 percent of its Natto soybeans from the U.S. This equates to 3.6 million bushels of high value non-GMO U.S. food grade soybeans.

            ASA-IM Japan continues to support and reinforce U.S. farmers' commitment to the Japanese soyfood complex customers. Japan is the largest single market for non-GMO identity preserved U.S. food grade soybeans.

ASA-IM China Maximizes Impact of Investments in Swine Industry

            Hog prices in China dropped dramatically in 2009 slowing growth rates created by favorable market conditions in 2007 and 2008. Despite this difficulty, Chinese swine producers continue their drive to become more professional and increase performance levels.         ASA-IM China assists the industry by disseminating technology that aids in the establishment of new production sites and helps existing units fine-tune operations by maximizing animal performance and economic benefits. ASA-IM also invited two animal nutritionists recently visiting China to present at a series of Advanced Swine Technology Seminars and on-farm consultations. Dr. Don Bushman and Dr. Robert Rowland joined ASA-IM China Technical Director-Livestock Dr. M.Y. Huang for the technical service programs. The seminar covered topics such as baby pig nutritionand U.S. swine industry and its integrated operation model. Three ASA-IM China preferred customers cosponsored these workshops to leverage each groups' funds and best promote U.S. soy-based swine feeds.

            The consultant team also made on-site consultation visits to a feed mill, three swine farms and a new modern breeding farm that is under construction. By helping these operations increase their productivity, ASA-IM China increases U.S. soybean meal usage in U.S. soybean farmers' number one international market.

USSEC Soy Bits

<image001.jpg>      The USSEC Board of Directors met in St. Louis, Mo. the evening of June 4, 2009. June 5, 2009, farmer leaders will join other industry representatives for the ISPOT meeting to be held in the same location.

<image001.jpg>      Cathryn Dixson and Brent Babb attended the USB/QSSB meeting held in St. Louis, Mo. June 1-3. This roundtable discussion provided an arena to share ideas and coordinate communication strategies for the upcoming year with state staff and farmers.

<image001.jpg>      Brent Babb and Catalina Valencia met with the Global Aquaculture Alliance leadership to discuss and coordinate joint efforts on aquaculture production and feeding standards.

<image001.jpg>      Paul Burke and Mark Andersen led a team of soybean meal purchasers from the Maghreb. As a part of activities designed to familiarize them with the U.S. soy value chain, the team visited the farm of USB Director John Wray in Ottawa, Kan.

<image001.jpg>      Greg Olwig accompanied USB Director Bob Metz to Canada for the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada Conference.

<image001.jpg>      Ethan Brewer and Colby Sutter attended the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa. While there, Sutter accompanied a team of Chinese swine farmers and Brewer staffed the USSEC booth.

USSEC Events Calendar

June 3-5

World Pork Expo

Des Moines, IA

June 3-5

Animal Nutrition Association of Canada Conference

Canada

June 5

International Soy Planning and Opportunities Team Meeting (ISPOT)

St. Louis, MO

June 8-12

Workshop on the Nutritional Advantages of U.S. Soybean Meal

Tunisia

June 16-21

South America Biotech Conference

Brazil

June 22-25

USB Board Meeting

Dearborn, MI

June 22-27

Risk Management Workshop

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

June 24-29

July 15-16

July 20-23

Soybean Meal Workshop

U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (FAS Cooperators)

ASA Board Meeting

Seoul, Korea

Bethesda, MD

Washington, DC

August 2-6

U.S. Soy Export Week

St. Louis, MO

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U.S. Soy Export Week

St. Louis, MO

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More Motorcycle Photos

2009-04-03T10:05:00.001-05:00

I posted some motorcycle photos over at my site.

Motorcycle Photos

2009-03-18T16:14:00.001-05:00

I was playing around with iLife and uploaded some photos of my motorcycle.

http://web.me.com/jdixson/Motorcycle_Stuff/

Check it out.

New Gateway BMW

2009-03-16T17:36:00.002-05:00

I made some changes to the Gateway BMW Motorcycle site. It now has tons of BMW Motorcycle News, information about the motorcycles including the R1200GS Adventure, the BMW F800GS, and the 2009 BMW K1300GT Sport Tourer.

Check it out when you get a chance.

Orgasm on a bike?

2008-11-18T10:25:00.000-06:00

I posted this over on Paunchiness as well but I thought it was fitting here.

I've always wanted my wife to get a bike so she could go on rides with me. Unfortunately, she's not really into the whole idea of riding and doesn't really get it. I've thought about sneaking one in for a birthday or christmas present. I feel that getting someone exercise equipment in any form for a present sends the a mixed message. Even though my wife looks incredible and takes care of herself I think she'd figure I gave her a bike because I thought she was fat and needed to work out more.

Either way, this is a funny video. Show it to your loved ones for a laugh not to butter them up in preparation for buying them there first bike since childhood.

If you're still thinking about buying a wife or a girlfriend a bike it's probably ok as long as it's an arbitrary gift sometime in the spring and not in any way related to a holiday where they expect something that they want.

Fish Oil - Weight Loss & Depression Benefits

2008-11-13T10:59:00.001-06:00

Scientific research consistently shows that those who consume the most omega 3 fish oil weigh less and experience more successful weight loss than those who don't supplement with omega 3s.

Research published in the Journal of Nutrition found that omega 3 fish oil helps stop the conversion of pre-fat cells into fat cells by causing pre-fat cell death. [vol. 136:2965-2969]

Consuming fish oil during weight loss also helps balance hormones and increase metabolism.

Omega 3 fish oil capsules provide high levels of the important fatty acids DHA, EPA and DPA.These essential fatty acids are important in maintaining health and effectively losing weight.

Most people abandon diets and maintenance because of feelings of anxiety and depression. Studies show that a major reason for these "blue" feelings is because of lack of fatty acids – particularly DHA.

Research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that "depressed subjects showed significantly lower total omega 3 fatty acids" than those who weren't depressed. [Vol. 26, No. 38, 35-46]

Omega 3 fatty acids help ease depression – the more you get, the better you feel.

DHA has been shown, over and over again, in study after study to overcome depression and help people feel much better.

A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry showed, subjects with depression were given omega 3 DHA fatty acids, compared to subjects in a placebo group, there showed significant benefits in just three treatments. [Vol. 159:477-479]

Researchers at the psychiatry department of the University of Sheffield UK summed it up nicely – "omega 3 supplements with DHA alleviate anxiety and depression." [Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol. 48(2-3):149-55]

People feel happier and more accepting of their circumstances when they're getting optimum levels of omega 3 with DHA – no matter what those circumstances might be.

Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown in study after study to overcome depression, help people feel better and aid in weight loss.

Omega 3 fatty acids also destroy fat cells, provide more energy, improve metabolism and help improve mood while dieting.

Others benefits include protection from heart disease, cancer, diabetes and more.

There's no reason not to add some fish oil to your diet. Buy some now from Amazon.

Anyone tried the "Fat Fast" (Kekwick Diet) lately? - Atkins Diet

2008-11-12T09:53:00.001-06:00

From Paunchiness.com - Lose Weight, Get Fit

The Kekwick Diet was named after one of its developers, Alan Kekwick. It was documented in a study titled:

"Calorie Intake in Relation to Body Weight Changes in the Obese," Lancet, July 28, 1956, 155-161 by Alan Kekwick and Gaston Pawan.

Basically, what they did was to take a group of overweight subjects and put them in three groups. Each group received 1000 calories per day. One group was fed 90% carbohydrates, the second group 90% protein, and the third group 90% fat.

The group receiving 90% carbohydrates gained an average of 0,24 pounds per day of the study. The group receiving 90 protein lost an average of 0,6 pounds per day of the study, and the group receiving 90% fat lost an average of 0,9 pounds per day of the study.

This clearly demonstrates the superiority of diets high in protein and fats over diets high in carbohydrates. Note that each group received only 1000 calories per day. It's interesting to note that even at the very restricted level of 1000 calories per day, subjects fed 90% carbohydrates actually GAINED weight.

A 1000 calorie per day diet of 90% fat is not a very exciting diet, but it can achieve the fat loss you apparently wish to achieve.

Do please note that the Kekwick is a diet designed by doctors and tested in clinical trials, so don't be in too much of a hurry to dismiss it outright. It certainly isn't a diet that should be widely used, however.

Finally, the Kekwick diet isn't recommended unless you are extremely insulin resistant and have not been able to lose body fat on any other diet, including a more conventional low-carbohydrate diet.

In the book, Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, Dr. Atkins wrote that the Fat Fast is for the people who are severely resistant to weight loss. It's not to "speed up" the rate of your loss because you believe you are losing too slowly.

According to Dr. Atkins you can be severely metabolically resistant to weight loss for a number of reasons. But you have to rule out any weight loss "stallers" that can be reversed or alleviated.

Before considering doing the Fat Fast:

1. Did you follow the book exactly during Induction and still didn't lose any weight?

In other words, did you only eat what was listed on the Induction Acceptable Foods list, followed the rules of Induction, exercised, took your vitamin supplements, etc. If you didn't do any or all of these things, your lack of weight loss might not be due to metabolic resistance to weight loss at all and you should really consider doing the diet properly before considering to do the Fat Fast.

2. Did you go to your doctor to have tests done for the following: hyperinsulinism, thyroid problems, and yeast overgrowth?

If any of these things apply to you, then your doctor should be able to give you treatments to help you with these problems and once these problems are solved your weight loss, typically, will improve.

3. Are you on any medications that can interfere with your weight loss?

Dr. Atkins cites anti-arthritis medications, steroids, hormones (birth control pills, HRTs), anti-depressants, diuretics and beta-blockers as some of the medications that can interfere with weight loss. If you are on any of these medications, you should sit down with your doctor and try to figure out if any alternatives can be given to you instead.

If you have gone through this list and have ruled out these things with your doctor, then Fat Fast might be an option for you.

Fat Fast/Kekwick diet isn't for you if:

You "cheated" through your Induction phase by not strictly following the Rules and/or eating foods not on the Acceptable Foods List or not in the quantities allowed during Induction. Those sneaks, cheats, and one bites can severely derail weight loss in some people.
You are losing weight and want to break a stall.
You want to speed up your metabolism to lose weight faster.
You want to lose weight faster.

http://www.paunchiness.com/2008-08-kekwick-diet-atkins-fat-fast-weight-loss-results/

SNL Katie Couric Interviews Sarah Palin FULL VERSION with Tina Fey

2008-10-03T09:40:00.001-05:00

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgHLp5Fu6r0

James Dixson
Atomicdust

Sent from my iPhone

Epson 9600 needs repairs.

2008-08-21T08:55:00.001-05:00

The Epson printer at our office had the yellow jet clogged. We called
on the repair man and he disected it and replaced the print heads.

The crazy pedicure lady

2008-08-19T13:53:00.000-05:00

I went in to get the caluses ground off of my feet and was greater by
this nice woman in a polka dot clown suit and britany spears hat.

Tower Grove Park

2008-08-19T08:50:00.000-05:00

Out for a walk in the park last night.

Rented a Ducati in puerto rico

2008-08-05T09:03:00.000-05:00

I flew down to PR with my wife and rented a motorcycle from Ducati of
Puerto Rico

BicycleWORKS Fund Raiser Ride

2008-07-17T14:52:00.001-05:00

On the weekend of July 25 BicycleWORKS is hosting a pledge drive to inaugurate a new fund-raising event designed to put us on the path to ownership of a permanent home. For twenty years BicycleWORKS has been serving the Saint Louis community by renting space in the Shaw Neighborhood. It has become clear to us that in order to grow or even maintain our presence in the community that BicycleWORKS will have to lay down roots before the market moves beyond our grasp. To this end, we are sending out four of our "fittest and finest", myself included, to the Katy Trail and challenging you to match 25 cents for every mile our team covers before passing out of exhaustion. We leave Friday morning from Saint Charles and will ride until the first person goes down, be it 70, 85, 125 or the whole 225 miles. The rules are simple, you pledge to pay 25 cents per mile by sending an email to info@stlbikeworks.com with the heading "KATY TRAIL", and we pledge to ride as far as we can go before falling passing out (defined as any member of the team taking a single break that is greater than 30 minutes long). We will keep this pilot attempt informal and on the honor system, but we hope that with success we will be able to create a regular and formal BicycleWORKS funding raising event. Those that can't handle the suspense are welcome to give us the benefit of the doubt and donate the maximum amount of $56.25 (25 cents x 225 miles). We also will gladly accept pledges greater than 25 cents per mile, if you are so inclined to torture us by giving us the incentive to actually ride as far as we can go. Pledges will receive an email a week after the ride providing a brief log of noteworthy events, the total mileage covered by the BicycleWORKS team, and the final amount of your pledge.

Please remember include the following details in your email:

· “KATY TRAIL” as the subject of your email to info@stlbikeworks.com

· Sponsorship of the entire team of four - or - a single rider

· Total amount of pledge per mile or lump sum

We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing everyone at the shop!

Dirt Bike Review - 2007 BMW G650 Xchallenge

2008-05-23T12:11:00.001-05:00

New Xserve for the office

2008-05-21T13:59:00.000-05:00

Woah this thing is way bigger than I thought. It should be pretty cool
once its up and running though.

KTM and the BMW go on an over nighter

2008-05-18T12:01:00.000-05:00

Went on a little camping trip ok the motos. Here's a pic.

Fun job?

2008-05-16T08:53:00.001-05:00

These guys get to hang out all day and clean windows. OK, so the cleaning windows part probably isn't all that fun but it's probably better than shoveling gravel or something.

Stiff boxers

2008-05-12T15:04:00.001-05:00

This company sent us a sample of their boxer shorts to use for
voltron. They were so stiff they stood up by themselves. Sorry but I
like my undies to be comfortable.

I want a UTV

2008-05-02T15:11:00.002-05:00

Its like an off road golf cart. Perfect for hauling things around the farm I don't have or just some offroad adventures.

Riding a BMW & KTM motorcycle to Arkansas

2008-01-22T16:12:00.000-06:00

More motorcycle photos from our trip here....

I made a little video as well...yeah it sucks I was holding a digital camera in my hand while riding...

Charlotte to St. Louis on a Motorcycle

2007-09-25T17:01:00.000-05:00

I bought a new motorcycle last week. Here's a link to my photographs.

Charlotte to St. Louis on the new motorcycle

Tour of Missouri - Stage 6

2007-09-17T09:09:00.000-05:00

BMC parked their truck right next to the Anti-Doping trailer...I asked them if they were trying to send some sort of message...they said it was an open parking place.

Floyd Landis wasn't with them though...oh well. I was hoping for a surprise visit from Floyd or maybe even Lance...I didn't see either of them and there weren't any reports of them in the news.

I did get to see the guys from Discovery...

Hincapie won the race...Good for Disco, I'm sure there were mixed emotions.

Check out all the photos on Flickr. Sorry I didn't cull out the crappy ones...

We should get a Floyd Landis decision in five more days...lets hope it goes our way.

The Rain Song

2007-09-12T17:05:00.001-05:00

It is the springtime of my loving - the second season I am to know
You are the sunlight in my growing - so little warmth I've felt before.
It isn't hard to feel me glowing - I watched the fire that grew so low.

It is the summer of my smiles - flee from me Keepers of the Gloom.
Speak to me only with your eyes. It is to you I give this tune.
Ain't so hard to recognize - These things are clear to all from
time to time.

Talk Talk - I've felt the coldness of my winter
I never thought it would ever go. I cursed the gloom that set upon us...
But I know that I love you so

These are the seasons of emotion and like the winds they rise and fall
This is the wonder of devotion - I seek the torch we all must hold.
This is the mystery of the quotient - Upon us all a little rain must fall.

This song describes how I feel...

Landis Descicion on its way?

2007-08-31T12:53:00.000-05:00

Bonnie over at ESPN writes that the panel is meeting with its scientific adviser, Dr. Francesco Botré, on September 12. Following that meeting we should expect the panel to formally close the hearing. This starts the 10 day clock for a final decision.

Other bloggers have hypothesized:

Is this good news or bad news for Team Landis? That’s hard to say. A quick decision would likely have been bad news, because that would have suggested that the defense didn’t make a strong enough case to win. (Of course, one could argue that a quick decision could also indicate how overwhelming the defense’s case was.)

And...

But, as you note, why do they need further consultations with Dr. Botré? And you’re right to raise the issue of the WADA Omerta. If I’d been a part of the panel, I would have wanted a truly independent scientific expert, not one affiliated with the anti-doping system. You’re right to be scared. The panel’s final judgment could well be influenced by what Botré can or can’t say without violating WADA’s Omerta.Rant your head off

I would like to think that they are asking Botré some very difficult questions. I would also hope that he is answering them truthfully with the disclaimer that he isn't quoted directly and thus upholds the Omerta.

I believe they've been working on crafting a decision in such a way that it leaves no question as to why they decided the way they did. Can it go both ways, sure... Does the length of time they're taking to consider it lean more towards the Landis side? I think so. I agree that if it were against Landis they probably wouldn't have to much explaining to do. The panel could simply state the evidence, while riddled with holes, still points to a positive and that would be that.

To make the right decision (in my opinion) and take the high road has serious ramifications. They know that their ruling will be scrutinized by WADA and may ultimately used to determine whether or not the move forward with the CAS. I believe the arbs may be working to craft their decision document to read, "this guy was clean, or based on LNDD's finding it's impossible to know for sure...just drop it"

Wishful thinking, perhaps...but I am an optimist.

As always for an in depth and exhaustive review of everything that happening visit TBV

Non Doping Cyclists Finally Finish the Tour...

2007-08-30T09:08:00.001-05:00

A bit of levity is often times good for the soul. While I will admit that I haven't been following the whole Landis thing as religiously as some I do take a few minutes every day to read about it and it still stresses me out.

The Onion has published an article in that way that only they can that congratulates the non-doping cyclists for finally finishing the Tour...

Crocs Next Step Campus Tour

2007-08-28T17:09:00.000-05:00

The "Crocs Next Step Campus Tour" site is all up and live. The guys have officially signed Guster and we've run a couple of full page ads in SPIN.

Check out the site here http://nextstepcampustour.com/

Fortysil on the front page of the Post

2007-08-26T23:09:00.000-05:00

Surprise. Fortysil made in the Post Dispatch again... This time it was in the lead story on the front page of the Sunday paper. I was taking gus out and had seen it several times and didn't think much of it until I had some extra laundy quarters.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/FD5863B49BA12FE1862573420017A900?OpenDocument

Sent from my iPhone

Wandering in north city

2007-08-26T19:25:00.000-05:00

I found this cool bar on N Vandeventer while I was looking for a car wash.

So i decided to stop in and have a cocktail and listen to the band.

I am on LinkedIn now

2007-08-10T14:43:00.000-05:00

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdixson

Visit my profile

A New St. Louis Motorcycle Forum

2007-08-08T09:41:00.000-05:00

Chris and his motorcycle friends have set up a new motorcycle forum for St. Louis area motorcycle riders. I helped them get it running using Community Server which runs on ASP.net. So far it seems to be a pretty cool forum software.

iPhone and its many wonders

2007-08-01T13:55:00.000-05:00

It looks like through the merits of technology I am now able to blog directly from my iPhone. Cool!

Fortysil Site Featured in the Business Journal

2007-07-28T11:19:00.000-05:00

Highway 40 Performance Anxiety? Our Fortysil site that parodies a prescription performance enhancing drug was featured in the business journal. The site talks about dealing with Highway 40 construction problems by moving and working downtown and thus avoiding all the construction mess.

Does This Survey Make Our Ass Look Fat?

2007-06-12T15:11:00.000-05:00

From the River Front Times

As anyone who's lived in St. Louis for more than a year can attest, ours is a town obsessed with its national ranking. First in crime? Over here! Fourth most courteous drivers in the land? Just keeping pace with traffic!

Sinister or spurious, we're suckers when it comes to polls purporting to tell us how we stack up. Usually there's a certain intuitive logic to our ranking: Heart disease, crime and obesity? Look for us near the airy top. Fashion sense? We probably don't even make the cut.

In this month's issue of Men's Health, the editors inform us that of 50 cities surveyed, St. Louis ranks a rank 43rd when it comes to being "dog-friendly."

So what? Do we really think that the editors at Cosmo-For-Guys, as it's known around the steam room, really have anything to tell us about our own canine-philia?

But scratch the surface and you'll find that this assault on the Lou is but the latest in a long-running smear campaign the magazine has been waging against the city.

Simply type "St. Louis" into the search box on the Guy's Vogue Web site and you'll find that, according to the magazine, St. Louis is "The Worst City for Men."

"If Missouri is our nation's heartland," writes Mike "Buns of Steel" Zimmerman, "then St. Louis is its laboring left ventricle."

Scroll down and you'll find that the minds at Men's Bazaar think that St. Louis is the fourth most depressed city in the nation and that we rank 94th out of 100 when it comes to overall swank factor.

You get the idea: "Cities with the Best Abs, Worst Flab"? We outjiggle fleshpots like Cleveland and Memphis, breaking the scale as the country's flabbiest city.

But the editors at Electrolysis Today don't stop there. They give us the distinction of being the city with the twentieth worst air in the U.S., they call us the second most crime-ridden burg (clearly, they are fools; everyone knows that we are the most dangerous city out there), they tout us as the 69th most couch-bound and cower at the notion that we are the tenth angriest.

These measures are hardly objective. After all, this is a magazine that monthly asks its readers questions like "Do Your Fantasies Measure Up?" and "Can you perform the Spartan workout used by the movie cast?"

Highway 40 Blues

2007-06-07T09:17:00.000-05:00

The St. Louis Post Dispatch covered our Highway 40 campaign for Loftworks. Check out more of our Fortysil stuff in the Our Work section of Atomicdust.com

Floyd Landis Testifies

2007-05-22T14:34:00.000-05:00

Floyd gets back into the witness box today and while it was nice for the press it didn't really do anything for the case. I can see how the Floyd haters could begin to draw conclusions that Floyd is evil or surrounded by dopers.

The point is that both sides have put up fairly good arguments. Whatever side of the fence one happens to be on has the greener grass.

I think the key here is the LNDD testimony, errors of omission, shoddy practices and the slew of other things effectively outlined by the the defense team.

This is not a case that can be decided based on someone hurt my feelings or I think someone admitted something to me or any of the other superficial chops at Floyd's character the prosecution has brought up.

There has been a lot of talk about living in the fish bowl for ten months...Floyd and his team have run at the glass and bumped their noses off of it pretty hard and have done quite a bit of damage to the PR side. But thats not what this case is based on. Floyd didn't hire an Ad agency to represent him. He has a team of lawyers and expert witnesses that have formed some pretty solid conclusions that the lab work is highly questionable and doesn't stand up to the level scrutiny required to dole out a sanction.

As always there is more information available on www.trustbut.com

Fortysil

2007-05-18T15:21:00.000-05:00

So we made a new site called fortysil that talks about the woes of the highway 40 closures here in St. Louis... Check it out and let me know what you think.

This Floyd Landis affair is really getting out of hand. LeMond testified yesterday that Floyd indirectly admitted to him that he cheated by saying "it would hurt a lot of people" when LeMond admonished him to come clean.

Thanks greg for throwing shit like a monkey at the zoo for the USADA guys. I'll still ride your bike though cause we all know its really a Trek.

Check out TBV for more (everything you'd ever need) Landis info and a play by play of the proceedings.

Mighty Mouse - Here he comes to save the day?

2007-03-29T19:17:00.000-05:00

So I bit the bullet and paid 50 bucks for a Apple Mighty Mouse to go with my new MacBook... Those people over at Apple know how to make a cool product. I was a bit worried at first because the default setting weren't allowing right clicks...but after I opened my system preferences and made some changes everything started working better than anything I've experienced...

Now I know what you're all thinking "oh great another apple head" but try it you might like it...

More Tangles in the Landis web

2007-03-28T12:34:00.000-05:00

I was looking for the data files from the Landis case the other day to have my scientist friend check them out. But I couldn't seem to find them and apparently TBV knows why...Because Landis Doesn't have them either... (Where Are the Data Files on TBV)

Ok so my summary of the situation is this...if they don't have the files that shows the data that came out of their mass spectrometer thing how can they prove anything is what they say it is. TBV speculates that by omitting this data and violating WADA code the case may be thrown out on one of those technicalities they've been talking about.

How many technicalities are they gonna need? Now I'll admit that I am biased, meaning I currently believe and have always believed in Floyd's innocence, but come on this is a full blow circus. There have been several times where USADA could have easily thrown in the towel and said oh yeah, this is messed up. But they haven't and now as it continues and gets closer to the trail date there is constantly "new shit coming to light" thats making everyone on the prosecution side look incredibly foolish and inept at accomplishing the simple tasks required by their jobs.

The lab must realize by now that it's in trouble...why not save some small shred of dignity and admit to botching the whole thing. Now it really has gotten ridiculous.

On a brighter note. I rode with the Cat 5 guys at the Tuesday night crits I dropped out a couple of times and rejoined but finished with the peloton...I think I'm gonna buck up for the season pass...no doping controls there, which is good for me.

MacBook

2007-03-25T23:19:00.000-05:00

So today i can officially put on of those little white apple stickers on my bike and no one will accuse me of being a poser. Thats right I got a MacBook...Now I can blog at coffee shops, airports or whenever I'm on the road. Currently I'm laying in bed pounding away on this cute little keyboard. Anyway, maybe now I'll get around to posting more often and get a bunch of people checking out the site everyday. Probably not but who cares. I kind of wish I had something interesting to talk about-stick with me this may get good-but I really don't.

I got up early today and went to the Apple Store, then Mr. Goodcents then went to my office and tried to get my mail from Outlook 2007 to Mail. Here's the trick in case your wondering...Install Thunderbird on the Win computer and import all the mail into it...then you get a nice clean .mbox file that Mail understands. What does PST stand for anyway? After the whole mail fiasco I played around with Keynote and made a very Steve Jobs looking presentation consisting of about 3 slides. Somehow everything is just cooler on an Mac.

Anyway, then since it was 80 degrees outside I decided to go ride my bike around the city. I only rode for about an hour cause I wanted to get back to my little toy. I made it a worth while ride though and used my heart rate monitor to do intervals... when my heart rate dipped below 130 I turned on the jets and sprinted up a hill or through a stop light and kept going until I red lined. Then I pretty much have been sitting inside for the rest of the day installing Photoshop and other interesting applications.

Ok so that was a pretty hohum day...but I got a new computer so thats exciting.

Floyd Landis

2007-03-15T15:58:00.000-05:00

Well things are getting pretty exciting with the Landis case. It looks like people in the main stream media are actually getting the facts right and are presenting Landis' side of the story. Check out Landis hits the road to clear his name MSNBC.

And of course my favorite blog Trust But Verify has more links and more information than anyone about the subject. His site currently reports over 291,100 visitors, I think that I personally account for half of those because I check it everyday...sometimes even from my phone while I'm at the bar...

If you're looking for strong opinions based on research and fact check out Rant Your Head Off he's another authority on all things Floyd.

Martin Dugard writes like I would write if I were a good writer. I actually purchased his book Chasing Lance after reading his blog entries about Floyd Landis. I wish he would have taken the chance to write the Landis book.

Then there's Steroid Nation, Peloton Jim and a whole slew of others...Last week Fat Cyclist even broke down and wrote about Floyd.

The point of this is that there are people out there that are looking for the truth. Most of them have a pretty strong opinion of Floyd's innocence and thats awesome. I'm worried about all the Sunday afternoon cyclists that when you mention Floyd Landis--yeah the guy who won the Tour de France and was accused of using testosterone--won't understand, care or even realize that he was accused, drug through the dirt, kicked off of his team, lost his sponsors and spent all of his money on defending himself because someone messed up somewhere or was sloppy. I want Floyd to race and win again so the doping people will shut the fuck up and let us all enjoy cycling. I want everything to be fair.

Anyway, for all my buddies who occasionally stumble across my blog but aren't into cycling I think Floyd Landis is innocent. Check the links above and form your own opinions and we'll have something interesting to talk about the next time we're at the bar or on a ride...

Team Slipstream...

2007-02-14T17:04:00.000-06:00

Maybe Floyd should ride with team Slipstream next year...Check out this NYT article, They test themselves...

Welcoming Testing, Team Battles Cycling’s Image

By JULIET MACUR

JULIAN, Calif. — On these mild, clear winter days in the mountains east of San Diego, one professional cycling team is trying to set itself apart from the doping scandals that have shaken its sport.

Like most teams, Team Slipstream is training on roller-coaster roads, sometimes more than 120 miles a day for more than six hours at a time.

But there is a visible difference between this team and others: at the crook of the riders’ arms are a series of dark needle marks. They are the results of repeated blood tests, part of a drastic and innovative anti-doping program the team began here last month in an attempt to prove its riders are clean.

Antidoping scientists say the program, which includes blood and urine testing, is the new paradigm in the fight against doping because it tries to close loopholes in the current system. Cycling is not alone among major sports in trying to stem its doping problems, but none of them use programs as aggressive as this one. Instead of relying on drug tests or police investigations, this method tries to weed out those who use performance-enhancing drugs by catching them before they win a trophy or wear a race leader’s yellow jersey.

Each Slipstream rider is tested not for the illegal substances, but for the body’s reactions to doping. To do that, riders are blood-tested 50 times a year, at least five times more than usual. In the program, they are also urine-tested 50 times a year.

“It’s an absolute severe pain for us to do, but I’ll do anything to keep from being lumped with the guys accused of cheating,” said Danny Pate, 27, a former under-23 world champion and one of Slipstream’s top riders. “I’ll give DNA. I’ll post all of my information on the Internet. I’ll do anything to help save the sport.”

The team, which is one step below the top level in cycling, is composed of young men who aspire to ride in the Tour de France or in the Olympics. Slipstream is scheduled to compete in races throughout the world, including the Tour of California, which begins Feb. 18. The team hopes to receive an invitation to the 2008 Tour de France.

Doug Ellis, a private investor from New York City who owns the team, said he wanted it to win, but for now, he is willing to celebrate the smaller victories, such as winning a stage of a race.

The team has a main secondary sponsor in Chipotle, a chain of Mexican restaurants. Still, the problem of finding a primary sponsor remains. Discussions with potential sponsors last summer fell apart after the 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis tested positive for synthetic testosterone, Ellis said.

Slipstream’s antidoping program would serve as “an insurance policy” for a potential sponsor that might be skittish about getting involved in cycling, Ellis said. “I’m really committed to reaching our end point, and that’s having a clean team compete in the Tour de France,” he said. “But if we got there, and no sponsor showed up, and if we finished last in every race, then I think it would be hard to stick with it.”

Slipstream, which was formed in 2003, put in its radical testing program last month as a way to counter the sport’s recent history of cheating, with top riders caught using EPO and testosterone as well as banned methods, like blood transfusions.

The fallout from those scandals has touched nearly every team member.

Riders falsely accused of using performance-enhancing drugs have felt helpless in proving their innocence.

One cyclist lost his job because his team folded after it was riddled by positive tests.

The team director and former United States Postal Service rider Jonathan Vaughters said it was his mission to start what he called “a clean team” after his retirement from racing in 2003. Throughout his career, he said, riders battled the ethical question of whether to use performance-enhancing drugs. In the 1990s, he said, the use of the blood-boosting drug EPO was rampant and teams felt pressured by sponsors to win at any cost.

“I don’t have a halo over my head; I made some mistakes when I was a rider,” said Vaughters, who would not directly say whether he had used performance-enhancing drugs. “I don’t want to have any of the riders under my direction to have to face the decisions I did. I’ve made that my responsibility.”

Initially, riders asked Vaughters how they could be successful under such a strict antidoping program. In response, he told a story about the Tour de France in 2001, when he rode for Crédit Agricole, a team he believed was clean. Though not expected to be a contender, Crédit Agricole won the team time trial, after the top teams crashed or had flat tires.

“I tell my guys, ‘You can beat someone using EPO but you can’t do it overnight,’ ” said Vaughters, who was on the team that helped Lance Armstrong win his first Tour de France title, in 1999. “You just have to do everything perfectly and you need a little bit of luck.”

An organization called the Agency for Cycling Ethics runs Slipstream’s testing program. It is an independent agency formed by Paul Scott, a former chemist and client director at the U.C.L.A. Olympic drug-testing lab, with people dedicated to antidoping.

The agency pays for the collection and testing of the blood and urine samples. But money is running out, and it is looking for sponsors for the costly enterprise.

Testing each rider each season would cost about $20,000, a price tag of $400,000 for a team.

Ideally, there would be no financial relationship between the agency and the teams it tests, Scott says, so the entire process remains impartial. If money does run out, Ellis said he would pick up the cost of the frequent testing.

Normally, cyclists are drug-tested if they win or finish near the top of a race, or if they are selected at random. They are also tested out of competition by their international federation or by the World Anti-Doping Agency. But that model is changing.

In Slipstream’s program, each rider’s blood and urine samples would be tested by an outside lab, then sent to an independent agency to be analyzed. That agency would then compile a biological record of each rider, including his levels of hemoglobin, naturally occurring steroids and red blood cell count. Over time, the information gathered would show what was normal for each individual. Team management has asked WADA to audit those results.

If any part of a rider’s biological record changes markedly — for example, if his natural steroid level skyrockets — it could be an indication of doping, or of a drug for which there is not yet a test. In that case, the athlete has agreed to sit out for two weeks to undergo further drug testing to see what caused the anomaly.

If those numbers remain consistent, however, it could mean a rider is clean. But no conclusion is guaranteed — yet.

Antidoping scientists say that this testing method is more complicated than it seems. Testers need to determine what they monitor and for how long before an athlete in that system can definitively be stamped as a clean athlete, they say. Still, those officials applauded Slipstream for making an effort to be at the forefront of a program that rewards athletes for being clean.

“I see this as a baby step, but an important step, in trying a new approach,” said Don Catlin, director of the U.C.L.A. testing lab.

Other professional cycling teams, like Team CSC and T-Mobile, have instituted rigorous in-house testing programs, but Slipstream’s is different because it is independent of the team and does not test for banned substances. Instead, the riders’ biological report cards are analyzed in conjunction with physiological testing, so scientists can see how the body changes when the riders work out, travel or when they are ill.

To take the testing a step further, Vaughters has asked WADA to receive the results directly from the drug-testing laboratory and to use those results as research.

So far, the agency has not made a decision, but it has showed interest in the program. It has financed a research study in France on a method of testing similar to the one used by Slipstream, said the agency’s science director, Olivier Rabin. That program will test athletes who volunteer to be tested for a longer list of biological data.

To the 23 riders on Slipstream, it does not matter how many similar projects get under way. Theirs is among the pioneering ones.

They arrived at this training camp in mid-January, some skittish about giving blood, most eager to do their part to help restore their sport’s reputation.

Pat McCarty, a 25-year-old Texan and Slipstream rider, was swept up in the biggest doping scandal of the year last summer because he rode for Landis’s team, Phonak, in the Tour de France. When the team folded, McCarty lost his job.

He felt helpless defending himself as a clean rider, he said. An antidoping program like the one Slipstream has put in would be a way for him to prove his innocence and to build trust among teammates, he said.

“We’re doing something to help pull cycling out of the ditch,” McCarty said.

So I uploaded something to YouTube

2007-02-07T23:23:00.000-06:00

The Office Episode 1 : Razor Darts

Check it out...it's almost as dumb as some of the other youtube content

Photographs of Old Shit

2006-11-22T15:00:00.000-06:00

Why do we enjoy taking photos of old shit? Is it because we think that somehow by capturing the image on film we somehow relate to the object. Is it an issue of saying hey that old shit is cool, I was there and I saw it. Perhaps the old shit represents memories from our childhood. Ahh, but there’s an exception, if I was going to take a photo of an old car I’d rather photograph a car from the 40’s and that’s certainly older than I am. I guess I would be relegated to photographing 5.0 Mustangs and Pontiac Grand Ams from the 90’s…boy those are exciting. I thought about going back and capturing some images of where I grew up…but it’s just another suburban town, not to much going on there.

So why are we fascinated with photographing things that predate us by 20 some odd years. Old cars, old trains, burned out warehouses—what’s the attraction. Are these things cooler than what we live with now. Have we just looked at one to many old timey calendars with old shit in them. What can we find that’s current and interesting. Do we believe that somehow our photos are capturing history? If that’s true then is everyone with a camera a historian, I don’t think so. Unfortunately I think we’re simply emulating things that we’ve seen done before.

No new subjects—maybe that’s the issue. How many times have I taken a camera to Yosemite. Ansel Adams did Yosemite, do I think that somehow I am going to make a better image. Maybe the Yosemite photos are a documentary of my personal history. If that were the case then I suppose they’re effective. The issue is I don’t think I went out there with a camera to document my trip. Did I take any photos of the people I was with doing the things that they do on a trip like that? Of course not. I set up the tripod and waited around for the light to hit Half Dome in that particular way—just hoping to capture it the same way Ansel did.

So do we simply emulate the great photographers? That would explain the abundance of old shit… Lets try and find some new things to photograph. Lets document our lives with photographs and not simple snapshots. Lets find a new subject. Let’s stop photographing old timey shit. Then maybe we’ll have something that other less enlightened people with cameras will see and then attempt to copy—either way we’ll reduce the number of photos of old shit.

Anyway here are some photos I've taken...

Here are some photos my dad has captured... There is some old shit in there—but he was alive when most of it was new.

LNDD lab Hacked? From the inside...

2006-11-16T20:04:00.000-06:00

Someone has written it more eloquently than I can muster...so read it here Pommes Frites at Rant Your Head Off...

Basically Rant's article expounds on my theory that the hacker really isnt a hacker at all...but one of the good guys over at LNDD who's trying to flush out the bad guys. Thats right a mole working for us...or as the lab says someone close to Landis. If you haven't got the skinny yet read this over at the International Herald Tribune.

So maybe this hacker/inside guy will spill some more information. Maybe they'll give us something solid to go on so good ole Floyd doesn't get off on a technicallity.

I still think he was screwed by someone...recent events do suggest that maybe the lab made some mistakes. Maybe WADA's Dick Pound shot his load a little to early...like he did in the Austrian Ski Case. Hmm, lets sweep all this under the rug...the lab is 'infallible' right? So basically WADA and all those other acronyms decided Floyd would have to take the fall...

I think The Dude said it best.... "look, man, I've got certain information, all right? Certain things have come to light. And, you know, has it ever occurred to you, that, instead of, uh, you know, running around, uh, uh, blaming me, you know, given the nature of all this new shit, you know, I-I-I-I... this could be a-a-a-a lot more, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, complex, I mean, it's not just, it might not be just such a simple... uh, you know?"... "I'll tell you what I'm blathering about... I've got information man! New shit has come to light!"

Anyway, I maintain that Floyd is innocent...this whole thing has gotten out of hand...

For more up to date Floyd Landis information check out TBV I go to his site at least 5 times a day. I guess I'm addicted...

Volume 2 of the Voltron DVD's

2006-11-14T16:17:00.000-06:00

Order it now and they'll ship it on the 21st...
Voltron DVD

New Additions to the Portfolio

2006-11-14T15:54:00.000-06:00

We've added some exciting new projects to the Atomicdust portfolio page...check it out and get ready to be impressed...

Advertising Age - Digital - Viacom's Copyrighted Content Yanked Off YouTube

2006-10-31T11:24:00.000-06:00

Advertising Age - Digital - Viacom's Copyrighted Content Yanked Off YouTube

So the bigwigs at Comedy Central don't want to play along with YouTube...

Stephen Colbert on YouTube

So the question is what are they gonna put on YouTube...and if they start removing the illegal content then whats it really worth...no one watches the vidoes of kittens from peoples treos...

St. Louis tops dangerous U.S. cities - Crime & Punishment - MSNBC.com

2006-10-30T12:51:00.000-06:00

St. Louis tops dangerous U.S. cities - Crime & Punishment - MSNBC.com

Huh...I guess that explains why Joe and I got shot at after chasing someone who was breaking into a car at our office parking lot...

More national media reaction to Rogers' smudge

2006-10-24T17:59:00.000-05:00

More national media reaction to Rogers' smudge

To bad cycling isn't this lenient...

Landis Wiki

2006-10-20T09:42:00.000-05:00

Floyd Landis Case Wiki

Tom Fine has compiled all of the scientific information for the Floyd Landis case for us...

Interview with Floyd Landis' attorney :: Howard Jacobs

2006-10-16T10:43:00.000-05:00

Howard Jacobs has become the go-to guy when athletes fail their drug tests. Marion Jones, Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton are a few of his higher profile clients. We have all heard how air-tight the drug testing is right now, but Howard gives us all the other side of the story.

read more | digg story

What I Would Buy

2006-10-13T17:48:00.000-05:00

What I Would Buy New Associate-o-matic site...

Photos I've taken

2006-10-12T18:25:00.000-05:00

Just some of my better photos

I put this page up a while ago for some fashion thing... anyway check it out.

Tour De France Winner: I'll Ride Again, One Week After Hip Surgery, Floyd Landis Says He'll Be Exonerated - CBS News

2006-10-05T08:52:00.000-05:00

Tour De France Winner: I'll Ride Again, One Week After Hip Surgery, Floyd Landis Says He'll Be Exonerated - CBS News

Defiant Floyd on CBS Early show...

"Some people would like to take away the title, but in the end they won't," he said.

"I didn't see it as a handicap," he said. "I couldn't peddle with my right leg as hard as I was I was able to before, but I had my left leg."

Check out TBV for some interesting test documents that validate Floyd's story.

And the Rant about Floyd's faulty test...

Floyd Landis' Testosterone, WADA, and Abused Science

2006-09-21T09:49:00.000-05:00

Floyd Landis' Testosterone, WADA, and Abused Science

Get ready for an amazingly complex theory that's explained in such a way that most of should be able to understand.

In a nutshell...WADA conducted a study to see the effects of diet on their synthetic T test. Floyds results are consistent with a false positive... Read the article it says it explains it much better than I do...

Thanks to TBV for the link.

trust but verify - Floyd Landis Blog

2006-09-20T09:18:00.000-05:00

trust but verify Has a really good blog going about the Floyd Landis case. I go there a couple of times a day...

I've been posting mostly in the cycling forums but my opinion is that he is an innocent victim of a fuck up. you can feel free to extrapolate what that means for yourself. Conspiracy by the French...no, that wouldn’t make sense, the Tour is to sacred to pull anything like that. A pissed off individual or group of individuals working at or with access to people working at the lab is more plausible.
The problem with the whole thing is Floyd is fucked no matter what happens. The lab and WADA and whoever else will say...oh we're sorry, we made a mistake. It was a grievous mistake that will lead most people to always assume that Floyd cheated…that’s all that really matters. What he's gonna have to do is come back and win the Tour 7 times and have so many drug tests that he doesn't have any blood left but there will be those who will still say...yeah but he cheated that one time in 2006 but he got off on a technicality…

So thanks a lot to those who screwed up the results, failed to follow protocol, announced it and tainted the name of an athlete—an athlete who has worked harder at one thing than most of us can fathom—all so the entire world can tell him that he's a loser.

MS 150

2006-09-13T12:14:00.000-05:00

So this weekend I did mechanical support for the MS 150 here in Missouri. My buddy from Maplewood Bicycle and I showed up Friday night at about 9:30 to a swarm of people needing stuff done to their bikes. We fixed everything from flat tires to stretched derailleur cables. I crawled into my tent at around one in the morning. The next day we woke up to more of the same. Fixing flats, replacing bar tape adjusting brakes that were rubbing the rim. I started to wonder why anyone in there right mind would show up to a 150 mile bike ride with their bikes in such poor condition.

Then I realized that they were all there for a purpose. To raise awareness and money to fight multiple sclerosis. It made everything a little easier. I could pop on the most difficult Continental tire with ease because I knew that even though I wasn't riding I was making a contribution to the goal.

There were a couple of people who may have just been out for a ride. I am sure there were riders who didn't even know anyone with MS. But there were 3000 some odd people , some on Merlins others on Huffys that made the ride.

Anyway...Thanks to everyone who was there because my best friend has MS.

New Voltron Store

2006-09-11T21:46:00.000-05:00

I wonder if anyone reads my Blog. Anyway we've been toiling away on a new store for Voltron Products. You'll be able to get Voltron t-shirts the Remastered Voltron DVD and a whole slew of other Voltron products.

While you're waiting for us to actually open the store later this week check out the Voltron Forums or the Official Voltron Homepage. We made that too...

So I'm trying out this technorati thing

2006-09-09T13:35:00.000-05:00

Technorati Profile Add it to your blog so you can track who links to you...

A Gradient Tutorial...

2006-08-31T01:22:00.000-05:00

Welcome to web 2.0 this dude is gonna show us how to make some gradients in CSS

read more | digg story

New Missouri DWI site

2006-08-30T18:16:00.000-05:00

I am working on the finishing touches of MO DWI.com so I am sticking it up on the ole blog so it gets some traffic. If you have a DWI in Missouri you should check out this site. The site contains information about St. Louis City Courts and Driving While Intoxicated law.

So if you need a DWI Lawyer in Missouri this is your site.

I just got done adding an exciting DWI sitemap for google to chew on...

Why do we hate the French?

2006-08-17T11:02:00.000-05:00

Maybe we hate the French cause hating other people is against the rules....Shmigginations: When America Says It's Ok To Be a Bigot

The Best Logo Redesigns of 2006

2006-07-21T21:09:00.000-05:00

This is a pretty cool site. Check out all redesigned corporate identities.

read more | digg story

The new and improved Atomicdust site

2006-07-13T19:01:00.000-05:00

Well it's been a long time since the year of the monkey site went live in 2004...We've been toiling away over at atomicdust on things like Voltron and Maryland Plaza... But we've finally taken some time to ourselves and revamped the atomicdust site...

So for your pleasure in the Year of the Dog we proudly present Atomicdust.com 2006...

Be sure to check out the new and improved design case studies section that highlights all the fun projects we've been working on. Don't miss the fabulous Atomicdust history in our company info section...and for all or your design and advertising needs we've got a special services section...

Enjoy.

Penrose Park Velodrome - St. Louis Bicycle Works

2006-06-26T11:10:00.000-05:00

http://www.stlbikeworks.com/penrose-park-velodrome.asp

Well we took the fixed gears out to the Penrose Park Velodrome. It's a lot harder than it looks. Anyway check out the photos and build yourself a fixie...

New Blog

2006-06-13T10:29:00.000-05:00

Since blogging is so much fun I started another one. Its called What I Would Buy. It uses Amazon.com's new associate program to display really cool links with product information and buy it now options. They look like this...Star Wars Episode III. Anyway Check out the new blog...

1 GB iPod Nano

2006-06-09T19:44:00.000-05:00

1 GB iPod Nano White

I love my iPod. I use it when I'm riding my bike, driving in my car, at the gym, waiting for the bus, as a home stereo system with my Klipsch Pro Media speakers and pretty much everywhere I go.

It's one of those inventions that I don't know how we lived without. The iPod has redefined music and is in the midsts of changing the way we watch video. Soon there will be no need for TV or cable or any of that... We'll be able to download whatever we want and watch it where ever and when ever we want on our iPods. Its really pretty amazing if you think about it.

Heres to the iPod...the new walkman...the new TV...what's it gonna do next?

Bicycle Works Store

2006-06-08T00:28:00.000-05:00

I used the Amazon Associates program to set up a store on the bike works site. It was pretty easy and I think it looks ok. It has everything from Shimano Ultegra and Dura-Ace parts to Polar cycle computers.

Oh and anyone who rides a bike needs one of these... The Topeak Micro Rocket in Carbon Fiber...Oh yeah

What I Would Buy...

2006-05-14T23:42:00.000-05:00

I've added some products like the Garmin 205 to the What I Would Buy website... check it out.

Revo Power Turns Bicycle Into 200mpg Moped

2006-05-11T18:31:00.000-05:00

Now this is cool...

read more | digg story

Mother of All Bicycle Crashes

2006-05-11T18:29:00.000-05:00

He is going at more than 170km/h on a mountain bike and on 'somewhat unprepared' terrain.

This is cool...

read more | digg story

St. Louis Bikeworks

2006-05-11T11:09:00.000-05:00

I started another blog about bikes so here's the link...

Bikeworks Blog

The Official Voltron Forum

2006-05-10T15:17:00.000-05:00

The Official Voltron Forum

Thats right, Voltron the popular 80's cartoon has it's own forum... I post over there and you should too.

iPod scratch fix.

2006-05-08T19:24:00.000-05:00

A nice guide to remove those pesky scratches from your Nano / 5G iPod.

Now all I need is a Dremmel tool

read more | digg story

Maplewood Bicycles Site

2006-04-30T20:20:00.000-05:00

Well the new Maplewood Bicycle site is up. I added an entire section for Merlin Bikes and Quintana Roo Tri Bikes.

I'm still working on getting the other manufactures up there but its time consuming. All I really want to do is go out and ride a bike. Oh well it was raining today...I can't wait to get my new road bike...

Monopoly - New Edition?

2006-04-24T18:49:00.000-05:00

So they're thinking of chaning Monopoly... Maybe the great dot coms will be on the board...and of course trump...

read more | digg story

Secret Society of Scientists working for the US Government

2006-04-24T18:44:00.000-05:00

yeah and I bet its gaurded by sharks with freakin lazer beams...

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Hubble Space Telescope is 16 years old!

2006-04-24T18:42:00.000-05:00

And NASA and ESA have released some wonderful pictures to help Hubble celebrate it's 'Sweet Sixteen'!

This is pretty cool...I can't believe that thing has been flying around for half my life.

read more | digg story

Maplewood Bicycle : Merlin, Quintana Roo, Lemond, Trek, Gary Fisher, Steelhead

2006-04-22T01:29:00.001-05:00

Maplewood Bicycle : Merlin, Quintana Roo, Lemond, Trek, Gary Fisher, Steelhead

working hard on the maplewood site so I can get my bike... I just uploaded the Merlins... If money where no object I think I would get a Merlin Bike Works Compact Frame...I think I'm just going to have to settle on the Lemond.

More Later as I get this thing going.

BikeWorks St. Louis : BicycleWorks

2006-04-21T10:55:00.000-05:00

BicycleWorks

I added a handy flash image loader to the bike works site. Check it out.

Why my bike fits me... Bio Racer fit system

2006-04-17T16:55:00.000-05:00

Maplewood Bicycle : Bio-Racer Fitting Systems

I've always been the kind of guy who throws a leg over a bike and pulls it up to my crotch, two inches of clearance...perfect. Handle bars are handle bars, stems are stems and the seat post is adjustable.

Anyway it turns out that I've been riding around on a bike that's the perfect size for me, it just didn't have the perfect handlebars, stem, cranks, pedals or seat and that's why it was uncomfortable. So I went to Maplewood Cycles and had them do one of their fit systems. I was measured with all sorts of calipers and scales and rulers. It was sort of like when the game warden shoots a lion with a tranquilizer dart from a helicopter, the only thing I didn't get was an ear tag and tracking collar.

After some complex mathematical equations and moving the moving parts on their trainer we put my bike in the stand and put on some new bars and a stem. I was again measured and prodded, they used lasers this time, and it seemed as though everything checked out. I've been riding the bike for a week now and It's awesome. The tiniest tweaks on some of the parts has made huge difference. The guys at Maplewood of course started talking about ordering one of their custom Merlin frames built to the measurements they got from the lasers but I'm going to settle with riding my 'new and improved' Lemond around. Maybe next summer guys.

Anyway, here's the shameless plug... www.maplewoodbicycles.com get it done it may change your life or at least your bike.

Gatorade Commercials

2006-04-11T15:48:00.000-05:00

So I was at a friends house the other day watching Sports Center or something like that. Anyway, I noticed a whole slew of Gatorade commercials. So I started thinking...what are the demographics of the average Sports Center viewer. Do they get a lot of athletes or is just your average sit on the couch every Sunday afternoon watching 'the game' kind of crowd. Assuming, as I did, that the SC viewing audience is mostly overweight males from 18-35 who's participation in sports is generally from the sideline I wondered why Gatorade would spend so much on advertising on that channel. Do these people actually watch SC and then go out and play a sport that would require them to drink Gatorade because their electrolytes where low. I dunno, as I sat there drinking a Captain and Coke I thought about getting a Gatorade in the morning to quell my hangover...Maybe that's it. Perhaps the folks over at Gatorade and Method Studios should consider advertising that caters more to the hard core drinker. "When your electrolytes are low and you're feeling dehydrated from a night of 'hard core' drinking reach for Gatorade, it's better than water"

Voltron.com Announces DVDs Launches New Site

2006-03-30T12:21:00.000-06:00

WEP and Media Blasters officially announce the DVD set of Voltron : Defender of the Universe.

The new site is up and it looks awsome.

read more | digg story

VIDEO: Air Car. A car that runs on air

2006-03-28T19:31:00.000-06:00

Motor Development International has developed a car that runs on air. It uses Compressed Air Technology to run the car. The tanks are made of carbon fiber. Great for city driving since it only has a range of 150km. Cold air is the only emission which can then run the A/C.

Now we're getting somewhere... I still love my diesel VW...

Check out the Video

Voltron "V-Day" Countdown

2006-03-26T19:28:00.000-06:00

The official Voltron website has added a mysterious countdown to their website. Is Voltron finally coming to DVD? Are we going to get more info on the Voltron movie? Or is it going to be another lame site relaunch?

read more digg story

BikeWorks St. Louis website

2006-03-13T15:30:00.000-06:00

BikeWorks St. Louis : BicycleWorks

Well I started working on the BikeWorks website the other day. It's a non for profit organization that teaches kids responsibility and good work habits. Basically neighborhood kids come and work on a bike that they get to keep. They're not going to end up with the Merlin road bike I want but it's a good learning experiance for them. I'll post more after I go Tuesday night and take some photos for the site.

Apple - iPod shuffle

2005-11-16T17:35:00.000-06:00

http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/

Why I got Steph an iPod Shuffle
So I had this $100 Gift Card from Best Buy and I couldn't find anything to purchase for myself. Well I'm sure I could have bought one of those light sabers or a CF card or something like that, but i couldn't find anything I really wanted or needed for that matter.

So, Stephanie wanted an iPod for working out and whatnot. I thought hey the shuffle is 99 bucks, its small, supposedly sounds good and has that aire of Apple cool about it.

So I ordered one. Then I thought man that's cheap, why would someone get thier lady friend the cheapest one out there. Maybe this is like buying CZ instead of a diamond...then I started thinking about it.

This may be the coolest iPod out there. No, I'm not trying to make myself feel better about cheaping out...heres why. I use my iPod for 2 things, the first is sitting on my mantle in its dock plugged into a set of Klipsch ProMedia speakers (the best computer speakers ever, by the way.) As a home stereo system I like being able to scroll through the music and choose whats playing. Occasionally I will shuffle the entire thing when I am cleaning or something like that but normally I pick the artist and play entire albums.

The second way I use it is on my motorcycle or when I'm out walking the dog. I set it to shuffle put it in my pocket and clip the remote to my t-shirt or jacket. Usually I shuffle a playlist or an artist or what ever. The point is that I don't take it out of my pocket the whole time and i use the tiny remote to skip the trash that comes up.

Enter the iPod Shuffle...the whole thing is a tiny remote that allows you to skip songs, adjust volume, pause, play and whatnot. Bonus points for not having a heavy expensive thing bouncing around in your pocket. Basically you plug this thing into your computer, put you favorite 5 albums of the day on there and off you go.

I got the smaller one (512MB) because you have to plug it into a computer to charge it, thus you can change the songs at any time. My Ipod is full of music, I never delete anything because I like having everything with me. For a cross country motorcycle trip this is ideal. To ride my bicycle a few miles its overkill. I'd pocket the 20gig, put it on shuffle and use the remote to skip around.

Anyway, I think the Shuffle is a cool idea...it may lack menus, displays and large capacity but for what its for it does an increadible job. I'll have to borrow it.

Nikon D200 - Oh yeah you will be mine

2005-11-02T13:34:00.000-06:00

The D200 is Nikon's latest DSLR. It's a semi-pro camera positioned between the tremendously popular D70s and the professional D2X. The D200 is similar in size to the D70s and just a bit heavier.

I bought my D70 for about $1,200 when it was first released. The D70 is a nice plastic camera and I love it. A year and a half later for only about $700 more you can get the D200, which in addition to being almost twice as fast and having almost twice the pixels, the D200 is a solid professional camera.

I expect that this will be the most popular camera used by professional photographers due to its light weight, low cost, high speed and tough magnesium body. In my opinion it obsoletes the D2X, since it does 90% of what the D2X does without the weight and expense. I've never even wanted a D2X; it's too darn heavy.

Nikon USA D200 Page

BMW R1200 GS Adventure

2005-10-26T13:31:00.000-05:00

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102451

Ok well here it is the New BMW R1200 GS Adventure. This thing looks bad ass. I am going to miss the old 1150GS...

Bloggers find ways to profit

2005-10-26T11:04:00.000-05:00

Bloggers find ways to profit

So maybe I will set up adsense.

Well it looks like I'm selling my house

2005-10-24T21:39:00.000-05:00

I am going to move into a nice apartment and buy a motorcycle. I thought that owning a home would be one of those fun experiances were i got to spend weekends mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges. The funs over now and I want to be irresponsable again. Here are some photos of work I did on the house. This is a link to the houses homepage...

FDA Panel: No Advantage to Antibacterial Soap

2005-10-20T13:19:00.000-05:00

Well it turns out that antibacterial soap was nothing more than a cleaver marketing ploy. I always thought that all soap was antibacterial by its very nature. I wonder if we'll go back to defrosting our meat on the counter or not making little kids wear helmets to ride thier bikes.

See what webMD had to say...

The biggest and best ad I've seen in a while

2005-09-26T11:30:00.000-05:00

:::CARLTON UNITED BIG AD:::

This is what selling beer is all about. When you have as much money as a beer company all of your ads should be this big and this cool.
Take a gander at the big ass ad

Tool Hardy - About Toolhardy

2005-09-14T17:08:00.000-05:00

Tool Hardy

These guys sell everything you need to take apart your BMW R1150GS, a 1974 Volkswagon bus, a Land Rover Discovery or a diesel Golf...Putting it back together again is your problem.

Check out thier awsome selection of automotive tools

New Hummer H3 Ad

2005-08-29T12:18:00.000-05:00

Watch the Hummer H3 Ad

Ok so there are two monsters running around tearing up the city. Then they fall in love and a baby monster is born...Brilliant, Hummers and other SUVs destroy the environment.

Is there a process for design

2005-07-14T01:54:00.000-05:00

I believe that adhering to stringent protocols defined by lengthy documents riddled with techno-babble to be the antithesis of creativity. True creativity isn’t a matter of thinking outside the box, inside or outside is an absolute. Realizing that there is no box is the key to creativity.

June 3-5	World Pork Expo	Des Moines, IA
June 3-5	Animal Nutrition Association of Canada Conference	Canada
June 5	International Soy Planning and Opportunities Team Meeting (ISPOT)	St. Louis, MO
June 8-12	Workshop on the Nutritional Advantages of U.S. Soybean Meal	Tunisia
June 16-21	South America Biotech Conference	Brazil
June 22-25	USB Board Meeting	Dearborn, MI
June 22-27	Risk Management Workshop	Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
June 24-29 July 15-16 July 20-23	Soybean Meal Workshop U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (FAS Cooperators) ASA Board Meeting	Seoul, Korea Bethesda, MD Washington, DC
August 2-6	U.S. Soy Export Week	St. Louis, MO