tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354601062024-03-06T23:09:39.682-06:00the (dispencer)dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.comBlogger371125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-39434292138457995572016-11-10T13:14:00.001-06:002016-11-10T13:14:20.432-06:00Voting: Unless it's Direct Democracy, it's trash<div style="font-family: "Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
I wrote this in 2004 during the Bush/Kerry election.<br />
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I would probably tweak and change a few things about it now, but all-in-all I am still very proud of it. It was the first essay I'd ever written outside of High School.<br />
I'm a better expository writer now, by leaps and bounds and maybe I should revisit this piece, or create a new one. For now though, here it is in all it's glory.<br />
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<b>"Voting: The Great American Hoax"<br /><br />
Dispencer</b><br />
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Direct democracy vs. electoral politics, an anarchist look at voting by Dispencer, who is a member or the Northstar Anarchist Collective in Minneapolis, and has been in Anti-Racist Action since 1998. (A response to "Beyond Voting," by Chris Crass in <i>Clamor</i>, Communique 42.)]</blockquote>
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It is inevitable. As an Anarchist you will always encounter people who will want to engage you in debate on the topic of voting. It may be a co-worker, or perhaps a friend, a fellow activist, or a stranger on the street. Most Anarchists know that they do not believe in the capitalist system, or in the electoral process. We believe that the system is built to have the illusion of freedom while keeping a boot firmly on the throat of the lower- and working-classes, and particularly, people of color in the US and worldwide.Contrary to popular belief, Anarchists do vote. In fact we probably do it far more often than most Americans. Voting is central to the belief in Direct Democracy, which is one of the base principals of Anarchism. Direct Democracy is the idea of direct control over decision-making and policy by the people these policies affect.<br />
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That said, it is not Anarchist principal to embrace the capitalist / electoral system in the US. It is understood that as residents we have to accept that this is the current political system in power, and that for the time being we must find our way to survive within it. We do this while simultaneously trying to erode that very system, and working toward a brighter future. Participation in State or Federal elections does nothing to achieve this.<br />
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Anarchists use voting as a tool, not as a means to gain political power, as is the case with current electoral systems in the US and worldwide. This so blatantly laid in front of us, with no shame, in these election seasons. Anarchism uses voting along with discussion, to move forward politically and helps make decisions. When Anarchists pass the point of what we have to do to get by under this current system, into the realm of what we are told we can do to “change” the system, we are not gaining anything. In fact, we lose. Lose our integrity.<br />
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Historically, and in countless modern examples, Direct Action has succeeded where American Politics and activist participation in them have failed. The pamphlet Beyond Voting by Chris Crass is an in-depth, well-thought out essay around the politics of radicals and voting. Unfortunately, it has used anarchist and anarchism throughout, where activist and activism would have been more appropriate. It aspires to convince Anarchists and other radicals that they can vote in the heart of the beast and still retain, or better yet improve, their revolutionary goals. It goes so far as to suggest that Anarchists should become politicians, and run for office. I hope to offer another perspective.<br />
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<b>The Anarchist Vote?</b><br />
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I am not here to tell you what you can or cannot do as an Anarchist. I do however, hope to make people think seriously about what they stand for, what that means to them, and if voting will advance that position.<br />
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Anarchists are often pigeonholed as wild youth that are bent on “smashing the state”, often by other activists and Anarchists, as well as the rest of today’s society. This remains one of the main stigmas facing Anarchists even within their own movements.<br />
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Beyond Voting explains how voting is a tactic that Anarchists must realize is a tool to become “a meaningful challenge” to the powers that be.<br />
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In this essay, Chris Crass goes on to say that, “I know that thousands of Anarchists around the country vote”, and that an analysis of this “is still largely absent from what is considered Anarchist theory”, and footnotes several Love and Rage articles. What’s interesting is that Love and Rage did have an opinion of voting;<br />
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“We deny that improvements are made through elections, neither through the Democratic Party nor through a new progressive or labor party.”
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It should be obvious to everyone worldwide that the presidential elections in the United States are a farce, our suspicions validated in the 2000 Bush/Gore election. The sheer amount of illegal activity and political maneuvering that was revealed shocked average Americans as well as radicals across this nation. Democrats acted shocked as well, but made little effort to hold anyone responsible.<br />
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The electoral system is a problematic, and corrupt one. It is not a representation of the consensus of the people; it is more a playground for corporate interest, lobbyists, and the desires of the super rich. As was shown to the world in 2000, our electoral systems are fallible, manipulate able, and ultimately never in the hands of the people.<br />
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This is of course an example of political corruption on the highest of levels, and this type of thing doesn’t really manifest itself in the small scale, local elections, does it? Sadly, the reality of the system is that all progressive gains can be, and most often are, overturned or at the least watered-down to a point of near insignificance.<br />
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Even if we overlook all of our presidential electoral systems failings, we are then left with two non-choices. On a more local scale, candidates, propositions, and bills that might be on the ballot could much more directly effect a community then the minor differences between two sides of the same coin vying for the white house. These local issues are where many radicals find their dilemma. I don’t believe in voting, but this issue is too important and too close to home. I believe the answer is fairly straightforward; if the issue is important to you, then organize around it. Make sure your efforts live up to the feeling in your heart. Then, if your personal political views are important to you, do not vote. Instead, hope that your efforts were enough to sway the community to make the better choice. Just because you are not personally going to cast a ballot, does not mean that you can’t organize against a bill that reduces rights of women, restricts immigrant rights, workers rights, or would otherwise marginalize any community.<br />
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We do not need to sacrifice our politics. We are far more powerful than a vote, and we have proven this time and again throughout history and today. More often then not, public outcry in the form of rallies, poster campaigns, riots, or strikes, have had a far more dramatic effect on the shape of the world then our votes ever would, and that’s assuming, of course, someone counts them.<br />
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The most common argument against Anarchist non-participation in elections is the idea that: “If you don’t vote, then have no right to criticize what the government does”.<br />
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If you do not vote and do not work to create change, then this statement is true. If you choose not to participate in, nor justify the existence of a capitalist agenda, while simultaneously working toward a vision of a world that is better on all fronts for everyone, then I believe we will come out ahead. We all know that you cannot beat the house at its own game, that knowledge is what brought most of us to find Anarchism in the first place. It is why we take matters into our own hands, why we take to the streets, why we fight for a way of life we may never even see in our lifetimes.<br />
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<b>Anarchists in Community Movements</b><br />
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Anarchists in the US tend to be young, white and middle-class. Often we are criticized for not being accommodating to people of color, or not reaching out to communities of color. Taken at face value this is true. We are for the most part, a bunch of white kids with parents and other resources at our disposal, and little to lose from sticking our necks out.<br />
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That would seem to make us the perfect front line in a street level struggle.<br />
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Ideally, we could build a movement that was made up of all people. People of color, women, queer, and transgendered / genderqueer people. We should always struggle to overcome our own sexism, racism, and homophobia to create spaces, scenes and movements that accommodate all people, and provide community and safety. We are all aware that there have been far too many cases of situations where police single out, arrest and brutalize people of color, queer, or trans and other demonstrators. It is my belief that because I am unjustly granted privileges in life simply because of my skin color or gender, then the least I can do is abuse them as much as possible. If I am arrested at an action, I think “better me then someone that might not have the resources or time to hold out in court until these charges get dropped”.<br />
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It is not surprising that communities that are being attacked from all sides by capitalism, be it police repression, racist landlords and rental policies, or crime and drug influences in the neighborhoods they live in, are not jumping at the chance to place themselves in harms way by choice. It’s also somewhat insulting to assume that we, as white Anarchists are the only one organizing in our communities, and that communities of color were just wait for us to come along and help them. I see these as the main reasons our movement is so white. A good case-in-point would be Anti-Racist Action, which, although not an Anarchist organization, has the same problem. As can be drawn from it’s name, ARA is straightforward with it politics, and would seemingly be something that communities of color would be interested in being involved in. Yet, despite its efforts, ARA remains a mostly white organization. Without doubt, ARA, Anarchist and other social movements should always be working to keep our scene open and available to women, people of color, and all others. But we should not be surprised if it takes and amazing amount of struggle against this system, and huge sacrifices on our side, before we are taken seriously by these communities. We are, as of yet, unproven.<br />
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When Anarchists find themselves involved in community movements, and looking to legitimize our movement to community members who may have never heard of Anarchism, or if they have, are likely to have a negative opinion of it from the media, it doesn’t make a good argument for Anarchism as a viable system if we are not true to our own core beliefs, such as participation in this government and it‘s functions.<br />
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To cite one of the major examples of Anarchists involved in a community mobilization used in Beyond Voting, let’s examine the fight for housing in the Mission District of San Francisco during the dot com boom of the late 1990’s. This was a multifaceted effort by activists from many different communities, cultures, ages, and political affiliations. It was exactly the type of coalition Anarchists had been dreaming of, and it was well documented in the movie BOOM! The Sound of Eviction. I’ve lived in the Mission District, and although I moved to California after the dot com bubble had burst, you could still see the telltale effects that it had had on the neighborhood. What sticks out to me most about the film, is that while many people focused on getting officials elected into office to wait and hope to see if they followed through on their promises to the community, one family took matters into their own hands. With their landlord threatening to have them evicted to make way for the money the dot com’s and gentrification would bring, they were at the edge and about to be pushed over while legal and electoral processes plodded along. This family decided not to go out without a fight. They gathered up as many friends, family members, and supporters as they could, and marched from their home to the landlords business. They jammed his store full of loud, desperate and angry people who would do whatever necessary to halt this eviction. And it worked. It is a beautiful example of direct action at work.<br />
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The film shows so many people who lost their homes, many during the course of the election and filming process, that one has to wonder why this direct action tactic wasn’t used more often. Why was everyone, including the Anarchists, so dependent on the electoral process to save the neighborhood?<br />
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In the end, the coalition of Anarchists and activists, organizing in the mostly Latino/a neighborhood, did manage to successfully elect a white male into office.<br />
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The Mission Yuppie Eradication Project was a poster campaign that successfully intimidated the influx of dot com industry, by threatening to destroy property. It was also a major reason the struggle for housing in the Mission was widely covered in the media outside of the Bay Area.<br />
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One person who was arrested and accused of being Nestor Maknho, the person behind the project, is Kevin Keating. He is not an Anarchist. When asked about electoral politics, he had this to say; “Electoral politics is no use whatsoever to working class and poor people and it never has [been]... You can never vote the system out. [It’s] not just a waste of time, but a mystification about the nature of capitalist society. One good thing about the US among all the negative ways that they lead the rest of the industrial world; rate of police violence against civilians, use of the death penalty, number of children growing up in poverty… One positive way that the US leads the rest of the world is the rate of abstention from electoral politics. Even if all those people aren’t actively fighting for a society worthy of people living in it, they at least don’t have any illusions about voting.”<br />
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When I lived in the Mission it seemed to me that the number one thing deterring further white invasion from hip areas of the neighborhood, to the areas that were still relatively untouched by gentrification, were the street gangs. Where I lived on 24th Street, it was the Nortenos. Say what you want about gangs, but at their most basic they are youth-oriented, community-based, direct action groups that are not afraid to make their presence felt. How is it that to this day they continue to succeed where an Anarchist and community led coalition slowly failed and eventually disappeared? What can be learned?<br />
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<b>Beyond Voting: Understanding Anarchism</b><br />
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In Beyond Voting, some of the harshest criticism of Anarchists’ involvement in community based organizing, is from non-Anarchist, white activists who seem to be expressing views based upon frustration from experiencing Anarchists not hoping on the popular bandwagon.<br />
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One such Bay Area activist is quoted; “I agree with a lot of what I understand Anarchism to be, but I don’t trust Anarchists. Every time powerful forces come after oppressed communities with all of these propositions, all the Anarchists I talk with say they don’t believe in legitimizing the power of the state because they won’t get their hands dirty in electoral politics.<br />
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“Don’t you understand that the state has real power over peoples lives? This is not a game that you get to choose to play in or not. While you might have the privilege to stand there ‘more radical than thou’, most of us are fighting for our lives. Being ‘above it all’ is not a choice. Then you complain when the police arrest you at a civil disobedience and call on me for solidarity?”<br />
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Her passion can be felt through these paragraphs, and they are a very real critique of Anarchism. It is also, unfortunately for Anarchists, one that is heard echoed by many across this nation. The problems that I see in this critique start almost immediately, the statement that,“I agree with a lot of what I understand Anarchism to be”, is a very encouraging beginning — as Anarchists tend to have trouble being painted in a positive light — but that sentiment is followed up with, “but I don’t trust Anarchists.” Where did we go wrong? Why is it that this is such a common thread in activist / progressive / left scenes?<br />
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The reason we are given for the distrust in the statement above is that, “all the Anarchists I talk with say they don’t believe in legitimizing the power of the state because they won’t get their hands dirty in electoral politics”. It is here that we find our first major conflict; the speaker does not trust Anarchists because they are following their stated political beliefs. I fail to understand why you would not trust someone who follows though on what they say they will do. It is no secret that Anarchism places no value in a capitalist system, or government. Why then would so many people be taken aback that when push-comes-to-shove most Anarchists, true to their principals, do not choose to participate in electoral politics?<br />
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“Don’t you understand that the state has real power over peoples lives?” We do. We also understand that under no circumstance is the state going to give up one ounce of that power without a fight. Did women vote for the right to vote? Did Nat Turner vote to be a free man, if only for a moment? Voting played no role in the Roe v. Wade decision, though votes will likely overturn those rights. The comments about ’above it all’ and ’holier than thou’, are more or less hypocritical in this rant, but I do know, and agree that we are all fighting for our lives.<br />
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The vote is an obsolete tool in that fight.<br />
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I can only hope that through information sharing, debate, and, of course, direct action, examples can be made that will reverse the trend of both activist distrust of Anarchists, and Anarchists that feel the need to bow to this pressure and go against principal to try to gain legitimacy.<br />
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To counter this point, in Beyond Voting, Chris Crass says, “I believe that our politics of non-engagement in so many crucial struggles involving the state, electoral politics among them, have in the end done more to de-legitimize Anarchists than to de-legitimize the power of the state.” This statement illustrates clearly a lack of faith in the community around you to see that there are other options than those presented by the government. The best way to show others these options is to use them ourselves.<br />
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<b>The Lesser Evil is Not a Choice</b><br />
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During our recent US Presidential elections the american population, and youth in particular, were bombarded from every imaginable angle with pro-voting propaganda. Musicians, Hollywood stars, Puff Daddy, Paris Hilton, Eminem, MTV, and countless others were all trying their damnedest to get us out to the polls. One notable exception, Prince, released a new album in 2004, containing the line, “Ain’t no sense in voting, same song with a different name”, and harsh critiques of the current system in almost every song .<br />
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Underground punk rock acts were able to get in on the Pro-voting act too. Against Me! a political punk rock band from Florida has said plenty of important things in their music, including the track, “Baby, I’m an Anarchist”. They were also part of the punkvoter.org tour. With lyrics criticizing having “faith in elephant and the jackass”, they took time between songs to encourage us to vote.<br />
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This, no doubt, stemmed from a desire to see Bush unseated from a position of power in the US, and Against Me! and other punk bands were not alone in that sentiment. The worldwide anti-war movement was coalescing progressives and more radical groups. People everywhere were upset and starting to mobilize in record numbers across the country, and the world. What the elections did was successfully interrupt and shift the focus of the movement. Instead of being against the brash imperialism of the United States, the vision was narrowed to being against Bush. The anti-war movement was all but forgotten, as organizing for Kerry became the focal point of almost all progressive groups.<br />
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The problem was, and still is, that everyone managed to turn a blind eye to all of Kerry’s faults under the overwhelming pressure to remove Bush, no matter what. Kerry didn’t want to end the war. Kerry wasn’t for same-sex marriage. All he was was not Bush.<br />
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That is not enough.<br />
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The quotes in "Beyond Voting" echo this, with the slant of placing the plight of the poor on white activist, instead of the policies of the Government; “White activists need to be politically savvy enough to understand how those little, narrow nuances, that separate the candidates are not so little and narrow to everyone.”<br />
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White activists should most definitely be aware of the privilege they have, and that no matter how hard they try, they will never actually understand what it is to live in america as a person of color.<br />
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I do not know how exactly that translates to the need to vote. I might start with trying to help provide some of the things that the Government tries to keep away from these communities. Instead of wasting our time and resources canvassing neighborhoods for a presidential campaign, we could canvas with information about real women’s health options, and which services were really backed by religious groups with their own agendas in mind. That is only one example of they things that could have been done, and most likely were being done until the elections and the voting push hit. We need to understand these nuances and the effect they have on communities.<br />
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That brings us to the real and major differences between the candidates on abortion rights.<br />
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Many believe that Roe v. Wade will be overturned under Bush’s second term. This is a very real possibility. It would effectively undo the last 30 years of gains in reproductive rights. While all of this is fact, many people let the elections and pro-Kerry rhetoric veil their eyes from the truth that in most areas of the country women currently do not have access to health care and abortion services.<br />
Although things will not improve under Bush, in the end, things are already bad for many women in rural and poor areas, and have been. Kerry had no plan to change this, so what would be the basis for radicals or Anarchists to vote for him on this issue. Women’s reproductive rights have never been at the place they should be, under Democrats or Republicans. Under this system.<br />
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Also in "Beyond Voting," the creative suggestion is made to offer to “vote for” people who cannot vote. That is, for Anarchists to seek out prisoners, undocumented workers, felons, or others whom the state will not allow to vote, and offer to use “our vote” as though it were “theirs”. This is an ambitious idea, and I have to wonder, if you were to make such an offer for example, for the recent 2004 Bush / Kerry elections, and the prisoner/felon/worker you offer to “vote for” asks you to vote for Bush, would you? Would you honor your word? Would you vote against everything you personally feel is right? Or are you just using this marginalized person as an excuse, a means to justify, voting?<br />
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"Beyond Voting" wraps up with a strong anti-Bush push, urging “younger people to defeat Bush”, with sentiment like, “I’m confident that we can use the anti-Bush campaign to build our movement”.<br />
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Alternately and unfortunately, I am confident that the anti-Bush movement has successfully used radicals like Chris Crass and others from our movement to build theirs, effectively taking all momentum from projects nationwide that Anarchists had been involved in. Things like clinic defense, police brutality work, and fighting the advance of religious fundamentalism. How did the Anarchists get duped by the government into believing that working with the system was the answer?<br />
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In the end the election was not a chance to change the world, realistically it was a contest about how to rule the empire. Votes do nothing to move us away from this empire. The voice of the people was again marginalized. It is time to accept that electoral politics are not where our class power resides. Four years from now will we allow “Anyone But Bush”, (or anyone else), again be the banner under which we rally? Or will we try to realize the world that we see in our hearts? The world that we should be fighting for at all times, in every aspect of our lives? I cannot see the progress to be gained for the movement, or the working and poor people of this country, by electing anyone to office. I cannot accept that I, or anyone else that abstained from this, or any other election, did the people a disservice by not voting.<br />
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Because, unlike any politician, I believe in the people.<br />
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<b>Footnotes</b><br />
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1 "Beyond Voting: Anarchist organizing, electoral politics, and developing strategy for liberation," By Chris Crass, is <i>Clamor</i> Communique #42. It is the focus of this essay. See <a href="http://www.clamormagazine.org/communiques">here</a>.<br />
2 From <i>A New World in Our Hearts,</i> (p. 98), a Love and Rage anthology, that seeks to chronicle the groups years as a Revolutionary Anarchist Federation in the US. Though compiled with a bias toward one side of the federation's split, it is still a worthwhile resource.<br />
3 Police profiling is not a new practice, but this was fiercely and brutally demonstrated at the FTAA protests in Miami, 2004. See <a href="http://www.illegalvoices.org/">here</a> for more information.<br />
4. This sentiment is explained further (and better than I could ever do), in the article "Class & Race: Burning Questions, Unpopular Answers," by Fruittidrutti, in <a href="http://%20www.nefac.net/"><i>The Northeastern Anarchist,</i> Issue 6, Fall 2003</a><br />
5 Anti-Racist Action was formed in the early 1990’s in Minneapolis, and grew to an international network that organizes against racism, sexism, homophobia and christian fundamentalism. See <a href="http://www.arampls.com/">here.</a><br />
6 Information about, and copies of this documentary are available at <a href="http://www.whisperedmedia.org/">www.whisperedmedia.org</a>.<br />
7 Visit <a href="http://www.infoshop.org/myep/love_index.html">here</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> for further information about Mr. Keating and the MYEP.<br />
</a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">8 From, Prince, "Musicology," 2004. Quoted lyrics are in “Dear Mr. Man”. This is probably the most politically charged album to be released this year. Prince makes us proud to be Minnesotans.</a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><br />
9 Visit </a><a href="http://www.punkvoter.org/">here</a> for further information.<br />
Contact Information:<br />
Northstar Anarchist Collective<br /><br />
c/o Arise!<br /><br />
2441 Lyndale Ave S.<br /><br />
Minneapolis, MN 55408<br /><br />
Email: <a href="mailto:mnacollective@yahoo.com">mnacollective@yahoo.com</a><br />
Federation of Revolutionary Anarchist Collectives–Great Lakes Region:<br /><br />
<a href="http://www.frac.ws/">www.frac.ws</a><br /><br />
P.O. Box 4502 East Lansing, MI 48826<br /><br />
Email: <a href="mailto:frac@mutualaid.org">frac@mutualaid.org</a><br />
dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-39688157434955838122015-12-02T13:03:00.000-06:002015-12-02T13:04:20.009-06:00Double hockey sticks<div>
I took a hockey survey. I like this result a lot, they are basically perfect, except that although properly tied for last the Dallas Stars should still be listed dead last because they suuuuuccccckkkkkkkkkkkkk.</div>
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Also, please note, outside of the Top 2 (and, of course, the sucky Stars) this is mostly based on jerseys/logos/mascots. As it should be.</div>
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Last note: Blackhawks outside the Top 10 is perfectly unplanned.<br />
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Test yours here: <a href="http://jesseepinkman.tumblr.com/nhlsorter">http://jesseepinkman.tumblr.com/nhlsorter</a></div>
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<br /><table align="center" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: 'Josefin Slab', erif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.6px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; width: 200px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="background-color: black; color: white;">Rank</td><td style="background-color: black; color: white;">Team</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">1</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Minnesota Wild</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">2</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Boston Bruins</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">3</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Detroit Red Wings</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">4</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">New Jersey Devils</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">5</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Washington Capitals</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">6</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Nashville Predators</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">7</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">St. Louis Blues</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">8</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">LA Kings</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">9</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Montreal Canadiens</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">10</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Toronto Maple Leafs</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">11</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Chicago Blackhawks</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">12</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Pittsburgh Penguins</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">13</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Philadelphia Flyers</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">13</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Calgary Flames</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">15</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Anaheim Ducks</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">16</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Vancouver Canucks</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">16</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">New York Rangers</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">16</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">San Jose Sharks</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">16</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Buffalo Sabres</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">16</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Winnipeg Jets</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">16</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">New York Islanders</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">16</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Colorado Avalanche</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">16</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Tampa Bay Lightning</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">16</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Arizona Coyotes</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">16</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Carolina Hurricanes</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">16</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Columbus Blue Jackets</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">16</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Florida Panthers</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">28</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Dallas Stars</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">28</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Edmonton Oilers</td></tr>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 5px;">28</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-left: 5px;">Ottawa Senators</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!--3--><!--3--></div>
dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-14229601712911375172014-01-08T14:21:00.004-06:002014-01-08T18:43:21.883-06:002014 Kit Reviews! OMG!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hola amigos, been awhile since I rapped at ya.</div>
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Today though, I want to talk about kits! It is that time of year, and it just feels right.</div>
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Cycling kits are difficult beasts. With the historical factors, the current design sense, the look on the bike v. off the bike, the matchy-matchyness with the bike and other peripherals. It's a lot to cover, and some teams do well with it while others do not. </div>
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I haven't covered this topic in full since 2011, but if you want to reminisce (ie see if my predictions then turned out to be true), you can do so <a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2011/01/two-thousand-eleven-kit-review.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div>
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Let's explore, shall we?</div>
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<b>Ag2r</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJevJg6OIGbU3gcZYKeVoeO1eGPj9lwLH07Co6mw1D5fC5wnk0nwBLVpL-8ZGjuLclChQLFYqgNiKhPgkdmoO9gQh40GaAOIXSm9wrmYXCSADVQas8-letyOIlMm8nm6T6XAH-/s1600/images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJevJg6OIGbU3gcZYKeVoeO1eGPj9lwLH07Co6mw1D5fC5wnk0nwBLVpL-8ZGjuLclChQLFYqgNiKhPgkdmoO9gQh40GaAOIXSm9wrmYXCSADVQas8-letyOIlMm8nm6T6XAH-/s1600/images-1.jpg" /></a>I have <a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2011/01/two-thousand-eleven-kit-review.html" target="_blank">hated on this kit in the past</a> mainly because the brown shorts were terrible. Not that brown is so terrible in-and-of-itself, but that it just didn't transition well. Just made the kit look choppy and lopsided.</div>
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For 2014 the team has added more brown, specifically in the shoulders. This does a great job of tying the kit together, while keeping the look they've been working to build. And you know how I really love longevity and owning a look. Albeit weird geometric shapes as a look, but a look none-the-less.<br />
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I'm giving Ag2r the biggest jump of the year, and a good final grade in 2014.<br />
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7 of possible 10.<br />
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<b>Astana</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_AUYekqreWhFQpnV-fP1gj8HakPDCGL4ODH3Or9ViNWYzYKQG2HOSTTov1zfqy3GVPFQKZOv1cdTu2iPnJ5_XbAJh28OIsGepknZ2pftgazLfqy4sSsfwD_SnNEdm61BKvwBqw/s640/2911_Astana_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_AUYekqreWhFQpnV-fP1gj8HakPDCGL4ODH3Or9ViNWYzYKQG2HOSTTov1zfqy3GVPFQKZOv1cdTu2iPnJ5_XbAJh28OIsGepknZ2pftgazLfqy4sSsfwD_SnNEdm61BKvwBqw/s640/2911_Astana_blog.jpg" height="203" width="320" /></a></div>
The most amazing thing about the Astana kit is how bad I thought it was a few years a few years ago, and how that was nowhere near the bottom. Had I known, I would have never made fun of it in the past... out of fear.<br />
I do love the colors, while blue is still over-done in the peloton, Astana has a a unique take on it with the bright teal. But what they do with all the potential is just atrocious. They should just use whatever semi-custom template is available from their clothing provider.<br />
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0 out of a possible 10.<br />
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<b>Belkin</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeh7IOneKeAKpV1FgjEgS-EW9gWgSLh2ldM4D00Jx8hfX2Amh55FGe5I8nstE4K7RKAEO6xxK84vXkQzY2QO7iPGwB6c_vU5E5BiLBIyFngmSQcma2FGzt2GCXWlSQ3fpqIFi/s1600/8_9f020abb85034579_1024box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeh7IOneKeAKpV1FgjEgS-EW9gWgSLh2ldM4D00Jx8hfX2Amh55FGe5I8nstE4K7RKAEO6xxK84vXkQzY2QO7iPGwB6c_vU5E5BiLBIyFngmSQcma2FGzt2GCXWlSQ3fpqIFi/s1600/8_9f020abb85034579_1024box.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
Color blocking is so hot right now. Retro steez is so hot right now. Belkin is capitalizing on both of these trends.<br />
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It is ironic that the teams that are struggling to find enough sponsors to keep the team alive, are the ones with the real estate on the jerseys to make them look fantastic.<br />
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Classy take on a classic style. They nailed it last year, and did not deviate for 2014. Well done.<br />
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(I would give them a 9, but the team bike is a mess).<br />
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8 of a possible 10.<br />
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<b>BMC</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8lWkCDk8aSMTh8fvZzIeET7fUNSNN1c0Ot7RFR9rXUEfOP__umSzP52pyD5kE-gR_DBHOG7xWNT8xvTkS_5FGxwTl1YIHZSuI2iOOrm75MJNGAkBsY8Tni5QJ06o7ZRhdvau/s1600/20131121-163349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8lWkCDk8aSMTh8fvZzIeET7fUNSNN1c0Ot7RFR9rXUEfOP__umSzP52pyD5kE-gR_DBHOG7xWNT8xvTkS_5FGxwTl1YIHZSuI2iOOrm75MJNGAkBsY8Tni5QJ06o7ZRhdvau/s1600/20131121-163349.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
BMC came out with this basic idea kit in 2011 and I liked it then. It was so, different.<br />
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Now it seems very, been there/done that. Which isn't to say I don't like it, it's just not fresh anymore. Who could've predicted that urban camo would go out of style?<br />
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But, while not-so-fresh, it is consistant and still goes well with the bikes, and you guys know that the total package is important to me too.<br />
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Really, it's not a good thing when the National Champion kits in your line up are the best kits on the team.<br />
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6 of a possible 10.<br />
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<b>FdJ</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtl2vYXuUfOwLPscbPY4PGp6BJt5LBKz7UwCxrewXHkKOk3r3Ej_UDPO69bVpzc-O72036qNsTWMmNML8Cbg-ngKUetrFfiHM99F4UB3jFfy9jHx5sQIZF2-UH5Ii2hoFnApu/s1600/imgres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtl2vYXuUfOwLPscbPY4PGp6BJt5LBKz7UwCxrewXHkKOk3r3Ej_UDPO69bVpzc-O72036qNsTWMmNML8Cbg-ngKUetrFfiHM99F4UB3jFfy9jHx5sQIZF2-UH5Ii2hoFnApu/s1600/imgres.jpg" height="320" width="292" /></a></div>
There is nothing I like better than a cleanly designed white cycling kit. They always look good. Always. They are not however, practical. In any sense of the word.<br />
FdJ has alway done a great job with the kit, definite changes each year, but a very consistent theme over the years. It helps, of course, that they have had a long term sponsor that does not seem interested in sharing jersey space with any co-sponsors.<br />
The switch from what was essentially an "away kit" in 2013, to the blue being the main kit for 2014 is bold. The peloton has been awash in a majority blue for years, and that has only just recently made a change to everyone wanting black kits. (Thanks, Cervelo Test Team).<br />
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Still steezy. Still clean. Not white.<br />
8 of a possible 10.<br />
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<b>Garmin </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMH12q9O4byU_bWMO2nx68-VhJbDJc6rIUevQyWcfUbrcHR8PfL9omz3VByG78M0BzjT9ePydHod0VepD9hQR5XLGCmJYWSmfG2f8uQbNAr088QVnTQKWLrHKyfiXNGODPcl_/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMH12q9O4byU_bWMO2nx68-VhJbDJc6rIUevQyWcfUbrcHR8PfL9omz3VByG78M0BzjT9ePydHod0VepD9hQR5XLGCmJYWSmfG2f8uQbNAr088QVnTQKWLrHKyfiXNGODPcl_/s1600/images.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
Hrrrrrrm.<br />
I am so conflicted on this kit. I like the front. A lot. I like the right side/white side on the back.<br />
I think I would love this kit if the entire back was white with the one red stripe, and the front remained the same.<br />
As a whole there are essentially 3 kits happening in this one kit, which makes for kind of a mess.<br />
Sadly for Garmin, the sum of it's 3 good parts does not equal a whole good kit. :(<br />
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5 of a possible 10.<br />
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<b>Lampre</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7q_n9OEhnoisU1dhyAPuQ0o-zgRRzUGFnY9-l6G7G-F4YTCPZYdVqr-Sbz8SuVDE2WnbtgIjnYShoet_ojncTycHl4V5vFGc3b0vjvDGDZbRpSijnLqB8oz9nWvKkvN7HEqB/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-08+at+2.06.02+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7q_n9OEhnoisU1dhyAPuQ0o-zgRRzUGFnY9-l6G7G-F4YTCPZYdVqr-Sbz8SuVDE2WnbtgIjnYShoet_ojncTycHl4V5vFGc3b0vjvDGDZbRpSijnLqB8oz9nWvKkvN7HEqB/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-08+at+2.06.02+PM.png" height="400" width="310" /></a></div>
Lampre has always had a very special place in my heart. I hate the clashing pink/blue combo with all of my being, but you can absolutely not mistake this kit for anything but what it is. You can pick it out from the helicopter shots on a foggy day.<br />
And at the end of the day that is the point for the sponsors.<br />
I also value the ownership Lampre have taken of the pink. No one can really step to it. They are the team with Flou Pink. Period.<br />
The darker blue this season looks better, and hopefully won't dim the boldness of this kit much, and I'm not sure what to do with the green cuffs yet. I look forward to actually seeing how this one looks in the pack.<br />
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9 of a possible 10.<br />
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<b>Lotto</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fXdn-0bqaocfdbKWJ1AyDMPCKVphNg2VOqgC0exZsXRF1SJmGNHKERNP7IIS_cdcUZ9f8titbx2QEngTPct_GL9_kMSxq2qk9aHqkz07eS0YRNP3p8x17b4mJ-MnCy-m98ab1Q/s640/lotto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fXdn-0bqaocfdbKWJ1AyDMPCKVphNg2VOqgC0exZsXRF1SJmGNHKERNP7IIS_cdcUZ9f8titbx2QEngTPct_GL9_kMSxq2qk9aHqkz07eS0YRNP3p8x17b4mJ-MnCy-m98ab1Q/s640/lotto.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
Stealing this photo from the SpeedMetal Cycling folks to illustrate the striking change from 2013 to 2014 from Lotto-Belisol.<br />
There was a lot to like about the 2013 Lotto kit. The shorts were great, the one red panel stood out while on the bike. And although it seems awkward, the yellow shoulder was maybe the number one best feature of any kit in 2013. Lotto is known for it's crushing leadout train for the Gorilla, and when the team was lined up and piling the hurt on the rest of the peloton, the yellow on the shoulder was dramatic. Google some footage. I'll wait.<br />
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Other than the weirdness on the 2013 belly area, it is a A+ kit. That didn't deter them though from the biggest kit change in the pack for 2014.<br />
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In what is clearly a "throw back" style kit, harkening back to the days of wool jerseys and black shorts. Lotto is going out on a limb in 2014.<br />
I think the jersey works, it looks solid and clean. I like that they took the retro look as far as not even using the sponsors typeface(s). It's a bold statement.<br />
I do miss the yellow shoulder. And I am not confident that the "black shorts" are actually black, and not dark blue which would ruin it. But red shorts would've been worse.<br />
I want to see these in action, but for now:<br />
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6 of a possible 10<br />
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<b>Movistar</b><br />
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<a href="http://tourdejose.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/20140101-010242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://tourdejose.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/20140101-010242.jpg" height="363" width="400" /></a></div>
Movistar had the best kit, by far, in the professional peloton in 2013, and they haven't messed with a winning formula.<br />
The only change is some green highlight to the collar and sleeves. These kits look fantastic on the bike, and Movistar take the total package branding seriously. (See custom colored shoes! omg.)<br />
The bikes match, the arm and knee warmers always flow. This kit is a home run.<br />
As and added perk, they do National Champions kits correctly.<br />
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10 of a possible 10.<br />
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<b>Omega-Pharma</b><br />
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<a href="http://tourdejose.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/20140101-082847.jpg?w=595" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://tourdejose.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/20140101-082847.jpg?w=595" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
Omega has improved their kit about 1000 steez points over last years train wreck. That old one still gives me nightmares.<br />
Although the move to black is an uninspired trend in the pro ranks at the moment, it is still a good move for them. Last year was that bad.<br />
The kit itself is well put together, and consistant, and while it is a big change, still manages to remain recognizable as the same team from last year. (Something that will give Lotto fans a tough time!)<br />
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The inclusion of the riders twitter handle on the kit is becoming almost mandatory these days, but still not everyone is doing it, and it's still nerdy-cool.<br />
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6 of a possible 10.<br />
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<b>Orica-Greenedge </b><br />
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<a href="http://www.greenedgecycling.com/cms_images/15108_06-01-2014_2670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.greenedgecycling.com/cms_images/15108_06-01-2014_2670.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
This kit has always kind of seemed like an afterthought. Like, "Cool, we got a great sponsor, and some cool bikes, and some good riders, and a really tall bus. Ok, that's all we need. OH WAIT SHIT!"<br />
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This years kit is an improvement, but can I just say, if you made that white bit blue as well, it wouldn't it be a shitty version of the Movistar kit?<br />
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You guys have a giant budget, I know you can find a good designer. I know it.<br />
3 of a possible 10.<br />
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<b>Europcar</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSxSJ_Zexm56ItNEZ3FNr7ODif3UZ_LMP7Ri6PXe6yojt7w8wn1rg_cBEXUf4rvLmwuBfJyuhf7mYv8kfM2kOg49CnNF_7qi7tGPGyufRVRihUk1OIu4Kg3peehI5yrE2VHc8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-08+at+3.01.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSxSJ_Zexm56ItNEZ3FNr7ODif3UZ_LMP7Ri6PXe6yojt7w8wn1rg_cBEXUf4rvLmwuBfJyuhf7mYv8kfM2kOg49CnNF_7qi7tGPGyufRVRihUk1OIu4Kg3peehI5yrE2VHc8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-08+at+3.01.27+PM.png" height="400" width="331" /></a></div>
The green is great, nothing else like it in the peloton...... but maybe for a reason?<br />
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It isn't a great look, and it isn't really cutting edge design. But, for what it's worth, we won't see this one zipped up very often anyway.<br />
<br />
2 of a possible 10.<br />
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<b>Katusha</b><br />
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This is awful.<br />
What the hell is that grey shit on the front?<br />
What the hell is that tire track stuff on the back?<br />
This is what happens when your team is owned by ex-KGB mafioso.<br />
<br />
0 of a possible 10.<br />
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<b>Sky</b><br />
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Team Sky may be the Borg, but they give a shit about their presentation and branding. They may be the definition of the compete package. On-the-bike wear, off-the-bike wear, the bikes, everything.<br />
<br />
The 2014 kit gets a little more busy, with the side panels going to a new sponsor and no longer bearing the riders name. (Moved to the sleeve).<br />
I am concerned about the amount of nipple we'll be subjected to during the summer months though...<br />
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This is still a pretty classy kit. As expected.<br />
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9 of a possible 10.<br />
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There you have it.<br />
Cannondale, Saxo, and Argos (giant??), have yet to be released. Sorrrrray.<br />
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<br />dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-81732879917038667002012-10-24T13:29:00.001-05:002012-10-24T13:29:19.414-05:00MNCXhaz you scene <a href="http://mncx.org/">mncx.org</a>? it's cool.dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-85311957460072573182012-09-07T11:48:00.002-05:002012-09-07T11:50:12.781-05:00Top 10 Movies you need to have seen if you think we are friends.<br />
Ever wonder if we were really friends? I'm sure you have.<br />
Now, you can know! Definitively.<br />
<br />
Top 10 Movies you need to have seen if you think we are friends. (or at least to get most of my jokes).<br />
<br />
Simple, yes?<br />
<br />
Ok. In no order:<br />
<br />
1. Clerks<br />
2. The Breakfast Club<br />
3. Friday<br />
4. Pulp Fiction<br />
5. Idiocracy<br />
6. Ghostbusters<br />
7. Pee Wee's Big Adventure<br />
8. RAD<br />
9. The Princess Bride<br />
10. Spaceballs<br />
dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-78400377969583525122012-06-28T12:16:00.002-05:002012-06-28T12:16:49.014-05:00Birthday! Unicorns!It's my birthday! Let's celebrate with Tom Cruise, Feathers, and Cadillac! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs17/f/2007/193/c/6/Planet_Unicorn_wallpaper_by_XLoozuhXLooseeX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs17/f/2007/193/c/6/Planet_Unicorn_wallpaper_by_XLoozuhXLooseeX.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /><p>
Yeah, yeah. It's old and stuff, but since it's my birthday you are going to watch them all again anyway. Yes. You are. Which is YOUR favorite??</p> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/L6UWR0kSFcE" width="420"></iframe><br /><p></p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qdqhGkXgdYc" width="420"></iframe><br /><p></p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WcZAVTc94SE" width="420"></iframe><br /><p></p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iZtDxy1B6Ec" width="420"></iframe><br /><p></p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hiqjqaOxVdk" width="420"></iframe>dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-7637853449419003832012-05-08T17:05:00.000-05:002012-05-08T17:07:50.780-05:00SPRINTING IS BLACK AND WHITE ALWAYS.<br><p>TOTAL LEGIT!<p><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Y-t8lFpLlaA" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br /><p>
TOTAL BS!<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nnGi2KTVFRM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><br>
TOTAL CONTRIDICTIONZ!
FUCK YEAH BIKE RACING IS DANGEROUS!dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-12465433466058796712012-05-03T16:46:00.004-05:002012-05-03T16:50:27.992-05:00Giro Detailia.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2010/5/30/1275237509390/Ivan-Basso-of-Italy-compl-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" mea="true" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2010/5/30/1275237509390/Ivan-Basso-of-Italy-compl-006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This time of year is a magical time in italy, as it is the start of the Giro. <br />
<br />
Personally, I have started many gyros, but no Giro's. So, maybe my opinion is a bunch of crap. Or maybe not. I don't know.<br />
<br />
I do know that I have several opinions, (they are like assholes, everyone has one- and i have at least two!), and I am going to share those opinions with you now.<br />
<br />
Now, first off- I have not looked at the Giro route this year. I know it will most likely take place in Italy, and having never been to Italy before i feel confident in telling you a thing or two about how the race will unfold. I will now predict the top 5, and assess the rest in the world's most beautiful race!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMVwQazOPYqBLUePo86WVNKDpHTF5jjzbi7WV3cU-lJgueV56hYKP4e-JUZ2jpX6Ou4gp-GBXNbRSwnKXe99Op8xqazeVNypHIT2-QlAIkXJF76wz4RFB1DAM_j8aZ0mS9ULW/s1600/giro+girls+contest.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMVwQazOPYqBLUePo86WVNKDpHTF5jjzbi7WV3cU-lJgueV56hYKP4e-JUZ2jpX6Ou4gp-GBXNbRSwnKXe99Op8xqazeVNypHIT2-QlAIkXJF76wz4RFB1DAM_j8aZ0mS9ULW/s320/giro+girls+contest.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Let's take a look at the contenders and pretenders:<br />
<br />
Scarponi. <br />
This dude got into the pink the easy way. Typical italian, am i right? After Contodor was suspended this winter, that meant Scarponi got to move up into the pink Albertador left behind. But Scarponi is not super stocked on sloppy seconds, and is on the path to win the thing out right this year. I think he has the forza to do it. But it won't be easy. 1st.<br />
<br />
Cunego.<br />
Will be Scarponi's bitch. I expect pretty much nothing from the petite princess.<br />
<br />
Nibali.<br />
He won't be there. But if he was he would win. Which is a damn shame. He deserves it.<br />
<br />
Basso.<br />
The big name cycling sites keep calling Basso a contender, so i will include him here even though he will finish about 10 minutes behind the winner after cracking like humpty dumpty after a great fall.<br />
<br />
Kruizgner.<br />
The astana rider. However you spell his name. he will probably step onto the podium, might win a stage, but the fact that he is russian means that he is genetically unable to win a grand tour. too badz. :(<br />
<br />
Gadret.<br />
THE NEW FROG HOPE. I think he is definitely good for second, and quite possibly the win, if Scarponi spends too much time worrying about how the wind is no long blowing thru his freshly shaven locks. he is the man to watch. will win a stage. 2nd*<br />
<br />
Heysadahl.<br />
Ryder is a rider. i think he will do pretty well despite sucking like a turbo charged hoover so far this season. i can't blame him tho, the whole garmin squad is right there with him. i expect they will get their shit together at some point and start destroying things again. maybe this is that time. 4th.<br />
<br />
Rujano.<br />
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!<br />
<br />
FSchleck.<br />
Same review as Nibali. Except he will be there physically. Mentally he will be in france tho. 5th at best.<br />
<br />
Rodriguez<br />
He is the other half of the show staring Scarponi/Rodriguez. The only two who matter. I don't think he has the team to pull it off. sad face. 3rd for him.<br />
<br />
There you have the rock solid guaranteed for sure top 5 in the Giro2012.<br />
BAM.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
*while physically capable, and strong on paper this is highly unlikely due to his frenchness.<br />
<br />
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<br />
LOL, good timez.<br />
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<br />
<br />dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-47104352346181667902012-02-20T22:59:00.003-06:002012-05-04T11:35:04.299-05:00INTERVIEW! I met the mysterious LittleGuy!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqCdRSQpd1OTml3BLsTtCagSiAdNKwsEniIiyowOSPw7WFSusbHRifzZSpiyaugS9Xl7zjPgoxmW24BP314QLYDNUkcjMrSxcTVNMmE8EKELLot2BgLS4Ma0al9cQLkDAsN7H/s1600/p_00404.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711455428684940418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqCdRSQpd1OTml3BLsTtCagSiAdNKwsEniIiyowOSPw7WFSusbHRifzZSpiyaugS9Xl7zjPgoxmW24BP314QLYDNUkcjMrSxcTVNMmE8EKELLot2BgLS4Ma0al9cQLkDAsN7H/s320/p_00404.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
Dis: Hey bro, you look like this guy i heard about. Is it you?<br />
LG: i have no idea what you are talking about<br />
Dis: Don't you race bicycles as the mascot for a popular local cycling team?<br />
LG: i guess i do sure<br />
Dis: sweet. i just wanted to interview you about life and happiness and why peeps call you littleguy. you're not really that little.<br />
LG: who calls me that?<br />
Dis: dude<br />
LG what?<br />
Dis: you can't be serious<br />
LG: what?<br />
Dis: What are you doing right now?<br />
LG: working on this painting of these cats<br />
Dis: Kewl<br />
LG: its a zen thing<br />
Dis: So kewl<br />
LG: so what do want to ask me spencer? we are friends here<br />
Dis: oh, yeah. I was just thinking about you and these cats and cyclocross<br />
LG: the cats are an inspiration. i do it for them<br />
Dis: That's sweet<br />
LG: do you want a vegan biscuit? its rosemary olive ginger<br />
Dis: oh no, thanks<br />
LG: it's vegan<br />
Dis: sure ok<br />
LG: i baked them this morning<br />
Dis: Holy Eff littleguy this is effing bursting with flavors<br />
LG: don't call me littleguy<br />
Dis: This is so effing good can i have another one?<br />
LG: sure. i like your style<br />
Dis: thanks little bro. means a lot coming from you<br />
LG you mean a lot to me<br />
Dis: thanks man. you gonna finish that Yoohoo?<br />
LG: you bet your ass i am<br />
Dis: so, how are you for reals?<br />
LG: not good. i have some sunburn. and the cats hate me<br />
Dis: thats not true, bb. you have so much to live for<br />
LG: really?<br />
Dis: really. i believe.<br />
LG: i don't use the internet a lot i heard people are just mad there alot<br />
Dis: thats true. lots of crazies. scary stuff sometimes<br />
LG: doesn't super rookie have a blog?<br />
Dis: no<br />
LG: are you recording this?<br />
Dis: no, never<br />
LG: ok. i hate the internet better to stay away.<br />
Dis: Hows winter training?<br />
LG: it is kewl. was training in AZ. saw some pros. rode mtn lemon<br />
Dis: haha when life gives you lemons<br />
LG: haha you know it<br />
Dis: so true<br />
LG: hey thanks for hanging out. its good to see you<br />
Dis: you too. love the painting btw<br />
LG: kewl. ttyl<br />
Dis: xoxodishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-86507134336970319052011-06-16T09:27:00.003-05:002011-06-16T09:32:24.833-05:00Contrast.<a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/road/2011-nature-valley-grand-prix-stage-2-photos-by-casey-b-gibson_178709/attachment/nature-valley-grand-prix-2011-11"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618824271663347618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGi3NjsyGJG_kx8rRGxKa015c8ARVy6TKDc46Nmk-UbA5dh8xVkcQewCotQVXS76ONHJBz1sRBxymovdE5cPhdSRUoi1AabpU9bm7ayZtVwKicXZEYEn1dgnZWrwM9_7thDLqE/s400/mickeys.jpg" />now</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hhoLLjaNae9Z70QY_yCwiD1xjVH5kFUcDvUrKBgbJyb1hxvih8sCJ9R8MhT9s-py3HCrhz1buhyBL4srJQc7s9xwYyjNt-FcK1xTXYvV_ntQm_Vz8OKNVSJMhrePKYjG5TL8/s400/mickys1.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hhoLLjaNae9Z70QY_yCwiD1xjVH5kFUcDvUrKBgbJyb1hxvih8sCJ9R8MhT9s-py3HCrhz1buhyBL4srJQc7s9xwYyjNt-FcK1xTXYvV_ntQm_Vz8OKNVSJMhrePKYjG5TL8/s400/mickys1.bmp" /></a> <a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2008/09/mayor-colman-commended-cops-for-showing.html">then</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-30948908760661833712011-06-13T21:28:00.014-05:002011-06-15T15:02:28.785-05:00Rivals.Sports rivalries are things of legend. They help teams build morale and camaraderie. They have defined cities. Boston and New Yorkers know what I'm talking about.<br /><br />Well, Minnesota is no stranger to them, (the evil Packers anyone?), but it is time I shed some light on a long-standing rivalry you may not be aware of, even though it's been right under your nose the whole time.<br /><br />Yes, in the MN Cycling scene. Sort of.<br /><br />You may be shocked to learn that my team, <a href="http://www.littleguyracing.com/">LittleGuyRacing</a>, has had a rival in the cycling world for a few years now. I know, crazy!<br />The tension is always high, as we only meet on the battlefield, er- bike race, a scant few times each year.<br />It's your classic David and Goliath story. Your typical Cutters v. Rich Kids. Outsiders v. Soc's.<br />Your basic "we're the awesome underdog" and you are the "totally lame big budget lame-o spanks".<br /><br />Yep. That.<br /><br />It all started with our little teams humble beginnings, we created a small, tightknit group of awesome people and made super kick ass kits. It was a totally new and revolutionary idea.<br /><br />THEN- <a href="http://www.teampegasuscycling.com/">Team Pegasus</a> in Milwaukee TOTALLY DID THE SAME THING.<br /><br />Only lamer.<br /><br />So, we brought our A-Game and threw the area's most awesome race, made a bitchin' flyer, and pushed the self-promo hard as Minnesota's Only Professional-Looking Cycling Team.<br /><br />THEN- Team Pegasus hosted an awesome race, made bitchin' flyers, and self-promo'd the shit out of themselves.<br /><br /><em>THE GAUL!</em><br /><br />Our kits were an awesome grey/red, so we changed it up to black.<br />Their kits were weaksauce grey/pink and they changed them up to black too!<br /><br />They beat us in races sometimes.<br />We beat them in races sometimes.<br /><br />They made a flag.<br />And the battle really started.<br /><br />But at the 1st ever Jon Page Cup where we first saw the Pega-flag, there were no spectators to see it.<br />Seeing an oppurtunity, we made a flag of our own and we brought it to Jingle Cross a few weeks later.<br />Amazingly, they didn't bring theirs.<br />We were pretty much heroes to the people of Iowa.<br /><br />In your fucking face Pegasus.<br /><br />Next fall at the now USGP in Madison, we brought our flag... but we were on their home turf, and they were clearly embarrassed from Jingle CX.<br />Yes, they had stepped up their game. They had their flag on a 20 foot pole.<br />Totally made our flag look puny and weak on it's 5 foot pole.<br /><br />But we got our flag signed by Erwin Vervecken. So I'm calling it a win.<br /><br />Since then, we made a bad ass podium for our races, and we have A LIGHT UP LGR SIGN for the night laps at the 24 hour races.<br /><br />Srsly.<br />IT. LIGHTS. UP.<br /><br />Intel says they've made hoodies and custom wheel grapics. Meh.<br /><br />We have also made hella babies in the last year. Don't see Pegasus doing that!<br />In your fucking face Team Pegasus. Again.<br /><br />I am redesigning the new LGR kits right now... or, I was before I start writing this. Anyway, they are going to totally rock Team Pegasus' faces off.<br /><br />Yeah, I said it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Evidence/History:</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsN-Fw8XZjVGO04PaejvyjuQncoOxLHepzpPjv6v2UcN7lVZ0lr84XUWYGN641yHFtuDg5b90udVz0vbaIa69XVh1SPM7iGkmCtwIDUL6_J1UrCYJ21_q4Xy-k7M5abgYwD42/s1600/skinsuit2009.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617907977341938418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsN-Fw8XZjVGO04PaejvyjuQncoOxLHepzpPjv6v2UcN7lVZ0lr84XUWYGN641yHFtuDg5b90udVz0vbaIa69XVh1SPM7iGkmCtwIDUL6_J1UrCYJ21_q4Xy-k7M5abgYwD42/s400/skinsuit2009.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Our super cool black kit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4901860582_aa890e0eaf.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 346px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 500px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4901860582_aa890e0eaf.jpg" /></a>Their total rip off kit. Basically just changed the red to pink. Hosers.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://littleguyracing.com/images/party_flyer.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 349px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 457px; CURSOR: pointer" border="0" alt="" src="http://littleguyracing.com/images/party_flyer.jpg" /></a><br />our awesome holiday party flier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/4174954837_1c8f2d30e1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: right; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/4174954837_1c8f2d30e1.jpg" /></a>their totes lame holiday lamefest flier.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5219366938_f66b91615b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5219366938_f66b91615b.jpg" /></a>their flag.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEODD4aadX6qtINq66v29PzlAOiINt8QpnDqeipW7UGDrcE0yRJD3toTKu0eWcusoDQrFBBCAzUSSTFF-lIatBEHpcHHrK1lmiYH73uX1eS4wTqomBjPPHoxyQjtT7IzA0_Fa/s1600/flag.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617905588582700754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEODD4aadX6qtINq66v29PzlAOiINt8QpnDqeipW7UGDrcE0yRJD3toTKu0eWcusoDQrFBBCAzUSSTFF-lIatBEHpcHHrK1lmiYH73uX1eS4wTqomBjPPHoxyQjtT7IzA0_Fa/s400/flag.jpg" /></a>OUR FLAG!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNIR78YTNIbINFCMzM_bEbYGgKoPOKtoAU4I58jYZbEjN0bpUA2-H3uej871RyrD_b939kOoBuWtIaJXj8IatrULAat6VklKu_nJVQxMUrXPQW_-t3-OpgCVh9X75pi6wlzkJWg/s1600/HN+Pegasus+of+course.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 434px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 651px; CURSOR: pointer" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNIR78YTNIbINFCMzM_bEbYGgKoPOKtoAU4I58jYZbEjN0bpUA2-H3uej871RyrD_b939kOoBuWtIaJXj8IatrULAat6VklKu_nJVQxMUrXPQW_-t3-OpgCVh9X75pi6wlzkJWg/s1600/HN+Pegasus+of+course.jpg" /></a> ugh. showoff.<br /></div><br />Did i mention they made a calendar? Yeah, a sexy calendar.<br />Well... we.. uh.<br /><br />We might have bought it.dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-64028905943683421852011-05-17T15:03:00.002-05:002011-05-17T15:22:49.219-05:00Interview! I met SmithersMPLS!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYyanB3J7eEBWWPqlC-YTvFwaT-W4XQEvQwusX_ZVEuIwQL4MmmRcmFA0j-f2ukN7VRj9xgaEfnYLGhCwjj_2aNopXhtpJEwmmHcclJyAmsfrXQjO7ra5mHb9aPs7UTxTqqvk/s1600/smithers.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607782402910395186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYyanB3J7eEBWWPqlC-YTvFwaT-W4XQEvQwusX_ZVEuIwQL4MmmRcmFA0j-f2ukN7VRj9xgaEfnYLGhCwjj_2aNopXhtpJEwmmHcclJyAmsfrXQjO7ra5mHb9aPs7UTxTqqvk/s400/smithers.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">me and smithers enjoy burritos. some other lame bike racers try to get in on the action.</span></div><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Hey Chris. Do u mind taking a picture with me?<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Chris is my father's name. My friends call me Smithers. Call me Smithers.<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Smithers! Smithereeno! U mind taking a picture with me Smithers?<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: No problem. We love our fans. Is that a Canon or a Nikon?<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: It is actually a point and shoot DSLR 40.4 megapixels. It is GREAT for on-the-go picture taking.<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: I love that. I could have really used one when I used 2 be a bike racer.<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Yeah… I was wondering. What ever happened with that?<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: WEll. It was just time 2 call it quits.<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Bummer dude! It’s like breaking up the band.<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Yeah. It hurts to say goodbye. It really does.<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Hey can I get your cell number?<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: what for?<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Well I was thinking I could do a phone interview with you for my new blog site<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Cool what's it called?<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: BikezRAwesomeBlog<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Oh yeah! I love that site. That's YOU?<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Yeah. Just me. Love it. In it for the right reasons. To showcase premium local bike racers who are improving our scene. Our site loves your team, and gave your state cx championship 4.9 out of 5 thumbs up/stars.<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: We really appreciate it. Your site is influencial and we saw a noticable attendance bump when u blggd abt it.<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Yeah!<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Yeah!<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Wanna go grab a bite?<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: U know what? I'm super hungry. But really unfamiliar with the area<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Let's go ahead and hit up this GREAT new burrito place around the corner. U like Mexican?<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Like it? My middle name is basically 'Flauta'!<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Yeah! We'll get some flautas and guac as appetizers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />INSIDE OF LOCAL BURRITO RESTAURANT<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Holy EFF! This is better than Chipotle.<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: I'm not racist, but if ur gonna eat Mexican food, Mexicans better be making it.<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: YEah I feel the same way about fusion food.<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: So how ru for real?<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Kinda sad<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Why bb?<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: I am not sure<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: BB… Ur U. Never be sad. U were put on this earth for a reason… Not every1 can say that.<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: My ex-team hates me.<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Why?<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Because I ended their income streams<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Chris. It's gonna be okay. If they are ur TRUE FRIENDS, they would understand.<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Somebody left flaming poo on my doorstep.<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: U mind passing the peach salsa?<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Holy EFF this is the perfect mix of sweet and spicy, similar to the popular AZN sauce 'sweet and sour' sauce.<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Yeah! I dip eggrolls in that on the reg.<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Hell yeah. Eff spring rolls.<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: LOLCAT<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: So tell me about u…<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: 32/m/mpls ~~single and ready 2 mingle~~~<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Nice<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Kewl<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: U wanna get some sopapillas?<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: The flan is really good<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Tres leches milkshakes? Holy Effing EFF<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Yeah let's get a sampler dessert, which is an appropriate sized portion so we can have all 3.<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: OMG perfect<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: So can I get ur gmail address?<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Why.<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Because Chri---SMITHERS.<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: Cuz why<br /><strong>Dis</strong>: Bc ur my friend<br /><strong>Smithers</strong>: You bet your ass you are.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Please use the comments forum 2 share ur personal stories abt meeting local bike racing celebs.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">all content and ideas 100% blatantly plagerized from hipsterrunoff.com. fuck it, you laughed.</span>dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-40389524726401559292011-01-14T13:32:00.009-06:002011-01-17T18:53:51.257-06:00two thousand eleven kit review!<span style="font-size:85%;">OMFG.<br /><br /><br /><br />Well, the 2011 road season has officially begun, and it's my favorite time of the year!<br /><br />...because all the PRO teams hit the streets in their new gear, and try to out-swag each other.<br />I'm not gonna lie, vaughters didn't call me and I am a little hurt, but I got my revenge in the end as his ass ugly kits came to light a few weeks ago.<br /><br />...not that I hold a grudge.<br /><br />Anyway, enough idle chatter-<br />Let's review! </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(oh, if you can't tell i stole all the pics from cyclingfans.com, so thanks CF!)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_ag2r_la_mondiale_jersey.gif" /><br />Ag2R:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">not major changes from 2010, which is really a shame. Ag2R had a big opportunity here to fix all that was wrong with the brown shorts/white top motif they had going on for 2010. It's a sad look on frat boys everywhere, and a sad look on Ag2R as well. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Only frat boy mandals could make them look less PRO.<br />2 out of a possible 10.<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_bmc_racing_team_jersey.gif" /><br />BMC:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">although i tend not to be a fan of "urban camo", i don't hate this kit. maybe its seeing it alongside all the terrible-ness that is PRO kits this year... maybe it's Ballan's swag that makes up for the whole thing... who knows.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">7 of 10.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_euskaltel-euskadi_jersey.gif" /><br />Euskaltel:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">this kit has never been strong in the swag department, but with the folding of Credit Agricole it is now officially the most retro kit in the PRO peloton. and retro = pimp.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Euskaltel held fast in the fashion faux pas until cool came back around. good on ya.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">8 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_htc-highroad_jersey.gif" /><br />HTC:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">HTC's tuffguy/galdiator/csc steez of 2010 is gone, and it's been replaced with some retro/milram-esque/hippy shit. not impressed. while it's well laid out and stuff, it is nowhere near groundbreaking, and it pretty weak coming from the worlds best/biggest/badassedest team. my only thought is that they must be driven by possible aftermarket Fred-sales.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">weak sauce. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">3 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_katusha_team_jersey.gif" /><br />Katusha:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">this kit sucked hard last year.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">they must have known it, because they are one of the few teams that stuck with the general idea of last seasons digs, but then actually improved it. that said, it's not 100% awesome. but maybe 2012 will knock it out of the park?</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">8 of 10.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_lampre_ISD_jersey.gif" /><br />Lampre:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">i'm really tempted to hate this...</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">but i can't. i just can't. like liquigas, they must have been feeling the pressure to wear some shit that wouldn't sear eyeballs for another season... but unlike liquigas, they didn't bow to the pressure this year. i can't say i approve of pink/blue, but they own that shit. and that's important.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">9 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_liquigas_cannondale_jersey.gif" /><br />Liquigas:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">WTF?</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">first to last homeboy. from first to last.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">even basso can't make this look good.<br />0 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_movistar_team_jersey.gif" /><br />Movistar:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">a lot of folks are trying to hate on this kit, but seriously; Movistar <em>brought</em> it.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">two-tone collar? </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">non-symmetrical weird white graphics?</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">comicbooklook?</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">check. check. and mate.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">imagine this with the longsleeve kit, knee warmers, and a bike painted to match... pure sex.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">10 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_omega_pharma_lotto_jersey.gif" /><br />Lotto:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">i don't know what is going on with lotto. for real.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">i see what they are trying to do, but they failed. and even if they could do it right, i am not sure why they'd want to do that anyway.<br />2 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_pro_team_astana_jersey.gif" /><br />Astana:<br />whoop-dee-fucking-doo. 4 years later and still using the semi-custom template.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">i wish they would all wear the Vino-face jerseys...<br />2 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_quickstep_cycling_team_jersey.gif" /><br />Quick-Step:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This is a continuation of the departure from the old and impeccable quick-step kit. But is it a step down the ladder? my initial reaction was to try to hold in the vomit, but after seeing this kit in full (arm warmers, leg warmers, etc), WITH the uber-pimp painted-to-match Merckx bikes... I am sold. It's not a step up or down the ladder, it's a whole new ladder.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">...(although it may be a ladder that Skil-Shimano has been on for a minute).<br />9 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_rabobank_cycling_team_jersey.gif" /><br />Rabobank:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">sad.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">they <em>OWN</em> these colors. and when you own colors as ugly as these, and you don't just go all out with them... well, you get a giant steez-fail. they needed some Mapei shit, and they created some first-class fred gear.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">4 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_saxo_bank_sungard_jersey.gif" /> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Saxo Bank:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">this is a huge improvment over last year and the amazing fall from couture that was the CSC-to-Saxo transistion... maybe it was the Schlecks? They seem to have taken the bad ideas with them.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">8 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_sky_procycling_jersey.gif" /><br />Sky.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">i love a total package. and sky really has it. kits, bikes, busses, all screaming swag like an upper eastside trustfund chick during fashion week. yep, sky took her home.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">10 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_team_garmin-cervelo_jersey.gif" /><br />Garmin-Cervelo:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">garmin's old kit was questionable, but the argyle worked and they owned it. cervelo test team had steez on lock. swag for days. styles for miles.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">maybe i expected too much.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">maybe sky did it first.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">maybe the pressure was too great.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">i was really looking forward to garmin-cervelo's lookbook with crazy thor looks on smash, and glamor dripping from everthing like steaksauce. A1.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">too damn bad. though we was getting that butter knife. we got that arby's.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">1 of 10.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_team_leopard-trek_jersey.gif" /><br />Team LeOpArD:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">there is nothing to say about the style, because there is none.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">0 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_team_radioshack_jersey.gif" /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">RadioShack:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">honestly, i never realized that i liked radioshack's 2010 kits until i saw this.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">...so i guess it's got that going for it.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">3 of 10.<br /><br /><br /><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cyclingfans.com/2011/teams/proteams/jerseys/2011_vacansoleil_dcm_pro_cycling_team_jersey.gif" /> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Vacansoleil:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">not much in a departure from last season, i do like historical value. and while the colors aren't the best, they aren't bad.<br />i don't know what the dashed cirlce thing is all about, but it intrigues me.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">this would be a background kit normally, but with all the teams moving to white or black, i think the teams that deviate will look good in the peloton.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">8 of 10.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">thanks for reading, bitches.<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span>dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-59245536545198331502010-10-12T20:42:00.005-05:002010-10-12T20:51:35.469-05:00just some iPhone photos.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZCRNd51dK7mTK6fndBy5MA3GZvRPSsHZWLhMQhkLgnzCWD_zzfjsoYQqTUAAS2DI84pIxKNL-2XGkDC1H8GO56qVqwOzfTH8uS-Uj0qfzOVw96C0H9YOieGCNgp-_kVXwgC2/s1600/IMG_0999.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; 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width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSISpYyCklg7U7IHo7jPZg2rFRgXhkbzRceT1ilN3sK1lM9SWfDuBpJR-xgtltIA6UY0H_HrFBK2KXrG09bqYSiRCgTQvHLu7rGmrY1_jEriiBtF-73oDk3ppG7mu0os6b8SG/s400/IMG_1220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527340570908818242" border="0" /></a>dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-25840309267655836222010-09-06T21:16:00.006-05:002010-09-06T21:29:36.456-05:00iPhone photos.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Sw7NAKYgWLH_n3T-Z7jzrUNxEeIY0MLVrINHHpqi2fVfd7cfJenl8v2DoYdB-ZO-ZjgNJzGvQoa1syG68kf5eFlOzJOyLQjM8mk7WRYTmnSWKLBGYdDevnyhGSthWgww92hW/s1600/IMG_0778.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Sw7NAKYgWLH_n3T-Z7jzrUNxEeIY0MLVrINHHpqi2fVfd7cfJenl8v2DoYdB-ZO-ZjgNJzGvQoa1syG68kf5eFlOzJOyLQjM8mk7WRYTmnSWKLBGYdDevnyhGSthWgww92hW/s400/IMG_0778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513991985668492930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQ_zGcpUAyjfZ16pRkcZaSw-25EeT_pcKLWBIkIiNofxKfJ4u3KY_e3tR64-1N0BTNqjLltb4tWMjk8-WT2Z9zwX0ej3_I2Z9-t4zMFBXI7SIJoOLByT3doDnXvWm-B7zhIDz/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; 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width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMTIx9iiKR7E5sTqEZaWal7kneOGG_a7Twfvhp1kzi2ZMbGbPsdTIgEbGS3CT9OAaIxJUqAWYcZnljpsGHWCF_Tc1EqkMbVn4vZgJDIKfYizX2KZ42Wv6u2CaFXkYpiRcWCkT/s400/IMG_0839.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513991970114834338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpK_EbgSQgfuGzytDhK12jL-KK9-g4vXsL0iOca-ThN8DdT_gVYp7-nMfSoP5aNyucvSdLVPUim_ZxwoiGuzxwPGDiGwoi2U29aGdfmbwjUSZtYRnkVZrKOoMhWhQbE7BJbTyZ/s1600/IMG_0910.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpK_EbgSQgfuGzytDhK12jL-KK9-g4vXsL0iOca-ThN8DdT_gVYp7-nMfSoP5aNyucvSdLVPUim_ZxwoiGuzxwPGDiGwoi2U29aGdfmbwjUSZtYRnkVZrKOoMhWhQbE7BJbTyZ/s400/IMG_0910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513991966386491074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSjMpMTTkeEbJEW3jgXyS6bKReMLJQDQVlzPqHV495XYwzM_z66Vx2hs0EbNMILWaUE9lfFCpdlYAwo8e3_kXpOuL9zGuUs63yR_xcIZTvjCkXAXVDObsTLC88N8wjixdIl1r/s1600/IMG_0913.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSjMpMTTkeEbJEW3jgXyS6bKReMLJQDQVlzPqHV495XYwzM_z66Vx2hs0EbNMILWaUE9lfFCpdlYAwo8e3_kXpOuL9zGuUs63yR_xcIZTvjCkXAXVDObsTLC88N8wjixdIl1r/s400/IMG_0913.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513990738529366898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhO-rp8moqeyZnOsN2x75wLZdYJKhz-8pPRuwS-W5XNG5erbMxPkEQ1HCuegqviiaN_0_6VSeshKjxvbhdzUG4l6cSCQ5qFpdfpjvRg3OIOZ38HhdT9CjrupCLxf6WdPrymxt/s1600/IMG_0925.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhO-rp8moqeyZnOsN2x75wLZdYJKhz-8pPRuwS-W5XNG5erbMxPkEQ1HCuegqviiaN_0_6VSeshKjxvbhdzUG4l6cSCQ5qFpdfpjvRg3OIOZ38HhdT9CjrupCLxf6WdPrymxt/s400/IMG_0925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513990722126838562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiS24Eld787k1663OCSmCu3cKFDvGxneYq8UNRDFO1iZ5PwRL3-r0Ob5JapF7x-m3pYJhiq-LKSuPrgqWBlfpm42pra_39oFMVtK9TqH85YHGFB42xng8itgOng_0juiDWNo3/s1600/IMG_0949.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiS24Eld787k1663OCSmCu3cKFDvGxneYq8UNRDFO1iZ5PwRL3-r0Ob5JapF7x-m3pYJhiq-LKSuPrgqWBlfpm42pra_39oFMVtK9TqH85YHGFB42xng8itgOng_0juiDWNo3/s400/IMG_0949.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513990715242012658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVOnHvSAEopn_xCsoeZWUMcXQ7AUtOuDscHMckW1w6U316B4_5sISliBs1_vlAzQsQsIJUvYcSNnJ4icmV8ro-ZHlYdlD8574XVcZ27xrHgAR1LgGr5kBB0Wt-RebV__6Slql/s1600/IMG_0964.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVOnHvSAEopn_xCsoeZWUMcXQ7AUtOuDscHMckW1w6U316B4_5sISliBs1_vlAzQsQsIJUvYcSNnJ4icmV8ro-ZHlYdlD8574XVcZ27xrHgAR1LgGr5kBB0Wt-RebV__6Slql/s400/IMG_0964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513990704604045858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2vUS2vQanJ6kVzD3ZkkE1gTBbLHaVDR5zpCXe3nMHqIVv0coqR6Adh809YMkCPjFj4fmYzlcLdXqf9c5MBnmBREHKD_uIZGM5C5csiTsCq7nyCPWdTtMZ5dw-bWZTCHL0-nq/s1600/IMG_0950.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2vUS2vQanJ6kVzD3ZkkE1gTBbLHaVDR5zpCXe3nMHqIVv0coqR6Adh809YMkCPjFj4fmYzlcLdXqf9c5MBnmBREHKD_uIZGM5C5csiTsCq7nyCPWdTtMZ5dw-bWZTCHL0-nq/s400/IMG_0950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513990709772372034" border="0" /></a>dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-59317469306266937622010-06-09T13:58:00.001-05:002010-06-09T14:00:49.855-05:00It's not all fun and games.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUEMDbzTi18C1PFFHuCcp93HWLNroAI01HsWzWBgsL-L1fp5yoSmL1eGBl9IXdtud4x0rr3gqOhRpCFS2YBMR4fkx356aUVlOumbSBhZ4-Yo5eawTCfXetP4gr81px4653mXz/s1600/dial.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 364px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 460px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480850460515643330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUEMDbzTi18C1PFFHuCcp93HWLNroAI01HsWzWBgsL-L1fp5yoSmL1eGBl9IXdtud4x0rr3gqOhRpCFS2YBMR4fkx356aUVlOumbSBhZ4-Yo5eawTCfXetP4gr81px4653mXz/s400/dial.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Ok, maybe it is.<br /><br />From <a href="http://cyclocosm.com/2010/05/dial-a-denial-the-armstrong-game/">here</a>.dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-28163124610969689382010-04-09T10:40:00.002-05:002010-04-09T10:41:47.492-05:00stupid is as stupid does.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nGswJEZCyq4qX8ados-8Z8DIVR2bbgqi26J8dQKQ354NwtPSbW2XTRG-tS8ILWGmYgzUtaKv1aa02jAPfXoTK1E4NaQsiNhat00wssJsgLzPMco1JMHlRTGGLqTur9JglfKI/s1600/DoubleStrap.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nGswJEZCyq4qX8ados-8Z8DIVR2bbgqi26J8dQKQ354NwtPSbW2XTRG-tS8ILWGmYgzUtaKv1aa02jAPfXoTK1E4NaQsiNhat00wssJsgLzPMco1JMHlRTGGLqTur9JglfKI/s400/DoubleStrap.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458163229576235906" /></a><br /><p><br />someone fwd this to bsnyc.<br />holy crap.dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-24704649457477383132010-04-05T16:21:00.002-05:002010-04-05T16:29:29.645-05:00Ronde in Review.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTd8X5z1Hbo6A7d3EzxeATnSoSJhv2k6tb5sQ1nTX5SqIWjL7vJkBZUQkaRG0WjM8ML926BURe1Xn_4jtWzN2nlI7O666T85My90i3P9L_oFx2DQsOCYiitvqSozAI1Q6FEG3T/s1600/nonfactor.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 265px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456767072007406722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTd8X5z1Hbo6A7d3EzxeATnSoSJhv2k6tb5sQ1nTX5SqIWjL7vJkBZUQkaRG0WjM8ML926BURe1Xn_4jtWzN2nlI7O666T85My90i3P9L_oFx2DQsOCYiitvqSozAI1Q6FEG3T/s400/nonfactor.jpg" /></a> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YdO5PvgL6hFHeBDpBr3G6EkL9F3i0bXpYh0lwa0GdL7QXAt6O9xiIn8qgmi3B0JtpFAV6bCMu0kAXPhQeFPS1kn9sicADvlykhBpL_DCc1pvy01pF9oTT2-xaT5gM89kC__b/s1600/geogre.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 539px; HEIGHT: 335px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456767069027351986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YdO5PvgL6hFHeBDpBr3G6EkL9F3i0bXpYh0lwa0GdL7QXAt6O9xiIn8qgmi3B0JtpFAV6bCMu0kAXPhQeFPS1kn9sicADvlykhBpL_DCc1pvy01pF9oTT2-xaT5gM89kC__b/s400/geogre.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtShxxGsOOPVh74jbz80WNSjpNBYKBWJE5eIT5_BAs5IDhhBSYwE3ihcweqTJmVR9moLFs5ltVZxPJ1zFbg3MPW4lquYaG7MGj4yGWhIVD-x8EuOmIXWPemDJ33N1aujcucKfC/s1600/goodshow.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456767079582390930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtShxxGsOOPVh74jbz80WNSjpNBYKBWJE5eIT5_BAs5IDhhBSYwE3ihcweqTJmVR9moLFs5ltVZxPJ1zFbg3MPW4lquYaG7MGj4yGWhIVD-x8EuOmIXWPemDJ33N1aujcucKfC/s400/goodshow.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div> </div><br /> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnfnia3k7QKG4RK9ARq6pMlsCqZQUe30rC4hpyx8v8fZ75kB4j-mOQSAu9VoHXC84Aqtdcq7wRmzF_A0pJJgiV4TwhUODwapAwG985pdxL-EgroTZavgodJFN_z_RHw-9BARN/s1600/blewit.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 440px; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456767059438617714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnfnia3k7QKG4RK9ARq6pMlsCqZQUe30rC4hpyx8v8fZ75kB4j-mOQSAu9VoHXC84Aqtdcq7wRmzF_A0pJJgiV4TwhUODwapAwG985pdxL-EgroTZavgodJFN_z_RHw-9BARN/s400/blewit.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCLJhZlw6RaCgbtRa5uYwpcmmDcWQVNxY6V5TTHfmtL8yiENF6z1hj2z-E6-AgLwB99th64nsq66sq1uQXPx3t20q3dYzAwEQUYEwit3AlEUVrz_ozqXaZWKvxRd_Gd5ZGRVG/s1600/bartape.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 464px; HEIGHT: 317px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456767054994516130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCLJhZlw6RaCgbtRa5uYwpcmmDcWQVNxY6V5TTHfmtL8yiENF6z1hj2z-E6-AgLwB99th64nsq66sq1uQXPx3t20q3dYzAwEQUYEwit3AlEUVrz_ozqXaZWKvxRd_Gd5ZGRVG/s400/bartape.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div></div>dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-51381309840975475332010-04-02T12:33:00.004-05:002010-04-02T16:04:54.414-05:00the most wonderful time of the year.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xdAQwc-Cw5nRRO0RSfHUzX8w2IvPQUvEEie9FtkUetpgulJY0sMC2r8AzM3c2xogbCbUd4PmWM98NgqaM0W3Wa3UtjbyVRJhAoSBT0b9_lUdYSJR8h9Tm6WlkEcyTH9fS-Cc/s1600/2008_tour_of_flanders_stijn_devolder_wins.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 435px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455595001153973474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xdAQwc-Cw5nRRO0RSfHUzX8w2IvPQUvEEie9FtkUetpgulJY0sMC2r8AzM3c2xogbCbUd4PmWM98NgqaM0W3Wa3UtjbyVRJhAoSBT0b9_lUdYSJR8h9Tm6WlkEcyTH9fS-Cc/s320/2008_tour_of_flanders_stijn_devolder_wins.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Ah, finally... Classics season is here.</div><br /><div>The usual suspects are all among the favorites, but who is your favorite/man crush?</div><br /><div>Devolder?<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEP2dCjWIvIgv42fqETf0V7RoeAv1rRCUqnWXvUVhIxsuYCC8Cyhg_x4ALvasOFYDUsibqUgllVmF6xQaRjsoADHFiaNMH0NsaBoNpBEQTXSMZtfje-d6mQafbvM8AWXbTeTu/s1600/flanders.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455594980038537698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEP2dCjWIvIgv42fqETf0V7RoeAv1rRCUqnWXvUVhIxsuYCC8Cyhg_x4ALvasOFYDUsibqUgllVmF6xQaRjsoADHFiaNMH0NsaBoNpBEQTXSMZtfje-d6mQafbvM8AWXbTeTu/s320/flanders.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Boonen? Thor?</div><br /><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hyphenhyphenUwl0rQvsV1sh4jAu8IGCvZ1WQa8Ol8MWsGuCLTKMxhA-4F9nHS727z6JsJfsiqR1efZa4c0jwpyyUqrJLCvPc-7a7vD4uanJFF82WhlsQoGg6DUT6hfbYNbs_H8Ih22N0p/s1600/s-koppenberg_6297_1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455594987710987890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hyphenhyphenUwl0rQvsV1sh4jAu8IGCvZ1WQa8Ol8MWsGuCLTKMxhA-4F9nHS727z6JsJfsiqR1efZa4c0jwpyyUqrJLCvPc-7a7vD4uanJFF82WhlsQoGg6DUT6hfbYNbs_H8Ih22N0p/s320/s-koppenberg_6297_1.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div>or Cancellera? </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFe-rCpaAfbtAHn5An4sQJIsTznOnqtjHDkE1GXer8BDvmDn0KRTD70qhOvpf8kH-Ghj7v47MugRUpoAYbG7ee1VIxygBydGPPGiNmmtihozS2ik02MOuFLYDzKxQ1qTQf3eW/s1600/Fabien%2520CancellaraFlanders.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 235px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455594973355334962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFe-rCpaAfbtAHn5An4sQJIsTznOnqtjHDkE1GXer8BDvmDn0KRTD70qhOvpf8kH-Ghj7v47MugRUpoAYbG7ee1VIxygBydGPPGiNmmtihozS2ik02MOuFLYDzKxQ1qTQf3eW/s320/Fabien%2520CancellaraFlanders.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div>Someone else?</div><br /><div>Me? I like...</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGi9ruQIl5LKAUvMK7Kzj6SB3QIsu1QmpdkAltd6Ofnq3KBG30GOnd30bSC7_lvKN8IaeFdjsuDpDeoECKtSnBgU3LlSKnwhbW2x41IJqU4dKyzUR5QZGIO2ADY-G30lw_P-5L/s1600/2009_paris-nice_sylvain_chavanel_quick_step_wins_stage3.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 375px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455608864661035298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGi9ruQIl5LKAUvMK7Kzj6SB3QIsu1QmpdkAltd6Ofnq3KBG30GOnd30bSC7_lvKN8IaeFdjsuDpDeoECKtSnBgU3LlSKnwhbW2x41IJqU4dKyzUR5QZGIO2ADY-G30lw_P-5L/s320/2009_paris-nice_sylvain_chavanel_quick_step_wins_stage3.jpg" /></a>dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-3361189173950899042010-03-30T16:09:00.001-05:002010-03-30T16:21:42.383-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgid8tUo6bkOtA4lAIjxabFyGDkrqjVVfDI7fccJQVYA83j2vp8aE3Pl7ZwyJaZnPmagoC42nqNkYQYVPaYNmnORlqHYc7mQLxw9Gk-XE3yWcKHeL5I1WX4f8aZrlZo-fec1HbQ/s1600/HN+worlds6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgid8tUo6bkOtA4lAIjxabFyGDkrqjVVfDI7fccJQVYA83j2vp8aE3Pl7ZwyJaZnPmagoC42nqNkYQYVPaYNmnORlqHYc7mQLxw9Gk-XE3yWcKHeL5I1WX4f8aZrlZo-fec1HbQ/s320/HN+worlds6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454539961613460242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />it's here!<br /><br />starting thursday!<br /><br />have fun.<br />let me know how it went.dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-51438675477921140542010-02-09T17:15:00.003-06:002010-02-09T18:00:56.173-06:00stuporbowls.<a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4339422539_6f522a2001.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><img style="WIDTH: 500px; HEIGHT: 335px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4339422539_6f522a2001.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">stuporbowl 13 was last saturday.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">this marks my 9th SB participation. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">i still want to win this thing, but at the same time my attention span for it is waning pretty hard.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">i've been as close as 2nd, back at SB10 when i lost to littleguy.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">it used to be a lot of fun, but these days it seems like a lot of work.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">i don't know.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">there are some alleycats out there that i would much rather win, like the Milwaukee Messenger Invitational for instance. or naccc. or even just riding at worlds again would be fun. (top 100 in 2003, yo!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">anyway, here is SB13 by the numbers:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">20 stops.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">30 miles.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">2 hours.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">13 minutes.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">1 crash.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">2 cramps.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">7th place.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">300+ 'racers'.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">0 big deal.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">since i thought i broke my damn fool knee crashing on the path btw the west bank and dt, going about 25 mph i took it easy after the race, and went home early.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">i am sure eveyone was disappointed.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">i was laid up for the first part of sunday too, but rode the trainer later to loosen up the muscles a bit, since i was sick of limping around everywhere. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">i guess the superbowl was on.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">i had kinda forgot.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">so, i may as well recap the sb44:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">the saints deserved it.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">kia and googles had the best ads.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">all the other ads sucked. bad.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">srsly.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">forgot the who exsisted.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">remembered why i forgot the who existed.</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">so it goes.</span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"></span>dishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12925134703142172464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-89412214302549396142010-02-03T12:23:00.003-06:002010-02-03T12:26:55.130-06:00slick.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPP-vQtLHBEKH4w22YLvoHGAzAw90b8sfnoODcmkDqvm3n8i-ILFhJO4Pl9kXsgY5xeTwxM3VUS1hjqfhREapWCeUpB8QYkR13EIvbtvG9jhkHhvIra10z4CcDmjhGGx6RhVb/s1600-h/highspeedcrash21.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPP-vQtLHBEKH4w22YLvoHGAzAw90b8sfnoODcmkDqvm3n8i-ILFhJO4Pl9kXsgY5xeTwxM3VUS1hjqfhREapWCeUpB8QYkR13EIvbtvG9jhkHhvIra10z4CcDmjhGGx6RhVb/s400/highspeedcrash21.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434084796719457154" /></a><br /><br />but did he land it?(dis)pencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00786639898610559548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-22904628574485542872009-10-13T14:09:00.003-05:002009-10-13T14:30:42.187-05:00it's official.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HILuFv8Llncn9AXECsf6yfoxt_rabb6PjBxKYOgc594sCP4IYLwtGtvmZn0XmQVhqIHcJ1IAw_8zfKSAFIIklzVzkvwNrNa6iadVtfAIU6SN0IlsS60VkwXnX9CPFJSZ6f1_/s1600-h/IMG_2934.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HILuFv8Llncn9AXECsf6yfoxt_rabb6PjBxKYOgc594sCP4IYLwtGtvmZn0XmQVhqIHcJ1IAw_8zfKSAFIIklzVzkvwNrNa6iadVtfAIU6SN0IlsS60VkwXnX9CPFJSZ6f1_/s400/IMG_2934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392163943301422226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">skinnyski.com strikes again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">so, sunday at theo wirth i got the 'pleasure' of playing the role of USAC official.<br />i had heard the rumors/grumblings/legends of what a pain in the ass it is to be an official, and about how unabashedly stupid some of our bike racing peers can be... but i mostly blew it off.<br /><br />"yeah, yeah. sure standing there with a clipboard is real tough... whatever."<br /><br />"yeah, yeah. thats real tragic. but seriously, you guys must be cross eyed to have mixed up joe schmoe and larry lardass in 47th and 48th places... "<br /><br />i figured i have done approximately One Million bike races since my 'career' began, and i don't have my head up my ass; officiating should be a piece of cake.<br /><br />uh, wrong.<br /><br />it was quite an eye-opening experience, to say the least.<br /><br />first off, we took all the flack for the 'head-up-ass' promoter who ran the mens4/womens4/all juniors categories at once... 126 people in one field. wtf? some ladies/juniors managed near-front start spots, and some did not.<br />some may say, 'that's the breaks, get a good start spot next time', and they'd be right... but there is also the issue of 'fair'.<br />i bet there was a good 45 second advantage before the whistle even blew... (actually i know there was, i had a stop watch).<br /><br />that shit ain't right. i agree whole-heartedly.<br />but it also ain't my fault, and i definitely don't want to hear about it while i am attempting to correctly score the race... jesus.<br /><br />i won't even start on the crooked/crumpled/upside-down/missing race numbers... but rest assured they were in EVERY field, not just the beginners.<br /><br />oh, and it is rather amazing how simple the instructions can be and still have 40% of the feild fuck it up.<br />amazing.<br /><br />to sum up, i learned a whole lot about another side of the raceday coin, and i am glad that i did.<br />can't wait to relegate someone!<br />will it be you?<br /><br />have you been an official?<br />do you not know the difference btw 'left' and 'right'?<br />what should i DQ super rookie for?<br />is an armani suit too much?</span>(dis)pencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00786639898610559548noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-81921726049727829622009-09-28T14:02:00.001-05:002009-09-28T14:04:14.350-05:00cx season has begun.<span style="font-size:85%;">time to hone your skills.<br /><br />LGR has been.<br /><br /><img alt="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/3960632409_67e174bb00.jpg" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/3960632409_67e174bb00.jpg" /><br />[correct].<br /><br />hope you have been too!<br /><br /><img alt="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3960625325_8193901f48.jpg" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3960625325_8193901f48.jpg" /><br />[incorrect].<br /><br /></span>(dis)pencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00786639898610559548noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35460106.post-4458896413434162332009-09-12T21:09:00.009-05:002009-09-12T21:51:07.184-05:00best of show.<span style="font-size:85%;">i don't want to write about bikes anymore.<br /><br />uninspired.<br /><br />i write this blog mostly for my own enjoyment, but also when i feel like i have something that i want you to know. about me, about the world, whatever.<br />i like when you guys leave me your thoughtful comments. whether we agree or not.<br /><br />even though i am currently not interested in this thing i would like you, my loyal readers, to continue to enjoy this blog.<br />i sometimes contemplate deleting it, but i feel like i've put a bit too much into it to make it just disappear.<br /><br />so i put together a few of my personal favorite posts from the annals for you to relive.<br />...or live for the first time, if you haven't been a longtime fan.<br /><br />maybe this is a heartfelt plea from me to you, for a sign that it's all been worth it- and still is.<br />maybe it's a gimmick to keep your interest.<br />maybe i'm just trying to impress a girl.<br />who knows?<br /><br />srsly, click on these. they are fun.<br />and i spent a lot of time looking them up.<br /><br />---<br /><br />category: about me, bitches. REAL TALK.<br />-<a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2007/10/know-what-i-hate.html">know what i hate?</a><br />-<a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2006/12/5-assholes-walk-into-bar_18.html">5 assholes</a>.<br /><br />category: the most truth i've ever put to (digital) paper. hardest thing i ever had to write.<br />-<a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2008/04/untitled_10.html">untitled</a>.<br /><br />category: best cuts at super rookie.<br />-<a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2007/03/its-funny-because-its-true.html">it's funny cuz it's true</a>.<br />-<a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2006/10/happy-halloween.html">happy halloween</a>.<br /><br />category: trashing the local bike scene.<br />-<a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2008/01/disapproval.html">(dis)approval</a>.<br />-<a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2008/01/blog-post.html">(dis)entertainment weekly</a>.<br />-<a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2008/01/project-runway-2008-kits.html">project runway 2008</a>.<br /><br />category: watching someone die.<br />-<a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2007/01/untitled.html">untitled</a>.<br /><br />category: best race report. ever.<br />-<a href="http://thedispencer.blogspot.com/2006/10/nothing-but-trouble.html">nothing but trouble</a>.<br /><br /><br />whatever.<br /><br /></span>(dis)pencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00786639898610559548noreply@blogger.com4