2. Sudoku - Japanese for "tiny number torture."

3. Macintosh Blue & White G3 350MHz. It's from 1999 and it still runs! I need a new Mac bad, but until I gather up the funds to buy one and take the time to make the transition, I keep this here awesome beast running with duct tape and a prayer. I'm proud to say I recently yanked out the 5x DVD-ROM drive and replaced it with an 8x single-layer DVD-RW drive. I do have an external FireWire CD-RW drive that I've been using for several years, but it's nice to have a faster drive and to be able to archive stuff to DVDs or make DVD movies. It does take forever to render movies with this slow processor, but like an old comfortable chair, this Mac is broken in and I like it!

-adm
Let me know what you think!

Why do people have to buy bracelets or jog a charity race and get a souvenier t-shirt to support a cause? How about cutting out the middlemen and writing a check directly to the foundation, forgoing expensive, elaborate, and undoubtedly wasteful "stuff" in the process?

Even better, write the check, forgo the "stuff", and use the time you were going to spend running/walking/jogging/cycling/(fill in your activity here) volunteering to a non-profit organization.

I suppose it's because only the big donor people are seen writing checks. Those of us with smaller bank accounts give what we can, but those amounts aren't newsworthy. And so we seek recognition by wearing bracelets, t-shirts, and being in the mix at fundraising functions. It's human nature to seek recognition, but we must fight to do what's best, not what comes naturally.

If wearing "stuff" and doing "stuff" is the only way to get you involved, well then, I guess it must continue. But I challenge you with this: if you really care, stop the "stuff" and seek to make the biggest impact.

-adm
Let me know what you think!

• Kings start the season 3-1, last night beating the formerly unbeaten Edmonton Oilers. Excellent!
• Angels go on a frequent flyer miles frenzy, closing out the Yank's in the ALDS and then taking game 1 of the ALCS against the White Sox. Then they get beaten in game 2 by the umps. Some would say they shouldn't have given up the hit after the blow bad terrible stupid horrible bad sad ugly call. I say phooey. They'll still take this series in 6 games.
• Top Ramen - Meal or snack?
• M&Ms - Delicious mini candies or my means to hundreds of empty calories?
• $5 backpack from Rite-Aid breaks after two uses. I got what I paid for.
• Dropped on the club ride up Colima. Early training slump or sad sign of misery to come?

-adm
Let me know what you think!

Last week Wednesday, on just four hours sleep, I jumped in the car and drove to Las Vegas for the Interbike expo. It's North America's biggest bicycle trade event and I've been going regularly for the past ten years or so. It was much easier when I started 'cause the show was at the Anaheim Convention Center. But having it in Vegas gives me just one more reason to make a trek to Sin City.

What is there to do at the show? Well, I go as a writer and photographer. True story! I snap photos and write about the interesting stuff I see. You can pick up my report at VeloAllegro.org whenever I get to finishing it. Aside from the legit side, I also go to get schwag (water bottles, snacks, stickers), and to see all the cycling celeb's. I added a few celebrity shots to my Yahoo! Photo album.

I made the early morning drive instead of heading out the night before to save a few bucks by not getting a hotel room. I rolled into the Venetian (attached to the Sands Convention Center) just before 9 AM, when the show started. I went, I saw, I drove back home Thursday night. What else? Remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. :)

After three full weeks away, I saddled up on the Trek and headed out for a ride on Saturday. It was nothing special but I certainly can tell I've lost a lot of fitness in the last two months. This was more evident on Sunday, when I rolled out planning on an 80 mile day, but after getting 25 miles out, decided the best thing for me to do would be go right back home. My legs nearly fell off in the last three miles. I am not discouraged but I am aware and fearful of the effort it will take to get back to and exceed any prior form.

Back on the ice was the NHL today. Yessssss! 30 teams, 15 games, one big night for the NHL to come back after the lockout/strike/screw-up. We had the big screen split-screen working hard as we flipped between the Kings v. Stars game, the Ducks v. Blackhawks game, and the pre-game for the Angels v. Yankees.

Sadly, bad habits are hard to break. The Kings, after going up 4-0 after one period, found a way to give up 5 unanswered goals in the next two periods, mostly due to being shorthanded after taking penalties. This is eerily familiar if you've watched them play the last few years. On the other side of the TV, the Ducks faired better, winning their game 5-3.

It was uplifting to see the Angels come from behind and even up the series tonight. I don't think I could have stomached another loss to the Yank's.

Last Thoughts: 1) "Kung Fu Hustle" was an awesome flick. 2) Why can't I stop thinking the phrase, "Durka, Durka, Mohammed Jihad"?

-adm
Let me know what you think!

If you enjoyed any of the stuff I've written or shared, feel free to make a donation.