Of course I also need to extend a thanks to Cake Wrecks for the use of some of their finery.

Who knew three years ago that I'd still be suckered into into doing this?

Well, like those drug addled hippies once said 'what a long, strange trip it's been', but would you believe that during the whole course of doing this blog, I haven't gotten laid one single time because of it?
I swore I read in GQ that being a part time, quasi-professional blogger was like, totally the fast track to the ladies hearts.

Lies.

But lets talk about lies, and lady hearts for a second. It's been brought to my attention that there is a power out there in the universe far stronger than any half rate blogger position in terms of attracting women's affections, and for the small price of fifteen dollars (for the adult large size, anyway) this power could be yours, and based on the item's reviews, I'd say that no single individual is strong enough to shoulder this particular gift.

But be forewarned- with great power comes great responsibility.

With that being said, it's only appropriate that I should segue into the recent, and considerably well presented piece by Joe "I hate orange jumpsuits" Lindsey on the ever developing Lance Armstrong media boycott/empire over on Bicycling(dot)com.

You know, I don't have much of an opinion on this matter, as I care very little about much more beyond being able to pay my rent, and not spraining my wrists while preforming keg stands, but I will say that I find this saga particularly interesting given Armstrong's whole 'transparency' platform from earlier this Spring, and also that I still think the critics are correct when concluding that Twitter is the first nail in the coffin for the English language, and that we as human beings don't need yet another short cut for our already sorely lacking attention spans.

But you know, that's just me.

In other news, how about an email from Loudass which will only serve to inflate his ego to beyond his belt size;

"To follow up with our discussion of Steve Larsen’s tragic and untimely death, here’s a picture of me riding virtually the same spot at the UCI World Cup in Napa two years earlier in 1997.

Unlike Steve, however, I am not smiling, but scowling because it was hotter than Africa and there was no beer/chips/pornography feed. That race was my “career best”, with a third place podium finish. [Out of three singlespeeders who finished, ha!] As I recall, Ferrentino and the Amigos assured me that they would “represent” that year, since it was first time that the UCI had a singlespeed class… but no one showed up except me, Mo and some dude from Willits. I also recall that some Italian pros were mean to me like in Breaking Away. That part made me very sad."

Back then, Loudass was just as loud, there was simply less of him than there is now.

In other news, Newt sent me a link to I Hate Your Fashion, which is a delightful romp through photographic proof that the deluded are increasing in numbers, but of all the gems hidden therein, this one made me laugh the hardest.

Of course anything with Arnold makes me laugh.

Except that movie where he played a young prodigy genius who was an outcast at college cause he was only ten.
That one touched a nerve.

Now for a couple from the mail bag and y'all can get back to whatever you were doing before I got in the way.

Work.
Getting dressed.
Feeding the baby.
Making a baby...

Russell wrote in to let me know that he and I were pretty much on the same page this past weekend, with the exception of the fact that it would appear as though a couple of his riding partners are far easier on the eyes than mine were;

"Stevil,

Russell
Norman, Ok."

Norman, Oklahoma huh? Let's see what we can find out about this so called Norman Oklahoma.

Well, upon a quick web search I've found that among other things, Norman is home of the Weitzenhoffer Collection, which for you lay people is one of the most important collections of impressionist art ever given to an American university.

It also was listed in Money Magazine as the sixth best place to live in the United States, falling just below Gum Ball Island Hawaii, and Free Cocaine Delaware, among others.

Also, it was more or less founded by Abner Norman, who initially preferred the name 'Moustache Canyon', but ultimately gave in when his team of surveyors shaved his off in his sleep.

Do your brains feel ripe with knowledge now?

I've always felt that I missed out on my true calling as a school teacher, but as my parents, who were both career teachers always said to my sister and me, "We'll always love and support you no matter what you do with your lives as long as it makes you happy, but we would probably question you if you decided to become teachers."

It wasn't until just now that I realized they might have meant that I would have been a super crappy teacher and it wasn't that they were looking out for my best interests, but rather those of the unfortunate souls who ultimately would have ended up under my guidance.

Here is a cool bit of news.. You all know that I'm a big fan of the old Rock Shox seatposts.. Well, as fate would have it, some of the small parts on the posts began to fail after time, which is a drag because I finally ran out of spare pieces, and ultimately had to resort to raping every single part off of a post that Complayna loaned me for my better half's old bike many moons ago. Well low and behold but it turns out my old chum TJ in Colorado is a bit of a rocket professor and was able to make me a whole new batch of bits and pieces;

It's awesome to have friends who are smarter than you are. I've practically paired my entire existence down to eating and pooping because if it.

I also need to mention for our friends in and around Portland that the latest installment of the Urban Assault Ride is happening this weekend;

Don't be caught with your pants down, unless of course that is one of the ride's challenges.

Be there or be square.

Moving on... Jake sent me a site that I've had here before, but I might as well shine a spotlight upon it once again just because It kinda wouldn't be right not to;

"Thanks for helping me avoid the bummer life. Thought you might like to check out some awesome unicorn tattoos.

Jake"

But of course I would Jake.
You'd be a fool not to.

And with that burst of awesomnimity, I bid you a fond farewell until next time.