Clearly, I've strayed off topic with almost all my posts. A lot. I still love running, and will always love bikes. However, those are experiences enjoyed in the moment, and frankly, I find it a little boring to sit down and share them. What I do like to do is share things that get me fired up, or moved, inspired, upset, or often, frankly just make me fucking mad.
So this blog needs a new name. I don't really want to make more work for myself by maintaining two, so this one will probably die out. My creative-juices are a little tapped out from work recently, but when I think of something, I'll let you know.
Thanks for reading my recent rants! They're short, but fun to write.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Strength in Numbers
I'm not sure if it was simply my own misguided perceptions of yet another animated movie involving human-like aliens that clouded my judgment, or simply a lack of knowledge on the the content itself. The two occurrences are, of course, directly linked and the latter inevitably leads to the formed misconception. Or perhaps it's also because I'm just jaded that whenever the public hype's something up, I end up walking away disappointed. Or simply don't care. Whatever the case, it took me almost 2 months to go out and see Avatar 3D, and had I known what the movie was really about, I would have gladly joined the throngs lining up 4 hr's before it started at the first showing on opening day to see James Cameron's masterpiece.
First of all, if you haven't seen the movie yet, go and see it. See it in 3D, and preferably in an IMAX theater. If you have kids old enough to be more than merely entertained by a movie, take them. If you have close friends with open minds with whom you can enjoy the experience, take them too. The message is arguably most effectively broadcast to young minds still malleable enough to learn that they can make a difference in the world. The unfortunate part is that much of the valuable content is lost on the conservative, idiot population that is amassing on this planet, but my energy is lost on them. I'm not going to waste my time writing yet another review on the movie itself; you can already find plenty of those elsewhere. What I am going to do is urge you to see the movie. Enjoy the incredible special effects that make you pull-back in anticipation of being hit by a random passing wingtip, or give you mild Vertigo from climbing vines a few thousand feet above ground that makes you even more comfortable to be firmly planted in your seat. Get engrossed in the love story. Whatever tickles your fancy. But most of all, please pay attention to the anything-but-underlying message that the human race is doing a bang-up job of trashing our planet on a daily basis and ask yourself; what can I do to help change that trend?
We only have one planet, and the choices we make on a daily basis can have huge overall effects when combined with those of others.
First of all, if you haven't seen the movie yet, go and see it. See it in 3D, and preferably in an IMAX theater. If you have kids old enough to be more than merely entertained by a movie, take them. If you have close friends with open minds with whom you can enjoy the experience, take them too. The message is arguably most effectively broadcast to young minds still malleable enough to learn that they can make a difference in the world. The unfortunate part is that much of the valuable content is lost on the conservative, idiot population that is amassing on this planet, but my energy is lost on them. I'm not going to waste my time writing yet another review on the movie itself; you can already find plenty of those elsewhere. What I am going to do is urge you to see the movie. Enjoy the incredible special effects that make you pull-back in anticipation of being hit by a random passing wingtip, or give you mild Vertigo from climbing vines a few thousand feet above ground that makes you even more comfortable to be firmly planted in your seat. Get engrossed in the love story. Whatever tickles your fancy. But most of all, please pay attention to the anything-but-underlying message that the human race is doing a bang-up job of trashing our planet on a daily basis and ask yourself; what can I do to help change that trend?
We only have one planet, and the choices we make on a daily basis can have huge overall effects when combined with those of others.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Riddle Me This
Alright math geeks, write me an algorithm to predict the likelihood of this: I've only ever met two other people who share my birthday, and both of them work at The Boulder Running Co. where I also used to work. The last part of that sentence makes this whole argument a whole lot less interesting, so I'll throw my usual philosophical spin on things to make the equation more compelling.
The BRC still feels like family to me. Maybe it's because I never really wanted to leave my friends, many of whom still work there. Maybe it's because having such a strong community of passionate people is an aspect of life that makes it worth living. And definitely, it's partially because working there kept me sane while I was in school at CU. Of course, it's a combination of all three, but the point is that even though I may only see or talk to many of them once or twice a year, I still feel a strong part of the community there. People may come and people may go, but the heart and sole of the place (pun purely intended for those who know the BRC) will always remain on in the few friends who mean a whole lot to a certain individual who defected almost four years ago.
Now, none of this has anything to do with birthdays, really. It's about feeling part of a community who shares the same passions, goals, and often intellectually stimulating conversation. After all, that's essentially a large part of what human being are all about; being able to make cognitive decisions that affect our goals, and ultimately, our overall happiness and sense of contentment.
So back to my original question: what is the likelihood that three people ingrained in the same small community that is The Boulder Running Co. all share the same Birthday?
The BRC still feels like family to me. Maybe it's because I never really wanted to leave my friends, many of whom still work there. Maybe it's because having such a strong community of passionate people is an aspect of life that makes it worth living. And definitely, it's partially because working there kept me sane while I was in school at CU. Of course, it's a combination of all three, but the point is that even though I may only see or talk to many of them once or twice a year, I still feel a strong part of the community there. People may come and people may go, but the heart and sole of the place (pun purely intended for those who know the BRC) will always remain on in the few friends who mean a whole lot to a certain individual who defected almost four years ago.
Now, none of this has anything to do with birthdays, really. It's about feeling part of a community who shares the same passions, goals, and often intellectually stimulating conversation. After all, that's essentially a large part of what human being are all about; being able to make cognitive decisions that affect our goals, and ultimately, our overall happiness and sense of contentment.
So back to my original question: what is the likelihood that three people ingrained in the same small community that is The Boulder Running Co. all share the same Birthday?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Ill-Mentored Youth
I'm not sure if it was the screech of rubber, the nose-diving hood of the the car, or the fact that the cross-traffic light was still green that first grabbed my attention. There should have been no reason for the car to be slowing down, let alone climbing all over the the binders. No cross traffic in the way. No emergency vehicles approaching. Not even one of my fixie-riding brethren jumping the light again. Nothing.
Then I noticed the skinny black youth in the middle of the crosswalk, his female entourage of three tentatively hesitating to follow. Running to make it through an orange light? No. Hustling to get out of the way? Hell no. He proceeds to look the driver in the eye, stand right there in the middle of the road, and break into a dance, taunting him to get closer. At this point I check again just to make sure that it isn't a result of the driver not paying attention and running through a red light. Again, no; the light is definitely still green in his favor. It was then that I fully grasped the reality of the situation and my blood began to boil. What arrogance prompts anybody to intentionally tempt the laws of physics in such a reckless manner? It doesn't take a higher level of intellect to figure out that that Man-vs.-3000lb car will always end badly. Probably the more important question is: what are this kid's parents actually teaching him if it doesn't even occur to him that his actions are plainly put, bloody stupid? I'm all about taking responsibility for your own actions as an adult, but at a young age, a fair amount of responsibility lies with your superiors to teach you the difference between right and wrong. Or, does it go further than that, and this segment of society knows exactly what they're doing, but simply displays an “I'll do whatever the fuck I want” mentality. After all, I've seen adults act in the exact same care-free manner.
My personal opinion is that these individuals feel a lack of control over their own lives, and as a result, like to exercise a certain level of control over situations involving themselves, and others, in often bizarre ways. Eating disorders are another similar example. If you think about it logically, starving yourself, or even worse, binge eating and then intentionally throwing-up, makes absolutely no sense, no matter which way you look at it. Yet there are plenty people who do exactly that. Psychologists have long since linked this phenomenon to a lack of control over aspects in ones life. Youth, in general, are very perceptive; it's a natural part of the development process, and I have to believe that instinctively, the fight-or-flight phenomenon will always come into play unless it is cognitively controlled. It stands to reason then that this youngster was intentionally exerting his control over his immediate situation simply because he felt like it, and not because of a lack of understanding. This begs another question: if this child's society is teaching him to behave in such a manner, who's responsibility is it to correct his actions? Had I not been in the middle lane of traffic, I was sorely tempted to pull over, grab him by the ear, and read him the riot act just like my parents would have done with me had I chosen to perform his same actions. Would it have been my responsibility, however, to do so? That's the more difficult question to answer, because it brings a whole host of other equations into play, not the least of which is that it's always easy for one to sit on the outskirts and make certain assumptions about a given situation which may or may not be correct. I'm not going to elaborate any further, but I do urge you to think about the question, because the answer has a profound influence on the way in which society is held accountable for it's actions.
Then I noticed the skinny black youth in the middle of the crosswalk, his female entourage of three tentatively hesitating to follow. Running to make it through an orange light? No. Hustling to get out of the way? Hell no. He proceeds to look the driver in the eye, stand right there in the middle of the road, and break into a dance, taunting him to get closer. At this point I check again just to make sure that it isn't a result of the driver not paying attention and running through a red light. Again, no; the light is definitely still green in his favor. It was then that I fully grasped the reality of the situation and my blood began to boil. What arrogance prompts anybody to intentionally tempt the laws of physics in such a reckless manner? It doesn't take a higher level of intellect to figure out that that Man-vs.-3000lb car will always end badly. Probably the more important question is: what are this kid's parents actually teaching him if it doesn't even occur to him that his actions are plainly put, bloody stupid? I'm all about taking responsibility for your own actions as an adult, but at a young age, a fair amount of responsibility lies with your superiors to teach you the difference between right and wrong. Or, does it go further than that, and this segment of society knows exactly what they're doing, but simply displays an “I'll do whatever the fuck I want” mentality. After all, I've seen adults act in the exact same care-free manner.
My personal opinion is that these individuals feel a lack of control over their own lives, and as a result, like to exercise a certain level of control over situations involving themselves, and others, in often bizarre ways. Eating disorders are another similar example. If you think about it logically, starving yourself, or even worse, binge eating and then intentionally throwing-up, makes absolutely no sense, no matter which way you look at it. Yet there are plenty people who do exactly that. Psychologists have long since linked this phenomenon to a lack of control over aspects in ones life. Youth, in general, are very perceptive; it's a natural part of the development process, and I have to believe that instinctively, the fight-or-flight phenomenon will always come into play unless it is cognitively controlled. It stands to reason then that this youngster was intentionally exerting his control over his immediate situation simply because he felt like it, and not because of a lack of understanding. This begs another question: if this child's society is teaching him to behave in such a manner, who's responsibility is it to correct his actions? Had I not been in the middle lane of traffic, I was sorely tempted to pull over, grab him by the ear, and read him the riot act just like my parents would have done with me had I chosen to perform his same actions. Would it have been my responsibility, however, to do so? That's the more difficult question to answer, because it brings a whole host of other equations into play, not the least of which is that it's always easy for one to sit on the outskirts and make certain assumptions about a given situation which may or may not be correct. I'm not going to elaborate any further, but I do urge you to think about the question, because the answer has a profound influence on the way in which society is held accountable for it's actions.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Coffee Snob
I can't drink shitty coffee any more. Sorry Nike, but I Just Can't Do It. Which is probably good because that means I don't end up reaching for another cup of stale, sawdust-flavored java at work. It's better for me. The only trouble is that I need to do some serious research into the East Bay Coffee scene, although I'm not sure how successful I'm going to be. Everything in my neighbourhood is either Starbucks and Peet's generic shit, or local coffee shops that just don't cut it. There are two world class local places in the City (Blue Bottle and Four Barrel) that know what's up, but that ends up being more of a treat than a place to hang out because it's just a pain going in to the City for coffee. It's great after (or during) a long summer bike ride, but the days of that are beyond numbered for '09. I went to a great place in NYC called Joe's (www.joetheartofcoffee.com) Their website is cool, and they have classes on, well, the art of making coffee. When I'm rich I'll have to invest in a fancy espresso machine but until then I'm going to have to keep using my French Press and milk frother. It's better than my current options around here anyway. And I get to make it every morning. Until then, I'll have to treat myself whenever I travel. Between this and Ducati I should have been born Italian. At least I can afford the coffee though...
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Dividends
It's been a good, busy month; hence my absence from blogland. I just returned from F10 Sales Meeting up in Squaw, which showed very well apart from the usual few glitches and China dropping the ball on a few samples, but for the most part the line is looking very good. It was a particularly important one for me because my co-worker, Erin, is going on maternity leave in January, and I am taking over the reigns of the insulated portion of our business for F11. It's a great opportunity not only to diversify my skill-set, but also to breath a little technical life into the higher price points of the category that I feel is lacking for a brand like The North Face. The boss seems to have faith in me, which is great to see, and I have some cool ideas for a few new styles that I feel will add significant additional growth to the business. More on that later.
In the mean time, I got my first quote in an industry trade publication called Footwear Insight this month. Not only that, but the entire last paragraph is dedicated to a piece that I provided for the author so many months ago that I had actually forgotten that I had even written it until one of the guys at work showed me. They also pulled a sentence out, wrote it in bold, and had my title printed next to it, which is extremely good exposure for me in the eyes of my peers. My S11 line is finally looking like the line that I wanted to create when I started 3 years ago, so work is a good place to be right now! I just hope that the previous "owner" of my category hasn't already done so much damage that the dealers are no longer interested in our product. Then again, even if they are, the new stuff is going to be pretty compelling so I'm not too worried about it. At the end of the day, great product rules the roost in Running Specialty.
On another topic, I'm going out to see the new lady this weekend! Jenn is going to join me in NYC because she has some friends running the marathon, and my buddy Winston is letting us stay at his place on the Upper West side of the Park. I'm pretty stoked because I haven't seen her in over two months and we've got to know each other a lot better since then. She's way too good for me, so I'm focusing pretty hard to not fuck it up! It should be a really fun weekend so I'll take some pics and be better about updating ya'll in the coming weeks.
Love you guys,
In the mean time, I got my first quote in an industry trade publication called Footwear Insight this month. Not only that, but the entire last paragraph is dedicated to a piece that I provided for the author so many months ago that I had actually forgotten that I had even written it until one of the guys at work showed me. They also pulled a sentence out, wrote it in bold, and had my title printed next to it, which is extremely good exposure for me in the eyes of my peers. My S11 line is finally looking like the line that I wanted to create when I started 3 years ago, so work is a good place to be right now! I just hope that the previous "owner" of my category hasn't already done so much damage that the dealers are no longer interested in our product. Then again, even if they are, the new stuff is going to be pretty compelling so I'm not too worried about it. At the end of the day, great product rules the roost in Running Specialty.
On another topic, I'm going out to see the new lady this weekend! Jenn is going to join me in NYC because she has some friends running the marathon, and my buddy Winston is letting us stay at his place on the Upper West side of the Park. I'm pretty stoked because I haven't seen her in over two months and we've got to know each other a lot better since then. She's way too good for me, so I'm focusing pretty hard to not fuck it up! It should be a really fun weekend so I'll take some pics and be better about updating ya'll in the coming weeks.
Love you guys,
Sunday, September 13, 2009
All Good Things Must Come to an End
Finishing a favorite book is like coming to the end of a much enjoyed vacation. In this case, it's been more like an eight month sabbatical because 1068 pages of fine print takes a while to pour through. Well...technically, it was more akin to my college career because I picked it up and shelved it again a number of times before finally managing to bring it to its rather serene but inevitable end.
Ayn Rands signature novel, Atlas Shrugged, has been my constant companion, reality check, motivator, voice-of-reason and Gold-Standard identifier for all attributes necessary to those human beings who aspire to achieve greatness. It has helped keep myself honest when, despite one's best intentions, you're tempted to take shortcuts or simply throw in the towel through sheer lack of frustration or sight of the light at the end of the tunnel. Of course I'm talking as much about the abstract as I am about concrete situations, but the ideals remain the same regardless. It's easier to take on seemingly tough tasks when you see the perspective of others who lead truly inspirational lives. After all, what is the point of living if you aren't aspiring to reach the highest level of whatever you chose to take on.
I haven't yet decided on what to fill this new gap in my life with. I think I might stay on the theme of Rand by reading some Aristotle. She credits much of her thought process to his works, although she disagrees with some of his ideals. Since I know nothing about either, it may be time to educate myself further.
Ayn Rands signature novel, Atlas Shrugged, has been my constant companion, reality check, motivator, voice-of-reason and Gold-Standard identifier for all attributes necessary to those human beings who aspire to achieve greatness. It has helped keep myself honest when, despite one's best intentions, you're tempted to take shortcuts or simply throw in the towel through sheer lack of frustration or sight of the light at the end of the tunnel. Of course I'm talking as much about the abstract as I am about concrete situations, but the ideals remain the same regardless. It's easier to take on seemingly tough tasks when you see the perspective of others who lead truly inspirational lives. After all, what is the point of living if you aren't aspiring to reach the highest level of whatever you chose to take on.
I haven't yet decided on what to fill this new gap in my life with. I think I might stay on the theme of Rand by reading some Aristotle. She credits much of her thought process to his works, although she disagrees with some of his ideals. Since I know nothing about either, it may be time to educate myself further.
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