Financial crisis background... explained with cartoons

Confused by the whole sub-prime mortgage mess (you know, one of the factors responsible for the current financial crisis)?

Like stick figure drawings?

Like poorly drawn stick figure drawings that swear?

Are actually kind of a geek?

Click here for some entertainment.

Props to EW for posting this to my school's website.

As seen at Alamo Square

So it's hard to read because I took it with my cell phone... but this message was chalked at Alamo Square:

"Palin hates polar bears"

I heard a few tourists ask what was going on - they saw this message on a few other sidewalks in my hood. I explained that this lovely VP candidate tried to get the polar bear taken off the endangered species list. The tourists (Irish, I think) had the same horrified expression I had when I read an article about that one. Yeeeeah.

Work, running & Fido

Now for a three real updates.

1. I'm starting week two of work tomorrow. Week one was, well, lacking. As in lacking direction, a computer, a login, concrete planning... At least I managed to get access to the bike cage in the garage so I get to bike commute :)

2. Marathon training is in full-effing-swing. Six weeks until the big day (Oct 19. If you're in SF, come cheer me on!). I've been feeling great. Limited pain, keeping a solid pace, enjoying myself (though not enjoying the 8am start times on Saturday morning!). Until this weekend. My knee started hurting around mile 15. Ugh. Made for a long 22 miles. I'm stretching, icing and hitting the ibuprofen. Hoping to find a good sports massage therapist with an evening open this week! I'm pretty sure it's just my IT band acting up, which has bothered me in the past. It feels pretty much the same and is responding to the IT band stretches I've been doing. Still. Ugh. This was my big fear in training for the full marathon.

3. Fido died again last week. AGAIN due to the starter. Turns out it was a faulty part. Awesome. At least I made it to my first day of work. Orientation was all the way out in San Rafael, which required driving. It died just after I got off the expressway. Thank goodness for the ex-tow truck driver who pulled me off to the shoulder. On the bright side, I provided some business to Tom's Biodiesel Towing. Fido is now all better. The shop in Healdsburg provided the replacement part to a shop here in SF, so I only had to pay for labor twice. Not great, but that's how the warranty works on these things.

Daily Update

This morning: 126.4 lbs, 24.3% BF

Daily Update

This morning: 125.3 lbs, 23.7% BF

Employed in T - 9 hours

New job starts at 8am tomorrow (in San Ramon, which may as well be France. It's going to take at least an hour to get there - thank goodness it's just for one day and then I'm in SF on Tuesday!). I'm anxious and nervous, but generally feeling ready to get back into the working world.

Good night!

As seen in a Victoria's Secret email advertisement...

whew. thank goodness. it's been a little drafty lately without pant (s).

Daily update

This morning: 125.4 lbs, 24.0% BF

I'm really hoping that work kind of forces me into a normal eating routine with fewer snacks. While I obviously won't be able to go for a 45 mile bike ride like I did this Wednesday, I also won't be taking in all of those post-ride calories... or post-post ride calories. We shall see... for now, at least I'm stable.

Biker/Senator Kerry

Great blog post from Jonathan Vaughters, pro bike team founder and Tour de France veteran... apparently Kerry rides. Well.

Some fun tidbits from the post...
"What I was expecting was the normal 12 mph dawdle with the Senator wearing some ugly Bermuda shorts or whatever. However, when Senator Kerry showed up at Slipstream HQ in Boulder, man, it was a different story.

First clue was he was excited to be wearing the cycling clothes he got from us. (Yes, he bought them, regulatory agencies reading this.) The second big clue was a race cut medium actually fit him well. The third clue was his legs were shaved! Can you do that and still be a Senator??!

John Kerry descended like he stole the friggin’ bike from the GOP.

Anyhow, after a great two hour ride, some very hopeful conversation about how government can help cycling become more popular and a real weapon against everything from obesity to pollution, and of course, Senator Kerry’s passionate and intelligent ideas on how government can help anti-doping efforts, I gotta say, I kinda like the guy…Politician and all.

And the dude can descend like a lunatic, so at he very least, I know he’s got balls."

I want you to want me... song of the day, apparently

Anyone know what female artist did a (good) remake of "I Want You to Want Me" (I think the original is Cheap Trick)? I've been singing it most of the day and would like to download the girl version.

Thanks folks.