New adventures

Carrying a projection screen by bike. Not really sure if sideways or sticking out the top was better.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Goodbye, audio cassettes

While I do have a soft spot for vintage technology, one of my key frustrations at work has been the fact that I have to engineer the broadcast of monthly state board meetings on nearly 20 year old equipment.
No more. Today, the board approved my renovation proposal. 21st century, here we come!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

My Week #102

My Week #102 (March 28 - April 3) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Sick, sick, sick. Then Clint's Karaoke Hustle/cruise, Sheclismo at the Roller Derby, and a weekend of racing where I left my camera in the car. Thanks to Ryan for the one shot of me racing where he heeds my concern for more water during the marathon and forgets to turn off the camera.

Good Job, Google

Falling in Love...

...with a bike and some singletrack in Wilderness. Knowing I'd be leaving town and not riding my new bike for a week, I opted to take her out in the Park after work. What a perfect place to be. I saw at least 10 deer at very close range, enjoyed lots of solace at either slow and meditative or fast and challenging paces, crossed paths with a few other friends on bikes, and generally put myself in a great mood.
We're so lucky to have this tucked right in to the city.

2nd Annual Scrabble Hustle

I came in 3rd place in the Scrabble Hustle last night.

At the Bison Trail start, I had a D. At the Sunken Gardens stop, after quickly and successfully spelling "segue," I picked up a Z. At 11th and C, after successfully hopscotching up some stairs in cleats, I picked up an N. Plan A foiled. I snagged a Y at 8th and Van Dorn, then the crucial E at Irvingdale Pool. With a sprint to the finish, I was the third racer to arrive, affording me the all-important triple letter bonus on my Z for the word ZED, 33 points.
Clint had the lead with a first finisher bonus triple word on QUIZ, 63 points.
Ryan, the second finisher, held on fourth place overall with a double word score on ETCH, 18 points.
Coming in in the middle of the pack of racers with the night's only bingo was Brandon, who played VAGINAL for 61 points -- 11 for the word and 50 bonus points for the bingo -- landing him in 2nd place.

Great race, Dan Kroll.

Happy Friday!

Brought the new ride to Branched Oak for her maiden voyage. Lovely!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Signs of Spring

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

New aquisition

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Stalker Alert!!!

Hello new bike

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Marketing

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Adventures in Grammar

At a gallup office in omaha..

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

My Week #97 (February 21 - 27) on Vimeo

My Week #97 (February 21 - 27) on Vimeo

My Week #97 (February 21 - 27) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

The highlight? Liz Tylander's dance lesson.

My Week 95

My Week #95 (February 7 - 13) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

From frigid to springlike. Gotta love Nebraska.

Getting out

Boy, do I love the winter thaw!

After my disappointing end to 'cross season and a longer-than-expected recovery period, I had a lot of trouble getting myself back in gear to put in base miles outside. The fact that we'd had plenty of snow and ice (generally things I really enjoy...well, at least the snow...) kept me gun shy about another crash, and the longer I was gone from group rides, the more I knew I'd fall behind frustrated after wasting a bunch of energy trying to keep up at the start.

No more. Today, Kat, Ryan and I opted for a later start time and a goal of 50-60 gravel miles at a pace we could all maintain for the duration. We rolled out a little before 11 and headed into a SW wind, Cortland in mind for a first stop.


We found gravel roads in beautiful condition, with options for packed smooth middles, a little pea gravel in between tracks, or churningly difficult wet shoulders. Kat needed that slowing power later in the ride when her front brake cable snapped, leaving her relegated to stopping with a pretty worn out back brake. Scary!


Ryan, riding singlespeed, kept a nice crisp pace for us whenever we started slacking. After worrying his gearing would be too low, he ended the ride thinking this will be his Gravel Worlds gear for this year. (Sorry nerds, I don't know the gear ratio and he's not here right now.)


With temperatures fluctuating from the low 40s to the mid 50s, plus a wind cold enough to make wind chill a factor, clothing decisions were a little challenging. I stayed pretty comfy with a silkweight capilene baselayer, wool jersey, wind vest (detachable sleeves came off pretty fast), neck gaiter, wool cap, glove liners and shell gloves, and cozy Craft running tights over my bibs. Wool socks in my winter shoes were toasty!

After exploring uncharted (to us) gravel east of Cortland en route to Hickman, we ended up back at home with 59.59 miles. Nice way to kick off the outdoor training year, and it felt great to do something more on roads where you didn't have to worry about just staying upright on 1-3 inches of pure ice. Bring on the Spring!


In other news, I was able to make this likeness of Hunter S. Thompson during a work professional development activity in which a team of us were given 16 items of which we could choose 6 to keep after surviving a plane crash in the Australian desert. We chose none of these, though we spent a good deal of time considering the Jameson. With 6 of us, though, it wouldn't have gone very far.

Snowy Commute Home

I got a helmet cam! Time lapse photography with a photo every 5 seconds made for a nice documenting of my commute home on a snowy January evening. I love how the shutter stays open longer as it gets dark. Music by the lovely Snowblink.

Rolling Movie Marathon

Winter. Cold. Dark. Movies! Watched in the last week:

Inception
The Warriors
SNL Best of Will Ferrell
The Messenger
Pan's Labyrinth
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
Let The Right One In
Big Man Japan
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

I think I'm forgetting one...

January begins

A beautiful short film documenting the New York Christmas Blizzard, followed by Roger Ebert's effusive praise.

"Man in a Blizzard," by Jamie Stuart - Roger Ebert's Journal

Now, where's our snow? I'm tired of this ice that doesn't lend itself to anything fun.

Sheclismo's First Jerseys

It's Just Fairness, Y'all

Screening this Thursday

Haven't had a chance to see When We Stop Counting yet? It will be screening on Thursday the 9th at Indigo Bridge Bookstore at 7 PM.

While I'm on the subject, Brent and I are trying to raise funds to get the film broadcast-ready. If you can spare some extra, please consider donating at this link.

To Be A Superfan

I'm all packed up to head to Iowa City for Jingle Cross. All year, I've been looking forward to this weekend -- the closest really big race and a chance to line up with a bunch of women in a sport I've really come to love.

Well, I won't be lining up. A crash in last weekend's Lincoln CX left me with a fractured thumb and the inability to grip handlebars -- not exactly OK for 'cross racing. This past week has involved a lot of psychological pain and frustration on top of the physical as I've watched the gnarly bruises develop.

So, this weekend, I'm shifting gears. Trying to take inspiration from CVO, Liz and others, I'm transforming into superfan mode. Best of luck to my Sheclismo teammates Sydney, Kat, and Kimberley, to our honorary member Ryan the singlespeedo, and to all the other Nebraska riders taking the course. I wish I were out there with you, but I'll be happy to heckle you or hand you a drink, too.

My Week #83 (November 15 - 21) on Vimeo

My Week #83 (November 15 - 21) on Vimeo

My Week #83 (November 15 - 21) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Late fall sets in.

Chip fracture.

My Week #82 (November 8 - 14) on Vimeo

My Week #82 (November 8 - 14) on Vimeo

My Week #82 (November 8 - 14) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

It's definitely fall. I love my housemates.

Abandoned Flags

A little long and a little too heavy on the tracking shots, but it's set to one of my favorite Godspeed songs and with a pretty incredible location, so who cares, really?



via After The Storm - The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan

My Week #81 (November 1 - 7) on Vimeo

My Week #81 (November 1 - 7) on Vimeo

My Week #81 (November 1 - 7) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Brent leaves, we vote, I rearrange, I go down in history as (one of?) the only model(s) to put clothes ON on the catwalk, I rehabilitate in Wilderness with Liz, and we celebrate my aunt's birthday.

My Week #78 (October 11 - 17) on Vimeo

My Week #78 (October 11 - 17) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Cat, lots of work, conspiracy theories, late at work, beer ride, Popeye the cat, and a return to cyclocross at the Boulevard Cup in Kansas City.

My Week #78 (October 11 - 17) on Vimeo

Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center

Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center




FREE SCREENING: WHEN WE STOP COUNTING
Tuesday, October 26 - 7:00 p.m.

This screening is free and open to the public.

It is in our best interest to educate all children. But what happens when a small town’s school system suddenly becomes 50% minority? Crete Public Schools, in Crete, Nebraska, has an answer. When We Stop Counting follows six Hispanic high school students, living their personal struggles and triumphs while bearing the pressure of their parents’ backbreaking sacrifice in hopes of achieving the American Dream.

Administrators, faculty and scholars examine how schools serve both students and the community, while students themselves record their own footage of experiences at school, at home, at work and at play. When We Stop Counting humanizes the issues of education, immigration, and most importantly, our future.

Shot, directed and produced by:
Brent Meier, El Centro de las Américas
Elisabeth Reinkordt, Nebraska Department of Education

Premiere of When We Stop Counting

Facebook | Premiere of When We Stop Counting

Please join us at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center on October 26th at 7 PM for the premiere of When We Stop Counting.



Students and directors Brent Meier and Elisabeth Reinkordt will be answering questions following the screening.

The film will also be premiering in Crete at Doane College's Heckman Auditorium on Thursday, October 28th, also at 7 PM.

Trailer

A year and a half in the making...

"Three Bullets" by Kill County on Vimeo

"Three Bullets" by Kill County on Vimeo

"Three Bullets" by Kill County from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Music video for Kill County's song "Three Bullets." Written and performed by Andy "Ringo" Witkowski and Josh Holstein. Shot, directed, and edited by Elisabeth Reinkordt. The Man played by Patrick Sands.

Hear Nebraska - Homegrown Film Fest puts local music videos on the big screen for Lincoln Calling

Hear Nebraska - Homegrown Film Fest puts local music videos on the big screen for Lincoln Calling

Thanks, all. This was really great.

My Week #75 (September 20 - 26) on Vimeo

My Week #75 (September 20 - 26) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Editing, premiering the trailer, more cx practice, WWASH, fall Saturday spent working, and my brother's rally cross race followed by a Kill County show on Sunday.

My Week #75 (September 20 - 26) on Vimeo

Bacon Danger

For the first time all year, I made it on the Bacon Ride. Look how angry that power is.


It was potentially the last one of the year, so Lincoln and Omaha groups set out to meet at Platte for a bacon show-down. Gersib represented for the Lincoln crew, taking on Omaha's Rafal. This face indicates he won. 13 pieces of bacon, plus sausages, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and who knows what else.


The MoPac east of Eagle looked just like the Pacific Northwest. It was misty, chilly, covered in leaves, and very pretty. Welcome, Fall!

Women New To Cycling in NYC

Women In Motion: New Lady Riders Reflect on NYC Cycling on Vimeo

Women In Motion: New Lady Riders Reflect on NYC Cycling from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

This is a great, great video. So powerful. While finding veteran female cyclists would have been easy, finding those new to it makes encouraging others who haven't taken the plunge far more likely!

Yes, Starlings! Yes!: Book Proposal for Broadway Books

Yes, Starlings! Yes!: Book Proposal for Broadway Books

Mathias, I love you.

My Week #72 (August 30 - September 5) on Vimeo

My Week #72 (August 30 - September 5) on Vimeo

My Week #72 (August 30 - September 5) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Housemate bike commute, Cuba, press-grabbing board meetings, cross practice, rainstorms, exploring the old fairgrounds, Monkey Wrench's grand opening, Liz's birthday, Sheclismo's first group ride, Ryan's new Fisticuff's test ride, football season opener, Wilderness trail maintenance, and singletrack at Branched Oak.

Bien Rica

In addition to meals, in the last two days, the members of my house have made yogurt, cucumber lemonade, multiple varieties of hummus, gazpacho, dried apples, and more.

I think we've settled on an appropriate name for the house: Casa Bien Rica. Stop by for food sometime.

Sheclismo First Ride

There is an exciting little development in my cycling life. It involves the beginnings of an all-women's cycling team. We're called Sheclismo. It's an Italian bike pun. Yeah, I had a hand in that.

This morning, we had our first group ride. Though it was billed as a road ride, enough of us were into 'cross that we made a stop at Van Dorn Park to ride the course there.



After that, we hit a bit of gravel and then the road. Sydney did a fantastic job explaining exactly what we should be doing, where we should ride, what to do if we couldn't keep up, and how to work best with changes in wind direction.


Unlike some group rides I've been on with guys, where you're trying to figure out these techniques being shouted at you while you're riding and still trying to keep up, we'd stop on the side of the road to discuss. Here, Sydney found some pebbles to make a diagram of echelon formation and how the riders move.


Another cyclist passed by while we were doing this, asking if we needed any help. "Nope," we said, and "see you soon," we thought, knowing the speed we'd pick up if doing this properly.

There was a stretch along Roca Road where we were in a crosswind, constantly rotating, and I've never felt so good riding with others. We were flying, working together, communicating verbally and non-verbally -- as we pulled in to Roca, all with smiles on our faces, Sydney said she'd never seen a group pick things up this fast.

Though several people had to peel off earlier, Sydney, Kat, Liz and I went out through Bennett. Even though I've been doing this for a year and change now, I think I learned more today than in all that time combined. More importantly, I think I learned things I can retain, and I left with a fantastically positive feeling about it all.

Viva Sheclismo!

In The Know: Are Tests Biased Against Students Who Don't Give A Shit? | The Onion - America's Finest News Source | Onion News Network

In The Know: Are Tests Biased Against Students Who Don't Give A Shit? | The Onion - America's Finest News Source | Onion News Network


In The Know: Are Tests Biased Against Students Who Don't Give A Shit?

My Week #71 (August 23 - 29) on Vimeo

My Week #71 (August 23 - 29) on Vimeo

My Week #71 (August 23 - 29) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Exploring overgrown Wilderness, lots of work on the Kill County video, a press conference in the bowels of NET, a brief visit with folks assembling wedding programs, a night of camping to finish the music video shoot, and a weekend of housecleaning.

Adventures in Word Verification

Miniature Art on the Tip of Pencil by Dalton Ghetti

Miniature Art on the Tip of Pencil by Dalton Ghetti

These are beyond amazing.

Fabulous Mash-up

Wow, think I'm going to have to get this...



App Of The Day - The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan

Overboard, perhaps

I think this may be a little beyond "naked"

Marcel the Shell

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

Love it

And I'm supposed to do what now?

I've been putting off yard work because it's so hot out. Today I have time. Hmmph.



In other news,

Now that would make good television

"The only person qualified to interview Sarah Palin on national television is Judge Judy. She has experience with blizzards of lies and non-sequiturs."
-Andrew Sullivan

My Week #67 (July 26 - August 1) on Vimeo

My Week #67 (July 26 - August 1) on Vimeo

My Week #67 (July 26 - August 1) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

This week was really just a lead-up to a lovely weekend in Philadelphia.

Gravel Worlds Video Recon

The Good Life Gravel Adventure/Gravel Worlds is only a few weeks away. Sunday, I went out with some of the crew to shoot video promoting the event.

Sometimes, you find lounging furniture. Is this a dump or a hangout spot?

Or just stadium seating for wheelie contests?

Gravel grinders are all about where the pavement ends.

The weather was perfect, and shadows were a perfect length, too.

Curvy little bits of gravel close to town, shade and sun.

The PCL looks nice and intimidating in this silhouette.

At the top of the Denton Wall. 11% grade on this climb.

Fob climbs the wall. I swear there's no way to capture how steep this is in a photo. Get out and ride it yourself!

My Week #66 (July 19 - 25) on Vimeo

My Week #66 (July 19 - 25) on Vimeo

My Week #66 (July 19 - 25) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Scrabble, editing, soccer, TdF, Tilly, FAC in Havelock, and gravel, gravel, gravel.

MICMACS

MICMACS | A Film By Jean–Pierre Jeunet, the director of Amelie is playing at The Ross right now. It's really great! My whole family went to see it this afternoon, and we were all laughing. I'd consider that a testament.

20 inch Mountain Bike

This is certainly the strangest looking Mountain Bike I've ever seen.


20 inch Mountain Bike

Cows & Cows & Cows

Perhaps I find this particularly hilarious because I grew up with them...



Mental Health Break - The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan

My Week #65 (July 12 - 18) on Vimeo

My Week #65 (July 12 - 18) on Vimeo

My Week #65 (July 12 - 18) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Rain brings toads; Mom picks flowers; the Department finally gets the new logo approved; it's really hot and my Dad gets the new gutters installed on my house just in time for a downpour; there is a hustle; I combat houseflies; we become Champions; Butler and the Gentlemen release a CD; the big men of the road enter the Pyrenees.

The Lichen + Screen Ink + MLGI

The Hyphae Series - Screen Ink. from the lichen on Vimeo.

My Week #64 (July 5 - 11) on Vimeo

My Week #64 (July 5 - 11) on Vimeo

My Week #64 (July 5 - 11) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Did I mention I ride bicycles?

My Week #63 (June 28 - July 4) on Vimeo

My Week #63 (June 28 - July 4) on Vimeo

My Week #63 (June 28 - July 4) from nocoastfilms on Vimeo.

Riding, purifying, cracker pushing, sports watching, puppifying, vuvuzelaing and independence-celebrating.

Read the whole sign

Colbert Bait - The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan

Obama's Weekly Video Addresses Becoming Increasingly Avant-Garde | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Obama's Weekly Video Addresses Becoming Increasingly Avant-Garde | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Weekly Address: Jobs Creation from White House Weekly Address on Vimeo.

Some Laws

Via AHTBM:

"In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, written by a US man, and posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's
Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that
knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend
the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that
Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of
debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other
elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male
and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A
friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not
Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned
in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a
fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is
in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem
is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it
creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my
neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I
smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath.
Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally
obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is
an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than
homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there
'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if
I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading
glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some
wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the
hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by
Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig
makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing
garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester
blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really
necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town
together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to
death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep
with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy
considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and
unchanging.

Your adoring fan.
James M. Kauffman,
Ed.D. Professor Emeritus,
Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
University of Virginia

PS (It would be a damn shame if we couldn't own a Canadian)"

Best Portrait

This photo sums me up in so many ways. Thanks to the nice stranger who was there to step in as I tried self-portraiture after riding 100 miles.

jet lev

rad dudes

Thanks, Bro

My brother sends me semi-weekly e-mails full of bike-related photos. It's really great.

Gravel Grinders: Rough, Life-changing Bike Races - Into the GOOD Wide Open - GOOD

Gravel Grinders: Rough, Life-changing Bike Races - Into the GOOD Wide Open - GOOD

Way to represent, Lincoln.

Julia Cohen & Mathias Svalina - Sugar Means Yes

Julia Cohen & Mathias Svalina - Sugar Means Yes

Yes, I'm looking forward to getting this in the mail.