Triathlism: an incredibly unserious sport

On 1/8/2011 3:26 AM, Beloved Fred No. 1 wrote:
--D-y wrote:

I got to travel much later in life and what can I say, I'll always be
an American but I wouldn't mind living elsewhere until I got homesick.
Amsterdam comes to mind.

RicodJour wrote:
Are you suggesting a RBR road trip?

Dumas will be providing a guided tour of the bordellos and best places to smoke weed just so Flintstein can get finally get his vacation in an exotic place.


I've been to Amsterdam. They have McDonalds and you can get your
frites with mayo there.

If you want you can have chocolate with every meal there. Although
**** if I get the point of butter sandwiches with sprinkles for
breakfast.

Fred Flintstein

On Jan 8, 10:32*am, Frederick the Great wrote:
In article
,





*--D-y wrote:
On Jan 8, 3:28*am, "Beloved Fred No. 1" wrote:
--D-y wrote:
Sometimes this place reminds me of a story a friend told me long ago,
about some gathering of English majors who had gone on to not make
very much money in the world of academics.

Frederick the Great wrote:
At least they knew when they were splitting an infinitive.

(BF#1 wrote):
Shirley that's something Liz does ?

Hey Fred, that's what it pays. Don't complain!

"To not make" is good English. Communication, please, and maybe a
little creativity, a little syncopation-- or maybe just being
oblivious of silly "rules".
Shakespeare. Beethoven. Just two examples of people who created on a
far, far higher plane. Point being: People complained about
Shakespeare's use of the language, and other people walked out of
presentations of Beethoven's music. Be glad you weren't one of them,
they missed a good show.

Again, despite our best efforts with the handbasket, Hell doesn't seem
to be getting any closer. Relax, enjoy the trip.

Excuuuuse _Me_, William Snake****.

Excuuuused! (Nonstandard spelling in service of communication noted
and recorded)
--D-y

On Jan 7, 12:32*am, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."
wrote:

Dumbass -

Why isn't it acceptable? Because he didn't make as much money?

IMO, people should do what makes them happy. Everything else is
bull****.

thanks,

dumbass,

i'm all for bike racing and any sports.

the problem with sports though is that if you do well you get a huge
emotional boost and if you do poorly you feel humiliated and ashamed.
these feelings are powerful and it causes people to lose perspective.
i'm sure you know what i'm talking about.

On Jan 7, 12:35*pm, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."
wrote:
On Jan 7, 6:08*am, Fred wrote:



On Jan 7, 3:06*am, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."

wrote:
On Jan 6, 9:42*pm, Fred wrote:

On Jan 6, 10:32*pm, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."

wrote:
On Jan 6, 11:33*am, Fred Flintstein
wrote:

On 1/6/2011 11:52 AM, Marco wrote:

Fred Flintstein wrote:

If you step through it slowly you can see him clip a pedal.

Yes, that's clearly what happened. His pedal hit the curb like PBA
suggested.

So Mr. Flintsein, you've often talked about how dumb it is for guys to
pursue bike racing, and that instead they should go to college and get
on the conventional career path. I've always felt that there is
nothing wrong with trying to do both in life. If you are passionate
about bike racing, why not devote a few years and fully experience it?
The guy who slid across the pavement there in your hometown stage race
is a perfect example. He spent four years riding as a mid-level D3 pro
in the US, and got to do the big US races like Philly week, Tour of
Georgia, etc. and even some international racing. But he also got a BS
in mechanical engineering, and when he finished bike racing he went on
to get a Masters from UC Berkeley. Now he has a great job designing
telescopes and rides his bike for recreation and fitness. There are
plenty of other examples like him in US bike racing.

What I've repeatedly stated was that being a professional cyclist
was not an acceptable career path. That story reinforces my point.

On 1/6/2011 5:49 PM, --D-y wrote:
I got to travel much later in life and what can I say, I'll always be
an American but I wouldn't mind living elsewhere until I got homesick.
Amsterdam comes to mind.

BTW, I used to very deliberately go on camping-style bike tours in the
Rockies during Stupidweek, by which pejorative I am only referencing
the Immortals who were willing to die for a TV set race prize.
"Altitude training", don't give me any crap about it!g
--D-y

http://www.sylviarimm.com/seejanewin.html

I haven't read the book. But the author has a radio program and I've
heard her talk about it. One of the correlating factors for success
among women is travel as children. And for all the boners we get in
this country over lessons of leadership and self discipline learned
in athletic competition, that wasn't highly correlated with success.

A couple of years ago I realized that my kid and I could take in the
Gent Six Day and the World Cup cyclocross race at Koksijde over the
Thanksgiving holiday and not miss any school. And while some people
may look askance at rolling in each night at 2:30AM or so with your
twelve year old kid, it meant there was almost no jet lag as a result
of the trip. And it wasn't that expensive, November in Belgium is
pretty off season. These days she bugs me about going back.

I think she's much better off with experiences like that than if I
had gotten her hooked on self esteem through some stupid crap like
bike racing.

Fred Flintstein

On Jan 8, 5:52*pm, Fred Flintstein
wrote:
On 1/6/2011 5:49 PM, --D-y wrote:

I got to travel much later in life and what can I say, I'll always be
an American but I wouldn't mind living elsewhere until I got homesick.
Amsterdam comes to mind.

BTW, I used to very deliberately go on camping-style bike tours in the
Rockies during Stupidweek, by which pejorative I am only referencing
the Immortals who were willing to die for a TV set race prize.
"Altitude training", don't give me any crap about it!g
--D-y

http://www.sylviarimm.com/seejanewin.html

I haven't read the book. But the author has a radio program and I've
heard her talk about it. One of the correlating factors for success
among women is travel as children. And for all the boners we get in
this country over lessons of leadership and self discipline learned
in athletic competition, that wasn't highly correlated with success.

A couple of years ago I realized that my kid and I could take in the
Gent Six Day and the World Cup cyclocross race at Koksijde over the
Thanksgiving holiday and not miss any school. And while some people
may look askance at rolling in each night at 2:30AM or so with your
twelve year old kid, it meant there was almost no jet lag as a result
of the trip. And it wasn't that expensive, November in Belgium is
pretty off season. These days she bugs me about going back.

I think she's much better off with experiences like that than if I
had gotten her hooked on self esteem through some stupid crap like
bike racing.

This is an indirect boost in self-esteem through bike racing g.
This sort of unconventionality is to be applauded. Applause!
BTW, stating the obvious: bugging you about going back is your success-
o-meter.

Nothing like seeing the big boys run. Once for me, Prologue TdF in
Luxembourg, and also Worlds in Co. Sprgs. That's twice, twice for
me...
--D-y

On Jan 7, 10:53*pm, RicodJour wrote:
On Jan 7, 12:35*pm, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."





wrote:
On Jan 7, 6:08*am, Fred wrote:

On Jan 7, 3:06*am, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."

wrote:
On Jan 6, 9:42*pm, Fred wrote:

On Jan 6, 10:32*pm, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."

wrote:
On Jan 6, 11:33*am, Fred Flintstein
wrote:

On 1/6/2011 11:52 AM, Marco wrote:

Fred Flintstein wrote:

If you step through it slowly you can see him clip a pedal..

Yes, that's clearly what happened. His pedal hit the curb like PBA
suggested.

So Mr. Flintsein, you've often talked about how dumb it is for guys to
pursue bike racing, and that instead they should go to college and get
on the conventional career path. I've always felt that there is
nothing wrong with trying to do both in life. If you are passionate
about bike racing, why not devote a few years and fully experience it?
The guy who slid across the pavement there in your hometown stage race
is a perfect example. He spent four years riding as a mid-level D3 pro
in the US, and got to do the big US races like Philly week, Tour of
Georgia, etc. and even some international racing. But he also got a BS
in mechanical engineering, and when he finished bike racing he went on
to get a Masters from UC Berkeley. Now he has a great job designing
telescopes and rides his bike for recreation and fitness. There are
plenty of other examples like him in US bike racing.

What I've repeatedly stated was that being a professional cyclist
was not an acceptable career path. That story reinforces my point.

snip

Dumbass -

Why isn't it acceptable? Because he didn't make as much money?

IMO, people should do what makes them happy. Everything else is
bull****.

thanks,

Kurgan. presented by Gringioni.

That's easy to say when you have money, especially trust fund money.
If you don't have money, that whole 'do what makes you happy' line is
a crock.

Dumbass -

My parents were happier when they were poor.

thanks,

Kurgan. presented by Gringioni.

That's interesting, and not surprising, but it doesn't change the
validity of what I said. *If you want to test your theory on 'do what
makes you happy'... give all your money away, all of it, and live only
on what you can earn going forward. *Get back to us on that, 'mmkay?

Dumbass -

Many people in this culture have the wrong ethos if they want to be
happy. I know so many people who work at jobs they don't like so they
can pay their mortgage and car payments. They've bought into this
notion that buying those things will make them happy and when it
doesn't bring them long term happiness, they don't bother to reflect
why.

People's definition of happy differs. *For instance, being miserable
makes me happy - and I'm ****ing ecstatic.

IMO, what makes people happy is choosing a profession which they
enjoy.

Profession...telling choice of words.



Dumbass -

One's profession is what most adults in this culture spend the
greatest proportion of their waking hours doing. That's why I used
those words. Check this out:

http://www.isnare.com/?aid=110483&ca=Leadership

Why 77% Of Americans Hate Are Job Haters...4 Steps To Making Work Work

Only 6 percent of Americans say they love their jobs. Anywhere from 50
to 90 percent say they are job haters, depending on the survey.
According to a Gallup Poll, with similar findings reported by
Entrepreneur Magazine, approximately 77 percent of Americans hate
their job.

snipend

The article claims that bosses can make workplace changes to help
change the great level of dissatisfaction, but I doubt that it would
do that much.

I think the problem is deeper: the great majority of people choose
jobs which will make them the most money rather than a job which
delivers "doing something that one enjoys".

thanks,

Kurgan. presented by Gringioni.

On Jan 8, 11:38*am, Amit Ghosh wrote:
On Jan 7, 12:35*pm, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."





wrote:
On Jan 7, 6:08*am, Fred wrote:

On Jan 7, 3:06*am, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."

wrote:
On Jan 6, 9:42*pm, Fred wrote:

On Jan 6, 10:32*pm, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."

wrote:
On Jan 6, 11:33*am, Fred Flintstein
wrote:

On 1/6/2011 11:52 AM, Marco wrote:

Fred Flintstein wrote:

If you step through it slowly you can see him clip a pedal..

Yes, that's clearly what happened. His pedal hit the curb like PBA
suggested.

So Mr. Flintsein, you've often talked about how dumb it is for guys to
pursue bike racing, and that instead they should go to college and get
on the conventional career path. I've always felt that there is
nothing wrong with trying to do both in life. If you are passionate
about bike racing, why not devote a few years and fully experience it?
The guy who slid across the pavement there in your hometown stage race
is a perfect example. He spent four years riding as a mid-level D3 pro
in the US, and got to do the big US races like Philly week, Tour of
Georgia, etc. and even some international racing. But he also got a BS
in mechanical engineering, and when he finished bike racing he went on
to get a Masters from UC Berkeley. Now he has a great job designing
telescopes and rides his bike for recreation and fitness. There are
plenty of other examples like him in US bike racing.

What I've repeatedly stated was that being a professional cyclist
was not an acceptable career path. That story reinforces my point.

snip

Dumbass -

Why isn't it acceptable? Because he didn't make as much money?

IMO, people should do what makes them happy. Everything else is
bull****.

thanks,

Kurgan. presented by Gringioni.

That's easy to say when you have money, especially trust fund money.
If you don't have money, that whole 'do what makes you happy' line is
a crock.

Dumbass -

My parents were happier when they were poor.

thanks,

Kurgan. presented by Gringioni.

That's interesting, and not surprising, but it doesn't change the
validity of what I said. *If you want to test your theory on 'do what
makes you happy'... give all your money away, all of it, and live only
on what you can earn going forward. *Get back to us on that, 'mmkay?

Dumbass -

Many people in this culture have the wrong ethos if they want to be
happy. I know so many people who work at jobs they don't like so they
can pay their mortgage and car payments. They've bought into this
notion that buying those things will make them happy and when it
doesn't bring them long term happiness, they don't bother to reflect
why.

IMO, what makes people happy is choosing a profession which they
enjoy.

We live in a very rich nation. No one's gonna starve. People should do
what they enjoy doing. Buying things doesn't bring happiness.

dumbass,

there's a fairly large body of work that looks at what brings
satisfaction and dissatisfaction.

it is accepted that causes of unhappiness are distinct from the causes
of happiness. having money might not make a person happy, but being
poor will cause them to be unhappy.

it is certainly possible to be poor and happy, but if you feel
deprived, lack autonomy or are in a constant state of anxiety it will
be hard to be happy.



Dumbass -

It just takes an adjustment in expectations.

I've seen it in hiring circus performers. I love dealing with Russians
- they've got world class skills and for a given gig salary they're
much more content than an American who has way less skill. One of my
Russian friends explained it simply, "In Russia, I only had hot water
3 months out of the year". They're happy to have hot water, but the
Americans are bummed if they can't buy the same car or live in the
same neighborhood as the lawyers, stockbrokers, pharmaceutical
salepeople, et al. for whom they perform.

In the United States we're conditioned to "keep up with the Joneses"
when really, there's no need. No one needs to starve in modern,
industrialized economies.

thanks,

Kurgan. presented by Gringioni.

On Jan 8, 11:34*pm, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."
wrote:

They're happy to have hot water, but the
Americans are bummed if they can't buy the same car or live in the
same neighborhood as the lawyers, stockbrokers, pharmaceutical
salepeople, et al. for whom they perform.

In the United States we're conditioned to "keep up with the Joneses"
when really, there's no need. No one needs to starve in modern,
industrialized economies.

dumbass,

that is a natural human tendency and not uniquely american. people
become upset if they feel deprived relative to others around them.

this is what caused the french revolution and the collapse of many
other monarchies.

On Jan 8, 10:43*pm, Amit Ghosh wrote:
On Jan 8, 11:34*pm, "Kurgan. presented by Gringioni."

wrote:
They're happy to have hot water, but the
Americans are bummed if they can't buy the same car or live in the
same neighborhood as the lawyers, stockbrokers, pharmaceutical
salepeople, et al. for whom they perform.

In the United States we're conditioned to "keep up with the Joneses"
when really, there's no need. No one needs to starve in modern,
industrialized economies.

dumbass,

that is a natural human tendency and not uniquely american. people
become upset if they feel deprived relative to others around them.



Dumbass -

The point is, in modern industrialized societies, there is no need for
this. Even the poor people are fat.

thanks,

Kurgan. presented by Gringioni.