Lego V8

I like Legos and I like engines, so I can definitely appreciate this Lego V8. Hit the YouTube video to truly appreciate its features.

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/31/video-dont-call-it-ocd-dude-builds-32-valve-dohc-v8-out-of-le/

Workout of the Day - Aug 31

Bonk. 

 

I'm not sure what happened this morning. Got a decent amount of sleep last night. Didn't eat anything out of the ordinary. No excessive exercise this weekend. But I bonked big-time this morning.

 

It kinda pisses me off. I take offense for not having a decent workout. It's one area that I have control over how productive I am and can actually feel like I accomplished something for the day. I just couldn't get any amount of weight up. I guess I've taken for granted that it has been pretty smooth sailing as far as getting a consistent workout in, especially Mondays. I get two days of rest and usually have extra energy on Monday. At least I will be motivated to redeem myself on Wednesday.

 

What went wrong? UFC 102

Went 2 of 5 this weekend, not very good. Time to see what really happened.

 

Heavyweight bout:  Randy Couture vs.  Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira

Well, I got the Nogueria almost subbing out Randy part right. But Minotauro was more than up to the task in the striking department. He rocked Randy several times. Big Nog looked really good. Still, it was a very solid fight and these two guys let the leather fly early and often. I had Randy losing all 3 rounds. The bigger story is Randy signing a 23-month, 6-fight deal? WTF? I hope that's not true.

 

Light Heavyweight bout:  Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva

What can I say, the Jardine roller coaster continues. Thiago was clearly motivated to prove himself after losing to Machida. Not a bad guy to have your only loss against. I'll give Silva credit, he gave the Mean One a beatdown.

 

Middleweight bout:  Chris Leben vs. Jake Rosholt

I got this one right. But it was noteworthy because Yves Lavine missed the tap of Leben, and the huge home crowd got to see him go unconscious and convulse. Nice job Yves.

 

Middleweight bout:  Nate Marquardt vs. Demian Maia

Marquardt made a fool of Maia's standup game (or lack thereof). A spectacular KO, given that Maia had changed directions in mid-air.

 

Light Heavyweight bout:  Brandon Vera vs.  Krzysztof Soszynski

Vera fought a very smart fight and picked apart Krzysztof. The Truth was just too fast, stepped away from any punches and didn't let Soszynski take him down. Kinda boring, but a well executed gameplan. Vera kept the fight going his way for 3 rounds.

UFC 102 Picks

Who do you like for this weekend? Here's my take....

Heavyweight bout:  Randy Couture vs.  Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira

I'm probably blinded by the fan in me, but I think this one is Randy's. Both guys are coming off of losses. But Minotauro looked especially bad. I think Couture is actually still improving his game. His striking against Lesnar was going pretty well, right up until he was grazed by a Thanksgiving turkey-sized fist. I see Couture having a distinct striking and stamina advantage. Big Nog will probably get pounded, fall to the ground and then look to sub Captain American. Other than that happening, I'm calling it a TKO or at least a decision for Xtreme Couture.

 

Light Heavyweight bout:  Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva

I don't like to call this one, namely because Jardine is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde. But it's hard to be consistent when you constantly face top tier guys in a stacked 205-division. I think Thiago's record, while impressive, doesn't have the names on it that Jardine's does. I'm going with the Jardine that took Rampage deep, not the Jardine that got dominated by Wandy.

 

Middleweight bout:  Chris Leben vs. Jake Rosholt

I think Leben's best days are behind him. He's still facing a slugger, but I'm hoping Jake can use a variety of tools to frustrate, tired and beat Leben. That's all I got on this match-up.

 

Middleweight bout:  Nate Marquardt vs. Demian Maia

Maia has brought sexy back. I'm as amazed by his jits as when I first saw Gracie and couldn't believe he was choking out guys 100 pounds heavier than him with magical moves. That said, it's Marquardt's fight to lose. He's very well rounded and powerful; and can dictate where this fight goes, or doesn't go. If his ego gets in the way, he could get subbed. If he plays it smart, he will win. The problem is convincing him that grinding out a win is OK. Unfortunately, the guy wants to put on a show. Don't fall for it Nate. You may still KO the guy, just don't risk too much.

 

Light Heavyweight bout:  Brandon Vera vs.  Krzysztof Soszynski

Another tough call. Vera is a trainwreck, just getting it back together against weaker 205 opponents after falling apart in the heavyweight division. Soszynski is pushing himself by taking this fight and way be in over his head. The Polish Experiment is evolving quickly, showing power in his last fight. but has he made enough improvement to defeat a Vera caliber guy? I'm a bit tired of hearing about talented Hawaiian guys saying they finally see the light and are now committed to training and fighting. Vera is no Penn. I'll take a flyer on an improving Krzysztof.

 

Gamer News

I haven't been much of a gamer lately. But I have been checking for what limited Diablo III news is out there, every so often. Bad news on that front. I guess it was announced at a the recent Blizzcon, that two big games are to be released in 2010. Neither one is Diablo III. 2011!?! That's a big downer for today.

I'm looking for good news now.  I have seen some rumblings about the new Batman game. "Best Batman Game Ever!" Well, that's not saying too much. But the Tomb Raider people at Eidos made this game and it supposedly has some puzzles, along with battle and graphics. I'm intrigued. It totally makes sense that Batman have to figure stuff out and not just hack and slash. May have to pick this one up. The kids are currently going through a Justice League kick. So if Batman made an appearance on the PS3 it would be welcomed, more or less. I figure I'm doing it for the kids...

UFC 102

When I first heard of the headliners for UFC 102 (Couture vs. Nogueira) I was less than excited. I am a big Couture fan, but I figured this is a fight that should have happened years ago. Now, both guys are coming off losses and it's a bit underwhelming. Yet, it is a soild card and that's what makes for a good event, not just one headline fight.

 

Heavyweight bout:  Randy Couture vs.  Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira

Light Heavyweight bout:  Keith Jardine vs.  Thiago Silva

Middleweight bout:  Chris Leben vs.  Jake Rosholt

Middleweight bout:  Nate Marquardt vs.  Demian Maia

Light Heavyweight bout:  Brandon Vera vs.  Krzysztof Soszynski

 

Preliminary card

Middleweight bout:  Ed Herman vs.  Aaron Simpson

Heavyweight bout:  Gabriel Gonzaga vs.  Chris Tuchscherer

Heavyweight bout:  Justin McCully vs.  Mike Russow

Heavyweight bout:  Tim Hague vs.  Todd Duffee

Middleweight bout:  Nick Catone vs.  Mark Muñoz

Lightweight bout:  Marcus Aurelio vs.  Evan Dunham

 

I always love to see Jardine fight. Leben is usually good for an entertaining fight as well. Marquardt vs Maia probably determines the next Anderson Silva victim. Looks to be a classic wrestling/jitz battle. Nate is one powerful dude, but should probably take his chances standing. I know Marquardt has some definite submission skills, but Maia is on a crazy level. Demian has won all his UFC fights via submission, and usually Sub of the Night honors. Vera vs Krzysztof is also interesting. Soszynski took this one on short notice, and it's definitely his chance to jump up the 205 ladder. Will be a good indicator of where his overall game is at. I'm pulling for him since he was entertaining on TUF and trains with Hendo.

 

Who is Tuchscherer? I guess the guy got to skip TUF 10 and straight to a legit heavyweight in his first UFC fight. They're obviously fast tracking this guy. I'm interested to see how he does. Russow, Duffee and Hague are also pretty much brand new Lesnar bait. I like keeping on top of the heavies, since the UFC is obviously looking to stock up that division. And TUF 10 is just around the corner...

 

 

Someone has a case of the Mondays

Solid, long weekend. Golfed 66 holes over 3-days. I've never played any of the courses before. I wish that were the excuse for my play; but when you can't hit the ball it could be a course you know, don't know, the range or your backyard. Even after 66 holes, I never really got my swing going. I'm not one to expect to shoot a low score or anything. But if I can knock in a few solid putts, nail a few greens, hit some long drives and keep it under 100; I'm satisfied. Not a satisfying weekend on the golf front.

 

Started the weekend right, drove up to the Central Coast in 3 hours. Nice. The drive back, not so nice. I gave myself a healthy cushion, since Santa Barbara is a slow affair on Sunday afternoons. But it took me 4.5 hours to get back. And that was for 33 miles less distance. I probably could have ridden a bicycle through Santa Barbara much faster than being in a car on the 101 East.

 

Well, it was still a good time. Great eats and cold drinks. Didn't puke-up any cigars. So it was a fun time. A couple of the courses were especially tough, but also much nicer than what I normally play. I like getting out on the courses with crazy fast greens, every now and then. Despite taking a beating, I'm looking forward to the next big, golf weekend. Maybe we can add an eating contest so I have a chance at winning something. Then again, Johnny can beat me at that too.

Carano Finished at 4:59 Rnd 1

I managed to see a poor quality internet feed of the Carano v Cyborg fight. It was an intense 5 minutes. Lots of momentum swing and transitions, sub-attempts, full mount and ultimately stoppage. Santos was too much brawler and Carano not enough duck and weave. I'd love to see a re-match, as I don't think that was Carano at her best. Of course, maybe I just want to see Conviction weigh-in again... 

The Tiger is Dead

So, Tiger "lost" the PGA is weekend. He's no longer undefeated when leading after 54-holes. Is Tiger no longer as dominant as he once was? Possibly. Is his losing good for the PGA? Maybe. Do I like that he lost? Not really.

I'm not saying that I'm the biggest Tiger fan in the world. Nor do I hate the guy's success either. I can't believe that he has lived-up to the immense hype built-up when he first came on to the Tour. The guy is a marketing brand all by himself. Has become the second Michael Jordan as far as Nike is concerned. Each year there's a new epic highlight that he creates, which is bigger than the last.

But I'm also a bit sad that there's a blemish on his dominance. Maybe unlike most people, I like that there's an otherworldly talent. I enjoy seeing the Gretzkys, Jordans or Anderson Silvas of the world. People like movies with intense human drama. But you can see that stuff on display, for real, every so often, when a once-in-a-generation athlete hits the biggest stage in his/her respective sport.

But you can't stay perfect in golf, not even Tiger.

Cool

Everyone has a different definition of what's cool, especially when it comes to the automotive side. But, here's a pretty good example of what I consider a "cool" ride. Maybe not the most practical of all vehicles, but it's a sweet custom job throughout and I always thought these cabovers were cool anyway.

 

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/jalopnik/full/~3/Netb70BE1g8/super-cool-custom-cabover-watches-sunset-over-bonneville

JT Money

Well, much like Affliction before it, Strikeforce is having trouble getting guys into the ring. Nick Diaz skipped a drug test and will not be fighting this weekend. So, Jesse Taylor will be taking his place. That's right Ko-Ko the monkey from TUF. I guess he's riding a 7-fight win streak, six of those wins are in 2009. He's also won two belts. Granted, his last victory in Japan was due to his opponent hurting his foot/ankle and not being able to continue. And the titles he won were minor promotions. Still, the guy seems game and apparently loves to fight. He made some mistakes in the UFC, but has continued his career. Good luck JT$.

 

I don't get Showtime, but I'm interested in seeing this event. Carano vs Cyborg, Sobral vs Mousasi and a lightweight title fight are also on the card. There's more to life than just the UFC.

Power Weekend

I'm exhausted from the weekend. Drove down to San Diego Thursday night and hit the Wild Animal Park on Friday. It was mostly to take the tram tour and see their Dino Mountain exhibit. Kalani was afraid of the animatronic dinosaurs, but played it off afterward. The Park is plenty big with lots of area to cover. The tram tour is pretty cool. But a lot of the animals in the enclosures become redundant once you take the tour. The kids had a good time. Both were nice and tired by the time we got home.

 

We got into the OC Fair for $2, with a closing weekend coupon. Kalani loved all the rides. Kalea didn't even go on the Ferris wheel or Super Slide, while Kalani did. We did the normal stuff we usually do: reptile house, art exhibit, fried food. The weather was breezy, and it kept things cool. Also, not too busy either. A pretty good day to be walking around the Fair.

 

Damn, no soapbox race for you. #redbull

Here's the consolation letter and 4-pak of Red Bull. We're officially out of the soapbox derby and not selected for the Los Angeles Race.

NHL Offseason

Typically quiet this time of year.

 

It was announced that Jeremy Roenick is calling for a press conference tomorrow. Sounds like JR is retiring. This is a good thing. I don't like seeing one of my heros play at 75% (and that's probably being generous). Time is a bitch, especially for JR. The guy played the game hard and that's why he is one of my favorite players. He's played with numerous concussions in the playoffs, but the topper was coming back from a broken jaw. Not just playing hurt, but being a stud while playing hurt when it mattered most. Knee surgeries, broken bones, separated shoulder, and 11+ concussions; it's safe to say he's permanently retired.

A very colorful personality. JR is rivaled by only Brett Hull in the speaking your mind department. I think this is why he will be in the broadcast booth sooner than later. He's already done a few post-seasons and is a natural in front of the camera. Between that and golfing, Roenick will stay busy.

 

Also, it's "Hello Numminen." Or rather good-bye. As Teppo is also anging up the skates. He has also made it around 20 years, like JR. And injuries have plagued the later years of Teppo's career too. I solid guy off and on the ice.

 

Shanny is not calling it a career yet. I just heard he's signed on for another year with the Devils. It's a farwell tour of sorts, as I believe that he started his career with New Jersey; way back in the Christmas-themed green and red jersey days. I don't see him playing beyond this year.

 

Word on the street is that Heatley could be going to San Jose via some three team deal. I'll believe it when I see it. Speaking of the Senators, a former player, Patrick Eaves, was signed by Detroit. Good for him. I hope he makes the most of it and has a breakout year.

 

Strikeforce actually a force in MMA?

Well, the San Jose based fight promotion best known for the upcoming Carano vs Cyborg fight has signed a free agent.  Fedor. Pretty big news in the MMA world. So, the UFC will not get it's Brock vs Fedor fight any time soon and too bad. I don't see too many interesting fights on the horizon for the UFC beyond this year. The big question is how long Strikeforce will last. They have a few heavyweights, but Fedor will mow through them in 3 events. What then? It's basically Affliction all over again?

 

It would be cool to see them groom a ladies division that the UFC would probably not counter. Likewise, Strikeforce should probably leave the lighter weight classes as a niche to the WEC. But competition can be a good thing. Maybe a legit heavyweight fighter will give allow Strikeforce to succeed where Elite XC and Kimbo failed? In the end, I see this as purely a way for Dana White to have more fighters groomed in a rival league, which he will poach when they go out of business.

Red Bull Soapbox Derby Los Angeles 2009 - Email server down?

Something must be wrong over a Red Bull, because they haven't contacted me about my Soapbox Derby entry. You know my teams' design is badazz. So what's the holdup? July has now come and gone; I haven't heard boo. I even tried search'n the internet for some blogger to brag about getting picked to be in the race. Nothing.

 

It's hard to remain excited. With each day there's more of a sinking feeling. I had pretty much given-up thinking about it, until the end of last week. The team was talking about optimal designs and costume possibilities. But that's clearly jumping the gun. I would just like confirmation either way; accepted or not.

 

'Cause as it is, my August is pretty full. We're losing valuable time. Getting this contraption built will not happen in a weekend. I at least hope not...

Rally X

Got hooked-up with tickets for the X Games rally car on Sunday. It was pretty damn cool. We happened to have optimal seating, as it was at the end of the landing ramp for the 35" jump. That sucker took it's toll on the cars. One of the cars got body work in-between elimination and the finals. There was a guy wailing away with a sledge hammer, and then the tried and true; hook-a-tow-cable-to-another-car-and-pull/tug-the-frame-straight. I don't think that stuff made the telecast. The final was underwhelming, as three of the races were red flagged and no car actually had to finish the race. But it was a great time.

 

Also, Mirra and Pastrana had interviews in-between races and the booth was just behind the section I was in. So, both guys got within 30' of me. That was cool. They got semi-mobbed, so I had no chance at an autograph or photo-op.

 

Check out my photos. http://onofamilypics.shutterfly.com/