look sharp

obama's camp is calling out mccain for wearing $520+ italian made dress loafers (ferragamo).

really? i mean fucking really?

he SHOULD have an expensive shoe. he's a goddamn politician. he represents our whole country. i don't want him looking like an average american slob. i hope he looks to GQ and the runways of milan for his fashion queues.

all this talk of politicians and elitism is complete bullshit. of course they are elitists, and they should be. they represent the most elite country in the world. so dress like it.

olympic limitations

i can't believe the bullshit that china is pulling with restricting coverage of the olympics. it's one thing to rule your country in such an anal, backward, fashion, but when playing host to the world, i'm not sure how they can justify enforcing their ridiculous limitations on our foreign media.

the olympics represent world unity. a competition that has no borders, and should have no restrictions to how it is viewed. it's supposed to be left up to each government covering the games to decide what they will, and will not, show in their countries. yet some how the olympic committee is not pressing china to hold to its original promise of 'free access and free media' when it was awarded the games.

i hope china has a change of heart and allows reporters to do their jobs. a country that is so afraid of negativity toward their image is causing it by trying to govern and restrict how the world sees them. dumb.

cruel and unusual

going from fresh-brewed italian espresso to a london hotel's 'nestlé freeze-dried instant coffee' - it's just not right.

last of it

it's an odd feeling packing a duffle that has been shoved under a still unfamiliar bed as my weekend roommates sun themselves to american pop songs from 10+ years ago. even though living in a place where i understand about 1/50 of what is going on in conversation, i still find a lump in my throat knowing the odds of ever seeing these great people again.

i guess this is what memories and emails are for, and even though i can't really understand them the majority of the time, i know i will still miss them. though italy will never be able to substitute all that i left behind in the states. the perfection of food and culture here still can't compensate for the opportunity and drive america offers.

italy is a fucking fantastic place. don't just visit the tourist traps and the remnants of history that you learned about as an adolescent. get lost. wander. come to parma. really experience italy in a city in which it is a rarity when a person speaks english, not an everyday occasion like in rome or florence.

best meal of the summer

living in italy for three months has allowed me to eat some fantastic food. the best meal i ate here, well actually in my whole life (no exaggeration here), was this past friday.

for apertivo (aka warm-up):
margarita pizza, to which i added boscorelli (cured beef)

primi:
eggplant parmesan - though the eggplant was grilled, and it was served out of a deep pan in which there were 4+ layers of deliciousness.

secondi:
porco cotto - but this was nothing like an cooked pork i have ever ever ever had. it was baked in oil/ butter, rosemary, sage, and garlic. i swear this was the best meat i have ever tasted. this cooked pork laughs at bacon, and cries for the way my grandmother cooks her disgusting holiday ham. americans have fucked up pork. seriously.

dolci:
panne cotto topped with carmel and another with mixed berries. blew my mind.

add in the fact we were drinking some incredible brew, and that i was in great company... unbeatable.

mad men

am i really the only one who hated this show? the only person who wasn't impressed by the lack wit? did no one else find the plot of the series so predictable that one could accurately guess the end of the episode ten minutes in?

how is it possibly up for an emmy? come on. for fucks sake, draper's secretary was pregnant and didn't even know until literally in labor. she progressively gained weight, yet felt no kicks from the little person inside or questioned her morning sickness? REALLY?

is it because i watched the show back to back or something? does it become a gem when commercials break up the bad content?

seriously. the best part of this show is the intro, which is sadly misleading because donald draper is yet to jump from his corner office.

grow some wings

we should go full steam ahead with stem cell research. not for disease or solving current medical problems. fuck that shit. we need to figure out how to grow wings... or fuse them on. if people could fly it would snap our economy right back into an upward trend. no more high fuel prices! petro would only be used for transportation of goods... and by those who didn't want to become 'freaks of nature.'

there would be no need to pay ridiculous amounts for airline tickets (maybe to jet overseas on occasion). we would all be doing our part to make the world 'greener.' though i'm not sure how the increase of food consumption (obviously burning an excessive amount of calories flying around all the time) would effect the functionality of the economy. i am confident it would correct itself.

no more traffic. no more cars for personal use. just public transportation to get you somewhere, if for some reason (i can't think of one) that you wouldn't want to fly. with global warming on the rise, flight will soon be possible year-round.

what better way to create more jobs in america then wing fabrication? no one would trust wings built in china. people don't go to china or india for surgery - why would they have those cheap labor countries build something as valuable as an extension of self? boom. another boost in our economy. turn the car manufacturing plants into wing centers. this would also breath some new life into the travel sector, making american an even stronger global competitor.

retail would increase. you obviously wouldn't be able to wear that gap shirt you bought last season... no wing room. just like that, a whole new market begging for designers to lend their creativity and sensibilities.

new technology would be created to make the gps location of others flying known.

health care costs would rise. stupid people would require more care, but with all that money freed up from no longer having to pay for a car (gas, insurance, maintenance, etc.) better facilities would be built and more care available.

though i guess we wouldn't need to do any of this if we had just learned from our past fuel shortages and economic downturns. maybe have looked into a sustainable fuel source or two, instead of modeling our approach to solving our problems of over consumption after a college student cramming for an exam that starts in three minutes.

have fun paying upwards of $4.50 a gallon for gas. i'm looking into wings.

bad beats

not bad in the good way. bad in the bad way. in fact awful, repulsive, and painfully annoying - all justifiable ways to describe the 'music' i have heard produced by italians.

no. not classical music. i'm talking current music. fucking horrible pop. the vast majority of it is a refusal to let the annoying dance tunes of the 80's die... the other small percentage: a sad attempt at creating something reminiscent of amy winehouse.

i may not understand italian, but even with english laid a top these monstrosities it would still be nothing short of fucking bad.

with a population of 58,147,733 (est. july 2007) one would think they might be able to produce two or three songs that didn't suck.

dear english,

i miss you. i look forward to meeting you in the airport.

sincerely,

matt

four languages for apertivo

last night, (arriving home from an hour and a half run - pouring sweat) i came upon a table of eight sitting outside my house. one of my roommates invited his old colleges from a restaurant that he used to work at. i was half naked and out of breath.

after some awkwardly sweaty handshakes and 'ciao's, with a quick shower to follow, the further confusion continued. not until about halfway through the night did i comprehend the entire group dynamic: my roommate is from italy. his friend who is a drummer, is from italy, but this guy speaks decent english. there was a couple from italy, but they also spoke french. then a french guy, who also spoke italian. an italian woman, who also spoke spanish, and knew the basics of english. an argentinean, who's first language is spanish, knows a little french, and just started learning italian a month ago (when she got here). finally, a peruvian girl who's first language is spanish, knows english, and can speak italian.

to summarize: i felt a bit inadequate, and was more confused then normal when trying to process the dinner conversation.

sunset panorama

(click image to view larger)
shot yesterday from my backyard in tordenaso.

portfolio photo update

- under 'PHOTOS' in the 'italia' section, new sunset panoramic view from my house in Tordenaso (click the second button down).

running beard

i was looking less zeus and more cast away. having a tan with a homeless beard is no look for me. i shaped that shit up - lookin fresh.

i'll figure out some other way to harness the power of the gods into my running. facial hair is no longer on the list.

with eyes closed

yes. this weekend i dominated the tordenaso poker play. i won 125 euros ($200) through two games (15 in one 110 in another).

i have become a minor tourist attraction over the summer through my american style and speech. our games of 9 or 10 people are watched by another 9 or 10 - all waiting for me to say, "i'm going all in." they find this fucking hilarious, though like the hyenas in the lion king, normally shut up once beaten.

if you want to gain respect from italians, hand them their asses in a game of hold 'em.

culinary breakthrough

this past weekend, after presenting my roommates with the wine jeff and i got while down in the chianti region, they finally started telling me the secrets to parmesanese cooking. though i did have to deal with some scolding for trying to serve a secondi (meat) wine with aperitivo (appetizers).

everything you read in books talking about italians and their unwillingness to divolge even the most simple ingredient is true. a huge level of trust has to be built for them to tell you more then 'add some of this, this, and this (leaving out the essential ingredient, and not including amounts)'.

anyway - i now know things so simple, yet brilliant, they will melt your pallet when savored.

give me a month to perfect what i've learned and i will bet you large amounts of cash that my 'yellow lotus' grilling technique is far superior to your 'i watched bobby flay once, and cook on a gas grill' nonsense.

training alteration

pending my return to the states, my training will go from 'three running and three weight training' to 'four running and two weights'.

new schedule (starting august 1):

sun - off

mon - (90 - 100 min) med pace run

tues - (50 - 60 min) strength training, leg work

wed - (50 min) tempo/interval training

thurs - (30 - 45 min) cycling and (60 min) pushup regiment, 12 - 15 at the top of every min

fri - (30 - 40 min) strength training, core training

sat - (120 - 160 min) med-slow run

peachoholic

while jeff and i were down in rome we grabbed some fresh peaches from a fruit market near our hotel. fucking delicious. since i have been a peach fiend devouring every ripe fruit in my path. the produce here is off the hook.

beyond the noise

is a badass album from 'the warriors'

check it.

running beard

yeah. i'm growing one.

soon the power of zeus will be mine and i will crush my opponents in endurance competitions.

portfolio update

- new photos from 'roma' are up, and at a higher quality then facebook (don't have to convert to .jpg - nice right?)
- also my new sexy resume.

ps - you may have to empty your cache or cookies this time to view the new version of the site. my time code didn't work this upload on my browser.

color schemes

in my travels, and the resulting albums created, i have realized there lies a beauty in the ultimate reduction of these images. color schemes.

from now on, when i post a facebook album, the aftermath will include the inspired pallet. use them for design, inspiration, or don't at all - just trying to give any of my competitors a helping hand. best of luck.



'roma'


'may in parma'


'hog head'


'no trash for naples'

chianti

jeff and i hit up the chianti wine region on a tour this past tuesday. amazing. the countryside of tuscany and florence is incredible. the wine - even better.

just be sure to check what time the tour gets back. jeff and i arrived literally a minute too late to catch the 10:30 pm train back to parma. 2 am was the next departure, at a different station... with an hour layover in bologna.

summary: do the wine tour and ONLY ride EuroStar when in italy.

saldi

all retail stores over here are going nutz with putting the vast majority of their summer collections on sale. i miiiight have bought eight dress shirts and a new jacket. gotta rock that fuckin italian style right?

post-run eats

it is recommended that after a workout you eat within 30 minutes of finishing. generally a protein or fruit shake will work, but sometimes i want food that is either sweet or tangy to fulfill my hunger.

some things that i crave after a long run (that have nutritional benefit):

- granny smith apple

- canned sweet corn (yeah... room-temp. just figured that one out yesterday)

- carrots

- fresh berries with cream

- black olives... better yet, kalamata olives (reppin my greeks)

"Studies have shown that eating carbs within 30 minutes of exercise helps speed the making of muscle glycogen. Protein eaten right away can help heal muscles."
- Secrets of Endurance, NYT

It also allows for 40% higher replenishment of spent protein and carbohydrates then if food is not consumed within 30 minutes after a workout. Read up.

refocusing

over the past three years i have become addicted to multi-sport cross training and competition. it has gotten increasingly harder to train for swimming and cycling, but running has remained my constant.

when i began doing triathlons four years ago it was mostly because i swam for a season in high school and had been a mediocre cross country runner. i figured i already had two of three sports down, so why not compete? using a borrowed woman's road bike, i awkwardly tackled the challenge of the 'great ohioan triathlon.'

during the winter/ spring that followed i decided to start training seriously for sprint distance triathlons. i even stopped drinking alcohol for eight months - of course it payed off. it was easy to train though while still living in columbus due to the easy accessibility of pools, gyms, and endless country roads to ride. i had a very successful season running around eight sprint triathlons (with a 5th place overall finish, and almost always either winning or placing top three in my age group). cycling became my strength. i finished the season with an olympic distance.

the following year i trained, and completed, the little smokies half distance. this was not the smartest of moves as i had not trained hills, then ran the hardest rated half ironman in ohio. it was the only option that fit my timeline of moving back to nyc for the summer - just the way it had to be.

the next goal was to run a marathon. it was a pretty seamless transition going from half distance cross training to full on marathon training. i then completed the hampton's marathon.

my training was further hindered once i moved to brooklyn to attend pratt. the school's lap pool has been shut down indefinitely.... why? dunno. rumors of some accident resulting in a death - no life guards or something (yet they hire an excessive amount of students to work at print labs, but can't find even ONE life guard. sweet pratt. awesome job.). there was also (and still is) no where to continuously cycle. yes. the west side has a trail, but i suggest it for running NOT cycling. you will constantly be dodging rollerbladers, oblivious walkers, and children.... never mind the breaking for cross traffic.

i do have to say nyc does have some sick runs. brooklyn has prospect park, which even offers a decent hill. manhattan - the eastside, west side highway, and central park. if you get a chance, run any of the mentioned.

here in italy... cycling is as common as basketball in the states. only problem is that i don't have my road bike here. the running has been great though. beautiful countryside and tones of hills. finding water mid-run, or getting power gels (impossible), have both proved to be challenges. i have not seen a pool, public or private, since my arrival 2+ months ago.

when looking through some of my older triathlon photos though i came to the realization that i have been forced into slowly drifting from a sport, well two of the three, that i enjoy more then any others (and happen to be pretty good at). so once i conquer a couple more marathons, i believe it will be time to refocus to the days of my triathlon training - take down an ironman or two.

key to a good life

is excellent olive oil (extra virgin).

the first thing i am putting on the list for stocking my next kitchen is some pricey, well refined, oil.

no joke - pure. simple. clean. olive oil can take a dish to another level. i have replaced butter in almost all aspects of my cooking (some things you can't obviously.... baking, making some pancakes, spreading on an ear of corn...).

olive oil. drink it up.

single

singular... not in a relationship.... its weird.

... to be be dating someone for a good chunk of time, even long distance, then not. a mental dependance grows into a functioning part of everyday life - yet when no longer there the brain scrambles to find something else to fill it.

it's odd.

mourning the 902

902s

903s

new balance has replaced the 902 with the 903. this cuts me deep.

the 902s (the bright orange, light weight shoes i run in) were the best fitting shoes i have ever used. no new shoe blisters or strained arches.... just perfect, light, airy comfort.

after reading reviews on the upgrade to the 903 i am unsure whether to buy into them. many people have said mixed things from the transition being seamless to there being a taller toe (i thought the 902s had plenty of toe room though) to the 903s sucking hard when compared to the old version.

so now the decision comes (once i get back to the states) whether to buy the new or franticly search for the old.

power gels

why does italy not have any?

with the number of cyclists that ride in these parts i am very surprised that the large super markets don't carry any kind of, sports related, nutritional supplements. one can barely find gatorade in the supermarkets (not joking - less then one shelf is given). my gym has an assortment of protein drinks and bars, but nothing that comes close to any kind of goo packet or anything that would be digestible mid-run.

other then the heat, this is one factor that definitely makes those runs over an hour and half harder (yes, even with my stupid fucking fuel belt filled to the brim with gatorade). this will be one of the welcome changes coming with my return to the us.

yes. power gels really are that important.

$4 gallon will ruin the republicans

great opinion piece in the nyt:

"Pumped Up" by Ron Klain

Ron Klain was a member of Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign policy and debate preparation staff.

The Republican machinations of the last two weeks in the presidential campaign have a certain déjà vu quality to them: Charlie Black is again warning us of a possible terror attack, commentators are stoking up fears among gun owners and critics are trying to make Barack Obama look like he’s soft on crime and elitist. Serving up this stew of scares, social issues and slander delivered the White House to the G.O.P. in 2000 and 2004: Will it work again?

I don’t think so. While the pundits and analysts spin elaborate campaign scenarios and analyses, this year you can cut through all that stuff and boil the campaign down to a single sentence: If gas is still more than $4 a gallon on Election Day, there is no way a Republican will continue to control the White House. All the lapel-pin, Internet-rumor, orange-alert, character-smear, gays-’n'-guns, ground-game efforts by the G.O.P. cannot possibly overcome the stark reality of $4 a gallon for gas.

I know it seems simplistic, but the reality of high gas prices touches many nerves — some obvious, others less so — that yield the irresistible outcome I’m suggesting.

First, there are the raw economic and financial consequences for most Americans. There is a long tradition in democracies of voters being driven by price increases in key commodities: the French Revolution was fueled by the soaring price of bread, and our colonial forefathers were riled by a tax on tea. For 21st century Americans, nothing is more vital than gasoline. Even more than any particular food item, gasoline is the essential commodity that takes Americans to work, brings their goods to market and powers their recreation. The hit on American’s pocketbooks is huge, and when one adds the many indirect effects (everything from higher prices on goods transported by truck, to job losses in fuel-driven industries, to plummeting resale values on used S.U.V.’s), high gas prices hit more people, more deeply, than almost any other economic phenomenon short of a depression. Pinched and angry voters are change voters, plain and simple.

continued here...

more heat

the ny times was right on point with helping answer my question about how heat effects running performance (ref. 'run naked'):

Scott Montain and Matthew R. Ely, researchers at the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine in Natick, Mass., analyzed real-world data from seven major marathons, comparing performances over years when temperatures and humidity varied but the race course remained the same. Heat affected slower runners more, probably because they were on the course longer and ran in packs. Warm bodies close together make it harder for one’s body heat to dissipate.

An elite runner capable of finishing in less than two and a half hours on a cool day (41 to 50 degrees) would be 2.5 percent slower in warmer climes (68 to 77 degrees.) A three-hour marathoner on a cool day would be slowed by 12 percent in the heat, the researchers reported.

they also talk about how cooling off by splashing yourself with cold water is actually bad to do because your body only cools when the sweat is evaporating, not from having water droplets on your skin. i'm not sure if i agree with this though - when running the hamptons marathon last year, at every other water station i would douse myself with a cup of cold water. it felt like it was helping shock-cool my core temperature. i'll look into this a bit more.

read the rest of the article.

ridiculously

awesome.

free training plans

the denver marathon site offers a coupon code for activetrainer.com... it's sponsored by newbalance (where i get my 902s). it has multiple distances ranging from 5k to full marathons.

go to this link, select what distance you want to train for, then when it eventually asks you for payment options, enter this in the coupon code: NBTRAINDM

the site is pretty slick. it lets you edit workouts. it also sends you daily email reminders of the activity, duration, and so on. it is a good base if you have never used a training guide before. i normally pick and choose from multiple plans in order to fit my schedule, and throw in more cross training. i don't recommend straying from a schedule if you don't have the experience though.


i currently train:

sun - off

mon - (40-50 min) strength training

tues - (80 - 90 min) med. run OR (60 min) cycling

wed - (30 min) core training
- (60 min) pushup regiment, 10+ top of every min

thurs - (50 min) tempo/interval training

fri - (30 - 40) strength training

sat - (120 - 140 min) med-slow run

obviously, long run times increase incrementally as training continues. by mid-august one strength training day will turn to an additional cross training day.

this is my third year of endurance cross training. i have a very good understanding of what i can handle, and how to mix workouts. i don't advise it though until reading tons of articles and magazines (ex: runner's world, triathlete magazine, etc).

new salad

this is the first thing i am cooking when i get back to the US and can find edamame beans.

edamame salad

run naked

as the unpredictable weather of june has passed, the sun is out in full force. it is now just hot - temperatures mercilessly shoots past the high 90's, plus terrible humidity. this has effected my running the same way it does every summer. it makes me go slower and hate life. i try to keep up with previous times and distance references, but with the inferno ablaze, i stand little chance to match what i could do at even 80.

i have been researching how to beat, or at least adjust time, to the heat. it hasn't been easy to find much outside the guidelines of 'drink more fluids' and 'avoid strenuous workouts.' in a perfect world that would be fine, but i can't just stop pushing pace on a necessary 2 hour run because it's a bit too hot for my liking. i have a time goal set in stone. three hours, ten minutes. if i miss it, nine months of training go to shit (amount of time i will have trained as of race day).

some solutions i have come across have included a throw back to the original olympics - running naked. obviously that has some legal restraints (though there is naked hiking day up in alaska on the day of the summer solstice... i guess you could do a trail run, right?). the typical suggestions of drinking more and wearing clothing that airs well can be found here.

but neither of those articles holds the answer i am looking for. how do you properly adjust your time to compensate for temperature and humidity? one trainer, jeff galloway, has the answer:

Account for Heat

The hot and sticky days of summer are here. Make sure that you are making some adjustments in your running. Most runners begin to slow down at 55 degrees and start suffering at 65 degrees. Of course, the body can adapt to heat stress and push the threshold up a bit, but you usually can't run as fast on a 75 degee day as on a 45 degree one. High humidity is also a major problem. It's like a wet blanket; it doesn't allow much evaporation or perspiration and your body heat builds up.

If you try to run too hard in hot or humid conditions you'll hit "the wall" sooner than expected. Trying to maintain a goal pace in heat is like going out too fast early in the race. Temperatures generally increase hour by hour; therefore you must adjust your pace for the temperature expected at the end of the race.

Adjusting Race Pace for Heat: Estimated temperature at finish - Slower than goal pace - 8 min mile becomes...

55-60 degrees - 1% - 8:05
60-65 degrees - 3% - 8:15
65-70 degrees - 5% - 8:25
70-75 degrees - 7% - 8:35
75-80 degrees - 12% - 8:58
80-85 degrees - 20% - 9:35
Above 85 degrees - Forget it... run for fun

* Note: This chart is based upon my own experience in the heat and talking to other runners. It has no scientific verification.

Other helpful articles include The Heat is On and Heat Tested - information that I already follow.

which marathon

i am currently training six days a week to try to qualify for the 2009 boston marathon. the question is, which qualifier should i run?

i am going to do one of two races on october 19th... the columbus marathon OR the denver marathon.

both are flat courses. only difference - denver is a mile high. i am already going to be in boulder this fall... so no expensive flight needed to do that race, which automatically makes it the more logical choice. i guess this all pends whether i want to buy a ticket to run with full lung capacity or stay sucking thin air in the mountains.

southern divisions

much press has been placed on obama's chances of winning the select states in the south.

at first it seems logical - he has increased voter turnout by record numbers, especially with young black voters. in past elections, this demographic had low participation, but with the first, potential, black president on the ballot, this is expected to change in a major way.

what most people haven't yet factored in is white voter turnout will also increase because they don't want obama in office. thus making it a bit of a waste to spend an excessive amount of states that historically lean republican.

to read the numbers and influence, go here.

poker play

my roommates enjoy playing texas hold 'em. like many college kids, i went through a phase (about 2 years ago) where it became an obsession of mine. i then lost interest. as a way of bonding, and form of mutual communication, i decided to start playing at these sunday afternoon gatherings where a large serving of pasta is followed by some fresh gelato.

to be honest- the majority of these italian players are terrible. especially the women. they make little effort to hide any emotion when winning a hand, or dealt a bad one. if luck wasn't such a big factor, the little that i do remember about odds and what hands to press with, i would clean up at every sitting.

i still haven't done a bad job (with an average 8 to 10 players) i have finished 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and won once. i normally lose based on bad luck, not playing a bad hand (like when i was young and dumb). anyway, if you come to italy and are asked to play hold 'em (and have ANY knowledge of poker at all) take them up on it. show them how americans roll.

sushi II

i went to the (only) other sushi place in parma yesterday. their sticky rice is pretty badass (although they add a sesame seed coating to the outside of their rolls giving it a different flavor then i am accustomed). their spicy tuna was alright... a bit too much mayo and i think i tasted something like chives also mixed in, which was also a bit odd. their california roll was actually pretty legit. they use real crab and use avocado (one of my favorite ingredients in rolls). they were very fresh in flavor. so for the first time in the history of my sushi career california roll beat spicy tuna. crazy world.

this is england

a great movie, and i recommend it. a young teenager living in england, mid-80's, is taken in by a group of skinheads after being bullied at school. it epitomizes the loss of innocence. well written and directed. watch it.

saturday's run

the sun is a terrorist.

regardless

i'm going to have a great weekend. sip local fine wine, eat some parmigiana reggiano, and chill out in the italian countryside.

"I like to recharge my batteries, and shut down the engines, and get myself back to neutral. When the meal's over with, I will talk to you."

how the fuck

so i was checking my bank statement, and some motherfucker in brooklyn decided to use my digits on a spending spree. the only logical explanation i can come up with is someone had to have used my number off a receipt from one of those piece of shit corner stores that ALWAYS prints your card number on their (look next time, it's there on both copies... they always give you a bad look if you cross out your number, but do it anyway).

i have the ONLY copy of my card. i never shop on websites that are small business. i never give out my card number online, unless buying from a major site.... how the fuck does somebody get your card number? i haven't been in brooklyn for 2 months now!

how do they make purchases at rite-aid and a gas station and a fucking MTA machine WITHOUT MY CARD OR PIN???? can people seriously make cards that legit swipe now? can you fake a pin number??

thank god for my mom being able to call chase right now, otherwise my international bill would be well over 20 euros (yes, it costs about a euro a minute to call the states).

so if these $750+ worth of charges goes through, it then not only overdrafts my debit, but then will pull ALL of my money from my credit account to cover my debit (thanks auto-over draft).

fuck.

fuck you brooklyn person who i don't know, but i hope gets hit by a cab.

moral of the story: douche bags are everywhere - so keep an eye out and a fist ready.

a few great sites

my job right now is to research and find amazing websites. my job after that will be to redesign my employer's site. here are the ones i think are worth visiting:

portfolio of eric borst

mutabor

art streiber photography
- be sure to check out the 'now' section for hilarious pictures of rainn wilson (dwight on the office)

sawdust

these, of course, are not all the great sites i saw. there are many incredible web designers and animators out there. they dwarf my knowledge of what can be done with the internet. these links are just a few that were very unique, or minimal, in their design, and truly stuck out from the others (either by the work shown or through the actual site).

what a bad decision

was i thinking? rambo iv? REALLY??

bad. really really bad - so predictable, and excessively bloody, that it makes the first rambo look like a masterpiece of cinematography.

although it does make me curious to whether rocky vi was just as terrible...

kuler solved

any problems with developing a color scheme for a new project?
adobe has got you covered.

series reviews

these are the series that i got into over the past year, and some that i recently got caught up on:

flight of the concords
- incredibly funny.

dexter (1, 2)
- thank you anna kate for introducing me to this absurdly addictive show. both seasons one and two are great.

mad men
- disappointing at best... not worth watching for a clever line every 15 minutes. here, i'll summarize the whole series for you... secretaries used to be sluts, guys in advertising used to cheat a lot, annnnd people were, on average, very conservative in thought.

in treatment
- at the beginning this show was extremely addictive, but i found the story got weaker as the season progressed, and towards the end it became quite predictable.

entourage
- always entertaining and hilarious.

real time with bill maher
- although i sometimes disagree with his extreme liberalism, he at least isn't afraid to cross the line and make his guests uncomfortable. he does bring up many valid issues that are normally crossing my mind with current events too.

curb your enthusiasm
- larry david's awkward situations always crack me up.

weeds (seasons 1, 2, 3)
- well-written comedy.

real sports with bryant gumbel
- i'm not a huge sports fan (the sports i participate in aren't very tv friendly), but this show is the 60 minutes of sports, and i loved it. the stories they covered, regardless of the sport, always held my attention.

john adams
- started out really interesting and insightful, but got a bit dry towards the end.


i didn't have hbo until i was living in pratt dorms this past year, where it comes standard. it is the most addicting, and best written, set of channels that i have experienced.

running nyc

i really miss running up the east side... the west side highway... going over the brooklyn bridge and looping back on the manhattan... prospect park... central park... hitting the long training run from union square, up the west side, to the george washington bridge and back (the area above 125th street is incredible, especially in the summer).

anyway- here's a link to a map giving an overview of running paths in central park.

incredible animation

check out this site done by Goodby for adobe licensing... it's pretty fucking cool.

italian anti-immigration

you might have thought i was kidding about italian's being a good bit more racist then the average american, but even the nyt is picking up on how the italians are dealing with their immigration issues.

trust me. people here are extremely proud of their italian heritage and HATE the idea that their culture might be watered down by foreigners.

check out the nyt slideshow of the recent burning of a romanian immigration camp.

hip-hop politics

really good discussion on hip-hop culture and politics.

the dragon market

it's insane. china's 16% increase in fuel prices is causing inflation, which will effect china's rural poor the most. citizens are constantly losing 30% (on average) of their saving in the chinese stock market because of subsidies on gasoline. the two major providers of petro in china are being handed 22 billion a year because they can't sell gas at true cost. this effects the whole market as those two companies can makeup 16 to 22% of china's trading.

learn more here.

portfolio update

check out the stylings of anna kate's and my
new advertising campaign: brooklyn flow.

"Now can I get an encore, do you want more?
Cookin raw with the Brooklyn boy-
So for one last time I need y'all to roar."
....some other brooklyn flow for ya.

conditioned smell

as i was walking up the stair from our company's kitchen i was hit with the lingering scent of our air conditioning. my mind shot back to the memories of riding the packed rush hour subway last summer in nyc. sweaty and uncomfortable, praying that the car's one vent would be strong enough to aid in the slightest relief. fresh, with a hint of some cooling agent. stale, yet comforting,the breeze had such a distinct smell - it sometimes able to make its way through the dominating body oder of the passenger next to me. i guess sometimes the air here likes to mimic that of the great city of new york's underground flow.

sprained ankle?

read this. it goes in depth on proper, quick, recovery. the q&a actually has some new information i never knew about.

house party

here are some photos from our house party in tordenaso... 100+ people, many kegs, and a 20 kg stuffed pig- a great night.


funniest beer name ever.


my roommates slicin and dicin the pig. it was boneless. it was actually pig stuffed with pig. not joking.


quite 'lord of the flies'. someone drunkenly hung this next to our door on an old scale.

train for cycling

this is a great article on improving at cycling, even if it is a recreational pursuit.

unfortunately my road bike is currently at zack's, and i won't have it back until january. but, this is the first mention i've read that speaks of working from watts instead of cadence. good stuff.

i can't wait to be back in an area where i can really train for triathlon's again. that is one of the few benefits of central ohio... there's a lot of lap pools and country roads to get in some solid rides. not that i want to be back in ohio, but i do missing the multi-sport training. marathon workouts get a bit monotonous.

repeat playlist

i can't stop listening...

Bloc Party - Song for Clay
Bloc Party - Hunting for Witches
Bloc Party - The Prayer
Gnarls Barkley - Going On
Gnarls Barkley - Blind Mary
Mobb Deep - Shook Ones
RJD2 - Final Frontier
Madonna/ Timberlake - 4 Minutes
Jay-Z - Fallin'
Moka Only - More Soup
The Strays - Geneva Code
Dave Matthews Band - Eh Hee
Arctic Monkeys - Brianstorm
Snoop Dogg - Take It Back To '85
K-OS - Fly Paper
K-OS - Cat Diesel
Thom Yorke - Black Swan
Blood for Blood - Mother Dear
Blood for Blood - Ain't Like You
The Transplants - Not Today
GZA - Living In The World Today
Wu Tang Clan - Gravel Pit
Marilyn Manson - Are You the Rabbit?
Marilyn Manson - Great Big White World
Marilyn Manson - Tourniquet
Marilyn Manson - The Red Carpet Grave
De La Soul - Eye Know
Petey Pablo - What You Know About It
Talib Kweli - Broken Glass
The Hush Sound - Honey
We Are Scientists - Cash Cow
N.E.R.D. - Brain
Raised Fist - Sound of the Republic
Dilated Peoples - Love and War
Dilated Peoples - Work The Angles

random... yes. delicious? yes.

any accomplishments?

as far as afghanistan is concerned, it seems quite iffy whether we have made true progress. the taliban has once again regained momentum and is giving nato heaps of trouble in the south.

we have focused so much attention on iraq that we forgot the whole reason we started bombing shit in the middle east in the first place. maybe if afghanistan had an oil stash... was part of opec... then we might not have needed to divert our efforts to the west.

i guess there is little we can do. many cultures hate america. americans hate people who hate them. i don't think either side is going to benefit from further attempting to annihilate one another.

read more on the current state of afghanistan

pushups

10 pushups at the top of every minute for 1 hour.

you get 600 pushups done without over thinking it. the worst part is making sure to half pay attention to time.

zack was the one who told me about this workout a couple years ago. i never tried until i was consumed by boredom last night. it is great to do while watching tv.

good call

jessie sent me this ad. i like it, although the VO copy is a bit weak.



i think the copy should have related more to a person, opposed to 'every bird should get to fly.' if spending cash on giving less fortunate birds a new opportunity was someone's idea of how to spend their lottery winnings i think it'd make more sense.

that's just me though.

not the solution

bush is now reversing his position on not allowing offshore drilling. this doesn't surprise me.

what blows my mind is that this administration still thinks the solution to the oil crisis is finding more places to suck dry instead of finding sustainable alternatives. we are just prolonging dealing with the oil prices going up as supply goes down. it is simple math that most people with a high school education knew would happen at some point. even basic supply and demand principles could be applied, which i think is covered in elementary school.

this plan would be a lot more effective if instead of investing a bunch of money into where the next temporary stash of oil is located, the government invests it into r&d for alternative energies. i don't get how finding a few more oil wells will cure the this world's unquenchable thirst for petroleum and the products it allows us to create. maybe it's this administration's short term plan of trying to change the public's extremely negative perception before the election rolls around.

then again, mccain backs this bill. so if he's elected we'll still be fucked for the next four and half years (including w's remainder).

the best part is that bush's daddy and bro have both signed legislation banning offshore drilling.

read the inspiration: nyt

salisiccia di suino

is the best italian sausage i have ever had... add a fresh-green mixed, oil and balsamic, salad (with some shredded oreggiano and black pepper), micca (the incredible regional bread of parma), and a glass of local pinto grigio- it makes for one hell of a dinner.... with dolce being strawberries and banana with cream, and a shot of disaronno.

try it sometime (when in parma?). it will blow your mind.

unicorn ad

AD: me
CW: ms. anna kate

pre-workout advice

take a double shot of espresso thirty minutes before your next workout.

it is a little habit that i have gotten into here... of course italian coffee is as strong as some low-grade cocaine anyway, but the burst of caffeine is the perfect stimulant to get you on your feet and ready to burn some major energy (no matter how beat you previously were).

eat something to cut the acidity if your stomach doesn't handle badass coffee well, otherwise you'll just feel sick for the duration of your workout.

running music

these are some recommended songs to kick onto your ipod for your next athletic pursuit:

Jedi Mind Tricks - On The Eve Of War (feat. Gza)

He Is Legend - I Am Hollywood

Cunninlynguists - War

Justice - Waters Of Nazareth

The HorrorPops - Crawl Straight Home

DJ Danger Mouse - Encore

Jay Z - Hola' Hovito

Raised Fist - Perfectly Broken

quality of life v. career ambition

italy has the quality. america allows for the ambition.

within the short time that i have spent in italy i have come to many conclusions. italians know how to enjoy life at a far greater level then americans. i know this observation is extremely subjective, but the caliber of even their everyday sandwich (panino) is to a point that the us will never reach.

americans care about, and demand, many things. exceptional food for a low price is not our top priority. my point being that americans want things fast so they can continue with their day, letting them accomplish more (even if it is to get more time in on their wii, which isn't really an accomplishment).

italians live slow. they savor the moment. they stop for pedestrians on their own free will (crazy i know coming from nyc). they are generally content with their jobs and living situations. this is an amazing perspective to experience in full, with a couple exceptions.

italians have the lowest average yearly salary in europe. how can that be when they are one of the major powers of the european union? people here can accept being happy with less.

what defines happiness and success? is it how good your slice of pizza was for lunch? is it enjoying where you work- not how fast you move up to corporate ladder? is it realizing how lucky you are to be living even an average existence?

where my ideology severely clashes with the italian way is their work environment. not so much how everyone functions in the office, because everyone here is so nice that it makes your teeth hurt (like sugar?). not being able to move up though is a major problem for me. it isn't a current problem, because i'm an intern, but as i look to the future and think, "could i really live my life in italy?" the answer is yes, BUT...

i would be miserable at my job. the youngest creative working in this office is over 30. it has nothing to do with where i work either. people take longer with school. there isn't the pressure to hurry up and spread their wings after they get out of high school. no one is forcing anything on anyone. one can take a job with less responsibility and then a few years later, maybe, apply to a job that is a little harder, better paying, and if not, no big deal.

it might just be the way i was raised, or that american ambition in me, but i would die. this process feels smothering to me. thus, the conflict.

there are far more restrictions in italy too. they are about twenty years behind american tv and advertising. i mean italian television is bad. i mean REALLY bad. think american idol mixed with a small town public access channel, and you've got their most popular show 'x factor'.

i can live life at a slower pace for the most part. i love the way people take time here to really enjoy time with friends and family, not just thinking about what they have to do next. the food, my god, the fucking food here. it alone is worth a trip to parma. but, is it enough to stay?

the world of advertising is fast paced. everything is changing constantly, whether it is being employed by what agency or keeping up with the current trends in pop culture. if one can't cut it they are quickly left behind.

my solution? don't have a sure one yet, but i'll keep thinking on it - leaning towards accepting italy for what it is, and finding a job back in nyc or the us.

new site

less 'new'... more of massively updated. there are many new things though.

check it:
- peeps
- logos
- buona sera
- ad store international
- italia photos


http://www.mattkoulermos.com/

i promise you'll like it (if you agree with me on most subjective topics).

unicorns in italy

i'm not kidding.

"'Unicorn' Deer Found in Italy
By MARTA FALCONI, AP

A deer born in Italy with a single horn in the middle of its head has inspired comparisons to the mythical unicorn. "This is fantasy becoming reality," said Gilberto Tozzi, director of the Center of Natural Sciences in Prato, Italy."

story:
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/unicorn-deer-found-in-italy/20080611173709990001

let it burn

a new study has found that putting ice directly on a burn can actually cause more damage. although it may offer temporary relief, it has now been discovered that the extreme cooling can cause frostbite.

the story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/health/10real.html?ref=health

steak tip

yesterday i had one of those breakthrough runs where i felt like i could have finished a whole marathon at pace... what caused this endorphin inducing run?

my previous night's meal. steak.

i forgot the best secret to having an amazing workout the next day was eating some red meat. i do not mean an excessive 12 to 16 ouncer, but 6 to 8. i completely forgot about protein loading. i used this trick the day before every major event during the two previous years, but not having competed in anything major since last year's Hamptons Marathon, I forgot about this beautiful trick.

if you want to try this here is what i recommend to eat 18 - 24 hours before your major workout:
- 6 to 10 ounces of steak
- mixed green salad
- carbs and/or starches (i recommend some fresh bread or mashed potatoes)
- glass of red wine
- fresh fruit for dessert

the more ounces of meat that you consume, the more time you should give for your body to process the meat. you don't want this large meal to still be weighing you down when you actually go to do your workout.

try it. i swear it works.

smoothbeats

by far, still the best iTunes radio channel.

un idiota

when a person doesn't speak another culture's language where they are trying to live and function, they must feel like a retarded puppy.

i certainly do.

untrained to social expectations and role sets, even with the visual aid of the speaker's body language and facial expressions, it is near impossible to uncover the meaning of many conversations. they can list off twenty things that need to be done, and i normally end up figuring out what the first item was by the time they hit the last.

the only salvation lies in catching the occasional cognate or phrase remembered from the 'beginner's italian: disk 1.' but, normally i end up just awkwardly smiling, stuttering 'no capisco (i don't understand)' or unknowingly cocking my head with the look of 'what the fuck are you talking about?'

i try my best to hide my stupidity, but no matter how i try to mask my american-ness, it seeps through, whether in my pronunciation or how i vocalize the pauses in my speech (no one here goes 'umm,' they all go 'ehhh' or 'aaah').

i'm not sure in the end who is more frustrated by my lack of the italian language... me or the girl i am trying to order my panino from.

it stings when i be

...in debt.

it would have to suck to be hillary clinton right now. not only did she have to give up on her presidential bid, but now she's in debt... not just in debt, but owes more money then any previous losing candidate. ever.

she currently owes around $20 million.

that's a lot of money. even for a top politician. i guess i wouldn't have wanted to drop out either knowing i had to foot that bill if i lost. fuck that shit.

nick koulermos- i wish you the best in you future political (and, i guess this means, financial) endeavors.

the full story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/us/politics/10clinton.html

i might break you

my advice: stay away.

since my arrival in italy i have broken:
a macbook
ipod shuffle
2 omega watches
beard clippers
designer sunglasses
and of course many hearts (jk).

i don't know how all this bad shit happened... maybe to balance out that i am in a place that is inches from being paradise (the 'inches' part is that the don't speak english).

i swear i'm not normally the personification of bad luck.

sushi mind-fuck

last week was a roller coaster. kinda.

okay. it began terrible- ended fucking incredible.

it started with me missing all things american (food, music, people, mostly the language). so, i began my quest to bring a bit of home to parma. i made the 'day changer' hamburger and some bbq chicken, but there was one culinary delight i was still missing- sushi.

i began looking on an online italian yellow pages for places to eat sushi in parma.

there are two.

so on friday i tried out the first one: shibuya. i went after a long day at the office and a decent workout. of course, having not eaten sushi in the past six weeks, fucking craving anything remotely similar to what i get in nyc.

i walk into shibuya at 7:15pm. i am the only customer in there other then a girl picking up her take-out. in america at least 3/4s of the restaurant would filled at this point.... but i guess italians feel that anything before 9pm is for old people (and american fatties).

the whole staff is japanese. they greet me in italian.

not only is this the weirdest entrance i have ever had in a sushi joint, but, instead of speaking japanese (with a side of broken english), they all spoke perfect italian.

as i begin to look over the menu i start to realize that coming alone might not have been the wisest choice (no one wanted to go because it was 'too early' to eat sushi... when the fuck is it ever too early to eat sushi??). all the rolls were in italian. after i fumbled through ordering a sapporo, the young woman began questioning me with what i wanted. i had desperately searched for cognates- of course, no such luck.

i fessed up. i don't speak much italian, do you speak english (some of the few italian phrases i do know)?

lucky for me the head chef spoke a decent amount of english. he ran through a couple of the rolls for me.

the japanese beer arrived just as i was beginning to realize that this asian restaurant was playing some classic italian music. the odd observations continued as i looked over at the bar to see what else but an espresso machine.

my first plates of sushi arrived. although they were good, i was a bit disappointed. the average 'roll' in america comes with six pieces... welp here, it's three.

so after five rolls and my sapporo i was very content. the waitress came over and asked me if i would like a caffe. at this point i just wanted to say, 'really? don't you fuckers drink tea?' i mean who REALLY drinks an espresso after eating the tasty delights of japan? there are not too many other types of food that i think there could be more of a flavor clash.

regardless, i kindly said no thank you (in italian), and went to the cashier to pay. at this point i had a smile from ear to ear. the whole situation was just too funny. the staff was of course smiling back because how often do they get to watch an american stuff his face with plate after plate of sushi.

i finished up the evening with a delicious gelato on the way back to my car (i know i was just whining about mixing of the cultures... but, if you've had italian ice cream, you understand why i couldn't resist).

to give the short version: first sushi experience in italy - no where close to nyc sushi but a great reminder of the things i enjoy so much in life.

peepin'

anna kate, my favorite copywriter, and i are working on a new portfolio campaign for Peeps. i am quite excited about it. you should be too because it will be one of the new additions on my site next week!

http://www.mattkoulermos.com/

up tempo

after getting a bit burnt out these past couple weeks on training for the columbus marathon, i started looking into new ways to improve upon my current training method. i realized that the reason i was getting so frustrated, and plateauing, was because i was trying to push my pace too hard during my longer runs (currently at 1:30 to 2:00 hours).

this is compounding on the fact that i have no real way of measuring distance because of the quick elevation changes (google pedometer doesn't calculate them for you outside the usa). my frustration of not knowing how fast i was going, or how far, led me to trying to do 'mile to kilometer' conversions, which, when pace is factored in, become extremely confusing.

so i simplified it. in order to qualify for boston '09 i have to run 3:10 or under. this means a 7:15 mile pace, or running 13.32 kilometers an hour. i have struggled to keep this pace for more then three miles at a time.

the solution? tempo training.

tempo training is running a certain pace for a determined period of time, with a recovery, then repeated multiple times.

yesterday i tried the workout on a treadmill as following (and loved it):

5 min warm-up

3 min at pace (13.5 kilometes an hour)
1 min recovery (11 km)
repeat the set x10

5 min cool-down

this adds up to a perfectly packaged :50 min run that has allowed me to not only let my body start to adjusting to the pace i will need to preform at in october, but also focus on pace timing (which is essential during an endurance event).


this will be my new workout schedule:

monday: general lift (40 - 50 minutes)

tuesday: moderate pace/ distance run (40 - 80 minutes)

wednesday: upper body/ core lift (30 - 50 minutes)

thursday: tempo training (50 - 70 minutes)

friday: general lift (40 - 50 minutes)

saturday: long run, moderate/ slow pace (90 - 150 minutes)

sunday: recovery day

if this improved schedule does not help improve my over all pacing- i'm not sure what will.


must do workouts:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244-255-12022-0,00.html

coming SOON

there will be a semi-major site update coming on my portfolio site!
- new campaigns to replace the old
- NEW fancy-pants menus
- NEWER websites to be added
- NEWEST photos to be put into the 'italia' photo section

so look out end of next week.
my update is coming.

http://www.mattkoulermos.com/
(for the current, and still sexy, version)

peace out

disregard my previous post, because on saturday hillary is leaving the race!

i think this is a very good decision and will help bring the party together. finally.

read more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/05dems.html?hp

be gone

hillary needs to accept that she has lost. the longer she drags out this (finished) primary race, the more she hurts the democrats. i don't want her as a vice president nominee. why? because getting a black man nominated will be hard enough for the rednecks of america to accept- never mind a black man AND a woman.... that would just explode their little inbred minds.

if obama is thinking the way i am about his running mate he will pick a white guy who has a lot of pull with the blue collar middle class. ex: JOHN EDWARDS

a funny insight to why you shouldn't have sympathy for hillary's loss:
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/06/feel-no-pity.html

naples pictures

italian.... again.....

no matter how good the food is here, i have to say i'm a bit tired of tomatoes, fine cheese, and pork. they are all of the finest quality here, but if there is one thing the average italian town does not have it is diversity in their culinary offerings.

i haven't had mexican, chinese, japanese, or even french food in a month... no hot dogs... one hamburger (the day changer).... chicken, my normal staple, is almost impossible to find on a menu. i know i must sound like the most spoiled douche bag right now for complaining about having only the best italian food in the world to eat, but i have to say i miss sushi a lot.

sad spending

a new study shows that mothers, with children under the age of 15, spend more on fast food daily then, "...on books, music, movies and video games combined, according to a report by the NPD Group."


more at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/business/02drill.html?ref=fitnessandnutrition

naples and the south

southern italy is basically mexico with a couple of high end shops scattered throughout.

the trash problem is a bit ridiculous, but mostly effects the areas outside of naples, leaving the city to remain quite beautiful.

in southern italy all aspects of business and development are run by the kamora (the equivalent of sicily's mafia). it is a bit sad that this crime organization is the main reason for lack of progress in the area. their power and control is essential to the success of any local business because they prevent major chains from coming in and establishing themselves. although this may sound like a good thing, this part of italy is now at least thirty years behind the rest of the world. even the most high end retailers (generally fashion) are housed in buildings that look run down. there doesn't seem to be any end in sight for this stranglehold on the economy- mostly because the citizens are not motivated to make a major change (as told to me by my friend Sal).

anyway- a guy was murdered down the street from us by the kamora for some reason unknown to me.

mozzarella

buffalo mozzarella is amazing. anyone who heads to this part of italy should try it. true mozzarella is so different then anything sold in the us. the cheese is about the size of a baseball, but the inside its soft and squishy like a sponge. when the fork cuts through it milk trickles out. it is really really good.

the day changer

yesterday i was sitting around, a bit home sick, and decided to go on a quest.

i had not had a burger since i left america, and needed to make a badass all-out cheese burger.

it took me an hour to find a grocery store with all the supplies i needed, BUT i crafted a masterpiece.

this juice sangwhich completely changed the mood of the day.

nothing can beat the occasional beastly hamburger.

WHY? why the 80's?

if there is one time period that has the worst music, trends, AND design- it's the 80s.

for some reason people in italy love the shitty music, the excessive culture, and the horrid trends that made the 80s such an ugly time in american history.

i am currently working on a project where the client has asked for not only a throw-back 80's logo, but wants glitter... 3-d... green and purple....

punch. me. in. the. teeth.

blase

Main Entry: bla·sé
Pronunciation: \blä-ˈzā\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French
Date: 1819
1 : apathetic to pleasure or excitement as a result of excessive indulgence or enjoyment : world-weary
2 : sophisticated, worldly-wise
3 : unconcerned

i like it.

scott mcclellan

it is always a good thing when you can admit your wrongs.

"In Ex-Spokesman’s Book, Harsh Words for Bush"
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/washington/28mcclellan.html?hp

pesticide residue levels on produce

a study has been published by a nonprofit talking about what foods those who seek 'organic' options should really spend their money on and also other types of produce that have a very low rate of pesticide residue.

produce with high pesticide residue (go for the organic on these):
- peaches
- strawberries
- sweet bell peppers
- celery
- lettuce

produce with very low residue amounts:
- onions
- mangoes
- asparagus
- broccoli
- eggplant


for the complete list go to:
http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php

mini coopers

i got to drive a mini the other weekend- although they look small and uncomfortable, i had plenty of room in the driver's seat.

these cars are really quick.

i would still never drive one in the us though.

if you move to europe, or think you can take a lifted diesel truck with mud flaps- buy one!

flavor tripping

there is a berry called 'miracle fruit' which temporarily changes your pallet's perception of food. for instance lemons go from tasting sour to sweet candy.

more at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/dining/28flavor.html?ex=1212638400&en=df9440096fe74b52&ei=5070&emc=eta1

truth

i stole this from zack's facebook album.

rotten apple

a week ago my macbook froze, and the hard drive stopped working.

today my ipod shuffle burnt out.


does apple time all of its products to break at once??

italian cats

i've made the decision that cats are like ugly children (you only love them when they're yours).

the two cats who live at the house in tordenaso have become increasingly annoying and needy. i didn't pick them. i would do anything for my cat, kitty, in ohio though. i also think kitty understands boundaries, and is much smarter then these cats who attack the dry food bag (spilling food everywhere). kitty just chills out meowing until his bowl of food is placed in front of him.

to summarize: i don't like dogs.


(kitty lives at my parents house)

dodging an infrastructure collapse

rising fuel prices have effected everyone. but, if diesel keeps rising at a higher rate then regular grades, the truckers will remain the ones taking the biggest hit. which doesn't really effect the everyday american until, through a trickle down effect, we have to pay more for our consumer goods due to those higher shipping prices.

with the average american paying more on their own gas, and then trying to absorb the rising prices of necessary products, how will our culture still turn a profit? retail is barely keeping alive by exporting to europe and charging 1.55x more (so a $20 shirt costs 20 euros, but the american company makes a profit off the exchange rate).

america does not produce enough goods though to solely export because we keep outsourcing every possible job to other countries who can provide the same service for less... but how can we not? the rise of fuel and other manufacturing costs will keep escalating to the point where a business wouldn't be able to succeed in the us.

unless there is some economic concept i'm not getting, or some magical lottery the us plans on winning, i don't see how our economy can recover from this in the long run. i do think we will be able to turn the corner on this border-line recession, but after that there will be a much worse downturn, in the near future, unless the energy crisis can be solved in the next couple of years.

foreign marathon training

currently i am focused on training for the columbus marathon (oct 19). i am wanting to run a 3:10 in order to qualify for boston '09.

this means taking my marathon time of 3:29 down by 20 minutes.

i have gotten extremely lucky with where i am living in italy. instead running in the very flat city of parma, my house is in the hills in tordenaso (tower of the nose... odd translation). it has proved to be some very good training, and provided some exquisite views.

a problem i have run into is that google pedometer's hill function doesn't work.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

so it looks like i get to go back to the old school calculation of driving my 2+ hour routes in a car, and then doing pace calculations post run.

if you are ever in a country that uses kilometers runner's world provides a pace calculator that will convert from miles for you.

http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/paceconverter/

hello goodbye hello goodbye

cultural difference:

ciao - it is the informal for hello and goodbye in italian.

every time someone walks into the office here they say 'ciao' to every single person in the office. i don't understand why you can't just say, the american equivalent of, 'hello everyone...'

i'm unsure whether i come off as rude when i don't say 'ciao' to every co-worker, but acknowledge each seating section (which is still 4 to 5 'ciao's every time i enter or exit the office). maybe they think i'm an unfriendly american, but i prefer that over sounding like the italian equivalent to the target commercials.

not standardized

a handful of colleges are now dropping the SAT and ACT as requirements for applying to their schools. instead prospective students will be reviewed by their over-all academic performance, extra circular activities, and writing skills. the biggest name currently involved is wake forrest, out of nc.

read more about it at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/education/27sat.html