며칠 전에 PLAY BURGER에 갔다.

한 눈에 봐도 디자인에 무척이나 신경 쓴 게 보였다.

그 중 알록달록하게 전시되어 있는 Vitamin Water!

여름에 미국에 갔을 때 마트에선 보았던 장면이 떠올랐다. (위 사진들)

예쁘긴 한데 건강엔 쫌…

Okay, so I’m borrowing a song title from John Lennon.  But it’s all I’ve been thinking about lately.  After a big race…whether it’s a half marathon, a marathon or a mile on the track, you have to eventually start over.  Of course the marathon physically beats you up more than other races, but mentally, after a key race, you have to start over.

Essentially, that’s where I’m at these days…my body is pretty beat up and mentally, I’m drained.  I am on the mend with the whole pneumonia thing.  It kicked my *ss more than I thought it should/could.  I just completed my 6th day in a row (running) and maxed out at 6 miles.  This past week has been up and down, with one day being a solid 5 miles and the next would be a “hacking” 4 miler.  I guess it’s all part of the recovery process…I say “I guess” because I’ve never had this before, so it is basically a “day-by-day” experience.

It can be frustrating, as I am constantly thinking that 3+ weeks ago I was cruising through 20 miles on the way to 26.2 and now I can’t even think about 10 miles.  Ya’ see, after last year’s marathon, I was already back at 50 miles a week and feeling really good about it….and so it goes…”what a difference a year makes.”

So now it has to all about patience…my friend Eric (the pilot) keeps reminding me that we are 21 weeks (?) away from Boston and yet I have to be patient and take it day by day.  That is soooo not me.  I’m Larry “F’n” Glazer and if I want to run 12 miles tomorrow, I should be able to.  But right now…healing up is the first priority…otherwise Boston may never see the light of day.  Honestly, I am not even into doing it.  I really wanna’ run it to be with my friends and teammates (who qualified) that I ran with when I was doing the whole Intercollegiate thing.  It will be nearly 30 years since we first toed the line together and here we are all qualified for Boston.  So that is my motivation right now…to get back into shape in order to be a part of something as special as this….

Now, I have to clear my lungs and heal a chronic achilles tendon that is taking upwards of 3 miles before it eases (numbs) up.  My concern is how I will be able to put the mileage needed onto the achilles when it just refuses to cooperate.  I was recently chatting with my buddy Charles (Ironman) and we both notice how aches and pains take longer to heal these days and the chronic ones…well, they never seem to subside.  I’ve had this achilles deal for a decade…going back to when I used to train with Gerry during our lunch hour (2 hours) in CT.  Talk about a great gig…we would run the beaches at Westport, CT…it was a great time and a fun gig.  Oh, and as I babble here…Charles’s wife Julie has also qualified for Boston, so that’s another buddy from college who will be in Boston.

The more I write, it does seem like a “once in lifetime” event.  All these friends (from WI, IA, KY, Sag Harbour) together for…no wait…why do we have to run a marathon to get together.  I’d much rather go to a resort and drink “day-glow colored frozen concoctions” than run a marathon.  Maybe in a few weeks, I’ll start to feel better about this whole thing, but until then, I’m just going to take it “one day at a time” and prepare myself for “starting over.”

See you on the roads….hopefully

http://alphainventions.com/

Lately I’ve been playing around in Photoshop CS3 designing logos for various things. Up until now, I never realized how important a logo is for a company or organization.  I’ve been researching them the past few nights and it’s crazy how much time and effort a company puts in to even picking the font they want to use.  Gatorade has recently gone through a revamping of their logo and branding, and I think it’s awesome. What is your favorite logo?

Wings, Red Bull, and donuts; if possible I would live on nothing but these three creations of the gods.  In reality though, if attempted, I would likely end up at a morgue long before any start gate.  What we put into our bodies is the fuel that will be burned all day.  So, do you want to run VP race gas, or are you OK filling-up with the regular-unleaded at the last stop before the track?

“If I only knew then what I know now.”   I’ve done a lot of racing:  downhill mountain bike, cross country mountain bike, 5k and 10k running, but nothing has punished my body as hard as when I raced motocross.  It’s been said that motocross is the most physically demanding sport in the world behind only football, uh, read as “professional soccer”.  So why do so many racers spend exorbitant amounts of money on their gear and bikes, but on race day eat as if it’s halftime at the Superbowl?

There are three main things to remember when feeding your body properly: carbohydrates, proteins and hydration.  I’ll break this down into even easier pieces to digest (lame, I know) and by the end of this article you’ll be eating like a pro.

Carbohydrates (Carbs) – N.  An essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals.

Carbs are the basic elements that we get energy from.  Our body can break carbs down into simple sugars which, as you know, can be consumed for energy.  There are however, many types of carbs and sugars.  Eating a chocolate bar before your moto (which when I was 16 I thought was a good idea) is only putting simple sugars into your system and will be burned up quickly.  These simple sugars give you that great sugar high, but are followed with a period of withdrawal where your body feels sluggish and sleepy, also known as the sugar crash.   If you want to drop anchor mid-moto then candy-up, but a better way to fuel your body is to provide it with complex carbs which take longer to break down into sugars and therefore provide a more sustainable energy.

So where are these magic carbs found?  They’re found in everything Atkins wants to destroy.  Pancakes, bread, rice, pasta, and potatoes are probably the best and easiest sources.  Fuel your body with these foods the night before your race, and maintain your energy all week by including them with every meal.  Whole wheat breads and brown rice are also better for you because they contain more nutrients than their processed, white cousins.  On race day eat many, small, balanced snacks like cheese and crackers, pasta salad, and sandwiches.  Also, use fresh fruit and juices as a way to kill those sugar cravings throughout the day.  The complex sugars in fruit will last longer in your body than the simple ones found in donuts, and chocolate bars.

It’s important to eat enough carbs during the day because if your body runs out of sugars to get energy from, it starts to break down proteins in your muscles, which is easier to get to than complex fats.  In order to maintain enough carbohydrate reserves males aged 14-18 are recommended to eat seven servings of carbs per day while males aged 18-50 are recommended to eat eight.  And no matter what McDonalds says, a single “serving” will fit in the palm of your hand.  These are recommendations for average males, athletes in training can safely eat a little more since these carbs are the fuel that will help your body run at its best.

Proteins – N. Any nitrogenous organic compounds that are essential to living cells.  Umm…yea, it’s meat.

It’s not just meat though; protein can be consumed in many ways as our vegan friends can attest to, it’s just easier to eat meat.  But why do we need protein in our diet?  Consider protein as the “Fragle Rock Doozers” who show up late at night after a long day of riding and fix all the damaged muscle in your body.  And by fixing it, they also make it bigger.  Muscles grow when they are first damaged through exercise, and then repaired by protein and rest.

Proteins should not be consumed in massive amounts or they will just slow down your body’s ability…to…function…regularly…scheduled…activities…regarding…waste disposal.  Poop, there I said it.  Save the big steak for your victory meal after slaying the competition.  Before the race stick to baked, skinless chicken, maybe a little pork, but a nice cut that’s not too fatty.  I’m suggesting tenderloin rather than a rack of ribs here folks.  During your midweek training have a little red meat but remember those portion sizes; it needs to fit in the palm of your hand.  And remember that there are several sources of protein too.  Nuts, eggs and beans are all excellent sources of protein and have less fat than many cuts of meat.  Milk, yogurt and cheese also contain protein so listen to Ryan Sheckler and drink up, just don’t follow any of his business advice.

Humans evolved as hunter-gatherers, and as such ate lots of veggies and a little meat, when they could outsmart something.  So remember your hairy ancestors and don’t over-do it in the meat department.  Males aged 14-51+ are recommended only 3 servings a day.  Think about that, most of us have had that many servings by 12:30.

Hydration – N. The process of combining with water.

In this case it’s combining your mouth with water, and drinking it.  No matter what energy drink your favourite racer is collecting a pay check from, I guarantee they are not drinking one before the moto.  Ever wonder why you always hear about pros almost missing their start because they were in the Port-O-let?  It’s not nervous bladder syndrome, they are hydrated to the teeth because they are about to sweat like no other athlete for 30 minutes plus two laps.

Now this goes for weekend warriors as much as moto racers and off-roaders alike, your body uses up a lot of liquid when those lungs and heart get pounding and it has to be replaced.  And guess what?  Good-ole fashioned H2O is the best thing to replenish it with too.  But if you want to get technical, then let’ s get technical.  There’s a hydration rule to follow: Water for the first 45 minutes of exercise and a sports drink after that.  Let’s be clear here.  A sports drink is like Gatorade, NOT Red Bull.  Drinks like Gatorade have carbohydrates and electrolytes (salts) which also need to be replaced because they are lost from your cells in the sweating process. When you work out (or ride) for long enough, it’s essential to replaces these carbs and electrolytes, along with the actual lost fluids.  Why is it important to stay hydrated?  Well, each time a litre of fluid is lost, the body temperature rises by .3ºC causing the heart beat to increase by 8 beats a minute.  Also, cardiac out-put declines by 1 litre a minute, which means less oxygenated blood is getting to your muscles.  Got it?  Now go drink up so that muscle in your wrist can keep twisting.

I hope you’ve found this article to be helpful.  It’s hard to change habits and different things work for different people.  But what’s important to understand is what your body needs in order function at its best.  None of us need to follow James Stewart’s nutrition formula here, but at the same time, none of us should be eating at a service station on the morning of a race.  Take the time to at least make a peanut butter and jam sandwich on whole wheat bread, then wash it down with a cup of milk and a glass of water.  Your body will be so thankful it may just do something special for you, like carry you all the way to the top step of the podium!

Desenvolvida especialmente para o verão, a Gatorade lança uma edição limitada de isotônico mais suave e refrescante, o Gatorade Citrix.

Sucesso na Austrália e Venezuela, a novidade chega ao mercado brasileiro no sabor lima limão e com uma coloração mais leve.

Para essa edição, Gatorade mantém a garrafa PET anatômica e prática de 500ml, lançada pela marca no início deste ano, com uma tampa esportiva e rótulo transparente.

Gatorade Citrix terá destaque nos pontos-de-venda com materiais especiais e informativos da bebida nas principais lojas de todo o País. O produto inédito no Brasil já está disponível nas regiões Sul, Sudeste, Centro-Oeste e Nordeste.

part of an ongoing series of columns I’ve written, reprinted from the TU Rambler.

November, 2009.
This week, let’s talk about food.  Most “go green how-to” articles will tell you to shop locally at farmer’s markets, to choose organic, pesticide-free produce, and eat ethically-raised, free-range meat.  This is fine, but for a poor college student, it’s Expensive!  Yes, pesticides in food are bad, but I believe that what are even worse are the foods and drinks which are essentially nothing but chemicals.  Don’t even get me started on corn syrup.  Have you looked at an ingredients list recently?  A box of my roommate’s chicken-flavored pasta and rice has almost the same things in it as a pouch of instant vegetable soup.  What the heck are thiamine mononirate or disodium inosinate or maltodextrin?  The reason these exist is preservation: our current industrial food system means that food packaged in California might be shipped to Maine, where it may sit on the shelf for months; the mysterious additives ensure a long shelf-life.

As an Anthropology student, I’ve a whole lot of my time at Transy talking about pre-agricultural societies.  And I’ve come to the conclusion that humans have never been healthier than we were about 20 or 30,000 years ago.  After that, we discovered agriculture, and it all starts to go downhill.  You see, back in our good ol’ hunter-gatherer days, our diet was varied, we got plenty of exercise, and we sure weren’t eating corn or bread.  Take a look at The Food Pyramid (the 1992 one most of us grew up with, the one with horizontal layers, not that weird new one where everything radiates from the top).  According to it, the foundation of our diet should be “6-11 servings of bread, cereal, rice, and pasta”: these didn’t exist until humans settled down, started farming, and built cities.  The switch to agriculture led to nutrient deficiency and modern diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity (not to mention social stratification, organized religion, and state warfare).

So what can you do?  I’m not saying that you should immediately revert to a hunter-gatherer diet (but if you want to try, get ahold of me and we’ll talk), and I’m definitely not advocating the status-quo diet of soda and Doritos.  But start small—cut out the Twinkies and Gatorade.  Try eating in the style of our ancestors, snacking on fruits, nuts and berries throughout the day, with one big, varied supper at night.  Fiber and meat are great; a bit of dairy (another post-agriculture invention) now and then is good; even Ramen is fine, but pitch the flavor packet and throw the noodles in a hearty stew of meats and vegetables.

There’s a very different way of thinking that comes along with a healthy hundred thousand-year old way of eating.  You start to feel more HUMAN.

I have to say, I’m impressed by LeBron James’ attitude and initiative in his current undertaking.  In the interest of full disclosure, I don’t follow the NBA very closely.  While most Americans could easily point out James in a lineup, I can’t go much further than to say that I know he plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, came to the NBA straight out of high school, and that I saw him play slaughter the Indiana Pacers in the 2008-2009 season at Conseco Fieldhouse.

I suppose a guy with such a story could easily be though of as cocky and conceited, only looking out for number one.  It has come to my attention, however, that Mr. James has actually put out a petition to remove the honor of wearing the number 23 from all NBA players, including himself, in homage to the great Michael Jordan. 

Wow, what a statement.  Being a child of the 90’s, back when the NBA was more widely followed by the masses, we all wanted to be ‘Like Mike.’  Everyone’s favorite team was the Bulls, we all knew that Jordan was 6′6″, many had the ‘Wingspan’ poster that covered half a bedroom wall, and we all ate Wheaties and drank Gatorade in attempts to be as cool as the King of the Courts. 

It comes as no surprise to me then that many NBA pros of this generation still see Jordan as an icon, as the one who really set tone for the NBA in the 90’s and early aughts.  LeBron is quoted by the Chicago Sun-Times to have said, “There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade if there wasn’t Michael Jordan first.”  Well said, Mr. James. 

It turns out that many teams are currently without a number 23 as it is, so perhaps LeBron James will get his way in the near future.  He’s already requested his own jerseys be switched to 6, the number he dons for the Olympics. 

I’m very interested to see how this will play out.  Lofty goals are often hard to accomplish but if anyone has the chance to pull this off, I’d have to say a kid who had pro teams fighting for him before his 18th birthday has a pretty decent shot at it.

Remember how I’ve said in the past that I totally dig FB ’cause I get to see all the “dip-shites” and anti-semites (that were cruel to me) that are soooo out of shape that I actually smile in the morning.  Plus, I don’t have to send money anymore to those “Tammy Faye Ministries”  praying for painful injuries to them….it’s been a win-win situation for me!  Thank you FB.  But since that 26.2 race, my own health was “sucking wind” literally…and an old friend Jamie mentioned “did you go to the doc yet?”

I had it all planned…wait a day…say yes…but I knew she would know I didn’t go…don’t ask me how…she would know.  She’s married and she know’s how guys don’t go to doctors and certainly don’t use road maps (in front of women).  With the Garmin’s, now it seems safe for guys to let down their guard and take directions…GUYS…IT’S STILL A MAP!!  I am sure a women is sitting at the head of Garmin smiling…..they have outwitted us again!!

So, yesterday I was staying home and coughing like a 2 pack a day kinda guy.  It’s the kind of cough that I wanted to hang a cigarette off the side and play the part….oh yeah, my side-kick Samara was home as she was under the weather as well.  It was gonna be good, The Sponge Bob Movie for the 10th time, bonding with my daughter.  When we’re together, we can talk about anything and I encourage her to ask away until we get to the development of “boobs” and why boys don’t “get them” or something along that line and then I realize time is short and these are moments that are to be cherished indeed.  BTW, my answer of “they would never go to school or to work” fortunately falls on deaf ears.

But by 8am, work was calling, frantic as the DataBase Server was down.  That’s great…I told them I could not come in 101+ fever.  They were fine with me coming in.  The DB was more important (apparently) than the health of the other employees or patients.  DID YOU THINK I FORGOT ABOUT JAMIE?  Ya’ see my doctor is a block away from work…ahhhh, make appointment and see my UK speaking doctor.

It wasn’t until I was at work and trying to move around that I realized how exhausted I was.  Of course I jump started the DB Server.  To bore you, it’s an older FileMaker 6 Server.  Anyway, Samara made some new friends and then we were off to the doctor.  When I’m in the waiting room, I feel like I’m waiting for The Late Show Curtain to open.  The anticipation….and there…in his Welsh glory is my doctor….and he has grown the same beard as me…clearly to impress me…

I tell him I’m not sure if I have the Flu…RED FLAG, SIRENS, FLASHING LIGHTS…he immediately brings me to another room and we both have to wear masks…Samara is over playing with the scale (no mask), so to me it’s all BS.  He checks my breathing and then tells me he wants to swab my my nostrils.  ”Daddy, maybe he’ll pick a winner.”  Lesson: Be careful what you teach your kids.  …well, he should of said, he wanted to swab the back of my eyeballs as that is what it felt like.  It wasn’t painful, but I could tell, I was not going to be moving from that position…he had full control of me with just a swab.  So, after he was done, he gave me my sample and wrote some scripts…told me to head to NYU hospital to drop off my “snot” (not his words) and to get a chest x-ray as he thought I might have pneumonia.

Yeah right…I know the routine…more money wasted….   Samara was a champ and was excited to go to the x-ray facility at NYU.  It was like a field trip for her, as that was how I tried to present it…I would have been bored, but she loved it and saw the X-Rays come up on the computer as they were being taken.  We then dropped off my “nose goblins” and then I explained to Samara that 6 years ago was the happiest day of my life.  ”Why daddy?”  Because, you were born here  It was one of those special moments that I will always remember where I was when I told her…priceless…

As of today, I do have pneumonia, according to the “Tom Jones” of doctors.  Still waiting on the Flu (nasal) results.  Go figure…I workout, take good care of myself, only recently went back to Pop Tarts and I have pneumonia??  Ummm, I can think of a whole bunch that should have it….who knows, maybe all the anti-bacterial stuff didn’t work…well, clearly it didn’t…just gotta ride this out and look forward to getting back to running…

See you in the doctors office….thanks again Jamie….

Why is it that marketers always feel the urge to continuously create something new? Of course creativity and change are driving forces behind many great brands, but so too is consistency.

A brand is a reputation. Consistently delivering everything your brand promises is key to building a trusting relationship with your consumer. With enough repetition, people begin to create unique linkages with your brand.

What's G?

Once you begin tinkering with your brand’s look and feel, these positive associations tend to break down. Look at Gatorade’s move to change their name to “G”. Since the campaign kicked off at the beginning of 2009, “G’s” sales have dropped 17.5% and market share decreased 4.5%.

So next time you have the urge do something inconsistent with your brand remember: G = D-U-M-B.

My Lungs

I’m just gonna check in real quick here to let you know I intend to write again.  I’ve been really sick the last several days with a fever peaking out at nearly 102 yesterday.  I’ve been coughing up stuff like I was “back on the bong.”  …and that’s something I will never understand about pot.  It makes you cough so intensely, and yet the user will always say “good sh*t.”    I would think if it was smooth and didn’t make you cough, then it would be “good sh*t??”  In other words, when coke is good, it doesn’t hurt your nose and cause it to bleed. …and I’ve always had trouble with anyone telling me something was good with the word “sh*t” immediately following it.  But I digress…

So, at some point I will address my feelings about Boston.  Right now, my heart is not in it.  I am not sure how intensely I will train for it.  I spoke with a young, up-and-coming teammate, Kevin and he mentioned something that’s been on my mind for some time and that is the half marathon.  It’s all about recovering and the half allows you to do that.

I also believe NYC lowered my immune system, which made me susceptible to getting sick.  I just don’t like feeling like this.  Remember, I was washing my hands and using that hand sanitizer stuff at every moment and yet I am more sick today than I can remember….absolutely frustrating.

Anyway, I’ve gotta hit the showers….yesterday was a perfect example of how a fever effects you.  I was in there for over a half hour.  I was daydreaming….I was thinking how annoyed I was that work actually called me on Friday and had me get up from a sound sleep to help them with a support issue…I stepped out of the shower and realized, I had not shampooed, lathered….nothing….I just stood there for the 30+ minutes…I had to go back in.  It was being “back on the bong.”…stoned.

http://alphainventions.com/

Amigos Leitores,

Pra manter atualizado nosso espaço Esporte & Saúde, segue uma dica bastante útil a todos os “debatepronteiros” atletas, ainda que só de fim de semana.

Um grande abraço e boa leitura,

Raul Avelino

—————————————–

Estratégias de hidratação

Confira as dicas de como fazer uma reposição de líquidos adequada antes, durante e depois do exercício físico

Por GSSI Brasil*

Uma hidratação adequada contribui para o melhor rendimento na atividade física e também para a boa saúde. Conhecer o seu corpo é o primeiro passo para permanecer bem hidratado e um plano de reposição de líquidos inteligente inclui dois aspectos importantes:

1° Quanto suamos?

2° Quanto precisamos beber para repor o que perdemos com o suor?

Quem sabe o quanto sua durante o exercício físico consegue entender melhor quanto de líquido precisa para repor o que foi perdido. As taxas de suor podem variar dependendo do clima ou da intensidade do exercício.

Uma boa maneira de se medir o índice do suor por hora é a seguinte:

Peso perdido durante o exercício (em gramas) + A quantidade de líquidos consumidos durante o exercício (em ml) = Quanto deveria beber (em ml)

Por exemplo, se um indivíduo perde 700g (700ml) durante uma hora de exercício e consome 300ml, deveria beber 700ml + 300ml, ou seja, 1000ml por hora de exercício. De acordo com este exemplo, a próxima vez que fizer um exercício similar a ingestão de líquidos deve ser de 200ml a cada 15 minutos.

Hidratação antes, durante e depois da atividade física

Antes do exercício:

4 horas antes: 5 a 7 ml / Kg peso;

2 horas antes: aprox. a 5 ml / Kg peso;

Durante o exercício:

Utilize sua alteração de peso e ingestão de líquidos durante a atividade física e planeje seu programa de reposição de líquidos;

Após o exercício:

1,5 L / kg de peso perdido durante o exercício

Fonte: ACSM, 2007 e GSSI – Gatorade Sports Science Institute



The TV Guy, Hal Boedeker, has the scoop tonight on the “big fizzle” (reported by WKMG reporter Tony Pipitone) that is the importance of the chloroform report earlier this week.

Is it a big fizzle? Is it important? I’ve seen the discussion. Let’s continue it!

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Pipitone noted that local and national media highlighted that chloroform was found in a Gatorade bottle and syringe discovered near Caylee Anthony’s remains. Casey Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her daughter. The state released documents about the chloroform last week.

But earlier this week, Pipitone reported that the amount of chloroform was insignificant. WKMG consulted an independent chemist in reporting its story.

Anthony attorney Jose Baez cited the Pipitone report today. “You can find those chemicals and the byproducts in tap water,” Baez said. “I think, as [with] everything else in this case, it was blown way out of proportion. I’m sure it made a great headline and got everybody excited, but I don’t think it did any more than that.”

Have you been enjoying the shiny sun and warm weather lately in Sayulita? Have you been sweating a lot? WATCH OUT! Because you might be also dehydrating!

This last month I’ve noticed that 9 out of 10 patients coming to consultation where having some degree of dehydration that actually worsened the symptoms of the different illnesses they were having, and instead of having 2-3 days of recovery they went up to 5-7 days.

How would you notice you are having dehydration?

One or more of the following symptoms might appear: thirst, discomfort, dry skin, dry mouth, dry lips, headache, loss of appetite, dizziness, muscle cramps, constipation, decreased urine volume, insomnia, and they can become as severe as seizures, loss of consciousness, fainting, and death.

Dehydration comes when we have reduced water consumption and an increase in the loss of it (sweating, sun exposure, exercise, fever, etc)

This is a very easy issue that can be prevented and solved by drinking enough plain water (tequila and beer doesn’t count) and don’t forget about getting some electrolytes too!

Let’s keep enjoying our nice and beautiful town with enough water in our bodies. Salud!

Healthy tip of the week: Drink 2-3 liters of plain water by day and at least on bottle of liquid electrolytes (Pedialyte/Electrolit/Gatorade) that can be easily found in grocery stores and pharmacies in town.

It seems that nature is not without a sense of irony.

Almost immediately following my last blog post about the farce of pig flu, I was stricken with a case of it.  And in the past four days spent on my couch, a lot went through my mind besides cabin fever.  Which is really more of a preface to the following list of non-sequiturs than anything else:

•”Die Hard” is a spectacular action movie.  Refreshing to see an action flick grounded in reality.  A good guy that bleeds.  An intelligent villain.  And the whole thing taking place inside a corporate building.  Excellent.  “Die Hard 2: Die Harder” was pretty much forgettable, with the exception of two cinematic plane explosions.  But a really silly premise: an airport that’s hijacked during bad weather, leaving airborne planes in holding patterns until they’re dangerously low on fuel?  Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad, except the setting is Washington D.C.  Even in the late 80’s, wouldn’t this location make it extremely easy to reroute traffic from Dulles to DC, Richmond, Norfolk, Baltimore, Philly, Pittsburgh, even Kennedy or La Guardia (just to name a few)?  Although there are bonus points for bringing in Reginald ValJohnson to reprise his role as ‘Al’ and again having it happen on Christmas–I was left wondering why these elements were forgotten in the 3rd and 4th pictures.  “Die Hard With A Vengeance” was straight-up crazy.  Samuel L. Jackson was a welcome addition to the cast and the plot was at least interesting, but this movie seemed to lose a lot of the grit of the first picture.  Also: at the end of the second picture, we see McClane and Holly happy together, the love rekindled.  This happened in the first one as well.  But in 3, he’s all the sudden separated from her and an alcoholic?  Plausible, but frustratingly unexplained.  Which brings us to “Live Free or Die Hard.”  Flat-out excellent.  Gripping and creative action the entire way through.  While deviating from the original “Die Hard” formula and being a skosh on the unrealistic side (not as much the premise as the scene where he is standing on top of a harrier jet as it spins out of control and is barely able to jump off and slide down a collapsed freeway and walk away from the whole thing), this picture was well-acted, had a great villain, a great henchman (guy in the freezer scene was acrobatic as all get-out), and a great premise.  I was very happy with the fourth and the first pictures.

•It’s dangerous to drink orange juice on an empty stomach.

•I’m not sure when it happened, but while I wasn’t paying attention Gatorade decided to start making their stuff actually taste good.  Amazing.  I’m not sure why I didn’t think of this before…  no, wait–not me; them.

•I wish sweating was voluntary.

•Only because I haven’t written about it previously, The Beatles: Rock Band is superb.  A milestone achievement in fun.  If I hadn’t gotten it, I don’t think I’d ever have started liking the early half of the Beatles catalog.

•That’s all for now.

Hoje eu fui andar de bicicleta no Parque do Ibirapuera. Domingo, tempo nublado, dia e clima perfeitos para um pouco de workout. Depois de voltas e voltas, resolvi parar para beber algo. Como, apesar do tempo nublado, o calor estava presente, os ambulantes estavam lotados. No lugar onde parei, como todos os demais vendedores, existe uma profusão de bebidas, mas prevalece o Gatorade e a água de coco.

Fiquei na dúvida, mas como tenho bebido muita água de coco em casa, optei pelo Gatorade. Aí o diabinho do marketing que vive na minha cabeça perguntou: E os outros? As outras pessoas? O que elas pedem? Fiz a pergunta para a ambulante e a resposta foi uma pesquisa de mercado gratuita:

“Olha, sai mais água de coco do que Gatorade. O povo que anda prefere a água. Gatorade é mais para os que fazem esporte ou andam de bicicleta” Taí, uma informação gratuita que a gente precisa, normalmente, gastar milhares de reais para descobrir.

Lógico que minha próxima pergunta foi o preço, já que poderia ser essa a razão. Que nada, o preço é igual, quatro reais por uma garrafinha de meio litro. Preço aliás, salgado. É o custo da conveniência.

Passei o resto do passeio pensando a respeito dos dois isotônicos. Gatorade, desenvolvido, em 1965, pela Universidade da Flórida e batizado devido ao time da cidade, o Flórida Gators. Se tornou um sucesso mundial a partir da vitória do time no final da Orange Bowl (o Superbowl dos times das universidades). E a água de coco, que passou a ser vendida, em 1995, em embalagem longa vida a partir da iniciativa de um ex-engarrafador mineiro de Coca-Cola.

Seria uma briga de mercado interessante, pois a água de coco pode se posicionar como um isotônico natural e, com isso, tomar o mercado do Gatorade entre as pessoas que buscam se livrar de produtos artificiais. Seria, pois a partir deste ano os dois produtos passaram a pertencer à mesma empresa. Em 2000, foi a vez da Pepsico comprar a Quaker, fabricante de Gatorade. E no último mês de agosto, a vez da Amacoco, fabricante de Kero-Coco e Tropicoco, se juntar à multinacional de bebidas.

Agora, o resto será história. A chance de Kero-Coco virar uma marca internacional é muito grande. Talvez seja mais uma força para fazer da Pepsico uma empresa maior que a Coca-Cola. É viver e ver.

Pero con mucho sentimiento.

Pero más bien para salir bien en la materia de Comunicación Audiovisual, que es la razón por la que lo hicimos. Es tarea en pocas palabras. Estos son algunos de mi salón. Viddy well.

Christian: In Your Minds and In Your Face

Joe Stern-McGovern, global agent and President of Universal Artists, Interntional,  and Shaka of Shaka Productions, have made of their smarter moves to date by bringing into the fold a young, quick tongued genius named Christian Levi, or simply put, Christian. Hailing from Bessemer, Alabama by way of Brooklyn, New York, Christian’s venture into the world of hip hop and Dirty South has certainly spanned polar opposites. He’s played both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line, while sitting on the fence of neither, proving victorious on all accounts, in spite of his youth of only 24 years.

A short locked, tall young man, Christian cuts a handsome, light skinned figure fresh and ready for the cover of Gentleman’s Quarterly in a suit by Hugo Boss. While his looks are striking, it’s his deadly placement of vocabulary which stands out so poignantly, as he takes to the microphone like a young hellion fresh out of the nest, wings spread wide and ready to soar. Who will fall the next victim to this classic bird of prey?

While the idle and foolish of Birmingham, Alabama, rest on their laurels, Christian is fastidious in his consumption of language, a proverbial, “Walking thesaurus”, arming himself with the arsenal he will require for future hurdles, future battles, and the unwary opponent he will so easily bring to bow his head in shame with adept delivery and a curious, beguiling smile, as if to say, “Yes, you’ve just been handed your ass.”

You Talkin' to Me?

Featured on several of the Black Flock Gang’s soon to be released CD, BFG, as well as Universal Artists, International’s personal brainchild, World Mixtape: Artists Against AIDS, which can be found shortly at www.endhivaids.com, young Christian is proud to devastate the competition and rise like cream on such singles as, “Put Me in Coach,” and, “This is How Money Sounds”, where his language coupled with delivery crack the skin and skulls of his opponents like a bull whip.

Like Wyatt Earp at the OK Corral, Christian is more than prepared to mess up your day should you call him out or look at him sideways. Like the old serpent flag said, “Don’t Tread on Me”. To the adventurous MC, Don’t be unwittingly fooled by his casual manner or disarming smile, this double agent lives to shame the boisterous, scramble the brains of the thoughtless, and level the stage with his clarity and epic bounce.

For all the bounty of his labor and toils, or his stature as hip hop royalty, Christian is surprisingly down to earth, so to all of his fans, should you happen to come across this icon, feel free to approach him with a smile and expect one in return.

Again, make sure to look for Christian Levi to be prominently featured as he helps in the fight against HIV/AIDS on our coming site, www.endhivaids.com. You can also find more information about young Christian at www.myspace.com/universalartists as well as our main site, www.universalartists.net.

Don't Let the Glasses Fool You...

To book Christian for a show domestically,  please write to shaka@universalartists.net, and for all international matters, please write to joe@universalartists.net, or feel free to call our San Diego/LA Metro office at 1(619)757-1301.

For the latest in Universal Artists, International’s videos, please visit us at www.youtube.com/universalartistsintl. To donate funds to the cause of building the www.endhivaids.com site for future generations, please go to www.paypal.com and submit your donation of $5 and up in increments of $5 to payments@universalartists.net. Your help in fighting the world’s plague known as HIV/AIDS is greatly appreciated and recognized.

Christian with Ms. Kesha Lee

The Friday morning before my wedding I got together with a few of my best home boys and rocked the AM! Chris was in town from Arkansas and since he was the reason the AM game started we had to hit up Irving. I seriously miss Chris cause that dude rarely missed the AM Game. Maybe all my gifts and begging made him want to move back to D-Town!

Jesse was also holding down my bachelor AM session. Jesse has been on my butt about the AM game but new jobs and weddings have been messing up my schedule. But hopefully soon we can get back on the AM!

Rock on!

Check out all the pictures of Chris texting. I could not get that dude off of the phone!!!

I taped up Adam Taylor’s toe and I poached this picture of him sitting on a Flip board! Adam hit up the AM on accident!

More skateboarding less cell phone in the AM! I want to make the AM hot again!

To be 22 and have traveled a large portion of the world doing what you love, is more than an accomplishment…

To be 22 and be sponsored by Nike and Gatorade ( just to name a few) etc. is  what some people sit and dream about…

To be 22 and have your very own shoe is what most people will never have…

To be 22 and have done more than what most people hope to accomplish in their lifetime, is most likely something Nigel’s already done!

We would refer to his lifestyle as…

THE PROS OF BEING A PRO

Nigel’s got a lot going on these days, but he still manages to keep his wheels going, and his handle bars upright. From traveling the world, owning a business ( Format), shaking hands and kissing babies, and pushing himself beyond his limit, while not being afraid to fall obviously does bring about great rewards. With in the past two weeks, Nigel has managed to drop a mix-tape labeled ” Because I Grind” which was also a tour that he put together with one of his biggest sponsors Gatorade. This tour allowed him to travel  Atlanta, Miami, Oceanside and Las Vegas giving back to his fans, while hanging with the homies! I guess you can’t beat that,  i mean some of us work 9-5’s and go to school, and only have opts to vacation during spring break and during the summer,mean while this guy does what he loves with a job title that entails traveling to some of the greatest cities ever!  Check out the Mix-tape hosted by Mick Boogie w/ production by The Alchemist below..

Download Here

OH, WE FORGOT TO MENTION

THE CHOCOLATE MAVRK

As some of you might recall, Nigel released his new sneaker The Chocolate Mavrk this past Monday (11/2). Him and his team designed the shoe sometime last year, and have finally decided to share with all of us. Check it out below!

Oh, and if you’re looking for everything in one (aka Nigels personality), these sneakers are probably the perfect fit for you!

“Each panel has different materials from ostrich and croc toe boxes, sting ray leather swooshes in alternating black and gold, ice gel tow bumper, black splatter print on the lace panels. To top it of we added FORMAT PURPLE quilted interior lining!

NICE!

Best of All He Reps for the Hometown Queens NY, so you know we put on for him! We wish him more and more success!

]]> http://youneed2stop.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/i-hate-my-life-sigh/ Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:01:36 +0000 youneed2stop http://youneed2stop.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/i-hate-my-life-sigh/

Amber ********* “I woke up thinking about a lot of things *sigh*. I’m looking forward to my trip and getting back to make some serious changes.”

–I woke up this morning thinking about getting a haircut *sigh* then probably going to get some Subway *sigh* and then more than likely drinking some gatorade later *sigh* I’m thinking *sigh* that when I get back from the dry cleaner *sigh* I’m gonna make some serious *sigh* changes *sigh* …

I am officially sick today. It all started yesterday, once I got home, I got a sore throat. This morning, I woke up with a sore throat, dizziness, and stomach ache. The sore throat is pretty much gone now, but everything else has stayed the same. I am so dizzy that I am walking weird, and I am leaning my head to the side as I am typing this (if there are any grammatical errors in this post, then I’m sorry. I am just really dizzy). I’ll bet that this is a reaction to my H1N1 vaccine that I had on Saturday. My dad got sick a few days later, too. Hopefully, that is all it is, and I’m hoping that I’ll be better by the weekend, as I have to go for an eye exam and new glasses, which I want done before I get my state I.D.

Anyway, I’ll be mostly laying in bed today, and drinking tea and powerade. I’d watch TV, but as you know, all that’s on right now are the syndicated talk shows, so I’ll pass.

-Tony

Im A Huge Nigel Sylvester fan.

I love BMX.

I used to ride always.

His mixtape featuring Production by The Alchemist just dropped.

Its DOPE.

Ive been vibin to this and that Jay – Z American Gangster Remix album all day.