So Long, Farewell, Aufidersen, Goodbye

Sorry for the recent radio silence, but I am sad to say it is a sign of things to come. I have moved back to Dallas (and am pumped about it). I considered continuing the blog as just a means of sharing links, analysis and news but it just wouldn't be the same.

Ultimately, this is good news. London was exciting and the opportunity to travel throughout Europe was amazing, but I am happy to be near family and friends again on a daily basis. Thanks for reading.

aBradAtHome

My favorite blogs to add to your own blogroll:
Adventure Journal - cool stuff, one of the best blogs out there
The Goat - Backcountry.com - ditto
Deadspin - sports without the ESPN bias
The Big Picture - Smart, independent econ and occasional miscellany
Crossfit Football - Make you strong
Robb Wolf - Make you healthy

Link Dump

Last post before I head back to the states (more on that later). Here's some cool stuff:

How Many Americans Have Passports? (Grey's Blog via TBP) Hint: the percentages are higher than you would think and WAY higher than the europeans would have you think.

Fishing for Greenland Sharks (Adventure Journal) This is part of the BBC Human Planet series, which looks sweet.

The Coming War Between The Generations (Big Picture)

Peakery: Claiming the Peaks You Summit (Backcountry.com) Because in the age of YouTube and Facebook, if you don't post it, it might as well not have happened. Booooo

Video of Inside a Grocery Store During the Japan Earthquake (Reformed Broker)

Telemarkers get some love. Sweet video. (Backcountry.com)

Are Carbs More Addictive Than Cocaine?

Check out this article from Details magazine (and great image above). I would tend to be wary of diet advice (like investments) from a mainstream mag, but at least people are figuring this out I guess. Quick read with a particularly interesting study:

In 2007, researchers at the University of Bordeaux, France, reported that when rats were allowed to choose between a calorie-free sweetener and intravenous cocaine, 94 percent preferred the sugar substitute. The researchers concluded that "intense sweetness can surpass cocaine reward. . . . 

Read More Here

Links: Lying, OPT, Max Effort Black Box

Here are a few things to keep you busy:

How to Spot a Liar (Westword via The Big Picture)

Want to train like the best? Follow James Fitzgerald's Optimum Performance Training menu for 'Big Dawgs'. DISCLAIMER: this is not for people looking to get in shape. This is for looking for that last 10% of performance (OPT Big Dawgs). I'll probably switch to this one day if I ever get tired of crossfit football or decide I have a shift in goals (more endurance, less strength bias).

If, however, you are generally looking to lose weight, get stronger and improve your all around general physical preparedness (work capacity), check out Coach Rut's programming at Max Effort Black Box (Crossfit Kansas City)

Case of the Mondays

I picked up some sort of bug over the weekend which has had me at about 50% strength this weekend, even with Dad and Denise in town. Not fun. Here is some stuff that is fun:

What Does Oil Doubling in Two Years Mean? (Hint: every other time, it meant recession) (The Big Picture)

Short white guy makes his case for NCAA dunk contest. Wow. (Deadspin)

NFL and NFLPA gave themselves another week to hammer out a new labor agreement (Deadspin)

Trials bike stuff is always so cool (via Adventure Journal)


A Hill in Spain from chris akrigg on Vimeo.

Another sweet video from Early Ups (via AJ)



Late 2010 from Andrew Whiteford on Vimeo.

Friday Links: Paternal Edition

Dad and Denise are in town this weekend, so I'll keep it brief:

More Insane Urban Mountain Biking from Chile (Deadspin)

NFL and NFLPA agree to 24 hour extension (WSJ)

Funny Scared Girl Running Her First Rapids in a tandem kayak (Youtube via Adventure Journal)

Tuesday Links

The Myth of Japan's 'Lost Decades' (The Atlantic via TBP)

Driver Mows Down Dozens of Bicyclists During Rally in Brazil (Deadspin). I've seen this on multiple blogs and its terrifying.

Holy S%@t Ski Fall. Watch your step. I watched this at least 4 times. (Adventure Journal)

Avalanches (when viewed from a distance) are awesome (AJ)

Nigel Marsh @ TED: How to Make Work/Life Balance Work (The Big Picture)

Europeans are drunks (The Economist via Reformed Broker)