Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Entertainment Design Class

Hey, just wanted to let you guys know that I was going to start posting the stuff from a class I've been taking over on my blog.  It's an entertainment design class focused on mech design.  Fun stuff.





Blog here- Process

In the mail!

 
I went to visit Veronica in Boston during my visit home last week and even had the chance to stop in the Reebok/Rockport concept store. 50% off is pretty awesome! Rockport, previously known for "shoes for your New Englander father or grandfather" are making some pretty awesome products for guys our age. I thought these would be right up your alley Dave and Ian. However, I can't bring myself to tuck my jeans into them.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Photos From Our Climb Up Ulm Cathedral

Kara and I and a couple friends from work spent last weekend visiting Ulm Cathedral.
Fun Facts:
- The tallest Cathedral in the world at 530ft
- Took 513 years to finish (starting in 1377)
- You can climb to the top, 768 steps up.
- The stairs are not in doors...

The day was foggy, which was wonderful for photos and keeping your paralyzing fear of heights somewhat at bay.




Monday, November 21, 2011

FASTEST Documentary

My heart is still beating fast from the trailer.  I know what I want in my stocking this year.



Sunday, November 20, 2011

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Books | Beard

Since I don't plan on buying you guys any Christmas gifts this year, I figured I'd send you a link to a gift that I would buy you, but don't plan to. So, without further adieu, I present to you, the book I'd buy you, but you can go buy for yourself....


Monday, November 7, 2011

Learning to not be stupid


For some odd reason I took an open lane on 75 this morning and decided to air out the ol’ blue bomber Pass-it. I put the needle on a once uncharted section of the speedometer and learned quickly how much sweat my hands can produce in a short amount of time. I thought to myself, “what the hell are you doing Pat? This car is going to fall apart underneath you! It won't even be an admirable story when you have to tell it from a hospital bed." Arriving safely at work - thankfully and rapidly I might add ; ) - I googled, “The dangers of driving at high speeds”. I thought there had to be something more interesting than “crash and die”. Turns out it’s mostly “crash and die”. Butttt, I did find an SAE article on the dangers involved with high performance driving and it was a pretty good read. Maybe I’m going out on a limb but I felt the article was full of good life/career advice too, even if it’s intent is to talk about racing. Here is a link to the article and below is the section I found to be almost biblical.

 8. MOTIVATION.
Once you perform a skill to your own satisfaction you tend to stop looking for improvement. Yet the physiological limits to your performance of the skill may be a great deal higher the upper reaches are virtually limitless, provided there is sufficient motivation to reach them. Have we forgotten the effort required to "get it right?" There is such an emphasis today on instant gratification and being a winner that we often forget the valuable lessons we learn from losing. Remember that the fact of trying something, even if it does not work, often opens doors that would have otherwise remained closed. Small failures lead to incremental improvements. More than any film, bench-racing session or ride a long, not being able to make it through a turn will sear into your brain the importance of doing it right. Discipline yourself to concentrate on what it takes to be where you need to be. On track, focus on the present and save analysis for the paddock. It is the driver's job to learn to do the hard thing easily, gracefully, efficiently. Improvement is there for the taking only if the effort is invested.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Fuel Bespoke Shirt - Fo Freeee

So, Karles, the man behind Fuel Bespoke Motorcycles shot me a few messages recently and ended up sending me a free shirt. It's a Large, which is what I usually wear, but it turns out they run small. He's sending me a new XL and said I could keep the Large.

I guess first person to claim it can have it. Just make note that it's probably more of a Medium to us Muricans.

Here it is:


Holluurrr