You say hiatus, I say potato.

This blog is, like, suspended.

There, there. Dry those eyes . . . so you can watch WHIPLASH THE RODEO MONKEY!



Thanks for reading. Or watching. Now go outside!

Straight to Vegas.

I will not be posting much this week -- I'm going here instead.

I hope skiers and snowboarders like to have a good time . . . some of 'em may even drink booze!

Planet warms, ski resort industry cools.

A ski resort in the Swiss Alps just sold for 90 cents.

Global warming? What global warming?

Effectively giving the ski operation away was an act of desperation on the part of Ernen, which, like hundreds of other small Alpine ski stations at medium altitudes, faces dire times.

Because . . . they hate freedom? I'm gonna go with freedom-hating. It's a Swiss resort, so they're probably "neutral" on freedom, but you know deep in their efficient little hearts, they HATE it.

As global warming brings less snow, lower-altitude stations rely more on costly snow machines.

Okay, maybe there are a few different factors at work here. It's far too complicated to reduce to any one problem, though, right? This is just ONE resort we're talking about, after all.

Examples of Swiss ski resorts facing economic hardship abound. This year, three mountain villages in the southern canton, or state, of Ticino warded off bankruptcy proceedings after the canton offered interim financing.

La la la la la! Can't hear you! Off to stare at the Olympic mountain range for a while! All sorts of snow up there! Everything's just FINE!

La la la la la!

Cycling news? Does it involve doping?

What a silly question. Of course it involves doping.

ROME - Tour de France champion Alberto Contador could be barred from defending his title and Alejandro Valverde might also be banned from the year’s top cycling races if the Italian Olympic Committee has its way.

The Italians have some extra leverage because next year's Tour de France will include a small stretch of Italian roads. And Italy's hosting the 2008 World Championships.

I'm not gonna pretend to understand the political machinations of rival athletic governing entities, but here's the lowdown: Spain and Italy are PISSED at one another.

I know, I know. They're usually so reserved and circumspect.

The guy I'm rooting for in next year's Tour remains the same.

Friday random video: Martindale madness!

Here's a little BMX action from Chris Martindale. I think I like the first part best.



Have a good long weekend. Bloggy goodness will resume on Tuesday.

Hydrogen + Oxygen + Pedals = Winner!

I like bicycles, and I like smart people. So I'm loving this new invention, courtesy of the "Innovate or Die" campaign.

It addresses a huge problem in developing countries: access to safe drinking water. It relies solely on pedal power. And it combines the task of transporting water with the chore of purifying it.



Okay, I guess it's technically a tricycle. But still, it's a great idea that addresses a fundamental need.

Congratulations to the winning team. It would be great to see someone step up and buy a few thousand of these to donate, just to get things started. I'm guessing this invention is a little more expensive than malaria netting.

When mom leaves for a few minutes . . .

. . . the Web gets another funny video.

Safety fans, I give you "Small Child on a Rocket Skateboard." I'm not sure, but it looks like dad is running the show.



I'm sure in dad's mind, he's being EXTRA safe, because the kid's wearing a helmet. Fortunately, the kid also has the good sense to keep stepping off the board, in case the rocket actually works. He must get it from his mother.