Words to sweat by...

"In my 30s I used to go to the gym even though I hated it. The purpose of ­going to the gym was to postpone the day when I would stop going. That's what writing is to me: a way of ­postponing the day when I won't do it any more, the day when I will sink into a depression so profound it will be indistinguishable from perfect bliss." - Geoff Dyer

So I joined a gym, and have been going quite often. A half hour on a treadmill followed by 15 minutes on an elliptical, or spinning class once a week.

I like the way the gym makes me feel, and not just physically. Mentally, too. I sleep better, and I wake up more energized between the ears. I am regaining a creative energy that is normally absent once it's too cold to be on a bike. I like it.

But it has made me realize that I'm not writing enough right now.

Free Heidelberg Project Tours

Heidelberg Project
Originally uploaded by alpharat

It will be while we're at SXSW, so we can't make it, but I just saw that if any of you locals will be around and interested, they're going to be doing free tours of the Heidelberg Project Tours on March 20.

RSVP here, as apparently there are limited number of spots available.

Here come the Repo Men... again...

I just stumbled across this site.

It's a really well-designed site that's a viral piece for an upcoming film called Repo Men, which stars Jude Law and Forest Whitaker.

The real site for the film is here.

The concept is a good one. In the (near) future, organ transplant science will have reached a point where the science is good, and while people will need them in order to avert terminal disease or fatal injuries, they won't be able to afford them.

This is where the big corporations come in.

With a financing plan, you'll be able to set up a payment plan in order to finance your new organs and new life.

But what happens if you fall behind on your payments?

They send the Repo Men out to collect the company's property.



It sounds like a novel concept, no?

No.

They totally lifted the plot from an excellent independent film from 2008 called Repo: The Genetic Opera, which is a dark, surreal rock opera that features (among others) Paris Hilton (who is actually good), Ogre (from Skinny Puppy), Sarah Brightman and a surprise cameo by one of the most badass women in rock and roll.



I know it's nothing new, but it rankles my limpets badly enough when Hollywood simply remakes a classic film out of greed and a lack of willingness to take a chance with a fresh idea, and it's even worse when they simply choose to rip off the indies who did it first and (probably) better.

See it if you must, but see the opera first.

Angry Monkey Update

Like last year, it appears that Team Angry Monkey will not be signing up for Iceman this year. Actually ever again.

It was fun for the several years we did it, but everyone seems to be of the "been there, done that" mentality.

Instead, though, it seems that one of our team members, one of the more hardcore (hint: not me), has gone and signed up for this. It happens to be Michigan's most hardcore race.

Last summer, I rode the trail the course is on. It kicked my ass. And I rode it once. For this race, he'll be riding it three times. For a total of 100 miles.

We're going up to cheer him on. The afterparty will be sweet, but I don't know if he'll come to it.

Introducing Jezebel

On a frigid winter day, Jezebel, as she has come to be known, made her maiden voyage around the block. It was success, but then she had to go back inside to wait for spring.