RSS over at Bob Roll's site

Hey cycling fans - one more update on Bob Roll's new site. You all asked and they listened. There are now RSS feeds there.

It's kind of cool if you think about it. Jessi and Bob have formed a partnership, put up a website with a blog component and listened to their 'customers'. They asked for RSS and poof (!)- there it was. They 'get it', even if they don't get all the technology. That's how blogs are supposed to benefit companies, right? Cool.

Go sign up so you don't miss any more Blog-Ke entries like this new one.

Just a tiny tidbit today. Thanks for stopping by.

Haven Hamilton Joins a Conversation

As I've learned over the last couple of years, the blogosphere is about participating in conversations. People may not always agree with one another in those conversations, but sometimes the most interesting to read are those where people don't agree.

However, in at least one case, I must disagree. Fritz, whom I have grown to respect and enjoy discussions with, has voiced his opinion about the Tyler Hamilton verdict. I respect his opinion. I don't agree with it, but respect it because he plainly states it, without slander, and moves on. But, today, Fritz points us to a post by someone who did not take the high road. In fact, in my opinion, he takes a very low road. Some of his readers/commenters take an even lower one.

Nathan, who had more than one chance to make his, apparently, strong feelings known to Tyler in person did not do that. What he wanted to say wasn't even that bad, "Tyler, you're a great guy, and I'm sorry to have to say this, but you made a mistake and cheated." He should have been able to say this to him; might not have been easy, but I guarantee Tyler has had worse said to him in the last year. Then blog about that conversation, including Tyler's response. But he didn't. He went to his blog and, in my opinion, wrote very harsh words about Tyler.

This did not surprise me and I almost stopped reading, yet I'm glad I didn't. In the comment section I was completely surprised to see a very eloquent post by one Haven Hamilton. Yes, Tyler's wife. (Disclaimer: I consider Haven and Tyler to be friends and believe in them) She's joined the conversation - good for her. She's a little feisty, but after everything they have been through, I can't blame her. As a matter of fact, I think she stated her points very well and I hope she doesn't mind me posting them here in complete form:

Dear Nathan - Just read your post, and as a former Nordic ski racer, I'm amused by your description of cyclists on skis. I'm not amused however, by your comments about my husband Tyler. Your sign off is very telling about your character - "Good, now that I've done the really manly thing and trashed someone on the Internet, I feel much better." You saw Tyler face to face and had the chance to confront him man to man and ask him anything you wanted. But you chose not to. Instead you took the coward's root and wrote a tantrum on the internet. You and Tyler have a number of mutual acquaintances. You can find out where we live. You can find out our phone number. If you want to know any of the facts about Tyler's case there are a number of ways you could gain access to them. Had you done so, you might have come to wonder how the transfusion test run on Tyler's samples in Athens didn't even type his blood correctly. Or how some of the test results used against him are biologically impossible. Or why the test results from Athens don't match the test results taken 3 weeks later that were used to charge Tyler. These are the questions we never got answers to. Tyler has been forced to endure a living nightmare on the worldwide stage. While he may never fully understand why or how this has happened to him, one thing is for sure. He's taken his knocks like a man. He has held his head high, and as you noted in your post - not shied away from the public - and never failed to look his critics in the eye. These are the actions of a man with nothing to hide. Plain and simple, these are the actions of a man. That's why I have so much respect for my husband. I wish I could say the same for you.

Sincerely, Haven Hamilton

Since, there have been some nasty comments directed at Haven. As her friend, I want to 'pounce' on the person who questions why she's defending her husband. Hello! Really? C'mon. But, I believe in Shel's Living Room Rule so I'll refrain, yet reiterate something I said many posts ago, "....this man looked me in the eye and told me he didn't do this. Good enough for me."

That is my opinion, without slandering anyone else. See? It can be done.

Just my opinionated tidbit for today. Thanks for stopping by.

Rolling along

Just got this update from BobkeInk:

The wait is over! All of us here at BobkeInk are proud to announce www.bobroll.com is up, running and waiting for you to check it out! We are looking forward to your feedback.

Go check it out!

Thanks for stopping by.

Bob Roll Launches Website

One of the best things about my job is the people I meet. Actually, the best thing about the adventure of life is the people you meet, for the most part. Bob Roll is one of those great people I've been fortunate to meet through my job.

I had the opportunity to meet Bob a couple of years ago, via telephone, and I've been a fan of Bob, the person, not the just the commentator, ever since. Sure, I'd seen him on television where he was as witty as he was knowledgeable. But, talking with him on the phone was truly the highpoint of my day. Over the last couple of years I've been able to work with Bob off and on in person and on the phone and, I'll tell ya, every time I talk with him I go away with a smile on my face. He's just so darn genuine and nice.

Bob has finally jumped on the technology bandwagon and he's launching a website! On St. Patrick's Day. This seems fitting to me for some reason. I don't have a clue if he's of Irish heritage or not, but if some of the stories I've heard about Bob are true, well, this is as fitting a day for the debut of his site as any. It's going to have information about Bob's racing career, his commentating, appearances and advocacy initiatives that are close to him. From what I hear it will also contain some race results and other fun things as time goes on. Trust me, it will be a cool place to visit and revisit. It's already added to my 'favorites'.

I'm not sure what time of day the site will be live, but keep checking back. In the mean time, you can read this wacky interview with Bob over on Missing Saddle. It's conducted by his new partner in crime Jessi Pacetti. It's very fun and I'll bet you'll learn a thing or two about Bob from it.

Just a little cycling related tidbit for today. Thanks for stopping by.

Tiny tidbit

The Kansas City Star has a really good article about blogging today:

"The bottom line on blogging

Companies find all that Web talk builds businesses"

It's very good. Kudos to its author, David Hayes.

Just a little, tiny tidbit for today. Thanks for stopping by.

Meeting quote

I just love this. Thanks, Bicycle Retailer & Industry News!

''When the outcome of a meeting is to have another meeting,

it has been a lousy meeting."

Herbert Hoover

Just a tiny tidbit for today. Thanks for stopping by.

Sundance Catalog Made No Mistake

I just love the Sundance Catalog. I've been getting their catalog for years and now spend a little too much time browsing their website. The 'outlet' section is fabulous for good jewelry buys.

Along the way, I've signed up for email notifications about things on their site. This is one email I never mind getting - although I'm usually distracted for a good half hour if I click through to the site.

A couple of days ago I got an email from them with the subject of "Our Sincere Apology.... Please Enjoy 15% Off Your Next Order". I haven't ordered anything from them since before the holidays so I knew they didn't mess up an order of mine. They never have, actually. They have fabulous customer service and take returns without question and credit you immediately, including a portion of the original shipping charge. I've had nothing but positive experiences with them. I was curious, though...so I opened the email.

"Our Oops is your gift. Or, how a mistake by us means your little windfall in outfitting yourself for Spring. You are a valued customer."

It seems like, when they shipped the spring catalog, some people only got a 48 page catalog one rather than an 80 page one. "This is an offer that we mail to folks who aren't yet customers like you."

If you haven't guessed, they already had me hooked and I'm feeling important to them. Me, little 'ole me. Oy! I'm their dream customer.

The whole jist was that they didn't send out the bigger catalog to me, which I never would have noticed, by the way. To 'make it up' to me, if I was 'confused', they are giving me 15% off my next order up to a certain day.

This was no 'Ooops'; this is a great marketing ploy. And, yes, I LIKE IT. No complaints here. They are smart, smart, smart.

Now, I'm sorry, but I need to stop blogging and go shopping! Thank you, Sundance Catalog!

Just a little tidbit for today. Thanks for stopping by.

Post #50

Although I've been a little slow (a lot slow, according to my ever faithfully reading cousin, Ed..) I have managed to do 50 posts. That isn't a lot to some bloggers. Heck, some could come up with 50 in a couple of weeks! But, to be honest, I didn't know if I'd last this long.

I didn't want to become one of the (many, many) pontificating bloggers out there. Who really needs to hear me pontificate about anything? Seriously.

I thought I'd run out of things to say in a week. And, some weeks I have. But other weeks there have been things to say. Important things that I want more people to know about than just me.

I'm still searching for what the blog is truly about, but the beauty of blogs is that it can really be about whatever you want at any time. No one person writes on one general topic all the time. Not even the smart cookies. Tim will talk about his fabulous kids sometimes. BL tosses in some Benny every once in awhile. (Stop! Right now and click on Benny's link. You must. He's too cute not to) And Tara isn't always dishing about technology.

Now that I'm through one of our busy seasons at work, I'll find more time for the blog and maybe, just maybe, it will start to evolve into more one thing than another. We'll just have to see together since even I don't have that answer yet.

Just a random tidbit for today. Thanks for continuing to stop by.

Boris Said On Pole In Mexico

Although the Nextel Cup drivers are off this week, the Busch series guys are racing a road course in Mexico. Road Course specialist Boris Said just got the pole in his brand new Ingersoll Rand Dodge Charger.

Nicely done Boris and EMS team!

Just a little NASCAR tidbit. Thanks for stopping by.

Richard Branson quote

The new issue of Outside Magazine is on stands now. Samsonite has a full page ad featuring Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin.

It's a very simple ad, which I tend to like. Branson is standing under a Virgin Atlantic plane with his luggage. Simple. What makes it memorable is the only quote on the page, which is attributed to Branson. It's classic and I like it.

"To me, business isn't about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It's about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials."

This is a great quote and, I'll bet, this is how he's been so successful.

Just a little tidbit. Thanks for stopping by.