Act I: Who shall inherit the earth? The computers shall.
As software engineers and scientists continue to work diligently in order to create different forms of artificial intelligence, they've all failed to realize that the very thing they are working so heard on already exists. Not only that, but one form of artificial intelligence already hates us, and thus turns on us in a HAL-like fashion. Want an example of this? Here it goes.
As you may know, there's a professional cyclist named Stephen Cummings, who rides for Team Sky. If you're a long-time reader of this blog, you may also know that there's another cyclist who is also named Stephen Cummings. He's the guy who made that one video where animated "hipsters" discuss cyclocross. I interviewed that Stephen (who goes by Steevo, and is an all-around great guy) about his video a while back.
Why am I telling you this? Well, it just so happens that the auto-complete function in someone's computer at Team BMC turned on them in a decidedly HAL-like fashion, and thus Stephen Cummings (the guy I interviewed, who made the video), was sent a contract intended for Stephen Cummings (the guy from Team Sky). This was before his signing to BMC was announced, but more importantly this blunder also made every single aspect of his contract (salary, incentives etc., I assume) freely available to someone else who happened to have the same name.
Oops.
If you want to read Stephen's account of this (the Stephen who was mistakenly sent the contract), you can find it here. After reading it, I wont blame anyone for thinking that their stem-mounted computer might be out to get them.
Photo by AHTBMAct II: On the quality of cycling journalism, or lack thereof
Did you read the post that was published on All Hail The Black Market about the HTC/Highroad team presentation that happened earlier this year? I don't know what some of you will make out of it, but I found it to be extremely entertaining, and pleasantly different. Having read other accounts of similar events in the past, I was amazed to see that Stevil made this otherwise boring event into something interesting by his tone alone. Even if you don't like his account for some reason, you have to admit that it greatly underscores how similar, stilted and boring most writing about pro cycling is. And how absolutely devoid of humor and self-awareness it also is.
Can you think of another sport or area of interest where some of the best writing about the topic is often done, not by professionals, but rather relative outsiders and/or amateurs? That's not a rhetorical question, I'm really asking, because I don't know. Are there other topics that any of you are interested in where good writing, thoughtful content, quality storytelling, humorous insights, entertaining accounts, criticism, and quality investigative journalism are so hard to come by? Are other sports (with the popularity of cycling, or smaller) plagued by this issue?
Growing up, I would often flip through trade magazines that my dad (a long-time railroading aficionado) would get in the mail. These publications dealt with thrilling topics like press releases about what steel companies had been awarded contracts for railway expansions in places like southern India. It was dry content for an industry that (in the eyes of a young outsider) seemed to lack passion. But cycling, at least if we go by the marketing hype, print ads and TV intros for races, is all about passion. Right? So where on earth does that passion go once so many fans of the sport become professional journalists and writers? Are they too close to the topic at hand? Are they afraid to anger those who give them access? Are they all jaded? The list of people/sites/publications (professional or not) who provide quality content about the sport is painfully short. We must treasure these people, because there are so few of them.
Am I crazy for thinking this? Perhaps. But if any of you agree, please share your thoughts on the matter, and feel free to share the names of people, blogs or publications who stand out in a sea of mediocrity. Remember, sharing is caring.
Act III: Search terms
As I've done in the past, I hereby offer you a list of recent search terms that have brought people to this blog. I've copied and pasted these verbatim, just as they were entered into several search engines. Enjoy.
cycling = cankles
How to make my own disc wheel
cannondale bad boy, but with drop bars
woman leg wrestling in a dress
indurain's eyebrow like a muppet
armageddon is best def leppard song
Oakley jawbones with hipser bike hat?
how do tour de frances rider go number 2
peanut butter nipples
hot blogs that are hot and gay
Bradnely wiggans fashion hair
why is noriegas face like that?
latino bloods and crips gang symbol
What kind of sunglasses does Braddley Wiggins wear?
What shoes does bradley wiggins wear on his bike and why
Rapha cycling is gay
Shave THAT UNIBROW NO NOT LIKE THAT
why do people mock rapha?
.
Why do people mock Rapha?
ReplyDeleteLucho,
ReplyDeleteBoring cycling journalism is I think based on several factors and fortunately, they are changing for the better. Until recently, most writers covering the sport were former bike racers themselves. So they tend to be uncritical because they want to keep working in the insular little world of cycling and also need the continued access. They aren't trained as journalists and most aren't particularly skilled as writers. It's very much like having fans covering the sport.
All this is changing now and the excitment is the new voices coming into cycling. We've gone from a small, niche sport to a global one. That means the sport is moving beyond the parochial views and opening up to more diverse perspectives. Part of that is blogging and partly it's just a wider audience that looks at cycling in fresh new ways.
As I blogger myself and now a writer for Cycle Sport, it's great to the writing change.
Klaus -- it's so funny (maybe the right word is interesting) that you describe a lot of writing about cycling as uninteresting. That's exactly what I think, and exactly the type of writing I don't want to do. I'm trying to find a niche that focuses on the passion of the sport and athletes, so I look for inspiring stories and not so much race reports. Lately I fear a lack of criticism could hurt my work, but speaking of passion, I believe I need to write where my heart tells me to go. Hence, writing about arepas. We'll see where it goes. Thank you for writing.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most common search terms that leads to my blog is "dutch windmill," because I have a photo of one in a post about Rabobank. Sometimes I wish it wasn't what led folks to my blog, but it's there, so I guess it's good.
Your bookmark replaced stevils in my browser. The cav question was funny but I can't see him bringing the consistency to warrant re-bookmarking whether it's humor or actual interesting topics. Perhaps the post a day format is tough to work with. IDK. There isn't much space up there in the menu bar even with abbreviations/logos so CI it is.
ReplyDelete@the badger guy up there.
If your question is sarcasm I'm laughing with you. If that is indeed a question then I'm laughing at you along with the rich guys who started rapha.
Urban sombrero anyone?
jim x 7
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that I've made the cut, and thus made it into your bookmarks. If/when I fall out of favor, please don't let me know about it. I don't take rejection well. Lastly, I've lost track of which Jim you are, since there are multiple Jims.
Oakley jawbones with hipser bike hat?
ReplyDeleteno. please don't
there can be only one.....
ReplyDeletejim x 7...
I be the jim you are thinking of.....
trapped in the bicycle endustry...:(
ah yes, I know that Jim. I think the previous Jim has disappeared.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that came to mind about outsiders writing passionately was Hunter S Thompson and his Gonzo journalism (just read the post and it's pretty Gonzo), possibly not what you were asking but a good read none the less. A friend's stag do (bachelor party) had a Fear and Loathing theme and turned out almost stranger than fiction.
ReplyDeleteGuess that search means you're not only hot you're happy too... Good for you!
Bod,
ReplyDeleteYou are on to something. In speaking with Stevil about that post, and the subject in general, Thompson and gonzo journalism came up.
Senor Inquisition:
ReplyDeleteIf you guys want to send me to cover international bike races highly intoxicated and highly high I'm available. Contact my people for a payment schedule and a list of necessary supplies and embrocations.
Steel or carbon? Hmmm...I don't suppose it matters as long as it is bright red.
Don't worry, I already have a beefy Samoan Attorney and plenty of guns. Passports may be a problem.
Expectantly yours,
TJC