Are Performance Modules or Chips Worth It?

There are products on the market that claim to boost your HP and increase the MPGs of your car by reprogramming the engine control unit. It is a simple concept: Control how and when your car uses the gas, and your car becomes more efficient which increases performance. However, some of the claims are outrageous. You can add 70+ HP and 5-12 MPG. Now tell me that isn't enticing!

For around $70-500 dollars, if you get the 20% fuel mileage savings. If you drive 15,000 miles.you will save about $500 per year on fuel. I'm not sure if these claims are actually true, however I drive a Jeep and I am willing to try just about anything to get a few more MPGs.

If anyone has ever had an experience with an performance chip, module, or ECU replacement, please do share. If you want to read up on chips, modules, or replacement ECUs, click HERE.

Rock on.

 

Tattoos: The Good, the bad & the Nasty

So you want a tattoo?

If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, there are a few things that you should keep in mind:

-     Is it hidden when you are clothed?

-     Is there meaning behind it?

-     Is it something you can live with for the rest of your life?

If you answered "no" to any of those three questions, then you might want to reconsider getting that fresh ink.

You could be...

Don't spend your money on something that you will regret later. You don't want to end up like any of these people.

Don't do it dude. Rock on.

Diesel vs Gas

In the truck world, there is only one major thing that separates the good from the great. That is the engine behind the rig. The biggest thing that you have to decide when buying a truck is whether you want a larger displacement gas engine, or a diesel engine.

Back in the day, gas used to torch diesel in almost every way. But in recent years, with the improvements that have been made to modern day diesel engines, diesel is an option that has been revolutionizing the 3/4 to 1 ton truck industry. Diesel engines have more ft/lbs of torque, and about the same horsepower as a gas engine with similar displacement. This allows you to tow more weight at lower RPMs and use less fuel. This is how a diesel truck works:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/diesel1.htm

Diesel is cheaper than gas, has more energy per gallon and the refining process is less complicated. When the Engine Control Unit is reprogrammed, it is possible to see around 30 MPG on the highway in a diesel truck. That's better than any mid-sized SUV.

Not to mention, diesel trucks can run for over 3 times as long as the average gasser. A friend of mine knows a guy who had a 2001 Dodge 2500 5.9L Cummins 12-valve, with which he would haul a bottle-neck tailor with four boats to and from Alaska. He put on over 800,000 miles, and went through 10 transmissions (probably from the heavy loads he was towing), before the crankshaft went out it. Now that's a truck.

Enjoy the road and roll some coal. Rock on.

No BS Supplement Advice

The Supplement Industry is Huge

The supplement industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. With all of the advertising claiming that you can achieve the results of your dreams, just by taking a pill or a powder, it is easy to see why gullible, or uneducated people can fall into the supplement scheme. Luckily for those of you reading this post, I am about to help you to better understand the intentions of a dietary supplement. And even luckier for you, I will put it into layman's terms.

What are supplements?

Supplements are just that. They are intended to supplement a person's diet to make up for inefficiency in vitamins, minerals, or proteins that the body does not get from a typical everyday diet. Supplements are not meant to be taken in place of nutritious food. 

For example, it takes between 1-2 grams of protein per pound of body weight to build muscle. For the average 180 pound dude, it is hard to get 180-360 grams of protein. That's the equivalent of 20-40 ounces of lean, organic chicken breast! It doesn't only get old, it gets expensive. When you can eat half that amount of chicken breast, with 2-3 scoops of protein powder per day, it's less bland, and a lot cheaper.

What you should buy.

I'm going to tell you what you should buy, and what you shouldn't waste your money on. I'm not going to go into detail, but I will answer any questions in the comments.

Whey Protein Isolate

Whey protein isolate is better than whey protein concentrate. The body absorbs it better, and it is higher quality with less fat, and more protein by weight.

Creatine Monohydrate/HCI

Creatine is scientifically proven to increase explosiveness through the increase in ready availability of ATP or energy that muscle cells use to begin movement. Take 5-10 grams of creatine before and after a workout and DRINK A LOT OF WATER.

Fish Oil

Fish oil has Omega 3-6 fatty acids which are good for heart and joint health. Get a good quality fish oil made from Krill. Don't go for the cheapest.

Multivitamin

A multivitamin is good for making up for vitamins that you don't get from your diet. Especially if you don't like vegetables.

Don't fall for BS!

Don't get caught up by all of the false claims. Most of the other supplements are just a scheme by supplement companies to get your money. Don't go into a supplement store and expect to get the best advice or deal either, remember that they are just trying to make money too!

Happy training. Rock on.

My Pronounced Love For Rugby Football

A Cut Above the Rest

Rugby football is a sport unlike any other. There are few times in life where you get the chance at hitting someone in the face at full force without having to do time behind bars, or without any major consequences. However, in the world of sports, you do get this opportunity if you choose the right one. However, this is not the reason why I love this sport. There is truly a brotherly bonding time when you and your teammates fight for 80 minutes, through blood and pain, just to be a champion. The second most popular team sport in the world is way under-valued in the United States, and many people don't even know the rules to this beloved game. Well, I shall shed some light on those who do not already know.

The Objective

-     The object of the game is to move an ovular shaped ball up the playing surface, or "pitch" (100-140 meters long by 68-80 meters wide, with 10-30 meter in-goals), and score by touching the ball down in the opposing teams' "in-goal" area (a try, worth 5 points), or by kicking the ball through the uprights at the end of the pitch (a drop goal or penalty goal, worth 3 points).

The Playing Surface

The Rules

-     In Rugby Union, there are two teams, with 15 player per side. 

-     The ball must not be thrown forward, but must be passed in a horizontal or backwards fashion. If the ball is passed or knocked forward, the opposing team is to be rewarded a put-in to a "scrum" to restart play after such an infraction. 

-     The objective for the team on defense, is to stop the offense of the other team by tackling the opposing player(s) with the ball.

-     After a tackle is made, the tackler must immediately release the player with the ball, and the ball carrier must likewise release the ball.

-     When a tackler has released the ball carrier, be must first get to his feet before he can make an attempt at grabbing the free ball.

-     If a player going for a ball is contacted by an opposing player,  a "ruck" is formed and he is no longer allowed to pick the ball up with his hands. The two teams then fight to push over the ball so that another player on their team may come from behind their legs and grab the ball.

-     If a player is held up during a tackle, and is not going to ground, players from both team may lock onto either the attempting tackler or ball carrier and push him forward. This is called a "maul". When a maul collapses, it turns into a ruck. If the maul stops progressing in the offense's favor, or if the bal is unable to leave the ruck, then the defense will be awarded a put-in to a scrum.

-    Each game starts with a kick that begins on the halfway line and must travel a minimum of 10 meters. If it goes out of bounds, or "into touch", the receiving team will be awarded a scrum at the halfway line.

-    If the ball is kicked into touch, the opposing team will be awarded a "line out". If the ball is kicked through the in-goal area, or is touched down in the in-goal by the defense, the defensive team will be awarded a 22 meter drop-out.

Rugby is not a no holds barred game however, there are such things as breaking the rules. When a player has done this, the opposing team will be awarded a penalty, the violating team must retreat 10 meters from the spot of the penalty and then the awarded team has three options. 

-     A player may tap the ball off their foot and play will resume

-     They may kick the ball into touch and they will be awarded a line out

-     They may attempt a penalty goal (a kick that can be taken off a tee) that is worth three points if it's through the uprights.

Penalty infractions include:

-     A tackler, who does not release the tackler, or does not roll away from a tackle to give both teams a fair chance at the ball.

-     A ball carrier who does not immediately release the ball after a tackle is made upon them.

-     Playing the ball with ones' hands while engaged in a ruck.

-     Joining a ruck from the sides, or coming in for a ball offsides.

-     High or dangerous tackles.

That's my team right there!

Most recently, my high school rugby team (Jr. Gentlemen of Aspen) won the Colorado High School State Championship in Glendale, Colorado. We had an undefeated season, and we beat the #1 team in the state final to win the cup.

That's me in the middle.

So get out there and play rugby! Rock on.

Road Rage

So I'm on my way to work, cruising along, I have the radio blasting, and I'm kinda doing my own thing. I pull out to pass a line of cars on the interstate and after I pass the first of the series of cars some woman in a blue Corolla comes flying up. She rides my ass and then cuts off the guy who I just passed,  and speeds by me at what must have been 100 mph. She then shoots the 40 foot gap between my car in the left lane, and the truck in the right lane ahead. And if that wasn't bad enough, I could see her flip me the bird as she sped off into the distance. I could feel the rage building inside of my stomach. It might sound dark, but at that point in time there was nothing I wanted to see more than for her tires to explode and send her flying through the guard rail and drown in the river abyss below.

Sometimes, no matter how good of a driver you might be, there will always be that one person on the road that seems like they are out to kill you. I have a few select words for this lady, and I hope she sees this. Actually, I had better not. But instead I'll just let Jimmy do the talking.

Don't ever let it get this far.

What's the worst display of driving you have seen? Leave it in the comments box! Rock on.

Rules of the Pit

Rules of the Pit

If you enjoy going to concerts as much as I do, you will probably come across a moshpit at one point or another. A moshpit, found mostly at rock or metal concerts, is a place where fans can go crazy and have an overall good time. It is guaranteed that you will witness a bloody nose, or some minor cuts and scrapes. However some pits can become quite vicious. Fights can break out due to the actions of some patrons. However many fights or serious injuries can be avoided by following a few guidelines surrounding moshpits.

To avoid injuries and/or altercations, these are a few of the unsaid rules that apply to moshpits:

#1- Don't throw blatant elbows, punches, kicks etc.

I was at a show one time and we were going pretty hard in the pit, it was about the second song of the headlining band and the pit was pretty big. The pit began to clear unexpectedly and it became clear as to why. Some guy was straight up back kicking at random, trying to inflict damage to any random person that crossed the path of his foot. To make a long story short, I was lucky that my brother was there to pull me off of the guy before I either hurt him or worse got us kicked out early. Just don't be that guy.

#2- Don't force anyone into the pit.

Lets be honest, no one likes the guy who goes around the edge of a pit and either punches, grabs, kicks, slams, or shoves the bystanders who just want to get up close to the action. Plus there is no better way to get your ass kicked: shove the wrong guy who is just trying to have a nice time with his date. I've seen it happen countless times. If you want to be in the pit, just take your beating and be happy with it. The surrounding crowd can keep you at arms length, so don't try to close that gap.

#3- Help a guy out.

If someone decides that they want to exit the pit, let them. NEVER GRAB someone and pull them back into the pit. That is another way to have involuntary dental work done. If someone falls in the middle of a pit, help them up. Don't continue to mosh over them. Don't trample or step on someone who has fallen down, maybe they will do the same for you when you have your turn at the bottom of the pit.

#4- Don't try to force a pit.

There is nothing worse than being in the middle of a good show and having some dude slam into people who aren't expecting it. Dude, if it isn't already a pit, don't try to make it one. Pits will form on their own; don't try to force a good thing.

If you follow these few simple rules you will have a lot more fun and yes, you might even make some friends in a moshpit at a concert. Just follow proper Moshpit Etiquette, and you will have a good time.

Rock on.