Tip #60 – Sunburns is a post from: TheRugged

“Excuse me,” said the old hand, “but you’re putting that saddle on backwards.”

“How do you know?” Snapped the student. “You don’t know which way I’m going.”

New Rider is a post from: TheRugged

Fact #90 – 1950s Fasion is a post from: TheRugged

Quote #174 – Woodrow Wilson is a post from: TheRugged

Friable [FRYE-uh-bul] is a post from: TheRugged

Composer Johann Sebastian Bach died in Leipzig, Germany, at age 65.

1965

President Lyndon B. Johnson announced he was increasing the number of American troops in South Vietnam from 75,000 to 125,000.

1998

Bell Atlantic and GTE announced a $52 billion merger that created Verizon.

July 28 is a post from: TheRugged

While most fans were probably unaware of Findley’s talents, U.S. coach Bob Bradley was well aware of them. Bradley gave Findley the starting nod in three of the team’s matches.

Findley is once again stateside. His club, Real Salt Lake, is in the midst of its season. If Findley and his teammates can recreate the magic from last year, they will once again be hoisting the MLS Cup above their heads.

Robbie Findley

MUSTAFA SHAIKH: After you swap jerseys with someone following a game, do you have it washed or does it sit stewing in its sweat in your basement?

ROBBIE FINDLEY: [Laughs] Nah, I give it to someone to get it washed.

MS: Vice President Joe Biden popped into the U.S. locker room during the World Cup. Did anyone turn to the next guy and ask, “Who’s that?”

RF: [Laughs] No, we all knew who he was.

MS: That’s more than I can say for my friends.

RF: We actually met him at the White House and he gave us a tour of it.

MS: You said that when you first pulled up to your World Cup lodgings, you saw a couple elephants and at first, you thought they were fake. Do they have a lot of life-size fake elephants where you grew up?

RF: [Laughs] Yeah I see (fake elephants) every now and then.

MS: There’s always talk about how the MLS is far behind European soccer leagues. My friend hypothesizes that’s because in European games players are always affectionately touching each others’ faces. What do you think?

RF: [Laughs] Nah, I think it has to do more with playing the actual game than what your friend said about touching faces.

MS: Fill in the blank, if vuvuzelas make an appearance at Real Salt Lake games you will be…

RF: Happy. I really didn’t have a problem with them, to tell you the truth, and I think that’s what made the atmosphere so cool for me (at the World Cup). When you’re in the game, you’re focused; you don’t even realize it. I would have no problem with it.

MS: I’m guessing skiing and snowboarding are banned in your contract?

RF: Yeah I believe so.

MS: That’s a bummer. That must really put a damper on living in Salt Lake City.

RF: Definitely. I wanna try it. It’s definitely one of the big attractions here. When people come to visit, they come in winter for the snow. I hear it’s the perfect spot for it. It’s tough, but those are the rules.

MS: Do you prefer cucumbers or pickles?

RF: I hate pickles. I’ll take cucumbers; I eat them in salads. I shouldn’t say I hate pickles, I’d just rather have cucumbers.

MS: Before the interview, I watched highlights of last year’s MLS Cup finals, which has one of the best shootouts I’ve ever seen. How often do you watch them?

RF: I was actually watching them the other day. I hadn’t seen them in awhile, but I just watched them a couple times.

I get nervous watching them – butterflies and all. It feels good to watch. Not too many other people can say they won a championship.

MS: What does the average sports fan think when they see Real Salt Lake pop-up on SportsCenter’s BottomLine.

RF: “Who is that? What are they?” … Some people here ask us if we’re a choir. Just some weird stuff.

MS: If I pronounced Real (like it would be pronounced in Spanish) Salt Lake, Real (like it would be pronounced in English – bet you didn’t realize the team pronounces it differently) Salt Lake, would you correct me?

RF: I’d correct you. I’d let you know what it is. We need as much recognition as we can get.

MS: Before the interview, you were getting a haircut. Who do you go to, to get cleaned up?

RF: I go to this guy Nixon. He works out of Salon Lydia. A few of the (Utah) Jazz players go there too.

Rugged Interview: Robbie Findley is a post from: TheRugged

I’ve been on the road for the last month and was staying at a hotel in Hermosa Beach, CA. With plenty of quaint little watering holes to choose from, I picked the most date-destination type of place. I had been there before on dates, so I knew that it was a fave amongst us singles – ceviche dishes that are great for sharing, a busy, yet tame atmosphere and an attractive ambiance. There was one chair left at the bar and it sat tightly between a couple on a date and 2 women in their 40s having what appeared to be a “girls night out.” It was perfect, so I squeezed in, ordered my bad-decision-in-a-glass and proceeded to eavesdrop like it was my job, because it is.

The older ladies laughed like fat chicks over the ups and downs of their dating. One was newly single after 15 years of marriage, while the other was dating a dude for over a year. I strained my ears to capture their stories, but it was as exciting as a storyline for Martha Stewart’s cooking show with less spiciness or anything that burns when too hot.  So I focused my intrusive attention on the couple who was clearly on a first date. The girl was the pretty-next-door type, wore a respectful yet slightly teasing top with jeans and the dude was a fairly big build with a nice button-up on. They drank, shared a variety of dishes and seemed to be having somewhat of a good time. “Seemed” being the operative word.

I watched them, listened in and took notes. Yes, I’m THAT annoying and honestly do this every time I’m out. I paid attention and ended up adding to a list I’ve been compiling about what not to do on dates. Although I continually write articles on this subject, it never ceases to amaze me how the list never seems to end. So despite my urges to avoid redundancy, here is what both men and women should not do while on a date:

1. Shut the F*#k Up

That’s what I told the dude when his gal went to the bathroom. We made idle chit-chat and then I asked him if he was on a first date. He said yes, then asked how he was doing. I sat through three glasses of wine, two boxing matches and a Fuel TV special on Rusty Malinoski and that guy talked about himself all the way through it. Not once did he ask her a question or allow her to even contribute to his conversation about himself. Too polite to say anything, the girl just endured his humdrum blabbering and was no doubt paying attention to the pores on his nose rather than the aimless him-talk that was pouring out of his flapping jaws. Talking is just noise traffic if there aren’t two people engaging and creating a conversation. If you’re nervous, ask questions. If the other person is shy, ask questions. If you’re bored, drink until they start to seem interesting. But whatever the situation, don’t be a self-centered converser, it’s boring and rude.

2. Swallow

Your mother taught you, your grandma would smack you for doing it and yet you still talk with your mouth full. I unfortunately see more girls do this than dudes and I attribute that to the fact that women are rarely ladies anymore. Thanks Women’s Rights Movement, the sexual revolution of the ’80s and reality shows; you’ve created manner-lacking whores with daddy issues and the class of Britney Spears on a panty-less coke binge. There is enough time in a date to chew, swallow then speak. I can guarantee nothing is important enough to say where looking like a heathen is worth it.

3. Drink in Unison But with Moderation

She has switched to water but you’re ordering another vodka soda – take a hint. He is sipping on a beer while you’re drinking your wine like there’s a wedding ring at the bottom of the glass – take a hint. If you have to drink to date then you may want to consider attending a date with AA, rather than the opposite sex. No one is attractive when drunk and no one makes good decisions when alcohol and their genitalia are making them for you.

4. Phone Vexing

While on a date, unless you’re a doctor or Donald Trump, your phone should not be on the table, sitting next to you or anywhere within eyeshot. You aren’t that important and going a few hours without checking your Facebook updates won’t kill you. Just because it has become a social norm to be technologically rude doesn’t mean you need to jump on the cell bandwagon. Your date will take note of your phone manners and trust me, both women and men think it’s arrogant and unattractive if they’re on a date with you and your phone.

5. Unless It’s Your Profession, Don’t Talk About Beating People Up

Girls are not impressed by stories of you getting into it with a guy at a bar, or how you beat some guy up for checking out your last girlfriend. Bruiser stories don’t make our bloomers wet, it shows us that you’re immature, hot-tempered and slightly socially retarded. So, unless your name is Pat Barry, save the meathead tales for your boys while throwing back some beers. And if you’re a girl talking about your blood shedding ways, well then you’re an entirely different article in itself.

Dating, just like anything in life, should be enjoyable. It shouldn’t require all of these rules, but then again, just like anything in life, there needs to be structure and limitations. While I sat and listened to these potential lovers, I took note not only of the things they did wrong, but also noticed just how hard dating has become for the sexes. Whether it is because our social fibers as a whole have deteriorated or because there are so many more elements in our lives that confuse an already perplexing situation – either way, dating isn’t easy. Regardless, you can be a little less of a dumbass by implementing the basic manners and respect for others that your parents instilled upon you.

How to Not Date Like a Dumbass is a post from: TheRugged

Congress established the Department of Foreign Affairs, the forerunner of the State Department.

1940

Bugs Bunny made his debut in the Warner Bros. animated cartoon “A Wild Hare.”

2003

Comedian Bob Hope died at age 100.

July 27 is a post from: TheRugged

Hobson’s choice [HAHB-sunz-choyss] is a post from: TheRugged