Missouri Bike Shops Could Use the Boost the Tour of Missouri Provides

The bicycle shop business is a hard business to succeed in these days. Like many small-businesses they face challenges of large overhead, stiff competition on the Internet, and misconceptions that a Schwinn at Walmart is a quality bicycle. Many bicycle shops have closed in recent years due to a tough economy and just a tough business to survive in the first place.

Events like the Tour of Missouri benefit bicycle shops across the state. They motivate people to buy bicycles and accessories for bicycles--which help stimulate the economy.

I recently spoke with a representative of Sunshine Cycles in Springfield, MO. Springfield has been a host city for the first two tours. Sunshine Cycles has seen more customers walk through their door because of the Tour of Missouri.

It's unlikely that a bicycle shop's success will balance on the Tour of Missouri, but considering it might be the event that helps a shop survive a tough year in order to begin another year of providing jobs and services to the community, this is obvious a benefit to a small business that plays a role in the community in providing healthy recreation. For you libs out there that like the tour, you should be arguing for the environmental benefits of bicycles and how the Tour of Missouri promotes cycling.

Missouri Tourism Commission Commits To Tour of Missouri

Last Friday, the Missouri Tourism Commission committed to the Tour of Missouri in a vote last Friday. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and his staff is looking to freeze the $1.5 million tourism fund that helps promote the race. Bob Smith cites this is the first time he has seen this kind of interference from an administration when it comes to spending money to promote Missouri tourism.

"The handcuffs that have been put on us have never been put on us before," he said. "I have been around for 27 years and have never seen anything like it."

He is optimistic the third annual Tour of Missouri will begin in St. Louis on September 7, 2009. The event, which costs $3.3 million to host, is partially subsidized by the state and Anheuser Busch, Drury Hotels, and Edward Jones.

German-based sports marketing and research firm IFM, which has offices in St. Louis, 434,000 watched the 2008 Tour of Missouri. Missouri's $1.5 million investment brought in nearly $30 million dollars economic benefit to Missouri in 2008, up from the previous year.

This is an event that Missouri is excited about and that is proven by the increase in economic benefits of over $3.5 million to the state the year before. I know the Tour of Missouri doesn't come through the Ozarks this year, but you will see me, providing Governor Nixon doesn't kill the race, on the side of Missouri roads watching it again this year. I love the Tour of Missouri.

A Man, His Dog, and a Large 7' Inflatable Earth Leaving Hermann, Missouri

I have been looking online for clues to a strange site I saw yesterday. After many curvy miles in the Missouri, River valley on highway 94, I made a right turn on highway 19 and was greeted by a man with his little dog on a leash in his left hand while his right hand rolled a large, inflatable earth along the shoulder of the road. He looked like an explorer dressed in probably what were organic khakis, a backpack, and an explorers hat.

He had just crossed the Senator Christopher Bond bridge over the mighty Missouri and looked like he had been traveling for quite some time--possibly a globe trotter. I have little doubt he is a liberal environmentalist raising awareness. I will do my best not to insult him, because I am fascinated by these Forest Gump moments in life that cause a man to cross the globe while rolling a large globe.

If anyone has any knowledge of who this man is and what his purpose is in with rolling a globe please let me know. I think it might be appropriate if his little dog was named Kerouac.

Lessons From My Tour of Missouri

The last two days, I have been on a road trip crossing Missouri's midsection on US 54. I learned a lot about the state of Missouri and our own nation in the nearly 600 miles driven.

The first stop was the state capitol in Jefferson City. I took a self-guided tour of the building. I ended the tour at the information desk asking questions about the state capitol. It turns out the building is in need of repairs and the state is making budget cuts. It's unclear when those major repairs might be done. I'm thinking that maybe the state should have like a bike race that brings in millions of dollars to the state to help. Just a thought Mr. Nixon. By the way, I left a nice little message about Governor Jay Nixon in the state's guest book about my thoughts on a recent CNN interview Nixon gave. Don't worry, I kept it honorable.

Another stop was in Fulton, Missouri. Winston Churchill delivered his 'Iron Curtain' speed from Westminster College in Fulton. A monument of Churchill and a museum grace its campus. There are pieces of the Berlin Wall next to the statue outside the museum. How quickly Americans have forgotten the evils of a strong central government. I figure we might have a wall in America one day around the border of Mexico. When it finally gets built, it may not serve to keep illegal immigrants from Mexico out. It may serve to keep Americans in. Better consider the ultimate purpose in a no fly/no buy list, domestic terrorist reports which includes defining law abiding citizens as terrorists, and the building of a strong centrist government in Washington DC. Power corrupts and there is always hope and change associated with the evils of the world.

Stopped in Hermann for some really good Missouri wine--much better than the wine produced in the St. James area. Hermann is a German settlement in Missouri. I need to find more time to spend there. Maybe if Nixon allows the Tour of Missouri, I will return to Hermann during the Jefferson City stage. You know, little towns like Hermann benefit when the race gets so close.

The final stop was Hannibal. I ate Mark Twain Fried Chicken at the Mark Twain Diner shortly after seeing a Mark Twain planter with a fern coming out of the author's head ($129 if you want one) just outside the Mark Twain Hotel. I wonder if Twain would find humor in this. Something tells me he might.

Not Necessarily News: Yawn

I saw Fox News have an Obamagasm this weekend. Phil from Wisconsin and I were sitting watching the Fox News show Red Eye. I don't pay for cable TV, so I hadn't seen the show before. It's a little different for Fox News.

Suddenly, in the middle of the show, the breaking news screen interrupts programming and shortly after Obama, Michelle with a rolling pin, and the two girls quickly exited Air Force One and left Marine One from Andrews Air Force Base to the White House.

They used to break into television shows when someone important died or something horrible happened. Some of us are conditioned to associating the two together. I for one don't feel the need to Obamagasm over the Obama family getting off an airplane, far too common of a site as it seems they are in Europe ever three weeks these days. Of course at that rate, Sarkozy is going to help instigate the first sex scandal for Obama. I am sure a considerable amount of Fox News viewers were like darn he's back.

The Reagan Quote of the Day (7/13/09)

A government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth.

Guess Who Is Paying the Bills: Government Backed Advertising

Normally, when a company owes a television company money for advertising and fail to pay, the commercials are taken off the air. The company can only advertise again once they meet their financial obligations to the televisions station. This isn't the case when it comes to the auto industry.

One of the big three car companies in America, and I am sure you can eliminate one of them in a few moments, was behind on their bills to a television station. They applied to advertise more which caught the attention of the controller that monitors accounts aging. When taken to the manager's attentions, the manager replied, it's okay no, the government is backing payment if the company fails to pay. So now our government is guaranteeing that television companies will pay for advertising for car companies if the car company fails to pay. What incentive do either of these car companies have to be ran efficiently? They appear to have a safety net below them at every step now.

The Reagan Quote of the Day

It's hard when you're up to your armpits in alligators to remember you came here to drain the swamp.

The Reagan Quote of the Day (7/11/09)

A leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets rough.

Tour of Missouri Was Always a Target for Governor Jay Nixon

On September 9, 2008, the Tour of Missouri may have ridden its last laps in downtown Springfield, Missouri. Coincidentally, while Mark Cavendish sported the yellow leaders jersey through downtown Springfield, Jay Nixon was in Springfield for a campaign stop. During the campaign stop a bitter Jay Nixon commented that only 75 people showed up to his rally as he slammed any Belgians that were racing in the Tour. Listen to this man closely and hear his bitterness. Listen to his laugh.

"Thank you . . . 75 people on a beautiful day that could be out watching Belgians ride bicycles in your town . . . (evil laugh as he gives us an Elvis profile) . . . are here."

This is the same man that said he was going to spend a much of the stimulus money as possible and Missouri's children and grandchildren can pay off the debt. Does Jay Nixon ever have a nice thing to say, or is that Mrs. Nixon's job as goes from elementary school to elementary school reading to the same kids who will receive the taxes Governor Nixon will pass on to them.

In one week, the Tour of Missouri attracts as many fans as a season of Kansas City Chiefs football. Arrowhead seats just over 79,000 people for eight home games. The Tour of Missouri obviously has an economic impact on Missouri.

I specifically asked Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder about this when I spoke to him after the final stage in St. Louis last year. He was concerned at that time that this would be the case, but he assured me the contracts were assigned through 2009. It seemed we has more time to fight for the Tour of Missouri. It's obviously, the bicycle race has been on Nixon's radar for quite some time. Every time I hear his laugh in the above video, I hear a very sinister man who appears to have a grudge to settle from the lack of interest in his campaign stop in Springfield. Listen to his laugh and see the smirk on his face. Listen to his jealous that more people showed up to a bike race than to see this little arrogant man.

I will fight to ensure the Tour of Missouri lives, but I will unleash the forces of an all out nuclear attack to ensure Jay Nixon is a one-term failure and defeated in 2012.

But Obama Got Caught Twice: The Spin Is On For the Obama Picture of the Day

Obama continues to put himself into compromising positions when the cameras are on. A bow the Saudi Prince was quickly spun by the White House earlier this year as the White House told Americans it wasn't a bow. Just a couple months later, Obama has been caught on file not just once, but twice checking out the behind of young woman in Italy.

The media is already spinning it. The have called it the most viewed picture of Obama today, and they like to show a video of Obama coming down the steps claiming Obama was careful of his footing. This goes back to the old saying fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

You see there is a second picture the media isn't showing when they spin the picture of Obama checking out the 16-year-old Mayara Tavares from Brazil with his tongue practically hanging out of his mouth. Now, many of you brain dead Obamabots may claim Obama was just making sure of his step in the first picture, but how do you explain it happening when there was no steps--just a young beautiful woman bending down to pick something up in front of Obama. Then why does Nicolas Sarkozy have that same bad-boy smirk on his face as Obama makes it obvious he is looking at the booty.

Obama got caught twice plain and simple. And like the bow, most of us aren't foolish enough to believe the Obama biased media's spin on the picture. Something tells me Obama and Sarkozy have a running bet of who they can get in bed during the summits. Just a feeling I got.

Note to Self: Don't Dress Up as Batman in New York City

Just over 15 years ago, I took put on the black tights and the legendary bat mask and drove off in a 1979 Corvette with the license plates DRK KNT. It was one of those things I did as a dare, and I have to admit it was a lot of fun. I didn't check into the local laws to find out if what I was doing was legal.

For two kids playing around in New York City, they soon found out in New York City you don't have the right to dress up your favorite super heroes (who would have known). I continue to tell you freedom is a rhetoric associated with the 4th of July.

It turns out you have to be license to be a super hero in New York City. No, there isn't a super hero license, but there is a license to perform on the city streets. I guess walking around like your Superman and Batman heading towards the Hall of Justice is against the law. Things got quite ugly for Maksim Katsnelson (Superman) and Frank Frisoli (Batman) when Superman decided to assault the New York City police officers after they were taken aside for not paying the performers tax and were without their performers licenses. Superman ran off yelling, "I'm not getting arrested!" It took seven cops to wrestle Superman down, as a child said, "mommy, it's Superman." Batman sat in a lawn chair in cuffs, while Superman hit one of the female officers in the face.

In the end Batman was released but the man of steel was arrested for assault.