Buster's 43 Things entries

From http://www.43things.com/people/view/erik

Buster McLeod added an entry about buy a bespoke suit:

I love this process! Today I got to try on the first layer of materials that will eventually become my suit. We made the pant legs a little longer, a little slimmer. We’re gonna put a seam on the lapel, tuxedo-style, but without the satin. Very subtle. I’ve chosen the lining (a beautiful garnet), and got measurements taken for a shirt as well.

The first fitting went really well. I like how it is fitting together. I like how my preferences for fit are all being taken seriously, and that Scott’s expertise and style is also playing a role in making the vision for a modern take on an old-fashioned suit come to life. No vents, a single working button on the sleeve, peaked lapel, two big buttons, a boutonni�re strap, no chest pocket, highly tapered. It’s gonna be beautiful!

Buster McLeod adopted this goal

Buster McLeod added an entry about improve my posture:

I’ve heard of the Alexander Technique and have researched it a few times online, but their website
is confusing and most of the classes for it seem to be from 2005 or 2006.

I might buy a book about it, but already have quite a book queue at the moment. This one seems to be the best seller. Some videos and dvds are available here.

Mostly, I want to focus on posture and breathing as I continue researching body language, facial expressions, emotions, and flow. These ideas and applications all lead into one another.

Buster McLeod adopted this goal

Buster McLeod added an entry about plan our honeymoon:

But it’s a secret. At least for now. Well, from Kellianne at least. Coworkers and some friends know a bit and I hope they don’t spill the beans.

Buster McLeod adopted this goal

Buster McLeod adopted this goal

Buster McLeod added an entry about post to Twitter and Flickr at 8:36pm every day for a while:

I think once the new iPhone comes out next week and it automatically geo-tags photos, that I’m going to switch this project to a purely photographic one where the subject line is the caption, a photo is taken, and a location is gleaned from the submission as well.

Kellianne’s gonna start doing this with me and I think it’ll be a really cool lifetime project that documents our life together, while also including everyone else that participates in the project.

A large part of the inspiration for this project comes from this website, which is still being developed and which documents Polaroids taken every day by Jamie Livingston between March 1979 and October 1997 when he died in a hospital with health complications.

My contributions so far can be found on Twitter and Flickr.

Buster McLeod added an entry about buy a bespoke suit:

Met up and talked with Scott Kuhlman about my suit, and finally got to the part that I’ve been really excited about… details.

After talking about the bigger vision (rock and roll speakeasy) we brainstormed about ways to merge some old school details with a more modern aesthetic. Specifically:

• Narrow peaked lapel. A peaked lapel is traditionally used exclusively on double-breasted suits, but in more modern times has come to single-breasted suits.
• No breast pocket. I’m going tuxedo-style which doesn’t have a pocket square. Instead, I’m gonna have a little loop for a boutonnière.
• Crazy lining.
• One functional button on each sleeve
• No vents (tuxedo-style)
• On seem front pockets on the pants
• One back right pocket on the pants
• Shiny buttons, or some other cool buttons that he’s gonna look for in NYC and LA
• Slim fit, tapered pants
• Garnet bow tie and cummerbund for me, matching bow ties for all of my groomsmen

It was a lot of fun talking about these details while finishing off a bottle of wine he had for such occasions. Eventually, Frank came and took all of my measurements.

Next step: first fitting, where I think I’m gonna get to try on the first version of the suit.

Buster McLeod added an entry about post to Twitter and Flickr at 8:36pm every day for a while:

I got this idea from Chadwick, who started twittering at 8:36pm every day. I set a little alarm on my iPhone and post whatever I’m doing at that time.

Then I ran across Jamie Livingston who took a polaroid every day for almost 20 years (1979-1997), until he died on his 41st birthday. It’s a beautiful project. And so I’m adding the additional twist of taking a picture at 8:36pm every day too and posting it to Flickr.

This will be an easy way to create an impartial sample of my life, with a constraint that allows me to not have to think too much about when or where or what I’ll be sampling.

I think it would be more interesting and fun if others joined in. Come on!

Buster McLeod adopted this goal

Buster McLeod added an entry about buy a bespoke suit:

Scott and I ended up choosing a slightly fancier fabric, with a bit more texture. He says I’m gonna have to sip fancier cocktails in that suit than I would have had to in the other.

We talked a bit about the style… a wider lapel to go with a bigger bow tie. He’s gonna make the bow ties and cummerbunds for me and my groomsmen as well. It’s all gonna be awesome.

Next step is a first fitting. Maybe sometime in the next week or so.

Buster McLeod added an entry about make a book about my friends:

This project was started on my birthday last year.

I asked a bunch of friends to send me a picture of them, a sentence about when we met and something interesting we’ve done together.

I made a bunch of images using Comic Life, and uploaded them to Blurb.com and ordered the book. I was hoping I’d have a copy for my birthday party this Sunday, but it looks like it takes a week or so to make it.

Here’s a link to the book, in case you want to buy one for some strange reason:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/246229

Buster McLeod completed this goal (worth it!)

Buster McLeod added an entry about go whale watching:

Maybe this weekend.

There’s a boat that leaves at 10am on Sunday morning from Pier 66.

The question is, can we wake up for it?

Buster McLeod added an entry about have goals suggested to me by others:

Sometimes I think other people may know what’s best for me better than I do. That’s why I’m opening this up and asking you to suggest goals to me. Whether you know me purely from this site, or in real life, I want you to suggest goals that you think would make me a better person, make me learn something I have a blind spot about, or just help me mix it up a little.

Suggest goals in the comments. I’m not going to add them all, but I will consider adding each suggested goal and act accordingly.

Buster McLeod adopted this goal

Buster McLeod added an entry about do slow weights for a year:

After 6 months of slow weights… most of that time doing it 2 times a week, but recently transitioning to once a week, I got re-measured in various places. Here are the somewhat disappointing results…

• Neck: 35.5cm (then) -> 36cm (now)
• Chest: 91.5cm -> 95cm
• Stomach: 80cm -> 81.5cm
• Right thigh: 50cm -> 51cm
• Right upper arm (relaxed): 28.5cm > 29.5cm
• Right upper arm (flexed): 30.5cm -> 30.5cm
• Right calf: 38cm -> 39cm

My chest measurement shows the biggest change, and I can definitely notice the change. Overall, I do feel stronger and denser in general, and not as flimsey. But my goal when starting was to gain 10lbs of muscle and so far I’ve only gained about 2. However, during the last 6 months I also engaged in Health Month during January, and got pretty sick twice, both of which resulted in losing gains that I had previously made.

What should I do? These slow weights are expensive. I guess my goal is to do it for a year, which I think I can do. But at this point I’m reaching the same results I was able to get from just going to the gym and running, for a much cheaper price.

Buster McLeod completed this goal (worth it!)

Buster McLeod added an entry about get my genes tested:

I volunteered for the beta of qtrait.com and got my results back yesterday. Here they are!

• Addiction to street drug use: CT (average)
• Alcohol processing: CT (less likely to become an alcoholic)
• Asthma: AT (medium to low risk)
• Bitter tasting ability: taster
• Codeine metabolism and nursing: Two CYP2D6 copies (average metabolizer of codeine)
• Coumarin-based drug dose (like Warfarin): high dose (slow or normal processing of coumarin-based drugs, meaning I need a higher dose of Warfarin)
• Dyspepsia (indigestion): CT (less likely to show dyspeptic symptoms)
• Early bird or night owl: CC (night owl)
• Eczema: GT (high risk)
• Glaucoma: CT (high risk)
• Gluten sensitivity or celiac disease: : No HLA-DQ2*0501 types (low risk)
• Hemochromatosis: GG (low risk)
• High or low colostrum production: CT (wet sticky ear wax)
• Initial response to smoking and drinking: GG (does not tend to report “strong” or “negative” effects from alcohol and nicotine consumption)
• Insulin sensitivity in response to endurance training: CT (improvement in insulin sensitivity in response to exercise)
• Lactose intolerance/Lactose persistence: CT (lactose persistent)
• Learning and Memory: CT (average on memory)
• Mold sensitivity: AG (higher chance of mold allergies)
• Norwalk virus (the cruise ship sickness): AG (medium risk)
• Obesity (increased BMI): TT (less likely to be obese)
• Obesity II: CG (no increased risk of obesity)
• Odor perception: GG (more sensitive and less pleasurable response to certain odors)
• Percentage body fat (70-79 year old individuals): lower body fat
• Physical performance, power vs. endurance: CT (got the good genes for this)
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: CG (less likely to get this—I hope so!)
• Post-operative cognitive dysfunction: GG (average risk)
• Protection from Alcoholism: GG (able to process alcohol normally and may be as likely to become addicted to alcohol)
• Resistance to cannabis addiction: CC (more susceptible to THC dependence)
• Restless Legs Syndrome: TT (less likely to develop restless legs syndrome)
• Risk of preeclampsia: CT (more likely to report symptoms of preeclampsia, but it only happens in pregnancy)
• Seasonal Affective Disorder: Normal risk
• Smoking addiction: CT (more likely to be a smoker)
• Variation in height: CT (on average taller)
• VO2 max levels (oxygen levels in the blood): Lower VO2 max levels

That’s distilled from a really long document and a lot of information I had to sift through. Not sure if any of the information is super surprising or anything. I’m a night person, not fat, and I like drinking.

I need to look through it some more to figure out what else I can learn from it.

I sort of wish it would’ve told me more obvious stuff, like my hair color and eye color, just so I could build trust with the results and know that they are reliable. A lot of the results are pretty vague… but then again, perhaps the knowledge of genetics and their consequences are also very vague, since they don’t take into consideration the nature and environment factor.

Overall, a fun test. I’m gonna fill out the survey for them after I think about it a little more.