Sled Dread

Even seasoned veterans can enjoy the thrill of that first training run to start off a new season. 

Scooting Along

He stuns the crowd with World Record time circumnavigating the entire building.

Strolled Cold

Sometimes you need to go out into the back yard and just take a hike, shift gears, gain a respite, recharge batteries, recover the lust for life.  You never know until you get there what wonders are in store, the gifts from Mother Nature.

QB to Be

Starr, Majkowski, Favre, even Rodgers -- they ain't got nothin' on this Ace.

Frame Fame

Frank Lloyd Wright's mentor always used creative prototyping before setting designs out to print.  Here he started a trend in A-frame ski chalets for years to come. 

Skating Clause

The Man in Red, you just never know when he will show-up to see which list you are on.  Ya gotta stay on your toes.

Steal Wheel

It happened in a flash.  Or did it?  First he was there, and then he wasn't.  Did that just happen?  Did we see what we thought we saw?  Are we seeing things?  Was that real or just our imagination?  Are we losing it? 

Dogging It

Next year's American Dog Derby will see a brand new entry in the team event.  Popularly known as the Fearsome Fourlegs, they have taken the racing world by storm this season.  Starting-out as long-shots, the 'Vegas line now has them at even odds to take the trophy in February.  They have transitioned easily from complete obscurity as Klondike search-and-rescue gurus to world class competitive mushers in the blink of an eye.  When confronted by the stunned and inquisitive press corps about how they managed to easily slip into high-stakes, intense, adrenaline-fueled competition, team members at first looked at each other with quizzical glances.  Finally, one of them managed to exclaim, "we just wanted to take a break this year."

Party Time

Nothing like an old fashioned peanut bar to gather for some fun.  Call your friends in a "come as you are" party, and see what kind of pajamas they wear.  Make sure there are plenty of drinks and entertainment; you can't go wrong!

A Dog's Life

When you meet a new friend, it's always good to get to know each other a bit before going on a big adventure.   Sit down for a minute and have a little conversation.

Footmath

Contrary to popular belief, elite athletes must master high-order mathematics.

Interlope Interrogators

It started out as a pleasant walk in the park, around the neighborhood.  Out of nowhere, our hero gets surrounded by identical undercover FBI agents who carry a great deal of curiosity about his acquaintances, whereabouts, activities, intentions, and motivations.  Filled with intrigue, mystery, and consequence, they speak in a code developed by the State Department.

Head Sled

Even seasoned veterans still get a thrill during the first training run of the year.

It's the Best Tree We've Ever Had

Nerve Conserve

The severe drought in the Western USA has affected agriculture, industry, commerce, and even recreation.  Its symptoms can manifest itself in strange ways.  Even the US Olympic Diving Team has altered its training regimen.

Moot Scoot

In order to keep the race competitive, Liam chooses to forego one of the racing accessories:  an engine.  At the finish line, he pauses to allow #2 to catch-up.  No avail, he ran out of gasoline somewhere back there.

Serious Serial

It's hard to describe the thrill.  Waiting all month since the last edition, having read it cover to cover, and the new one arrives on time. 

Curb Appeal

When time permits, County Sanitation Engineers meet new residents to explain the nuances of proper cart placement and presentation.

Reptile Beguile

Sherriff's Deputies responded to reports of a new alpine dragon infestation, but the lizard's camouflage seems to thwart them every time.

What's for Breakfast?

If you could smell this right now, there would be drool on your keypad. 

Off Course with No Name

A long, hot week driving cattle to market.  It didn't help when a gang of rustlers tried to make off with a few, but the two cowpokes handled 'em with ease.  Lost a horse when the lead started flying, but she'll come back -- she knows the way.  The gang is in the hoosegow, the herd is in the stockyard, and there's a hot bath and a cold beverage awaitin' at the ranch. 

Heart of a Champion

When you are down and out and things aren't turning out so well with a face-plant into the turf, it's your choice whether to give-up or to rise-up.  Do you phone it in or go back for more? When the going gets tough, what's next? 

Bouncing Boy

There are few better ways to enjoy a pleasant fall morning.

Chameleon

He is subtle, deceptive, and mysterious as he stuns yet another audience into suspended disbelief. 

Handless

Note to self.  Save the finger painting for *after* the big party.

Raking it In

Tom Sawyer possessed great wisdom.  Performing mundane chores can be so much easier with a good pal. 

Protection Selection

No one will see him.  None will detect his presence except for the rare occasion when a bad guy harboring evil intent ventures into our peaceful neighborhood on Halloween night.  At that point, rest assured he will immediately detect ninja master, but certainly not for long as the unwanted visitor slips into unconsciousness.

Waddling Matilda

Sometimes it's actually possible to apply a little too much Bengay.

Roll the Blues Away

The Champion Circuit is covered closely by the Wide World of Sports.  People started gaining interest when the leading teen heartthrob started winning tournaments and working his way up into nationals. 

Handy Man

International football, table Fußball, they're all stale in today's popular culture.  We've long needed an exciting derivative to engage a large fan base.  Handhallball has become the latest rage in western countries, popular with younger audiences.  Here a private session is captured by a hidden security camera on the top floor of the Hilton.

Pianoman

Combine an acute concentration, decades of experience, innate skill, and an aptitude for melody, then mix them up inside one human entity and see what happens.

Caprinae Holiday

Dr. Dolittle visits some old friends, making the rounds before winter sets in. 

Keep Aweigh

Juvenile primates use play for multiple purposes.  For enjoyment, of course, but also as training to build stamina for long chases as hunter or prey, to vie for dominance later as an adult, and most importantly to attract a mate.

Marathon Man

It's not whether you win or lose.  It's how you run the race.

Imprint

Once upon a a time in a land far, far away, there was a small child who left an indelible mark in the hearts of everyone he met.  Archaeologists have recently discovered and debated other impressions of the lad.

Training

Ninja masters seize every opportunity to retain muscle tone and be prepared for the unexpected.

Fury Flurry

Somehow the Night Fury got trapped inside.  He strives in vain to find an exit, but only manages to reduce his energy reserves. 

Rockette

Launch sequence director takes note of the singular flaw in the program.  Someone will have an extended KP shift tomorrow and might lose an Off Duty Privilege. 

Take a Break

It's kind of like golf; players cannot decide whether to close the distance to the ball or to send it on.

Anthromorphism

The world's foremost paleontologist explains defining characteristics of the most popularly sought-after species.

Pot 'o Gold

What treasures we find at the end of the rainbow!

Breakfast Brainstorm

Sometimes it's not easy to completely awaken in the morning.  One can improve alertness by moving -- get the blood circulating, grab a bite, be active.  It's a great way to start the day with a fresh perspective.  In fact, here we see the patent owner of the bobblehead concept performing his daily ritual. 

Expert Ease

If you seek accurate and thorough information, there is no substitute for the experience of a seasoned veteran who is willing to share it.  There is no sense in repeating history if it includes dead-ends, misfires, and failures.  

Roll With It

Derby coach gets out on the track before the first fall preseason camp.  This season he knows is the BIG ONE.  It's their destiny to take the title.

Cyclical Behavior

It was so fast that the wind velocity ripped his helmet off. 

Scrum Chum

Occasionally the team owner will swing down to visit the players for a pep talk.  It can substantially improve morale if you're the right owner.

Catcher in the Sky

Improved off-season training methods allow wide receivers to step-up their game to a new level.  Those difficult catches requiring full extension used to be low percentage plays, but now are commonly used to produce first-downs and scores.

Pedal Power

For tasks that consume a substantial portion of our lifetime, the very fortunate are able to use them to maximize enjoyment with a splash of productivity.  Even the grind of a daily commute does not have to be some boring endeavor -- as shown by this example.

Train Feign

Ultra celebrities take great measures to preserve their anonymity.  They will buy all the seats in a train car, and still cover themselves in broad daylight. 

Rare Air

The Chief Divemaster supervises his top cadets who are trying to earn their spot in the USN Seal program.  To make the grade, they must be able to handle a variety of diving equipment and techniques with ease. 

Reeling

Since it is always so difficult to decide between swimming, rafting, fishing, etc., the prodigious recreationalist remains prepared to shift between activities on a moment's notice.  He wouldn't think twice to be spotted rafting with a fishing pole or fishing in his swimming trunks. 

august August

As fall classes start-up again at University, the two professors have a quick reunion after their respective summer research projects at opposite ends of the planet. 

Crustacean Sensation

Examination of local wildlife reveals much about the surrounding environment.  For instance, the appearence of a thriving adult brachyura indicates the presence of a marine environment somewhere in the near vicinity.  Our intrepid investigators will vigorously and relentlessly pursue its location until they discover it. 

Wheels

Just like Secretariat, our hero overcomes a slow start to focus on the competition at hand with an intensity and determination rarely seen in such high profile sports figures. 

Current Affair

The Western world's preeminent marine biologist uses immersion techniques to study how salmon in the Pacific Northwest navigate their runs to the spawning beds. 

Dive Jive

One should never try such things at home -- as explained by the top instructor from the International Swimming Federation.

Back Attack

After spotting a succulent shore-bound omnivore, a voracious predator mistakenly leaps from the safety of her marine-based environment for a seemingly easy meal. She picked the wrong guy. Moments afterward, local restaurant patrons were treated to extremely fresh, free shark steaks.

Chute Shoot

After checking with the tube-launch director for special forces officer training, the instructor rehearses a specialized watercraft evacuation drill.

Reclining Recall

Once in a while we are faced with reality -- life as a constant struggle while we eke out a living, barely hanging on from day-to-day, sustaining only by the skin of our teeth, wondering where the next meal will come from, staring extinction in the face, dodging the ever present specter of the Grim Reaper.

Hole in One

Maxwell Smart and 99 with their cleverly disguised monoculars, carefully observing the evil CHAOS spies at a local diner.  The new technology offers more than magnification at great distances -- it includes a terahertz processor and 100 GB/s wireless bandwidth with a customizable display.  They can instantly determine identities using remote fingerprint analysis, voice recognition, and retina scan.  It can even serve-up the full contents of anyone's Permanent Record going back to kindergarten.  

Strange Brew

A consistent winner of the blue ribbon in the Kölsch Division from the National Brewer's Association, Liam samples his entry for this year's competition.  In addition to specific gravity, alcohol content, flavor, composition, color, et al, he knows the championship winner can steal the title with powerful effervescence. 

Havin' a Ball

The ninja master rehearses a demonstration for the upcoming physical security and weapons performance summit for the heads of the US Secret Service, FBI, and military Special Forces.  Before the bad guys learn to adapt a new tool in their arsenal, our man is able to emphatically show its destructive capabilities as a precursor to implementing defensive tactics. 

Razzelaser

Harnessing the energy from lased cold fusion coupled with high-velocity ambient terrestrial gasses, the world's leading combustion expert demonstrates the newest potential energy source for commercial and consumer use.  He is preparing to dazzle the State Fair crowd with his Power-on-a-Stick.

Snooze Sluice

Sometimes the planets align, conditions exist, and one finds himself in a perfect moment for a sound slumber.

Diggin' It

The chief archaeologist leads his latest team of graduate research assistants in search of gold in the Seven Cities of Cibola.

Mate Wait

When studying how plants reproduce, you gotta have some serious patience. 

Woven

The CEO at Saks Fifth Avenue brings his VP of marketing along to examine the craftsmanship and design of this season's apparel.  They can be particular about items that appears on store shelves, racks, and hangars. 

Gap Analysis

And the fairy shall visit.

Breeze Tease

NASA bioengineers perform wind tunnel testing to measure human tolerances for low pressure, high velocity fluid dynamic gas transitions.

Hoppy Hour

Just filling in the time, waiting for ski season.

Masque Tasque

Taking a pause from the Chemistry Lab, Professor Julius Kelp performs an experiment with gravity.

Chief Brief

Behind every decorated command pilot is a master crew chief.  Her confidence in the aircraft, ability to successfully deploy and complete missions, and even her leadership within the squadron all depend on his team. 

Trite Flight

It was the mother of all rescue missions -- bouncing through a high-alpine blizzard, slicing through a harrowing canyon, dodging migratory waterfowl, stealing through a fireworks display, all the while scouring the earth for any sign of that dadgum lost pair of sunglasses.

Made in the Shade

To claim victory in the Hortisculpture World Championships, one must exercise extreme patience in a sustained fashion beginning on Day 1 after the previous competition.  It also helps to build a relationship with your model, to coax her into new directions that express boundless creativity.  This decade's champion forged not only a priceless work of art, but a rather functional, cozy, and well ventilated gathering space. 

It's Not the Destination

Those long, grueling road trips of summer -- at times they send a young mind wandering back to the regular routine of school.

Aqualollygag

For centuries our civilization has been searching for the lost city of Atlantis, but now we have our best chance ever of finding it.  Spurning the latest technological advances in satellite imagery, active sonar, scanning earth's geomagnetic field, x-ray tomography, et al, the world's foremost treasure hunter simply follows his nose. 

Kleinesprechen

Wouldn't you know it.  Just when you get a good conversation going, the crowd interrupts.

Restorante del Mar

Voted top seafood bistro in the region due to freshest ingredients and top service.  Even the chef will slip out of the kitchen periodically to ensure accuracy of the customer's order.

Like the Vibe

It's not well known, but Gary Burton's mentor likes to keep it that way. 

Dixie?

Long distance travel seems much shorter when there are great tunes in the air.  Road trips seem to just blow on by.  

Hot Jazz

Here they are in the early days before they filled stadiums, before the Life Magazine cover photos, the comparisons to Blakely/Monk or Corea/Clarke or even Parker/Gillespie.  Back then, the boys worked long shifts into the early hours earning tips to scrape up a meager living. 

Half a Century, Already?

Uncle Michael, we love you.

Quake Take

It is an individual choice.  When natural disasters occur and the "fight or flight" instinct triggers our hypothalamus, human stress response may vary from one person to the next.  Frequently in these situations, one experiences a panic attack, gripping terror, or an immediate involuntary recoil.  But then again, there are exceptions...

Gatorman

It's not easy to build a relationship with someone whose brain is the size of a pea.  It takes years of training, studying, learning, but the job and the pay can be rewarding.  Successful reptile handlers are rare, but a few persist and some manage to thrive. 

Flight of Fancy

The wind was angry that day my friends.  Our heroes had lost the lead, but were only coasting through the Nationals competition as if they had given up their drive and their will to win.  The mixed-pairs team dynamics had stagnated, went flat, lost their momentum as the air movement flagged.  Suddenly an inspiration!  Was it desperation?  Was it divine intervention?  We may never know what clicked but they must have heard their calling:  "lose the shoes."   It was the turning point, the flashpoint that catapulted them back into the lead from which they never looked back. 

Engineer's Dilemma

Many career-minded designers overemphasize their vocation and fail to adequately maintain interpersonal relationships.  Upon retirement, they pop up from their work cubicles, survey their surroundings, and realize just how alone they really are. 

Roughin' It

Yeah, somebody's gotta do it.

True View

After landing on a strange, recently discovered planet in a far-away solar system, the Mission Commander peers out the viewing portal to survey the alien landscape before him. 

Batball

Lost in the midst of the press releases and reactions surrounding the LA Clippers was a more gripping story preceding next month's draft.  It turns out that the NBA commissioner has a much larger problem looming -- whether or not to allow Batman to play on a team.

After declaring himself eligible, lottery teams have been scrambling to trade and counteroffer for the rights to pick-up the Caped Crusader.  However, teams that traditionally find themselves atop the rankings and still playing into June have protested vigorously.  Clearly this one new player would upend next year's standings and pose a formidable challenge to team defenses across the nation. 

Giggleroll

Isn't it wonderful when you finally "get" the punchline?  

Sprintulum

Advanced techniques for world champion sprinters include interval training of the most bizarre kind.  Exercise physiologists have discovered a method that focuses simultaneously on three crucial components:  quadriceps, abdominals, and triceps. 

Rock Stock

The world's preeminent geologist leads his graduate students in a project to replicate Gutzon Borglum's great triumph in South Dakota.  Her we see the professor inspecting today's work.

Spring Sing

Preview of the Norman Aberschnackle Choir summer extravaganza concert.

Sight Flight

NASA scientists perform field testing of satellite control mechanisms in order to ensure accuracy, increase precision, improve control, and reduce hysteresis to exceed stringent specifications established by IEEE. 

Hydrapause

It can destroy paint and wood, or invite dreaded fungi into inaccessible places.  It can crumble concrete and asphalt, tumble down a mountainside and destroy anything in its path, or sink an enormous passenger ship.  In large quantities, especially when in motion -- it can send automobiles tumbling, or even erase entire coastal towns.  Heck, it can drown you.  But ya gotta admit, there are times when that dihydrogen monoxide stuff just hits the spot. 

Crick Trick

When there is a damsel in distress, there ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough to stop the ranger from making the save.

Jig Dig

An old Irish ritual allows for the very fortunate to share their overabundance of luck.  It's a joyful method -- simply connect yourselves with hand on opposite head and perform a spirited dance. 

Fenced

The NCAA developed an overly complex scheme for accumulating touches and thus points for determining the victor of a light-sabre bout.  Within the piste, the riposte after parry is highly dependent upon a sharp-eyed judge prior to arrêt, whether or not she counts a whip-over, input from the Lamé or any other electronics that are now available with new technology, etc.  The idea is that one needs to succeed within university to make sense of it -- a recursive, self-preserving sport.

Measured

   

It is not always easy or fun to figure out who will stand in the front and who will be in the rear of the team photog.  This is an important issue -- future hall-of-fame exhibits will include the annotated version of today's shot. 

Rotate Fate

Caught in a vortex of the 4th dimension, the two time travelers vainly attempted to understand their dilemma and decide whether they were in grave danger or enjoying the thrill of a lifetime.  

Creed Indeed

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night nor bright of day can keep the finest athletes from their morning workout.  However, sharp ice can delay things a little.

Jêêpers Crêpers

When award winning chefs prepare a little treat for themselves in their downtime, they still don't mess around.

Roll With It

Despite recent scientific advancements, earthquakes remain highly unpredictable for humans.  No one could have warned these poor picnickers that their world would come tumbling down in a matter of seconds.  Perhaps they escaped tragic consequences this time, but there is no substitute for preparation in advance of a repeat performance.  Lesson learned.

Blueday

To persevere through life's ups and downs, the human soul instinctively turns to a primeval source of strength that has underpinned our civilization since its very beginning:  music.

Bubblicimous

These days, high-nutrition smoothies can get out of control with exotic organic ingredients, supplements, and complex compounds.

Left Turn in Albuquerque

Discovered a new visitor on Easter Sunday.  First time to see one here.  Ever. 

No Regret Net

This year's ESPN Trout tournament winner shows off his last-second acquisition that pulled him into the lead for good.

Guarded

Even the world's premier life guards have to take a break once in a while. 

Scarlet Trumpets

Everyone knows the "Little Shop of Horrors" was based on a true story, but there is scant trace of its principal characters after an earthquake and fire destroyed any evidence.  However, recently a world-renowned botanist has managed to assemble revealing clues and will soon publish findings in the journal Nature. 

Sleight of Hand

After numerous failures measuring speed with radar and high-speed camera, ballistics engineers later revealed that the new launcher emits its projectile at close to the speed of light-- so fast that no one saw it. 

Spinnessential

Endurance training includes a periodic burst of speed to simulate the reaction of seeing that finish line in the distance. 

Found Mound

In order to obtain a complete understanding of species life-cycle, leading marine biologists study ecosystem components that are not immediately obvious to the casual observer.  They must dig deep into environments that may seem only distantly related to complex creatures at the bottom of the ocean. 

Prune Soon

Brute force is not always the answer.  Even Superman knows how to use the correct tool for the job. 

Hop, Skip, and a Nap

It happens to everyone in academics -- both the student and the instructor.  That moment when facing the inevitable, the enormous undertaking that lies ahead, the sudden realization that a daunting semester-long effort is about to begin.  Some shrivel in fear, some turn to counsel, some seek a diversion, but the successful know how to take it one step at a time and include plenty of breaks to keep it all in perspective.

Grotesquolastic

Today's best engineers may spend an entire career studying the deformation theory of plasticity, non-linear elasticity, stress-strain response for monotonic loading, or elastoplastic fracture mechanics.  In deriving the Stress-Strain curve for specific materials, they must calibrate simulation models with actual empirical evidence.  Most crucial is knowing exactly when a material has reached the end of the elastic, and then plastic deformation ranges before an actual fracture occurs.

Tire Tryer

County Parks and Rec engineers are diligent with their annual springtime inspections of recreational equipment.  To meet rigorous safety standards, they typically apply maximum stress testing for tensile, torsional, breaking strength, grip resistance, end fixings, the works!  Sometimes passers-by misinterpret these tests as simple leisure activities.  Certainly a negative impact on public relations, but a necessary evil.

Mixed Direction

Over the course of our lives, we occasionally lose sight of the target, we sometimes lose our way.  This is why it is so important to savor the journey, capture the moment, seize the day, smell the roses, and enjoy the ride.

Concrete Thought

Batman's parkour instructor continually adjusts training routines to encompass ever-inclusive techniques for whole-body workouts.  Preparation is crucial for success. 

The Right Angle

Many democratic societies host a speaker's corner where we are free to speak our mind on nearly any topic of our choosing.  One of the most popular orators of his day, Liam is captured early before the stampede arrives eager to hear his eloquent musings. 

Tenderfoot

The USFS, the NPS, the County, the police, and even firefighters have received reports of a large grizzly bear in the area.  According to records, the last known grizzly to live in this state was in 1931, so these sightings have caught the attention of the public at large.  Upon further investigation, it turns out that the reports originate from pawprints -- no one has actually seen the grizzly in-person. 

Fellers

Paratrooper training begins with the PLF -- a key component in the safety of a successful jump.  At times the instructor must exercise great patience when using the Demonstration-Performance method.

Cashout

Inflation is simply out of control in this day and age.

Pointed

Often billed as the "quarterback" of the offense, elite point guards carry a heavy load for their team.  In one possession, he gets two rebounds, takes two shots, and almost gets the assist.

 But when the clock is drained and options evaporate, he can score at will.

Tabled

How does it always happen when planning a picnic?  Mother nature finds out about it and sends ants, mosquitos, wind, rain, the "inconvenience du jour". 

Lunarunner

The search and rescue captain rejoices after another lost skier returns to the welcoming arms of loved ones.  After a long, hard day of work, he enjoys a short moonlit schuss before turning-in. 

Wheeling In

It's the right time of year to give that old horse a check-up and have 'er ready for summertime rides.

Pillowtalk

Few things bond more tightly than a boy and his dog, especially when they combine forces to assemble a perplexing riddle.  Afterward, they intend to split a breakfast confection, but the question remains -- which one will consume the larger share. 

Face It

Those high-powered cinema actors always manage to get their favorite make-up artists for their big screen appearances. 

Incognito

It was too much for the world's elite Antarctic Anthropology research team; they heard just about enough.  There were far too many reports of Sasquatch appearances at the southern pole of our planet -- it was high time to get out there and see for themselves. 

Typist

Tests for the new "typewriter" app are going well; product developers can hardly contain themselves.  Shares are trading at twice the all-time high in anticipation of an announcement. 

Archer

After acquiring target, aiming true, and delivering the initial blows, our intrepid hero calmly finishes-off his adversary to ensure a decisive victory.

Slumberbronco

We see it all the time, especially with sleeping animals.  They will move or verbalize in sequence with active dreaming during the REM phase.  Humans take it to another level, talking gibberish, sleepwalking, etc.  In rare cases, some can obtain a full aerobic workout and a good night's sleep simultaneously -- what a time savings!

Prechirp

The Lead Conservation Technician for the National Audubon Society field-tests a new attraction device targeted specifically for the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  Rumors have spread that this species has expanded its range into the Southwestern USA, and the Society is eager to verify.

Let's Face It

There are certain times when the pleasures of chocolate exceed one's concern for a tidy countenance. 

Extroinverted

One of the world's leading gurus demonstrates his wildly popular new technique of combining the benefits of gravity boots and yoga. 

Son Set

As the sun retreats for the day, it takes an occasional peek through the long shadows of the trees. This is when Team USA's head coach likes to reflect on today's events at Sochi, taking refuge in anonymity.  He will rejoin this evening's competition reinvigorated with a fresh set of tactics calibrated toward capturing the hardware on the podium. 

Shuttler

In the early days of the shuttle program, NASA engineers worked diligently on all facets of development and design, as well as marketing the concept to the legislative and executive branches.  It wasn't until their lead engineer worked well into the night to perfect its design using a model for the final congressional hearing -- that's when NASA finally sealed the deal and secured necessary funding.  Rare footage exposes his efforts, fine tuning details that would sway lawmakers and lead to one of the most successful space programs in human history.   

Stairdown

The Olympic trials are running late for the new Indoor Stairway Cross competition.  As competitors vie for the finish line simultaneously on a narrow staircase, the audiences get to see frequent pile-ups. 

Double Dose

World-renowned scientists are more likely to be eccentric than the rest of us.  They tend to integrate little efficiencies in their lives, at times just to be different.  Occasionally they start a socioeconomic or trans-cultural trend inadvertently but remain indifferent to it through the end. 

Turf Surf

Carpet testing is as rigorous and thorough as any similar endeavor in manufacturing.  The consumer market is demanding and vicious, quickly weeding-out the mediocre, and there is no way for a producer to survive without masterful product analysis at an extreme sustained scale.  Here we see a glimpse of a world-class diagnostic evaluation by the renowned master.

Stage Might

The recipients of the Nobel Prize for Physics modestly share the prize.  The winnings will be donated for further research.

Rockhound

The world's preeminent geologist offers a quick tutorial for his graduate fellowship students -- one of the large teams assisting in his research.  

Cerebral Vortex

Caught in the whirlpool with no way out, our hero attempts to stabilize morale and prevent panic while simultaneously analyzing the containment vessel and developing a rescue/exit strategy.

1k Locution

A hug is worth 1,000 words.

Moist

After a long day on the slopes followed by a yoga class, it's time for a good stretch in the hot tub.  Makes it all worthwhile.

Out on the Town

It's the best part of the meal -- the drinks are here, good friends gathered, some decent queso to share, and the stories are just getting better by the minute.  Their enthusiasm so contagious, television producers modeled this gang in several successful shows -- Cheers, Friends, and a couple more.

Split Decision

It started out well, the partnership.  A common goal, a mutually agreed upon destination between the left-brained and the right-brained, the yin and the yang.  And for the most part, it was a smooth journey filled with adventure and delight, just enough danger to stimulate, just enough hardship to understand good fortune.  The alliance grew stronger.  But as many such collaborations evolve, the two companions found themselves at a crossroads -- he wanting East, she wanting West.