This is a comic book cover mock up I did using a photo by Joe Lobell and Photoshop for ART 109 class. I was pleased with how it came out!

The Miami Hurricane reported in the Thursday edition that a crocodile was dismembered at UM.

A crocodile was found dead and mutilated in a canal on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus Wednesday.

The American Crocodile, a recovering endangered species, is a common sight around the UM campus.
The decapitated and de-tailed body is believed to have been found near the Ponce de Leon garage.

“It’s impossible for us to know at this point what the motivation was,” Officer Jorge Pino of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told the Miami Herald. “We’re hoping that somebody will get outraged enough to tell us if they’re heard or seen anything.

This is the statement from the University of Miami:

The University of Miami was saddened to hear about the apparent mutilation of an endangered American crocodile on our property.

The University is cooperating fully with Florida Wildlife Commission authorities on its investigation.

The species is an important part of Florida’s natural history, and to continue its recovery, the University has partnered with the FWC to educate our community about the importance of coexisting with this animal. Our public safety program can be found online at http://www6.miami.edu/public-safety/Publications_and_Brochures/FWC_Living_with_Crocodiles_REVISED.pdf

I first saw the crocodile, which might have a name but I do not know, while on my way to the gym swimming under a bridge. Up until that moment I thought his presence was simply an old wives’ tale or legend.

Later on I got a much closer look at him as he came ashore to sun himself.

It was certainly interesting to watch the campus tour groups walk by and notice him sitting out there with nothing between you and his jaw except air. The prospective students and their helicopter parents would stiffen up and freak out while the tour guide told them he was harmless if you did not go near him. And that is true, there has not been any documented case of a crocodile attacking a human in the United States. Last semester some drunken yahoos at the campus bar decided to start poking and harassing him. The UMPD eventually had to come out and babysit it every time it came ashore.

Frankly, I’m disgusted people would not live and let live. I thought he was a neat fixture that added to the character of the campus. Stop, stare and take pictures but move on with your day and he will move on in his. Sadly, some hooligans did not and that day was his last. RIP.

~Biff.

Here are some pics taken by Norman Johansen (”That Nutrition Guy”) during the Finals (swim wear) round at the 2008 Model Universe competition in Miami, Florida back in June. I did not think I’d get any pics and am very lucky and grateful he did and shared them with me! Thanks Norm!

~Biff.

I have been really diligent about my diet since I started preparing for the Model Universe competition in early May. After the show in June the possibility of photoshoots arose so, after a brief celebratory break, I continued my diet even through Independence Day! In fact, I haven’t had a break since June 28th - I’ve been strict!

And it is paying off! Even though the photoshoots never materialized I have decided to enter another competition, this time the FAME Miami Bodybuilding on Halloween weekend. I’ll probably crossover and enter more than one division but I know bodybuilding, am comfortable with it and the judging is much more straightforward…the fitness model competitions are way too subjective and uncertain for me. Plus, if I’m lean enough to be a bodybuilder I’ll be acceptable for fitness modeling.

So, I’m nine weeks out. And it’s a major holiday. Now’s the time to get it out of my system and then buckle down afterwards. I’ve learned my lessons in the past…

• Cannot last more than 24 hours - it all must be consumed in the time allowed
• Any leftovers must be removed, thrown out, or made inaccessible - I often plan on consuming more junk food than is humanly possible which led to leftovers. Suddenly my cheat day turned into cheat WEEK since I didn’t want anything to go to waste. I cannot have that kind of temptation lying around. I will ALWAYS cave so it’s simply best not have it.
• Should be in conjunction with activities that burn a lot of calories - I’m sandwiching my cheat foods between a morning bootcamp workout and an intense leg/squat workout. This will help expend those extra calories.
• Savor the taste! - I used to opt for sheer volume in an attempt to make me sick (so I wouldn’t want my cheat foods for a while) but the damage stayed with me. Now, I buy less- a serving or two, savor the flavor, and am done with it. No use in smothering myself or ruining a perfectly evil dessert.

I guess the next question I should answer is, “Biff, what are your favorite cheat foods?” Well, in no particular order:

• Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream - nice mixture of salty dough with sweet cream
• McDonald’s Double Cheeseburgers - these practically melt in your mouth and stir memories of childhood
• McDonald’s French Fries - truly the best-tasting fries of any fast food chain. I always supersize them and douse them with extra salt and gobs of ketchup!
• White Chocolate Chunk/Macadamia Nut cookie dough RAW - yup, I’ll go buy some packaged dough and just eat it out of the bag - cooking wastes too much time and energy!
• Cold Cereal: Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Special K Red Berries - Since my carbs need to be complex and tasteless those sweetened, processed ones become a delicacy!

And that’s pretty much it. When I’m at McDonald’s I might also indulge in a soft drink and/or strawberry shake (to make it a complete meal). I also do this immediately after a successful photoshoot or competition…it’s become my tradition.

***

School is kicking my ass by have a weight training partner who keeps me pushing myself and starting tomorrow I’ll have a morning cardio partner to step up my fat-burning efforts. I tried doing a competition all by myself and that sucked. Making it a team effort is much more enjoyable, they get extra help from my energy and enthusiasm, and you’ve made a commitment to someone other than youself therefore it’s harder to let them down.

Have a happy Labor Day!

Write a comment and tell me what your Cheat Meal or Dump the Diet Day foods are!
~Biff.

As I watch the winners and losers on the unprecedented Olympic coverage by the networks of NBC I am noticing some trends among those successful athletes that medal in their sports. Namely swimmer Michael Phelps, the US gymnastics team, and various athletes in the track and field events. I compiled my observations and wanted to share them with you here and see if you agree and can add to my list.

1. Do what you love – Michael Phelps’ mother needed an outlet for his energy as a youth so she took him to the pool. He liked it. If he didn’t like it he wouldn’t be there.
2. Recognize talent – Once in the pool Michael’s coach was able to identify his talent early on.
3. Know what to do with that talent – Even if talent was evident it would be lost if you don’t know what to do with it; what the possibilities are.
4. Layout a long-term plan and set goals – Michael’s coach presented his mother the plan to enter Michael in the Olympics
5. Stay in your lane – Whether it’s swimmers or sprinters it’s the same. Rules and guidelines are set forth to make a race or game fair and while being efficient and leaning in is necessary -and even encouraged- the minute you cross that line you risk being disqualified.
6. Finish strong – I find it mind-blowing that the world’s best runners almost stop running before they reach the finish line. They think they’ve won that race and are suddenly behind someone who leaned forward or simply out-touched them to the wall (in swimming). If they only would mentally move the finish line 10 feet back the follow through would yield even greater world records!
7. Be a good sportsman – people were aghast at the track star who gloated or the silver medalist who tossed his ribbon to the ground in disgust.
8. Be nice to the media and they’ll at least be fair – maybe even nice – to you – True, Michael Phelps is talented and accomplished but honestly, it was the media that made him a star. In interviews, however, you see he is polite and gracious. He cooperates fully and stops and answers questions and poses for photos. Was that so hard?
9. Always be prepared – the US gymnastics team lost the Hamm twins shortly before the Olympics and two alternate gymnasts were chosen. Had those alternates given up after being defeated at the US trials they could not have stepped in and won a bronze medal! Sure, it’s not gold but any medal is better than none at all! Also, with the amount of disqualifications from doping results or game violations the guy in fourth or fifth place can suddenly find himself on the medal podium!
10. Keep working hard – how many world records were broken in these Olympics! Records that previously were thought impossible are now being surpassed. These records are being broken thanks to technological advances, nutritional advances, and simply superior talent and ability. Michael was able to break several of his own records while retired athletes watching from the stands watched as their records were smashes. Point is: someone better is always around the corner…hopefully it’s the new you.

~Biff.