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	<title>...::  Alex Smirnov  ::... &#187; Personal</title>
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	<link>http://www.asmirnov.org</link>
	<description>Blog, Photography, Books, Movies, Cooking, Geocaching, Travel and Various Things I Care About (And You Probably Don&#039;t)</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:22:24 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>How much deeper can CNN sink?</title>
		<link>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/10/31/how-much-deeper-can-cnn-sink/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/10/31/how-much-deeper-can-cnn-sink/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:49:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alex Smirnov</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asmirnov.org/?p=2214</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I popped over to the CNN website today to see what's new in the World. Besides letting me know that some d-list celebrity has filed for divorce I also found out that a pop star's doctor is still being on trial for murder. Irritating, sure. But that was not all. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/10/31/how-much-deeper-can-cnn-sink/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Canoeing on the Peconic River (Long Island, New York)</title>
		<link>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/08/08/canoeing-on-the-peconic-river-long-island-new-york/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/08/08/canoeing-on-the-peconic-river-long-island-new-york/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:22:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alex Smirnov</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Geocaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kayaking and Canoeing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Long Island]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adventure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canoeing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New York]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Peconic River]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suffolk County]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asmirnov.org/?p=2151</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One advantage of living on Long Island (and for me personally, advantages of living here are very hard to come by) is the presence of large bodies of water open to kayaking and canoeing. Besides the obvious Long Island Sound and the Great Sound Bay, there are several rivers that can be explored by personal watercraft. One such river, is the Peconic on Eastern Long island. It originates near Brookhaven National Lab and lazily flows east, towards Riverhead and the crotch of Long Island and eventually empties into the Flanders Bay, which is apart of the Peconic Bay. This river has been on my list ever since I moved to Long Island but for variety of reasons (most of them bullshit excuses) never got around to it.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/08/08/canoeing-on-the-peconic-river-long-island-new-york/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bicycling on Wallkill Valley, Shawangunk and Walden Rail Trails</title>
		<link>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/06/14/bicycling-on-wallkill-valley-shawangunk-and-walden-rail-trails/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/06/14/bicycling-on-wallkill-valley-shawangunk-and-walden-rail-trails/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:41:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alex Smirnov</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bicycling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Andi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[biking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cycling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hudson Valley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mud]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Paltz]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New York]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rail Trail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rosendale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wallkill]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asmirnov.org/?p=1956</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Wallkill Valley, Shawangunk and Walden rail trail (or rather rail trails) span from Walden, NY to Rosendale, NY, roughly in the North-South direction. I am not exactly sure on the whole nomenclature issue but it is very easy to ride all three trails together, in one day and at a very leisurely place. The surface of the trails varies as does the marking. The Walden rail trail is pretty much as good as it gets - of course - depending on your standards. What I mean that it is paved in its entirety, very well marked with stop signs and proper road crossings. And if you start in Walden like we did, slightly downhill. The second part of the ride is for all intents and purposes unmaintained singletrack, followed by riding on roads to the trailhead of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail on Denniston Road. Wallkill Rail Trail is unpaved, mostly packed dirt and crushed stone, with some patches (mostly around New Paltz, NY) of variously degraded asphalt. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/06/14/bicycling-on-wallkill-valley-shawangunk-and-walden-rail-trails/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>TD Bank 5Boro Bike Tour 2011</title>
		<link>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/05/18/td-bank-5boro-bike-tour-2011/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/05/18/td-bank-5boro-bike-tour-2011/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 May 2011 20:19:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alex Smirnov</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bicycling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[5 Boro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bike]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brooklyn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Central Park]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manhattan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Matt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Millicent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New York City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Queens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State Island]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Bronx]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Verrazano Bridge]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asmirnov.org/?p=1767</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am not really sure how the envelope with the flyer for this event got mailed to me in the first place. But man, am I glad it did. I shared it with the usual suspects and the decision was made to partake. Even though there were 32000 spots available, I assumed they would go rather quickly. After all, who in their right mind, would want to pass up an opportunity to ride the completely car free streets of New York City, visiting Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and eventually Staten Island? ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/05/18/td-bank-5boro-bike-tour-2011/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Tough Mudder Bear Creek, PA (Race Report)</title>
		<link>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/04/20/tough-mudder-bear-creek-pa-race-report/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/04/20/tough-mudder-bear-creek-pa-race-report/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Apr 2011 03:19:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alex Smirnov</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adventure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allentown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bear Creek]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[challenge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[electroshock]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[endurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mud]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[obstacle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pennsylvania]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[race]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[running]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tough Mudder]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asmirnov.org/?p=1612</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After finishing a Rugged Maniac 5K race in Southwick, MA in the Fall of 2010 (which was neither Rugged nor Maniac-al according to my humble opinion) we started looking for a new challenge. Eventually, my attention was caught by an facebook ad for an event called "Tough Mudder". Dissatisfied with the Rugged Maniac and similar-length/difficulaty races such as the Warrior Dash and Spartan Race (partially, because they do offer 8+ mile and 48 hour races), the Tough Mudder looked like a formidable challenge. First, there was the distance of 11 miles, then the elevation changes since the race was held in a ski center with some snow still around, and finally the nature of obstacles. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/04/20/tough-mudder-bear-creek-pa-race-report/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Tough Mudder Weekend in Pennsylvania</title>
		<link>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/04/20/tough-mudder-weekend-in-pennsylvania/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/04/20/tough-mudder-weekend-in-pennsylvania/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Apr 2011 03:18:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alex Smirnov</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Allentown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cave]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Little Guy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lost River]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pennsylvania]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trailer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asmirnov.org/?p=1489</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the title suggests, the central event of this weekend was the Tough Mudder race at Bear Creek Ski Center, just south of Allentown/Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. We wanted to take advantage of our presence in this neck of the woods and explore a bit. On our list were Lost River Cave in Hellertown, Slovak Cemetery in Bethlehem, Tough Mudder Race at Bear Creek and Biking on the Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail.
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/04/20/tough-mudder-weekend-in-pennsylvania/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bicycling On Long Island: The Great Peconic Loop</title>
		<link>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/04/06/bicycling-on-long-island-the-great-peconic-loop/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/04/06/bicycling-on-long-island-the-great-peconic-loop/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:34:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alex Smirnov</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bicycling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Long Island]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[biking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[century ride]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cycling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[day trip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ferry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GPS track]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[North Fork]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shelter Island]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South Fork]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suffolk County]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asmirnov.org/?p=1365</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Another beautiful Sunday was ahead of us and the weather was just begging for a long ride. It seemed like it was a good time push the boundaries a bit so we opted for a ~110 mile ride, which will henceforth be known as the "The Great Peconic Loop".]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/04/06/bicycling-on-long-island-the-great-peconic-loop/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Road to Green Card</title>
		<link>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/03/31/the-road-to-green-card/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/03/31/the-road-to-green-card/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:46:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alex Smirnov</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[immigration]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asmirnov.org/?p=1350</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So I finally got my sh*t together and applied for the Green Card. Well, I applied for an adjustment of status as it is officially called. I have been in the country since 2000, first as an F-1 student, then as a J-1 exchange scholar, fortunately exempted from the 2-year home stay rule. I met Andi in 2006 and we finally got married last summer. So I figured it was time. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/03/31/the-road-to-green-card/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bicycling on Long Island:  Stony Brook &#8211; Sound Ave &#8211; Riverhead &#8211; Whiskey Rd &#8211; Stony Brook</title>
		<link>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/03/21/bicycling-on-long-island-stony-brook-sound-ave-riverhead-whiskey-rd-stony-brook/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/03/21/bicycling-on-long-island-stony-brook-sound-ave-riverhead-whiskey-rd-stony-brook/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:41:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alex Smirnov</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bicycling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Long Island]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[biking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pine barrens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stony Brook]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asmirnov.org/?p=1316</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The days, and the rides are finally getting longer. After last weeks 42 mile ride, we tacked on additional few and made this one a solid 58 miles (93 km) long. We met at the department at 6:15AM but postponed the departure because it was still dark, we postponed the departure until about 7AM. Oh, and it was also solid 30 degrees F outside, which to the rest of the World translates to just about -1 degrees C. Regardless of the temperature it was supposed to be a very sunny day with no clouds and abundant blue sky.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/03/21/bicycling-on-long-island-stony-brook-sound-ave-riverhead-whiskey-rd-stony-brook/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Doing Fun Things in 2011</title>
		<link>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/03/20/doing-fun-things-in-2011/</link>
		<comments>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/03/20/doing-fun-things-in-2011/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Mar 2011 18:41:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alex Smirnov</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bicycling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Miscellaneous]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adventure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[biking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[century ride]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cycling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Long Island]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Montauk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New York]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[race]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tough Mudder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tour]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.asmirnov.org/?p=1286</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Perhaps posting my travel/adventure plans for 2011 will make me more likely to stick to them. And maybe not. Regardless here the first three I am already registered for. More to come later.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.asmirnov.org/2011/03/20/doing-fun-things-in-2011/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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