Close-up of a white Bugera Vintage 55 guitar amplifier with black knobs and red power light.

All the way up.


When confronted with the question of just making ten louder, it’s always better to take it to eleven.


Missives, musings, and more from author, adventurer, and mountain-fella, Stu Swineford.

Dive in me.

Just a whirlwind tour of some of my ramblings over the years. (Some ideas may have aged better than others.)


  • Running
  • Film
  • Business
Stu Swineford headshot - laughing outdoors

About ToEleven

ToEleven started as a place to house movie reviews and general film-based missives back in the early 2000s. The name derives from one of my favorite films, This Is Spinal Tap, and references Lead Guitarist, Nigel Tuffnel's custom amp stack. ToEleven is not only a URL, it's a way of life. Take yours to eleven.

Rants

Hands holding a tablet displaying a video player interface. The video is paused.

Two videos…

February 20, 2026
In case you hadn’t seen these (and also for my friends at Adventure Film ), here are a couple of must-see running movies from Joel Wolpert:  Geoff Roes: Slogging to the Top

Previous Rants

Hands holding a tablet displaying a video player interface. The video is paused.

Two videos…

February 20, 2026
In case you hadn’t seen these (and also for my friends at Adventure Film ), here are a couple of must-see running movies from Joel Wolpert:  Geoff Roes: Slogging to the Top

GAMBLING IS ILLEGAL AT BUSHWOOD

By Relish • February 9, 2026
Well, this weekend's activities took me to The Summit Course at Cordierra in Edwards which proceeded to kick my sorry ass and let me know that I am not only a poor excuse for a golfer but a bit of a fish-out-of-water when it comes to hangin' with the social elite. I was deemed the first person to sport a chain wallet and earrings (gender: male) to grace the links at Cordierra and am certain that I would have been booted from the joint post-haste had I not been among the company of aforementioned "social elite". It was like caddy "day" at the pool in Caddyshack. Without the boobs and Baby Ruth, of course. I shot about 150 (if you don't count the 73 Mulligans) and managed to donate about 36 balls to the surrounding wilderness. I am definitely no Danny and try as I might, I simply couldn't bring myself to "be the ball". I did carve some wicked divots, however… so the groundskeeper is assured a job for a few more weeks at least. After doing my damnedest to bring shame to my family (both Ma and Pa are excellent golfers), I took in the new film Blue Crush which is not going to win any awards (unless, of course, the Academy is adding "Best Fat Man in a Speedo" or "Teeny-Weeniest Bikini" to their agenda). Which, come to think of it, might not be such a bad idea…

A MEASLEY $62 MILLION

By Relish • February 8, 2026
020827 | tuesday

THE STEVE PHENOMENON

By Relish • February 7, 2026
020902 | monday

CHASING THE DOLLAR

By Relish • February 6, 2026
021020 | sunday 

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer vitae magna nec lorem venenatis aliquam. Mauris maximus mauris sit amet dui pellentesque, a molestie lacus efficitur. Proin cursus lacus ante, eu convallis nisi bibendum eu. Sed volutpat consectetur nunc, at condimentum nisi aliquet nec. Quisque auctor iaculis lectus, in finibus nulla blandit nec. Quisque eget urna et mauris hendrerit tincidunt. Nunc a efficitur nulla.

FAQ

  • What is ToEleven?

    ToEleven is a personal writing space created by Stu Swineford. It’s a place for thoughts, stories, reviews, and reflections on topics like film, running, business, and the occasional adventure.

  • Why is it called “ToEleven”?

    The name comes from the cult classic film This Is Spinal Tap. In the movie, guitarist Nigel Tufnel proudly explains that his amplifier goes to eleven instead of ten. The idea stuck. Taking things “to eleven” simply means going a little further, pushing ideas a little louder, and embracing the spirit of doing things fully.

  • What kind of content will I find here?

    You’ll find a mix of movie thoughts, running stories, business perspectives, and general musings from Stu. Some posts are thoughtful, some are random, and some are just things that felt worth writing down at the time.

  • Who is Stu Swineford?

    Stu Swineford is a writer, adventurer, and lifelong film fan. Through ToEleven, he shares experiences, opinions, and stories shaped by years of work, travel, running trails, and watching a lot of movies.

  • How can I get in touch?

    If you want to reach out, collaborate, or just say hello, you can contact Stu directly through the contact page or by email at stuart@toeleven.com

Thoughtful strategy. Practical execution.

Clear thinking, honest perspectives, and experience shaped by years of doing the work. No shortcuts, no borrowed opinions, just lessons learned by showing up, solving problems, and following ideas all the way through.