http://wjc.fidean.net/log miscellaneous nerdery Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:21:16 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A local design collective 2 & 21 just published a nifty bike facts poster thing. I would have chosen a few different things for the timeline part myself (Surly? Velodrome? MplsBikeLove? nothing before '97? there's too much to include, really), but it's a pretty nice overview of some things that ... http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2010/03/17/pretty-stats-biking-in-mpls/ For those foolish hardy souls signed up to ride the Ragnarok 105, Almanzo 100, Dirty Benjamin, or other long gravel road race/event, and those who just like to ride where the roads are primitive, there's a new Google Group set up to discuss routes, strategy, technique, gear, and the like. ... http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2010/03/15/mn-gravel-grinders/ We had a nice moment there, peering futilely into each other's hugely dialated, uncorrected eyes, waiting to be called back into the optometrist's chair. We laughed at the sight of her shopping, nose inches away from the shelf comparing toilet paper prices, and of me walking blocks down the street ... http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2010/03/11/myopia/ Sweet (silent) video of a snow machine conversion kit from Armstead Snow Motors Company. It allowed you to convert your tractor or family car to an unstoppable winter transport, and back again for summer. The father in me imagines the inevitable horrific manglings from all the exposed gears and spinning ... http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2010/03/11/1924-snow-machine-kit/ The Complete The Streets bill is working its way through the MN House with a unanimous voice vote in the House Transportation Finance Committee, and the StarTribune came out with a great editorial in favor of the issue.. There aren't so many walkers and cyclists on the streets this time ... http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2010/02/27/closer-to-completing/ The money bit for me is the setup and the piece on public libraries. Everyone gets cranky (me included) when they think about the money they earn but don't get to take home, but it's easy to forget the overwhelming good in society that comes from it. The Daily Show ... http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2010/02/26/gun-tal-floss/ I'm very interested and excited to learn more about the Bloom Box tomorrow, purported to be the first high efficiency wireless powerplant capable of replacing our current power grid. So far it's only been revealed on this past Sunday's 60 Minutes show, but apparently Google, eBay, FedEx and a few others ... http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2010/02/23/bringing-hippies-and-survivalists-together-since-2010/ It's been a tough winter for cycling here, what with the craggy street stalagtites, and the extreme cold here (despite being the 4th warmest January globally), and the laziness. But today it's two days in a row, and that's a good start, because, you know, the Almanzo 100 isn't going ... http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2010/02/18/2-in-a-row/ There's something fascinating about this performance, the winner from a Ukraine's Got Talent show. I guess there are other things like this around online, but i hadn't seen this sort of sand painting/animation performance before, and Kseniya Simonova does an amazing job telling the story of the German occupation of ... http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2010/02/14/amazing-sand-painting-performance/ This morning is trying to kill me i just want 5 minutes in bed the dog is growling to be let out and the cats both yowl to be fed My daughter accidently kicked my nuts while sweetly just trying to cuddle I want to make a couch fort and hide in the cushions but the dog ... http://wjc.fidean.net/log/2010/02/09/this-morning-is-trying-to-kill-me/