One more thing. Twice in as many months, people in cars have stopped me riding hard up the crest of the steep hill just before my home to ask me for directions. Both times I have stopped. Both times I have been amazed and annoyed. The only reason for this behavior I can figure is that I'm more accessible than someone closed up in an a/c'd car and thus it's easier to stop me, though the first time the dork cut me off in the road (him I was ready to KILL) before asking the directions. When I told L about this when I got home she said "next time don't stop." Why didn't I think of that?
posted by John Mignault 4:08:51 PM
Looking over what very little, little I have here, I'm struck by how little I write now - it seems to go about 4 mos of slience followed by a small utterance or two. I sometimes have a hard time getting over the whole idea that the minutiae of my life is any more interesting than the minutiae of any one else's. In other words, this is the whole "Who the hell do you think you are?" brain nag niggling at me again. I sometimes wish I could have some of the naive, massive egotism, unencumbered by doubt that much of the stuff I read online seems to lack, which would explain why people feel free to post frippery concerning their cookie and soymilk tastes.
posted by John Mignault 4:05:15 PM
Also my long awaited and anticipated Rivendell All-Rounder shipped yesterday. I oscillate between excitement and wondering if I shoulda held out for half-step rather than crossover gearing. Ah, I can allus swap chainrings later. Building a new freewheel with a half-step progression could be tougher, though, and is prob why I couldn't get half-step in the first place. I imagine the bike will still be rideable.
posted by John Mignault 3:59:18 PM
Interesting thread on rec.bicycles.misc recently about the whole "cyclists acknowledging each other on the road" meme - leading to larger questions of community and outsiderhood. Worth a look. My experience pretty much breaks down to: anybody in Spandex ignores me completely, about 50% of commuters (assumed via mt bike and bag plus usually a helmet) say "hi", little kids always say "hi", and it irritates me when people ride on sidewalks, against traffic, and run red lights.
posted by John Mignault 3:51:12 PM
Boy, it's a good thing racism is over and we've got a level playing field. No need for any of that affirmative action crap anymore that just keeps white guys from getting ahead.
posted by John Mignault 4:29:50 PM
Amazingly enough, I overtook a roadie this am.I saw him a couple blocks ahead of me as I was riding through downtown New Rochelle on my way to the train station. A 'real cyclist' in lycra on a yellow Giant road bike, skinny tires, not carrying anything on the bike. Admittedly, not a 20-something racerboy, probably about my age, but obviously not a fred like myself - riding a hybrid wearing a barn jacket, tb2 bag on back, commuter stuff all over the bike - bell, pump, reflectors, lights, rack, fenders.
After another block I noted with surprise that I was gaining on him. This never happens to me - I get dropped by everybody. But after another block I caught up to him. I would have passed him, actually, but traffic was heavy and we were about a half block from a red light. So I rode behind him to the light.
At the light he stopped and looked behind him and saw me. I said "hey, how's it going?" Without a word, he turned around, stood on his pedals, and went right as I continued on straight ahead. It never fails. I almost yelled "I coulda passed you!"
posted by John Mignault 11:42:36 AM
OK, genug, kitty. Time to start actually saying some stuff again. The big news is that I got laid off from my job at Oxygen Media, though it's sort of a time-release thing: if I stay and play nice (which meaning I'm not entirely certain of yet) for the next 6 months, then they'll give me 3 months severance.On the face of it, this seems like a pretty good deal. I have a guaranteed paycheck for the rest of the year, and the co seems like it'll be reasonably liberal in allowing me to look for another job.
The problem is this: if part of my unhappiness here was the result of feeling like I was underutilized, then this period of time feels like attending my own funeral. I don't have anything interesting to do, and I've been put on a project which I think I got simply because noone else wanted to do it. It's certainly a long distance away from the platform and app server changes going on here now.
If you need a good solid Java programmer in the meantime, mostly experienced in servlets and JSP, feel free to contact me at jbm@panix.com. Or take a gander at my resume.
In the meantime, I'm going to try to figure out what to do.
posted by John Mignault 1:07:56 PM
this is a little tiny post; first of the New Year, first in a long time.
posted by John Mignault 10:13:55 PM
I think I might be back, and I think I might start having something to say.
posted by John Mignault 8:10:55 PM
Orange is the old orange, but it remains the new orange as well, though it might also be the new mauve and is in the running to be the new puce.
posted by John Mignault 8:09:15 PM
I saw a commerical for Dixie Rinse'n'Reuse, and at first I thought, interesting, a paper plate you can, well, rinse and reuse:
Dixie's new Rinse & ReUse disposable stoneware is the first disposable plate that looks and performs like a real plate. Not paper, not plastic, not foam, it's a unique blend of [XXX]. Soak-proof and microwavable, Rinse & ReUse can hold up to 6 pounds - far above any other disposable plate. It's even dishwasher safe!
But then it occurred to me: what the hell is the point of using paper plates that you HAVE TO WASH? Isn't the whole point to THROW THEM AWAY after you're done? Is this Dixie's attempt to get brides to register for paper plates? Yeesh. I'm also a tad nervous about that [XXX] stuff they're making them out of.
posted by John Mignault 2:16:31 PM
Via Slashdot: IBM releases a Linux Java 1.3 JDK. Cool. Now let's see 'em release a Java 2 version of VAJava on Linux. I want that badly: a lot of my development projects at work tie me to using the Windows version cause we're using Java 2, and I'd much rather work on my Linux box, esp with the spiffy (X)Emacs integration available.
posted by John Mignault 10:38:28 AM