Skot Nelson’s blog

Shimano Dura-Ace 7970 Electronic Shifting

nobody@vox.com(Skot Nelson) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 01:39:20 -0230

Velonews has more details on the new Shimano Dura-Ace 7970 electronic shifters. There's enough information there to convince me that this is definitely different. No cables, self adjusting derailleurs, potential for more than a single set of shifters.

I'm not going to be jumping on this bandwagon very quickly, but I'm intrigued at least.

This is a fundamental shift in cycling technology that hasn't been seen before. The basic mechanics of shifting have been the same since the 50s and 60s. Shift levers have changed to be sure, but in evolutionary ways. Still cables pulling on springs at heart, with a chain to tie it all together.

Old technologies have a habit of sticking around the longest. The book has been remarkably resilient, and the bike ha been extremely persistent. I suppose we'll see what happens now.

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Edmonton

nobody@vox.com(Skot Nelson) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:19:01 -0230

I've spent most of my life trying to avoid going to Edmonton, but work had me there for three days recently.
A user group sponsored training course was the reason I was there.
Can-Cell industries hosted the training courses at their main warehouse.

Purple. Definitely Purple.

nobody@vox.com(Skot Nelson) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:10:05 -0230

The marriage of spandex & velvet is surely the kind of unholy alliance that should be banned.

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New York Cop Smokes Cyclist and Loses his Badge

nobody@vox.com(Skot Nelson) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:35:07 -0230

I have some political objections to Critical Mass (most notably, I've seen the flagrant breaking of traffic laws) but the New York City police department's recent response to the event is just disgusting, and might be enough to make me start riding every month.

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Tolls are Good

nobody@vox.com(Skot Nelson) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:41:01 -0230

There's more than one way to cross the Fraser. Some of those bridges should be tolled, and we might as well start with this one.

New, tolled Pattullo Bridge gets green light
Last Updated: Thursday, July 31, 2008 | 9:00 PM ET
CBC News

More than 79,000 vehicles travel over the Pattullo Bridge, which spans the Fraser River between New Westminster and Surrey, B.C., every day. (CBC)

TransLink has approved the construction of a new, tolled crossing to replace the 71-year-old Pattullo Bridge spanning the Fraser River between Surrey and New Westminster, B.C.

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Battery Operated Bikes

nobody@vox.com(Skot Nelson) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:35:07 -0230

I confess to not quite understanding the point of electronic shifting but Shimano is apparently hitting the market next year.

Cables stretch, but are cheap and easy to replace. Perhaps the electronic version will remain snappier for a longer period of time, or perhaps forver.

I just don't want my batteries to die when I'm on my way up Cypress Bowl.

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So...um...yikes?

nobody@vox.com(Skot Nelson) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:25:03 -0230

I don't think I've been this shocked in a very very long time.

This particularly gruesome detail was the most chilling:

Then the incident became even more macabre. The attacker returned to the victim's side and began sawing through his neck. A few moments later, he walked to the front of the bus holding a decapitated human head, displaying it to the 34 passengers and the bus driver standing outside.

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Apache Everywhere?

nobody@vox.com(Skot Nelson) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:43:16 -0230

Microsoft has joined the Apache Foundation which is amongst the more interesting small developments in the tech industry in a while (and yes, I am aware of the recent launch of a Google competitor by former Google employees.)

My personal crystal ball would suggest that this will lead in two possible directions.

Microsft replaces Internet Information Server, it's proprietary web server platform, with Apache in future Windows server releases, or
Microsoft integrates the ASP core of it's .NET platform into the Apache core, allowing for the deployment of ASP on any web server.

Doing both would make the most sense. If I had to choose one, I'd choose the second because it would lead to more easily implementing the first. It's also a good fit for the common Microsoft strategy of allowing its code to be deployed anywhere by creating common APIs. Allowing Microsoft code monkeys to deploy ASP applications on any server platform could be a step in a strategy intended to dethrone PHP.

it won't work, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't consider it. It's just far too late to work, but hubris knows no time limits.

In any case, an interesting development. Apache everyhwere!

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Nice to See the World Can be Changed

nobody@vox.com(Skot Nelson) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:11:52 -0230

With stories of bike racks being overfull in communities around the continent, it's nice to see someone trying to do something distinctive.

Contest picks best designs for Ballard bike racks
By JENNIFER LANGSTON
P-I REPORTER

Later this year, Ballard cyclists could find themselves parking their bikes between two toes of a giant concrete foot.

Or maybe inside the rusted husk of a car sculpture, meant to symbolize the decay of the automobile and fossil fuel age.

Personally, these racks have long been my favourites, combining function with good visual design. The City of Toronto's are also good, although the locking circle is affixed to the post by two bolts that can be removed which is a problem. I've never seen these ones at the ROM but I like the idea of doing something unique.

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What's next? The Sugarbaker girls?

nobody@vox.com(Skot Nelson) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:20:42 -0230

Say it ain't so. Just say it ain't so.

Estelle Getty, 84:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080722.wobgetty0722/BNStory/Entertainment/home
The Associated Press
July 22, 2008 at 2:29 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES -- Estelle Getty, the diminutive actress who spent 40 years struggling for success before landing a role of a lifetime in 1985 as the sarcastic octogenarian Sophia on TV's The Golden Girls, has died. She was 84.

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