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We tried to go to Circuit City cause we heard the remaining stores would be closing. Unfortunately it had already closed many months ago. Here are some shots from the Arden Fair Lego Store we visited.
I guess I forgot to note that Kevin got this bike from the trash. That's sort of an important point to note. So it's literally a piece of shit. Anyways, I couldn't resist the urge to get my hands dirty again with bikey stuff after wrapping up Garry's bike, so I spent a few hours on the Mixte sitting out on our deck.
Notes:
- Paint: I had to resist the urge to splurge $100 and give the mixte a new paint job. I guess in the end, this thing is still going to be a junker. It's probably even better if I decide to commute around campus on this thing.
- Cranks: Taking off the cranks and cleaning them was a bitch. I put them on the wrong way too, and I almost busted an elbow fixing that. At least the suckers are grime/rust free (about the only things on this bike besides the pedal that can make that claim).
- Grime: I cleaned up the frame to get rid of that grimey feel it used to have. Frame still didn't look any better unfortunately. For as dirty as it is, the bike has stood up pretty well. The bottom bracket and headset are still in pretty good condition. While any long term plans (or resale plans) for this bike will necessitate an overhaul of both, for now it's satisfactory.
- Wheels: I think the biggest cost of this bike will be the rear wheel. Of all the things I've settled on not splurging on, the rear wheel is not one of them. Going to replace the hub on it with a flip-flop hub. The front wheel is missing a cone (aggravation!). Might just replace the hub on that too so they match, or look around for a cone. Also need to buy skewers since the last ones have rusted to hell.
- Brakeset: I've cleaned off all the rust on one brake caliper. Just one more to go. Also need to buy some brake lines, I guess I'll just keep the current brake levers.
It wasn't a particularly painful job (I did come super close to losing a finger though). It just took a lot longer than I thought it would. Here's Garry's Mercier - with brake levers, Sora brake calipers, a new 40t chainring and a 16t rear singlespeed cog. I replaced the the pedals with a pair that are a little bit more functional and I created some makeshift brake guides.
Additional Comments:
- Stem: Might need to replace this with a longer stem as the frame might be on the smaller side for Garry. Not sure how much can be corrected by the seat position, but we should probably try that first before buying a new stem.
- Brake Levers/Position: I've been riding it for a few days, and we may need to get new levers. The current position is fine if you you're keep on staying upright - it isn't however the best for maximum control of the bike.
- Front Wheel: The front wheel didn't come true - it's not a super big problem, but eventually it'll have to be straightened if it gets too bad.
Here comes another scattered brain dump. Beware!
16 Facts About Me
There seems to be an interesting phenomenon of these '16 Facts About Me You Didn't Know' notes on facebook. I've been tagged in a handful of them, usually people considering me to be their 'close friend' (and how I can really be close to anyone completely escapes me - but that's a different post altogether). I'd love to see a psychology journal article about these facebook phenomena (hint hint Kevin H?). It'd be interesting to see how these things come about - why people do them, why people participate. What are the psychological causes and consequences for these things? Moreover, how is it affecting my generation's socialization? How is it affecting how we interact with one another?
I ask these things because a generation earlier calling people on the phone was the norm. With the digitization of life - we saw the shift to email, instant messaging, cell phones, texting. Texting really doesn't make sense to me (I don't have a plan and will forever refuse one). It's inbetween an instant message and a phone call - and it seems like people use it because they're too fucking scared to use a goddamn phone. Is it just me, or do we all seem to be getting more and more distant from one another? These things claim to bring us together - but are they really? Or is it just giving us that illusion? I'll let you in on a little secret friends (and strangers) - these days I feel more isolated than ever. Is it because of the digital age - or am I just a fucking nancy (Thomas, don't you fucking dare respond to this).
Hence why I wonder about these 16 Facts stuff. Are we really reinforcing relationships by creating them? Or are we watering them down? Kevin, solve this fucking question (you're damn right I'm calling you out on this - I also want numbers, not anecdotal shit) and get back to me on Monday.
Books vs. Movies
I bought a book for $8.69 today. A movie costs $10.50. What the fuck. When the hell did this happen? Was this always the case? Here, I bought a book that I can read and enjoy and that will keep me pretty enthralled for a good week or two - at the same time it'll keep my imagination going. Hell, I might even learn a few SAT words in the process. Maybe even learn to write better blog posts (nope). On the other hand there's a shitty little movie that'll keep me brain dead for about 2 hours of my life. Hell, if I'm going to consume meaningless bullshit, I better get my fucking money's worth.
Charities
Along the lines of the 16 Facts stuff (notice 16 Facts sort of sounds like 16 Candles? Correlation?) here's something I've been realizing recently. If you know me, you probably know me to be a little weird about my money and time. I'll drop $20 on something if I feel like I'm going to get some good use out of it. But you ask me to spend 2 hours working at a charity and then you've got yourself an issue. Probably ending in me ranting about how all charities are a scam and how I believe people should raise themselves up from poverty.
The weirder thing is that if someone working for (or at least claiming to - fucking thieves) a charity comes up to me and asks for a donation. I'll probably give them $5 or so. Today there was this boygirl (its gender was ambiguous to me) who was going around Barnes and Noble asking for donations for some village or some shit in Africa. Something about buying food or medicine or something else that's so damn noble and just (in my defense, I didn't claim to have any real desire to help people - I just donate for purely selfish reasons).
Anyways, I wasn't really sure whether I should be donating to this kid. I mean hell, he was laying it on pretty thick. This kid was Japanese (or Korean, and I can't tell). He spoke very little English. Got down on one knee when he was talking to me. Showed me a somewhat legit looking information sheet about what his charity was doing. Was pretty good about making eye contact. I was well on my way to give him a $5. Woops, don't have $5. I'm also not about to give my a check or my credit card information. Sorry karma, next time.
Posterous and Essays
I've come to the general realization and posterous has absolutely DESTROYED my essay writing capabilities. Every essay I've attempted to write thus far ends up sounding like some terrible terrible brain dump - not too unlike this one.
Build an iPhone application - I'm thinking something on the indie side, single player, 2d scroller as the first app.
1. I'm visiting with Mrs. Robinson, one of our high school's school secretary. I notice that they have a postsecret box. I wonder what sort of inane morbid junk ends up in that box.
2. Looking back on the creek trail on my Christmas Day ride - headwind was such a pain in the ass going up.
3/4/5. Palantir cabinets :)
6. Nitish and his brother accompany me on a ride out into th hills near Niles.
7. We never actually got around to going to this pizza place - we should go during the summer to be delightfully disappointed.
8. Chef Boyardee - 10 for $10
Roadmap for 2009
1. Learn Java - Cause I wants the monies.
2. Network with Industry - Learn the topography, make allies. Kill Nazis.
3. Do Research - College isn't college if you're not some graduate student's bitch for a quarter.
4. Attempt a Business Venture - Because wage slavery is for losers and soccer moms.
5. Swear Less
6. Get a consistent 3.75 gpa - Because it makes a superiority complex oh so much sweeter.
7. Save $2000 dollars - Prostitution or drug dealing may be the only ways to achieve this
8. Lose 20 pounds, run a 7 minute mile consistently, and bike up Mission Peak - To kill the coward within.
9. Learn to cook - And hopefully avoid e-coli induced projectile diarrhea.
10. Get a girlfriend - To bless the female race.
11. Be a better friend - Cause I'm sure I've treated more than a few of you like emotional punching bags (Thank you all for still being there - I hope one day to repay you with big $$$).
i'm the dude who comments on your posts at 3:00am in the morning.
