Tag Archive for 'journal'
Storm Sunset At Misty by Pagani
Since my fourth birthday, when I found myself sitting on a curb contemplating the nature of time, I’ve realized that my brain is wired a little differently than the rest of the world. Some would just conclude that I must be crazy, but that would be an over simplistic analysis. By that standard, Einstein and da Vinci were crazy, too.
As a person born with a hyperactive analytical mind, I spend more time thinking about deep things than the average person. I probably do as much in depth analysis in a day as the average person does in a lifetime. There is no bragging here; only a realistic statement of the facts.
You might conclude that this is basically worthless. After all, I’m not rich or famous, am I? No, I’m an outsider..an outcast. For every person who believes I am a genius, another thinks I’m deranged. And if money is the standard of human worth, perhaps I have nothing to show for my brilliance.
Well that much is at least partially true. However, whether my labors will be worth something is a tale that can only be told with the passage of time. I write things, and someday what I write might mean something. I don’t only write, however, I also invent.
One of the things I invented many years ago was a referential form of comedy I called abstract expressionist humor. I gave it that name because it involved short statements that were very funny - IF you knew something. Ignorant people would simply be perplexed.
An example of abstract expressionist humor: “This just in: Thousands of atheists riot in the streets after discovering a blank sheet of paper on a cartoonist’s desk.” If you don’t know much about current events, you won’t get the reference. If you do, you’ll laugh.
Nobody understood abstract expressionist comedy when I invented it, but that was a long long time ago and today abstract expressionist humor (although seldom called by the name I gave it) is the number one most popular style of humor with generation Y folk. Some contemporary popular examples: “Tom is NOT My Friend”, “More Cowbell” and “Pedro Lacks Political Experience”. If you know stuff, they are funny; if you don’t they’re just words: Much like abstract expressionist painting.
I also invented object-oriented/ perceptual puzzle abstraction as a method for developing an abstract expressionist painting using logical methodology in order to produce a piece of abstract art that bears an actual physical relationship to subject matter as well as a specific intent. It is true, most people don’t “get it”, but I believe that someday this will be seen as a revolution in abstract art. Again, only time will tell of course.
I continue to look for new and creative things to do; I labor to expand the grand unification of practical metaphysics and traditional religion, and I philosophize on the meaning of life.
To many, these things will be seen as useless. But I believe that something better than that will come of my work - even if it is not in my lifetime. And I’m certainly in good company.
Having fallen in love with oh so unnecessary but sexy clipless pedals, I got more from Nashbar. They arrived, and you can see an example here - added to the GT Saddleback:
The GT with Nashbar Clipless Pedals
The first thing I noticed about these pedals is that I seem to be able to clip-in a lot easier. Well, easier AFTER I switched to the cleats that came with them. I don’t exactly get it: These are all supposed to be ‘SPD-compatible’ pedals - why would the cleats be different? Well, they are almost the same, actually, but slightly different.
The good news is that these cleats also seem to work okay with the other pedals. Not as good as the ones that they came with, but okay. If things are SPD type, shouldn’t they all work together?
So I took a little trip north this time.
The GT on a road trip
It seems like using clipless pedals helps reduce fatigue a bit. I don’t know. My riding speed varies so much - usually SLOW - that two rides are never the same.
More On The Road
While on the road, I saw a police officer stop and then arrest a bicyclist. I’m not sure exactly why…
Cyclist Arrested
I heard the siren hit momentarily and the guy pulled over. He’s riding a mountain bike in the city, that must be the problem. After he produced ID, the cop made him empty his pockets. I should have taken pictures but I didn’t think of it until near the end of this spectacle.
I guess there was something in there because the next thing was the cop made the guy get down on the ground, then he handcuffed him and put him in the patrol SUV. Or maybe it was the crime of failure to support oil companies. I don’t know.
He sat there a few minutes then a pickup showed up and grabbed the bike. After that, the cop left.
It was a good trip.
I’ve tried to keep things simple so when it comes to riding I have always eschewed the use of equipment that required even more equipment to use. But I finally gave in to all that nagging about getting clipless pedals.
Clipless Pedals
taken on Galloway Road using the cheesy pencam
I didn’t really believe all the hype, you know. The clipless fans tell me how wonderful it all is but I just couldn’t see it. I’m not sure why I tried it. Oh yeah… I guess it was a sale Nashbar had - it was a ridiculously good deal on a combo of shoes and SPD pedals. I figured, why not? I could always use the shoes which looked pretty cool and then the pedals were thrown in for almost nothing. At least I could say I tried them.
Some assembly is required…
First, I had to decide what bike I’d use. I decided to put the new pedals on the Norco ‘Arctic’ hybrid, also known as the Pagani ArtMachine.. It wasn’t hard. I got a pedal wrench for just that purpose. Remember, kids, the pedal on the left (opposite the chain rings) is backward-threaded: you turn clockwise to loosen, counter-clockwise to tighten!
I practiced clipping and unclipping leaning on the van. It seemed easy enough but I’d always heard that you WILL fall the first time or two.
By now it was almost dark but I had to go anyway. I couldn’t stand the suspense. Wheee! It works! What an interesting feeling.
Then I had to take a real ride but waited for daylight and lack of rain. I just took a little tour of Sandlake Road and Galloway Road just to see how it felt.
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The Norco on Top of the Hill
taken on Galloway Road using the cheesy pencam
It’s an almost.. hmm… wonderful experience (hint hint) ..you feel like you are ONE with your machine. I never forgot to unclip..so far. It helps a *little* to be able to pull up as well as push down on the pedals, but I think for me it produces a harder to describe feeling. I like it.
Clipless Pedals
More on the ride
I can’t honestly say it made climbing much easier, but there may be some adjustment required. I do stop a lot for art purposes but as long as I keep making sure to unclip I’ll be fine. The first time I fall because I forgot about the #&*&*#$ things I might change my mind.
Sand Lake, Through Trees
It’s there, honest!
It was a lovely tour, however brief.
The Lovely & Talented Sandlake Inn
I ordered more pedals for my other bikes. I don’t think I’ll go back…
