Shimano introduces a fully electronic shifting system. It weighs less than this year's top-end stuff and a tiny bit more than next years. And as (I think) Bob told me, that stuff's made of spun gold and unicorn tears.
The really cool thing is that it's apparently self-adjusting. Sweet. -hendred
All from boot, who adds: as I read this, all I could think of was "Is it not a problem that the woman have a smaller brain? The government scientist, Dr. Yamak, have proved it is size of squirrel."
"To the extent that the French enjoy a natural advantage, it is in their inefficiency: They are the world's most efficient producers of structured indolence. They are the kept women of the global economy; their status depends, in part, on their practical uselessness."
"The red icon on your iPhone or iPod touch always reminds you (and others when you show it to them) that you were rich enough to afford this," the app's information page says in iTunes. "It's a work of art with no hidden function at all."
I was going to type an email to everyone who would care about this, but I figured that a DTS post is easier and more effective these days...
In a month or two, Katie and I will be moving back to Pittsburgh. An opportunity popped up that we can't really ignore, so we're packing up and hitting the road. I don't know what it is about Pittsburgh, but it continues to drag me back... and I'm bringing a wife and a dog this time. In actuality, I think she's dragging me this time, but I digress.
We'll be moving sometime in the September - October timeframe... if anyone has a lead on a decent place to rent for a while in PGH (starting 10/1), let me know...
Anyway, figured I'd let you all know and give you a well-in-advance heads up that there will be additional floor space and couches to crash on during Mayes' first-of-three 10 yr. reunions at Carnival this year.
Map of medal count by country from each summer (aka "real") Olympics. Start at the beginning and move forward one at a time. Notice how the host country swells in almost every occasion (1996 Atlanta is one exception). I will make the baseless and unscientific prediction that China will win at least 75 medals this summer. Stolen from Hendrix. -decker
Does anyone have a recommendation for a gps unit? Or even specific features you think are useful? I've seen a couple garmins and tomtoms in action, and the garmins seem more 'slick', but they both seemed pretty good. Anyway, just wanted to see what the clubhouse thinks. -hendred
There are certain times in sports when I am very glad I watched it live. Last night was definitely one of those times. It was the most exciting Olympic moment I've ever seen.* And it was made so much better by the last leg of the French team saying they would "smash" the Americans beforehand. I also like that the member of the US relay team referred to them as "Frenchies" in an interview after the race. The only thing that would've made me happier is if they had played "America, Fuck Yeah" instead of the anthem during the medal ceremony.
Anyway, there promises to be more exciting moments as Michael Phelps chases Mark Spitz's gold medal record, so here's a schedule of his events. -decker
* I may have seen the Miracle on Ice, but I would've been one and a half at the time.
UPDATE: Rob's right: Video here if you are willing to install Silverlight.
Confirmation: The Dark Knight was OverratedTue Aug 12 2008
As recently as this past Saturday, The Dark Knight was still rated the #1 movie of all time on imdb. Now it is #3. Interestingly, during all of this chaos, Shawshank Redemption managed to pull a coup and take the top spot over The Godfather.
Anyway, I'm glad DK is coming back down to earth, because I finally saw it last night, and it's definitely overrated: Christian Bale's Batman voice is silly, to the point of being a distraction; Bruce Wayne at times felt like a James Bond rip off; I didn't care about the people being held hostage on the boats (or their morals); it felt long to me; and Maggie Gyllenhaal should have been replaced by a hotter actress.
Everyone who praised Heath Ledger's performance was right - it made the movie. It wasn't a bad movie, and had some very good action scenes, but I'm not sure why it hasn't received more critcism. Looking down the imdb list, I think I enjoyed it as much as several of the movies in the 120 to 140 range (although I enjoyed some even below that more than DK, like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels at #196). Good summer movie, but not a great movie. As a great man once said, "Feel free to disagree, but you'd be wrong." -decker
In its report Nov. 3, Xinhua identified He [Kexin] as one of "10 big new stars" who made a splash at China's Cities Games. It gave her age as 13 and reported that she beat Yang Yilin on the uneven bars at those games.
Too bad there's no way of proving how old someone is like carbon dating or counting rings or something. -decker
Paging Dr. Mayes... wait, I mean Mr. Mayes. Thu Aug 14 2008
Linking to Deadspin is dumb, but this article about college football's top 25 has a stupendous section on Texas:
Let’s also take a moment to talk about Austin. Yes, birthplace of independent music and independent moviemaking. Well you know what, Austin? Richard Rodriguez makes horrible, horrible movies. Oooh, this movie wasn’t directed and edited, it was “shot and chopped”! That’s so edgy and tossed-off! As for Richard Linklater, anyone who liked “Before Sunrise” is a fucking asshole. And the SXSW festival is attended only by pretentious hipster fuckwads who comment over at the Onion AV Club. These people aren't a refreshing change from Texas rednecks, so much as an even worse alternative.
Back in October, I supposed that since free international trade required peace, and international trade is beneficial to those who participate, that international trade encourages peace (apparently not an original thought, but cut me some slack...).
But the belief that economic rationality always prevents war is an equally great illusion. And today’s high degree of global economic interdependence, which can be sustained only if all major governments act sensibly, is more fragile than we imagine.
I guess he's right in that it only takes one rogue country to start a major global conflict. I have often imagined that WWIII will likely be over scarce oil supplies, which will probably not seem irrational to its participants. Also, the costs of war are often underestimated by those launching it, making the calculation seem rational to those giving the orders, even if it proves not to be ex-post. -decker
Disclaimer: I know this bitch is crazy, but...this is mildly entertaining. Edwards used his wife as a prop during his campaign while he was screwing the camera-woman. And now he's a new father - conrgrats! I can't imagine how his wife and legitimate family feels. I loved his quote during the confession: "99% of the truth is not good enough anymore" - the savior of the poor.
Now, I can kinda understand those surfers who go out into the swells prior to a hurricane making landfall... that said, i have no idea why this guy figured it would be fun to KITE BOARD when a hurricane is coming. Apparently his kite snagged a water spout and flung him into a building.
The video is less gruesome than it sounds. - jted
PS - After my move goes through, I will make an attempt to start helping out with the site again
This tower is simply amazing. At first glance I thought the main pic was a drawing because the ground looks fake, but apparently these pics were taken from a helicopter. Unreal. - jted
Electric dirtbike a reality. It weighs 140 lbs, and it's built more like a beefed-up downhill mountain bike than a stripped-down dirtbike. (A four-stroke 250 weighs around 225). Looks like a lot of (very quiet) fun. -hendred
Quick Update Check out their website for more info and pics.
College presidents want to lower the drinking age Sat Aug 23 2008
No doubt just to make their job easier. But whatever the reason, I fully support it. The drinking age of 21 is such a ridiculous double standard.
Two thoughts from this article.
1) The article doesn't give any credit towards things like improved safety in vehicles (like air bags) in its reference to the decrease in drunk drivers age 16-20
2) Apparently The Univ of Rhode Island is a horrible, horrible place to go to school OR work. I can imagine alcohol is one of the few things that would make the faculty events tolerable.
jb forgot the link, so I'll offer this one for the time being. -decked
Thousands of yinzers in mourning... Mon Aug 25 2008
Boot brings us this: The best opening paragraph from a car-review for the 2010 Camaro
Attention, IROC-Z enthusiasts: the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro will not be available with your beloved T-top. If this is hugely disappointing, well, it may finally be time to put on a shirt with a collar, sell your Skynyrd CDs, and scissor the mullet.
Jon Stewart ripped Fox News, saying the network’s “‘fair and balanced’ slogan is an insult ‘to people with brains’” and that “Barack Obama could cure cancer and they’d figure out a way to frame it as an economic disaster.”
The moron from Fox came back with some ridiculous ad-hominem garbage about the Oscars. I can only assume he's one of the writers for Disaster Movie.
All from ab: There are many reasons that I hold the media in very low regard and "headlines" are one of them. I have no doubt that the globe is warming. I have no doubt that we are trashing this planet with our materials and our general overpopulation. However, these story headlines easily could have read something like this: Ice melting trend improves. or "This year better than last" but no, every headline regarding global warming must augment the fear of global catastrophy.
The East Bremerton man was proud to remove his bandanna and display his locks during a recent visit to the Kitsap County Fair & Stampede, but he denied he had a mullet.
"I just like to keep it longer in the back and have it shorter on the top and sides."
