Threaded's Eclectic Blog

Getting ready for the next step in my bicycle build and what do I spy?


What? Nearly out of beer!


Oh dear, better send out for some more.

Labels: building a bicycle, cycling, fun, joke

Rather busy day today, so I shall only post a picture of the beer being drunk to help lubricate the assembly of this bicycle.



Looks like it is disappearing fast, so more is sent for.

Labels: building a bicycle, cycling, fun, joke

Forgot to charge my GPS unit, so you'll have to make do with this GPSies track.

Did two laps, but there were some loonies, some on horses, out to cause grief by wandering back and forth on the circuit, so I packed in early. Dunno what that was about. Maybe they didn't like that there was a mountain bike race?

Pictures from Pixelution and Jens Thomasberg

Picture of me in full flow. As can be seen I got a leaf caught in the lens of my video camera, early on it so happens, so no video.

Results

Labels: cycle race, cycling, Denmark, Dustcup, fun

GPS track on motionbased

Labels: cycle race, cycling, Denmark, Dustcup, fun

12 hour mountain bike race in the woods up near Hareskovby.

There was a false start or something, so my first lap didn't register. Bugger.

But 6 laps did register, which is nice. Results

My GPS data log up on motionbased.

I dread to think how many laps the winner eventually did.

Pictures up on Hustlers website

Pictures from Jesper Regin

Pictures from Jens Thomasberg

Picture of my suspension modifications.

Me, happily covered in mud.

Labels: cycle race, cycling, Denmark, fun

Dustcup 2008 blog.

blog page for this race

Organised by the Dansk Mountainbike Klub

The GPS location of the carpark. Was really good way to find it.

GPSies route

My GPS track up on Motionbased

Photos by Lars Noppenau

Photos by Pixelution

Photos by Jonas Lüttichau

Photos by Michael Schrage

Labels: cycle race, cycling, Denmark, Dustcup, fun

An old man was sitting on a bench at the mall.

A young man walked up to the bench and sat down. He had spiked hair that was all different colors: green, red, orange, blue and yellow.

The old man just stared.

The young man said. "What's the matter, old timer? Never done anything wild in your life?"

The old man replied, "Got drunk once and had sex with a parrot. I was just wondering if you were my son."

Labels: fun, joke, thought for today

Favourite quote:

"As an artist one must realise that a good kicking is probably the best complement you'll ever receive."

Labels: bizarre, fun, joke, Pavlovs dog, thought for today

Plans for this Påske Ferie weekend.

1) I've a load of video editing to catch up on.

2) Seeing as I've just this morning ripped the rear mech off my oldest MTB racer, (I've been using it for winter duties,) that one is getting stripped and up onto eBay with whatever doesn't sell going to the rubbish dump. (Anyone want a titanium quick release? Slightly bent. Recon it'll go for a £5)

3) Being down a bike, I've a good excuse, and the time, to spec up this years tasty racer. Think I'll replace it with a hard tail and concentrate on MTB marathons this year, maybe use them Look VTT Fournales forks I keep meaning to put on something, and them Magura brakes I've got unopened in a box somewhere.

Hmm, looks like I've started the weekend already and in the wrong order there.

Labels: cycling, fun, holidays, recycling

On my regular cycle commute there're a few nutters who just have to be in front. Not that they're fast, they're just a bit up themselves about having to be in front. For example, say I get caught by the lights, they have to push in front and then make it difficult to overtake, so everyone gets caught by the next set of lights, etc. etc..

I am so enured of this that I now recognise this set of people from their bicycles. I notice and slow down. They're not going so far and it is only an extra minute or so being forced to cycle slower, and then they're gone, so I can get back up to speed.

Anyways this morning, one of the usual suspects pushes his way through to the front of the queue at the lights. As he passes me I shout that he really ought to slow down and hold back as it is really icy. I do this knowing he won't be able to take his left turn about 200m further on. He's just not that good a cyclist. I can predict he will fall off, maybe cause a pile up, and anyways everyone will have to stop to help him.

Eh, left turn? Yes, he pushes to the front apparently just to cause everyone to slow for him so he can make his turn a little further on. What a prat! Why not wait behind: won't cost him anything and will save the irritation he causes to other cyclists in making them brake hard.

Anyways, your hero has his helmet camera on and running! So a little devil grabs me: Film it! Film it!

So I sits right behind him, ready for him to fall, ready to take evasive action, maybe take a roll over the top. The prospect of the coming excitement makes my mouth go dry.

We approach where he makes his turn, he's going too fast, he grabs fist fulls of brake and whap, over he goes, I've already worked out where he's going to fall, and which way he'll slide, so not much evasive action to go round as I've already chosen my line. I slow to a trackstand and look back to check he's ok. Yeah, he's ok, he's f-ing and blinding that it was my fault!

No good deed goes unpunished: I tried to warn the sucker and what do you get? You just can't help some people!

Hopefully the video has captured it all, and if so, a link will be posted later.

Labels: bizarre, cycling, Denmark, fun

One day, Plato asked his teacher, "What is love? How can I find it?"
His teacher answered, "There is a vast wheat field in front. Walk forward without turning back, and pick only one stalk. If you find the most magnificent stalk, then you have found love."
Plato walked forward, and before long, he returned with empty hands, having picked nothing. His teacher asked, "Why did you not pick any stalk?" Plato answered, "Because I could only pick once, and yet I could not turn back. I did find the most magnificent stalk, but did not know if there were any better ones ahead, so I did not pick it. As I walked further, the stalks that I saw were not as good as the earlier one, so I did not pick any in the end.
His teacher then said, "And that is love."
On another day, Plato asked his teacher, "What is marriage? How can find it?"His teacher answered, "There is a thriving forest in front. Walk forward without turning back, and chop down only one tree. If you find the tallest tree, then you have found marriage." Plato walked forward, and before long, he returned with a tree. The tree was not thriving, and it was not tall either. It was an ordinary tree. His teacher asked, "Why did you chop down such an ordinary tree?"
Plato answered, "Because of my previous experience. I walked halfway through the forest, but returned with empty hands. This time, I saw this tree, and I felt that it was not bad, so I chopped it down and brought it back. I did not want to miss the opportunity."
His teacher then said, "And that is marriage."

Labels: fun, Pavlovs dog, thought for today

Nice, but flat course. Not so muddy. Again lots of entrants so getting through the traffic on the single-track was difficult.

One guy I overtook at least three times, but he kept re-appearing in front of me. I'd noticed this on previous races, but thought I must have missed him getting back in front. This time I definitely saw him and his mate completely cut out one section of the course as I nearly crashed into them as they came up the road across the bordering tape. Why bother racing if you're going to cheat. Sad isn't it?

My GPS track. Notice that my cadence just stops? I must have bashed the sensor when I came off, and I've just seen that it is bent over touching the rear rim, so nowhere near the pedal where the triggering magnet is placed.

My helmet-camera also failed, I think because of the tumble, it must have jolted the SD card loose. When I finished the race it was displaying "Err". Wish it'd captured it, it would have been funny to see and alleviated the pain of having developed some lovely bruising on my chin, right clavicle, left hand, hip, and shoulder. Anyways I have lots of other video snippets from a hi-definition hand-held camera following other riders on the course, which I shall put up presently, when I've edited them to display on the more usual players out there.

Came in just behind the winner ( although mumble mumble he'd just mumble mumble lapped me for the mumble mumble second time ) and collided with a photographer who jumped right out in front of me to take pictures of him. Well, it is one way to stop, and my brake pads were finished anyways. Luckily no one else was following otherwise it might have been a pile up.

Nice cake afterwards.

Labels: cycle race, cycling, Denmark, fun, SlushCup

Very muddy course in todays race. Completely gummed up the wheels so ended up walking most of the course.

It was way out in the countryside at Avnstrup which is south of Roskilde. My GPS track is fine. Managed one lap, could have done two but I was only 5 minutes inside the hour, so it'd be another hour before I got back in and as it was my rear suspension failed again, but just before I finished the lap. Really annoying. Suppose I shall try and find something more agricultural...

Labels: cycle race, cycling, Denmark, fun, SlushCup

Urban, hence very slippery man-made surface course. Mix of various grades of tarmac, concrete and flag stones with packing crates to climb over to make it interesting. Inside and outside, wet areas, mostly dry, some snow, some ice, some with oil... The course wound its way through several buildings, down sets of stairs, down and up an underground car park and a set of switchbacks in a hall. Quite a good few fell off and many spectacular crashes, mostly due to a fronter with poor technique in hitting obstacles at an oblique angle or chickening out after committing and then the followers piling in up on top of them.

Some poor choices of tire were also apparent, and many overinflated. One guy went so far with the pressure he blew the rim off the front wheel. Quite a bang that one, I can tell you!

My video crew were busy filming as much as they could, but there was so much going on they could capture everything. The camera I was carrying failed due to the vibration (I think), so no in flight action, which is quite annoying. Reckon I shall move the camera from the handlebar to the side of my helmet.

The drops were too much for my rear suspension and it ended up bottomed out several times. Think I shall put a rubber bung to limit the travel.

Did five laps, if there wasn't quite so much traffic, reckoned I could have done seven.

My GPS track, due to the buildings it's not so brilliant with the capture.

Hit several television news spots, I know of four but have only found two so far.
Blink and you miss me here: TV2 @ 18:00 6/1/2008
I have a lovely sequence at the end of this one, showing how it should be done: TV2 Sport @ 22:45 6/1/2008

A sarcastic video on YouTube.

Labels: cycle race, cycling, Denmark, fun, SlushCup

Labels: fun, joke, thought for today

Labels: fun, joke, thought for today, zen buddhism

An Ermine, in its winter colours, was discovered in one of the traps this morning. Looks like it had happily been eating a mouse that had also been caught in the trap and then discovered it was itself now caught. Took it to the woods and let it go. Don't know if it really was wild, feral, or a recent escapee from a fur farm, but it appeared in rude health. It had a little look around and then scampered away into the brush.

The Ermine is also known as the Stoat, and as the Short-Tailed Weasel. Its Latin name is Mustela erminea. They have to eat half their weight in mice everyday or they starve to death. That's an awful lot of mice. I'm glad it's about, as now the weather is turning colder, all the rodents are searching for somewhere warm to hold up for the winter, and make a bee-line for the few houses there are out here in the countryside.

Labels: bizarre, fun, wildlife

Bono, lead singer of the rock band U2, is famous throughout the entertainment industry for being more than just a little self-righteous.

At a recent U2 concert in Glasgow, Scotland, he asked the audience for total quiet.

Then, in the silence, he started to slowly clap his hands, once every few seconds. Holding the audience in total silence, he said into the microphone, 'Every time I clap my hands, a child in Africa dies.'

From the front of the crowd a voice with a broad Scottish accent pierced the quiet ...

'Well, f -- ckin stop doin it then, ya evil bastard!'

Labels: bizarre, fun, joke, Pavlovs dog, recycling, thought for today

I'm getting one of the Gibson Robot Guitars for Xmas. Limited Edition First Run. Just been and collected it from Aage Jensen.

Ner. ner.

Labels: fun, guitar

Labels: fun, joke, thought for today

I've just hit on another proof that we live in a simulation: when you make something idiot proof, the idiots just get upgraded.

Labels: fun, joke, thought for today

Relatively flat course, apart from two hills. Very sticky mud nearly everywhere. Where there wasn't mud, the already attached mud picked other bits of the road surface up and attached it to my bike. The bike ended up very heavy.

First attempt at filming the race. So of course managed to get camera people organised, but forgot to check my own batteries! So no in flight shots. Learning experience though...

As the race was close to home thought I'd cycle there as a warm up exercise, but got lost, (typical,) and spent an hour getting to the start. Luckily several others were heading there, recognised me, (looking lost by the side of the road,) and pointed the right general direction, which was real nice of them.

The warm up served its purpose: boy have I shot up the rankings. Shall do that again, (go for a ride to warm up,) before the next race, to see if it was a one off or does actually help.

The Results from Events4U

The GPS track from gpsies, and my GPS track from MotionBased.

Some video, not mine I might add, but Thomas Stahl Nielsen, I haven't sorted mine out yet.

And Tomas' photographs.

Jens Thomasbergs photographs.

Bermannfotos.

Labels: cycle race, cycling, Denmark, fun, SlushCup

They advertise these washing-up powders by saying they can remove bloodstains from your brightest coloured clothes. I reckon if you've bloodstains all over your clothes the laundry isn't your biggest problem.

Labels: bizarre, fun, joke, Pavlovs dog, zen buddhism

My GPS track using the MotionBased Activity Player. OK not all that fast, but I enjoyed myself.

Stunningly bizarre array of prizes were handed out. Lots of Barbie Calendars, My Little Pony collector set, a hairstyle and makeup head (the bemused face of the chap who won that was a picture, wish I'd had a camera), and then lots of assorted ladies jewelery: necklaces, ear-rings, etc. etc.

I won a necklace with beautiful little jeweled heart pendant, from the prize draw, not 'cause I came anywhere other than near the back. This sponsor was Melcher of Copenhagen. It's a really pretty necklace. Maybe I should wear it to work tomorrow.

Labels: cycle race, cycling, Denmark, fun, SlushCup

man chattr > 1; man chmod > 2; diff -u 1 2 | less

Labels: fun, joke, programming

Instead of a man dressed in a gorilla suit, the 16-year-old boy got a stripper dressed as a policewoman.

Oops.

Apparently it was a 'booking error'.

What I want to know is: where's the video on YouTube?

Labels: bizarre, fun, joke, news comment

By John Coleman founder of the Weather Channel.

It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming; It is a SCAM. Some dastardly scientists with environmental and political motives manipulated long term scientific data to create an allusion of rapid global warming. Other scientists of the same environmental whacko type jumped into the circle to support and broaden the “research” to further enhance the totally slanted, bogus global warming claims. Their friends in government steered huge research grants their way to keep the movement going. Soon they claimed to be a consensus.

Environmental extremists, notable politicians among them, then teamed up with movie, media and other liberal, environmentalist journalists to create this wild “scientific” scenario of the civilization threatening environmental consequences from Global Warming unless we adhere to their radical agenda. Now their ridiculous manipulated science has been accepted as fact and become a cornerstone issue for CNN, CBS, NBC, the Democratic Political Party, the Governor of California, school teachers and, in many cases, well informed but very gullible environmentally conscientious citizens. Only one reporter at ABC has been allowed to counter the Global Warming frenzy with one 15 minute documentary segment.

I do not oppose environmentalism. I do not oppose the political positions of either party. However, Global Warming, i.e. Climate Change, is not about environmentalism or politics. It is not a religion. It is not something you “believe in.” It is science; the science of meteorology. This is my field of life-long expertise. And I am telling you Global Warming is a non-event, a manufactured crisis and a total scam. I say this knowing you probably won’t believe a me, a mere TV weatherman, challenging a Nobel Prize, Academy Award and Emmy Award winning former Vice President of United States. So be it.

I have read dozens of scientific papers. I have talked with numerous scientists. I have studied. I have thought about it. I know I am correct. There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril. I am incensed by the incredible media glamour, the politically correct silliness and rude dismissal of counter arguments by the high priest of Global Warming.

In time, a decade or two, the outrageous scam will be obvious. As the temperature rises, polar ice cap melting, coastal flooding and super storm pattern all fail to occur as predicted everyone will come to realize we have been duped. The sky is not falling. And, natural cycles and drifts in climate are as much if not more responsible for any climate changes underway. I strongly believe that the next twenty years are equally as likely to see a cooling trend as they are to see a warming trend.

See John Coleman's full blog story here.

Labels: fun, global warming, politics

It seems lots of new and old orchids are making their presence known. Mine are throwing up new flowers, and some haven't stopped flowering at all this year and are starting to throw new spikes up. Result!

Young's Helleborine, or Epipactis Youngiana has been discovered on an old coal tip.

Encyclia kingsii found on Grand Cayman, when it is only supposed to live on Little Cayman.

Sikhim, a landlocked state in the north east of India, has many beautiful orchids. Sikkim state government has recently been in talks with the Orchid Growers’ Society of Thailand towards a memorandum of understanding to help develop its floriculture industry. If it increases the biodiversity of the supermarket orchids it must be a good thing, as everyone appears to think Phalænopsis is the only orchid...

Aerides crispum, Satyrium nepalense, Oberonia brunoniana blooms are having a very good year in Avalanchee Reserve Forest in the Nilgris, Tamil Nadu.

Labels: fun, news comment, orchids

Labels: bizarre, fun, zen buddhism

A manager at the clients asked me: "How do I manage agile software development?"

I immediately thought what a silly question, but on thinking about it, it struck me that I haven't read anywhere in the voluminous verbiage written about Agile Software Development the simple basic inner concept of it all: managers are out of the loop.

That's what it's all about, no managers.

Why has no one said it this way? They all talk about empowering the team, give the developers the tools they want, everything but the central point: remove the managers to prevent them messing up the stuff they don't understand.

The managers are still there, they just do a different job to those in the heavyweight methodologies, viz:

* increase return on investment by -- making continuous flow of value our focus.
* deliver reliable results by -- engaging customers in frequent interactions and shared ownership.
* expect uncertainty and manage for it through -- iterations, anticipation and adaptation.
* unleash creativity and innovation by -- recognizing that individuals are the ultimate source of value, and creating an environment where they can make a difference.
* boost performance through -- group accountability for results and shared responsibility for team effectiveness.
* improve effectiveness and reliability through -- situationally specific strategies, processes and practices.

So I shuffled that steaming pile of on an email. That'll keep them busy and out of my hair for this iteration at least.

Labels: fun, joke, politics, work

Only when the last tree
Has been cut down
And the last river
Has dried to a trickle
Will man finally realise
That we cannot eat money
And reciting old proverbs
Makes you sound like a twat

Labels: bizarre, buddhism, fun, joke, politics, zen buddhism

A friend has just got one of these Pink Helicopter toys for their birthday. Oh my, such a laugh.

Labels: bizarre, fun