the new adventures of jackfirecat
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| Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 |
jinty
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3:35p |
Cargo Bike road testing
Yesterday we managed to have a test drive of some cargo bikes, meaning we can hopefully now come to a decision, finally, about what to buy for kid-transportation. We tested the following four kinds of bike: * Nihola family* Babboe Big* Christiania* BellaBike 2( PreambleCollapse ) I'd had high hopes of the Nihola, because of  cangetmad having used it for some time and spoken well of it, but in the event I really didn't feel comfortable at all on either this or the Babboe - I am just too short for either of them! Although getting on and off a too-big trike is much more stable than doing the same on a too-big bike, When pedalling I can't get all the way down to the bottom of the travel. Part of the issue was also in getting used to being on a trike at all, I think; certainly for the first two trikes I tried, I found it hard to even get the steering to work naturally for me, I wobbled, I nearly drove into things (and nearly got myself into the path of traffic on the road - yes, this was a trial-by-fire test drive on real roads!).  The BellaBike was the third one I tried and it immediately felt much more natural, much more comfortable for me. I could steer without too much difficulty right away; the handlebars were nearer to my body and when I made a tight turn even the hand that was furthest away pushing to make the turn was not uncomfortably stretched. I did have to lean into the turn quite substantially, but that felt natural too. It wasn't perfect; it's not a step-through bike like I'm used to and while you don't have to lift your leg up as high as to get onto a gent's bike, it isn't quite as easy to get onto as my current bike, though I'm sure I'd get used to it quite quickly. Something that I suspect I could get more rather than less annoyed with is the fact that I seemed to be bumping my left foot against the frame of the cargo bit each time I pedalled; Martin from the bike place said that you're supposed to pedal with the ball of your foot rather than your instep, which would resolve the issue but again isn't something I'm used to doing. (Given that it's only my left foot that this happens with I wonder whether it might be something to do with putting it together, and maybe if it was set up precisely for us from scratch maybe it wouldn't happen.) Even if it does keep happening in real life though I don't see it as a deal-breaker. Finally, and again this is something that I'm sure I'd get used to, it has a back-pedal brake, which is pretty useful in general (easy to use to slow down when going down a steep hill, for instance) - it does however mean that you can't spin the pedals backwards to get one of the pedals to the top of its travel so you can kick off, though.  I didn't even try the Christiania in the end because when I got on I could tell right away that it was going to fall in the same category of "too big, don't bother". There is supposed to be a version available that is more suitable for shorter people but this is presumably a special order, and the bike folks didn't seem to have more than general knowledge about it. Specifically, none of us could see how the makers would be able to shave more than about an inch off the frame size without some reconfiguration of the geometry of the frame, which seems a bit much to expect. After all, these bikes do come from countries where the population are on average rather taller than most of the rest of Europe! (Maybe I should be considering the peculiar Brazilian trike instead, cos at least I know that Brazil is much more a nation of shortarses, heh.) It was a shame not to have tried the Christiania because that was the e-bike that they brought, so that we could see what different the electric motor would or would not make; R did try this bike but I'm not sure that he switched the motor on, and certainly he didn't take it up a hill to give the electric assist a proper go; we got a bit short of time by the end. ( The test drive processCollapse )Anyway, so it looks like we have something that should suit us, and we're very pleased with the service provided by Kids and Family Cycles. Clearly it's crucial to be able to do test drives of this sort of expensive machine with a lot of pretty user-specific requirements; being able to do this at your own location is a massive benefit, especially if you're a cyclist without a family car. *** One last amusing bit spotted during avid research of the different kinds of cargo bike: tortipede found this cool German website which includes almost all the kinds of cargo and special purpose bikes available throughout the world. Like all human endeavours it is clearly subject to error; specifically, I can't seem to find the Gazelle Cabby there, which certainly matches its stated site definition. But where else would I expect to see rather neat little icons depicting the different bike types? or a large range of specialist coffee or ice cream trikes? Or a list of wheelchair-transporting bikes? Fantastic stuff! Current Mood: tired but cheerful |
| Monday, May 20th, 2013 |
hooloovoo_42
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11:05p |
Who do you think you are?
Off on my hols for a few days. I'm going to Jersey tomorrow to dig about in the archives and see if I can find out who my g-g-gf's parent were and where his father came from. The weather doesn't look much more exciting than it is here, so spending time indoors won't be too bad. If it brightens up at the weekend, I might see if I can hire a bike or take a bus trip around the island. NIW again until next month \0/ |
oldbloke
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9:04p |
as ever
40(30)[?v? {recording clash}] |
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pdc_tumblr
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5:13p |
Tumblr Staff: News!
http://pdc.tumblr.com/post/50913595983 Tumblr Staff: News!: staff:
Everyone, I’m elated to tell you that Tumblr will be joining Yahoo.
Before touching on how awesome this is, let me try to allay any concerns: We’re not turning purple. Our headquarters isn’t moving. Our team isn’t changing. Our roadmap isn’t changing. And our mission – to empower creators to…
I’m in two minds about this news. On the one hand, the best Yahoo has done with an acquired property is to fail to entirely destroy Flickr. On the other, Yahoo have hired people recently who get this and will be trying to avoid crushing the creative heart out of Tumblr with Yahoo’s thousands of clunking fists. It might be OK? And it’s not as if Tumblr could continue forever without any detectable income. |
crowleycrow
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12:07p |
The grim slide
In Michael Dirda's fine and heartfelt overview of the work of James Salter, in the new issue of what Rodger Cunningham dubbed the New York Review of Each Other's Books, that amid James Salter's journalism is an interview with Vladimir Nabokov for People magazine. Salter interviews Nabokov for People. This sounds like an alternative universe, but it's only the past, another country where they did things differently. |
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pdc_tumblr
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2:53p |
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undyingking
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3:28p |
Gamecamp
On Saturday I was at Gamecamp 6, which I thought a few people here might be interested in. (I seem to have degenerated to LJing solely about games just lately. Sorry about that… although in my defence, they are occupying almost all my work and leisure time at the moment.) ( tl;dr it was good funCollapse )Which is cool. |
| Sunday, May 19th, 2013 |
wongkk
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11:56p |
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crazycrone
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11:57a |
Tax Terror...
Yesterday morning presented me with one of those stomach-churning brown envelopes. (They ALWAYS come at the weekend, or right before a holiday-) I have to obtain and fill in a tax form, which for me, is quite alarming, as in my wageslave days, PAYE took care of it all. I cashed in a couple of (tiny!) pension pots last year, so I suppose that put me into the paying range. Shit... Really enjoyed last night's DOCTOR WHO. This has been a generally very lame season, even with Gaitiss and Gaiman writing episodes. Loved those spooky Slendermen/Whisperers.  Found some old stickers and stencils to play with...   Current Mood:  grumpy |
| Saturday, May 18th, 2013 |
squirmelia
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7:53p |
Quit recycling the past
I sat next to a man on the train who was reading the neon pink edition of one of my favourite books. He was only on page 8 though. |
sparkymark
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4:52p |
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| Friday, May 17th, 2013 |
rozk
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11:34p |
FOR IAIN
A poet cannot lie. Must tell the fact that people go, in pain, and cannot stay. Last month, last week, last hour of last day. He took my hand. And my voice might have cracked but his did not. A sort of madcap grace he had. We used to think it was the drink. He'd laugh, be serious, dance on the brink of parapets. No mask behind his face. He wrote, once, of a gentle alien spy observing, liking. Someday going back. That wasn't him. He has no chance to pack some souvenirs. He won't leave, he will die. Cheeks slightly gaunt, his shy sardonic smile haunts, like his rich sad sweet roccoco style. |
nineweaving
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5:58p |
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crazycrone
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3:38p |
Amazy Update, etc...
...She's 'nice and relaxed' is eating well, and has put on a bit of weight. Awwww. Watched GERVAISE, a B&W Zola adaptation with Maria Schell. Not bad, and I just love the look of those oldies. A bunch of poor squatters was turfed out yesterday evening, from the building accross the road where the Roux brothers used to have their pastries made. Years ago, it was quite consoling, on one's weary wait for the slavery-bound bus, to savour that scrummy smell wafting over. I really felt sad for the poor buggers sitting there with their dog and their mattresses. They were quiet and did no harm. I for one, didn't even know they were there. In the park, I watched about six crows on the wing, attacking what appreared to be a crane (from the Common, I guess-) It was rather scary and very loud. They were really having a go. Hope the big long-necked bird got away OK...   Current Mood: OKAY |
| Thursday, May 16th, 2013 |
emily_shore
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5:37p |
Found an interesting review of The Charioteer here, by ![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png) boxofdelights: This book is preoccupied with men's fear of being unmanly. This can make it hard for someone who thinks there's nothing unmanly about being gay and there's nothing wrong with being unmanly to read sympathetically. I do like watching people make their way through serious constraints. It is interesting to see how many things are charged with unmanliness. Ralph, Laurie, and Andrew are each working with two strikes already: Ralph and Laurie are gay and disabled, Andrew is gay and a conscientious objector. Will any of them incur the third strike of admitting their feelings or asking for help? Are they all doomed to sorry solitude? I sort of accept the truth of this summary--and am rather amused by it--while wanting to go "but-but-but!" at the same time. Among other things I do find it fairly easy to read the novel sympathetically, so perhaps that bodes ill for my views on gayness and masculinity? I don't know. This entry was originally posted at http://naraht.dreamwidth.org/530393.html. Please comment there using OpenID. |
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pdc_tumblr
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4:07p |
wilwheaton:
jenniferdeguzman:
He said Star Trek is too...
http://pdc.tumblr.com/post/50579471480         wilwheaton:
jenniferdeguzman:
He said Star Trek is too “philosophical”? Screw that noise.
mechcanuck:
I don’t know when this interview happened but I AM SAD AND ANGRY NOW
The philosophies in Star Trek are kinda part of the actual setting. If you don’t get that, why are you allowed to make Star Trek movies.
Sigh. The whole point of Star Trek is that it’s philosophical. If you don’t want philosophical Science Fiction, there’s plenty of that for you to enjoy, but Star Trek is philosophical. Philosophy is part of Star Trek’s DNA, and if you’re given the captain’s chair, you’d better damn well respect that.
Not sure which is more annoying, information presented only in video form, or videos converted in to a bunch of animated gifs with subtitles, but nevertheless here is the excuse we need to disdain Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into (or into) Darkness, should such an excuse be required which obviously it isn’t so nevermind. |
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pdc_tumblr
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3:33p |
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jackfirecat
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3:26p |
Cat kiss!
In the morning, after being fed, - sought me out in bed, he did! |
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pdc_tumblr
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12:14p |
Brand New: Kering Goes Owl Out with New Branding:
...
http://pdc.tumblr.com/post/50570208805  Brand New: Kering Goes Owl Out with New Branding:
Established in 1963 as Pinault — later Pinault-Printemps, later Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, most recently PPR, and completely renamed as Kering this past March — is one of the most comprehensive parent company of luxury brands, including Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Brioni, Christopher Kane, and Stella McCartney among others as well as sports brand Puma. Family-owned since its inception, Kering is present in more than 120 countries, it employs 33,000 people and generates 9.7 billion euros in revenue. The new name was created internally with help from Havas Lifestyle, who are also credited with designing the logo and identity while Dragon Rouge is credited with brand strategy and the signature.
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jinty
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12:00a |
Teal shoes
Today I bought a pair of teal shoes on the way to work. It wasn't entirely an impulse purchase; I'd seen them over the past few weeks in the window of Duckers (traditional shoe shop, mostly but not exclusively posh men's shoes and boots). Reduced to £99, still spendy but for a pair of shoes that will be resoled again and again, and last a long time, it's worth it to me. Especially in a bright bold colour, not one I already have, and in a comfortable style. I wore them to work despite having put on a pair of rust-red cords this morning; after all if my dustier-blue jacket goes ok with said trousers, why shouldn't the shoes be worn with them too? It made me nostalgic for the Doc Martens boots I used to have in the early nineties: exactly the colour of Irn-Bru, they were the sort of thing that you had to dare to wear with everything or else with nothing. Here they are! 
Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone. |
| Wednesday, May 15th, 2013 |
oldbloke
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10:34p |
[FX: Slaps head /again/]
Served dinner at 18:20 At 21:40 L noticed I left a gas ring on on the hob With a pan on it Which has miraculously survived |
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pdc_tumblr
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6:20p |
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hooloovoo_42
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8:29p |
Fruit
In the slow cooker tonight, a pound of rhubarb, an orange, the juice of a lemon, a spoonful of sugar, a chunk of fresh ginger and assorted spices. All this youghurt I'm making is having a terrible effect on my fruit eating tendencies - ie, I'm eating loads of it. |
crazycrone
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7:15p |
Goin' to Ghent...
I've booked us for the last week in August. Can't afford it, of course, BUT we do get a 'free third night' in a posh, very central hotel,a 72-hour travel pass, and entry to the museums for a very good price. Just had to... Moto, and others who've been there, any suggestions for interesting places for two gimpy old trouts with sticks to explore? I've just been to the exhibit of Japanese Outsider Art at the Wellcome Collection, and greatly enjoyed it. They seem to get it right every time; I've never seen a dull show there, and it's free. crunchcandy and other crafty types should like the fabric work in this exhibit, too. It's open until 30 June, so plenty of time, still. http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions/souzou.aspx?gclid=CJuLmcSwmLcCFXHLtAodPHoATwI got one of those DVDs I didn't order from LoveFilm, ALEX CROSS a pretty ordinary Cop V Psychokiller thing, worth sticking with (just) for the Detroit location stuff. Meh. Also watched JACK REACHER, which was a bit more interesting, but not a lot. Must say Tom Cruise's torso is extremely well maintained. The best bit was a lizard-eyed cameo from Werner Herzog as a Very Bad Man. Here's some more doodlediary scritches, all out of order, but at least they've re-appeared...     Current Mood:  cold |
oldbloke
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7:03p |
Yes and no
Well it works very nicely over HDMI to the main house telly, not a soss via composite to the ickle telly. Have seen something suggesting composite is suppressed if HDMI is detected, but just whipping the HDMI plug out doesn't get it to switch if that was the prob. The config.txt has an "uncomment this for composite" but it wouldn't let me edit it - I assumed the SD card had the write protect on but maybe I just need to sudo. Or it might be something else! |
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