Shameless Self-Promotion

For those who just can't get enough of my writing (or can't get your doctor to refill that Ambien prescription), I've just launched an online portfolio of my non-bikey (and "serious" -- whatever that means) writing at http://sites.google.com/site/jasonnunemaker.

As websites go, it's not terribly exciting -- just a simple all-text thing I popped up using Google Sites to see if I could. Hopefully, the content makes up for my lack of skill on the interwebs.

At this point, everything on the site comes out of my MFA thesis from THE Ohio State University (they get really haughty about that THE), circa 1998, which probably hasn't budged from its dusty, obscure corner of the THE Ohio State University library since it was shelved a decade ago.
Parallels to the Simpsons episode Krusty Gets Kancelled (where Krusty can't get paid for dropping his pants and singing because, and I quote, "How can I sell it when that guy's givin' it away for free?") have been duly noted. Just watch for my upcoming tour with the Crazy Old Man Singers.

I Can Be Bought

Just wanted to give a quick shout-out (do the kids even say "shout-out" any more? good grief, Gramps, get a clue) to framebuilder/painter/restorer Keith Anderson of the coincidentally-named Keith Anderson Cycles in Grants Pass, OR.

Full disclosure: Keith just traded me a couple of his t-shirts and pairs of his wooly bike socks for some old decal sets I'd hoarded from a previous bike shop gig. Frankly, I feel like he got hosed on the deal, but I suppose 10-year old Cannondale stickers may have a rarity factor those of us outside the world of bike restoration might not appreciate.

Lest you think this is strictly a Bicycling review ("We looked at a blurry Polaroid of the '09 Madone advertised on the back cover of our magazine and found it to be the greatest bicycle ever conceived, at least until Specialized buys that extremely expensive ad space."), I've seen Keith's work in person -- he did a stunning repaint and a custom stem for a friend -- and it's jaw-droppingly good. If you're a lug-licking, clearcoat-stroking freak for beautifully crafted and painted bikes, wrap your keyboard in plastic to contain the drool and head over to his site. You won't be disappointed.

The Cycle Goes Mobile

I won't guarantee that it will also be agile, though I'm sure it will occasionally be hostile...

I have done my part to recharge the flagging economy by dropping a couple Benjamins into an Asus eeePC netbook. In fact, yesterday's post was launched into the interwebs from the comfort of my couch via that very machine, and looking at it now from my normal desktop, I'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference. When I read The Cycle from it (because hey, somebody has to read this stuff), it doesn't render in the same font, but I do too much cross-browser compatibility nonsense at work to worry too much about it when I'm slapping up pages for fun in my jammies.

As tech-dude-pal Steve F. warned, the keyboard is disturbingly small under my pudgy fingers, but I've been able to adjust to it after a couple days. I tried the Acer Aspire One that Steve recommended, and it did feel much more "normal" to the touch, but with the local Worst Buy practically giving the eeePCs away, my inner cheapskate beat out my inner user interface nerd.

I'd like to say that this purchase will actually get me out there into the real world, blogging from "the street" (or at least from a place near "the street" with wi-fi), but I suspect it will probably just a) encourage my already raging 'net addiction, and b) keep the interspousal Web-time/computer use squabbles to a minimum here on the home front.

Proving that I am in fact an antique in computer-use terms (my first machine was a Commodore VIC 20... kids, ask your grandparents), this is my very first hands-on experience with wi-fi, and I'm a bit drunk on the power. I have this uncontrollable urge to go hang out anywhere I can get a signal, even though I have no reason to leave the house. Sad.

Unreal

I know, I know, I promised not to complain about the weather, but c'mon!

The high temperature in Des Moines yesterday was -4F. Let me say that again: The HIGH temperature was NEGATIVE FOUR DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

Our freezer at work has a digital thermometer on it... and it was warmer INSIDE the freezer yesterday than it was outside. That is just not right.

I didn't ride yesterday (duh), but I'm about to try it this morning. Wish me luck!