Beware of cheap bikes...

...and be aware of who is assembling them if it's not you. This link details a recall of Huffy bikes from Kmart, but it sounds to me like part of the problem may have been poor assembly as well as cheap parts.

Bikes are wonderfully simple machines, but current manufacturing methods mean that in most cases you get what you pay for (e.g., poorly made parts, iffy welds). Note that the article does not say the cranks break, and that you can call Huffy for instructions on tightening the cranks that will presumably make the bike serviceable. But I imagine that's cold comfort if you discovered the defect in your bike in the middle of a long descent!

Please patronize your local bike shops! You won't pay that much more for a quality ride, and you get people who will not only make sure your bike is assembled right but that it fits properly. Both are important for a safe cycling experience.

Breaking news! Pot calls kettle black!

Someone who works for the "C student and proud of it" president decries Barack Obama as "intellectually lazy." The chutzpah is just blinding, isn't it?

Sports overload

I'm working at home today, and usually I'd be kicking myself for missing the beautiful weather outside. Today, however, nothing much could get me away from the tv - not only are the Indians on broadcast tv today, but so are the Steelers (I guess since the Browns are on the west coast)!

So while I'm trying to get something accomplished with the website, I'm flipping back and forth between the Steelers game and the Indians - though with the possibility of a division title clinch this afternoon, the Tribe is getting most of my attention. And while I'm excited to be going to the postseason again, I also remember the down side - the late nights, the endless pacing, and the feeling that Tom Hamilton (our radio play-by-play guy) is going to hurt himself if he gets any more excited.

The Tribe is playing the Oakland A's, and while I knew their mascot was an elephant, I didn't really know why. Do you?

All the noise, noise, noise!

After making some adjustments to the settings for this thing, I wanted to do a longer post, but it's just not going to happen. I don't have central air, so I'm cloistered in the one room with an air conditioner, and between that noise, the noise from the fan to circulate the cold air, and the ballgame on the radio, I can't process one more thing. Good night!

How time does fly!

I'm still debating publicizing this blog, because I see I've only posted twice since I set it up. I respect those folks who manage their time well enough to be able to make substantive posts on a regular basis. Tomorrow at work I'm attending a productivity seminar, and I have high hopes. I've come to understand that getting organized is like quitting smoking - or maybe it isn't, I've never smoked so I'm not sure. But the point is that you don't get organized all at once, it's a process of discovering what works for you. All the high-priced software or leather-bound planners in the world won't help if you aren't in the habit of using them. I'll try to post any helpful tips I pick up - and if you have any organization tips, speak up!

Is this thing on?

Switched to a new location, just trying to see how it works. After a few more posts, it'll be time to mess with the code and see if I can't integrate it into my site better; I picked this template because it was designed by Dan Cederholm, whose web books I like a lot.

Why "Door Zone?"

Well, because as a thirty-something geezer, I've been wary of trying this blog thing, but have been circling the periphery for years. I'm a cyclist, and riding in the "door zone, " that is, close to parked cars, is one of the most dangerous things you can do on a bike. This feels like the web equivalent to me!