Thursday Observations

Rode the bike in today. Still adjusting. Nearly got rolled over at 7th and Clark by someone who just had to turn right- into my left quarter. Problem with the new bike is that it's adjusted too high for me to simply put my feet flat down during a panic stop. Just avoided a fall. Morning traffic volume virtually guarantees encounters like that, so walking the bike at major intersections may become SOP. Getting old sucks.

The main problem with biking is the delays at high-volume intersections. I'm making better and better time enroute, but I have to face the intersections of death. Most combat missions scare me less than having to face Manchester Road, Brentwood Boulevard, and Hanley Road. The geography forces me to take them, instead of safer side streets (crossing Deer Creek, for example). Hanley and Manchester is truly bad, bad, bad. Marshall Avenue is out, as the drivers there show no mercy for bikes on the narrow road- and you have to get past Laclede Station Road (Hanley) and Marshall, probably a higher risk than Manchester. Plus, it adds commute time. Newport Avenue is just as bad for width, plus it's another half-mile south.

Walking to the bus means an 0630 launch, rather than 0700. Driving, I can launch at 0735, and make it. Welcome to a Fourth Turning. The walk is pretty risk-free. No bike to worry about, and one can nap on the way.

Met a fellow worker who also bikes in. He didn't get the saddlebags and rear rack, so when he attempted riding home from the store with a bag held from each hand over the handlebars, he took a major spill. Glad I coughed up the extra for the saddlebags.

One of my co-workers spent an hour on I-55 in traffic, burning fuel. He drives in from Imperial to downtown.

The Georgia/Russia business smells like 1914. Not good.

Made a mistake today. I posted two threads on a board. Never argue with fools. There are good people to talk to on that board, but the idiots make a meaningful conversation impossible. This is why the number of churches in town have to equal the number of bars in that town: The social groups just don't mesh all that well, resulting in schisms. Rule of 150, again.

Blogging is much simpler than trying to start a church or bar. :) And, I've discovered that the idiots read my blog, despite how much they ridicule me.

Major self-esteem moment: They need me more than I need them. Found that one of my former opponents let his blog just die, even when linked to Instapundit- looks like being tragically hip just isn't sustainable, long term. He tried creating his own domain- now, it's a placeholder. Light comedy works lots better. One way or another, I'm able to keep people amused. :)

Which brings me to another marker: I'm running Traveller, again. Good first session. Worked out one kink with a player, fixing a character mismatch (I designed too many PC's, and the one he got wasn't a good match. It's fixed), and it's off and running. Got to eat lots of pizza, too.