Posts

  • Words

    While viewing a video of a conference on visualization of information called Many Eyes and the work that IBM Research is doing at the Center for Social Software, I was re-acquainted with Wordle, a creation of a fellow IBMer.

    This word cloud in my blog fed into Wordle. Do I really use the work “back” that much? Apparently so.


    Wordle – Beautiful Word Clouds

    Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends.

  • One is the loneliness number


    Still there!
    Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

    On Friday as I was walking back to the office to change for the ride home a co-worker informs me that the bike cage has been broken into and his bike has been stolen! A few more steps and I see that my bike is still there, the only bike way in the back of the cage, right where I left it and still locked.

    Some people have no respect for property and are obviously quite brazen. The robbery was in the middle of the afternoon, in a busy area, under a security camera, and locked in a full cage. Today I lear that the stolen bike was not locked to the rack inside the cage. The guy thought that being in a locked cage would be enough. The rest of us are just a little more paranoid an apparently justifiably so. We lock up inside the cage as well.

  • The need for speed

    And he’s a Canadian as well!

    World’s Fastest Cyclist Hits 82.3 MPH | Autopia from Wired.com

    Sam Whittingham is the fastest cyclist on the planet, having pedaled his sleek recumbent bicycle to a stunning 82.3 mph to claim the world record for a human-powered vehicle.

    The bike-builder from British Columbia bested his previous record of 81.02 mph during a picture-perfect run through the desert during the World Human Powered Speed Challenge outside Battle Mountain, Nevada.

  • The Ride Report

    My Stats

    Distance 97.05 km
    Average speed 32.06 km/hr
    Max Speed 57.0 km/hr
    Ride Time 3:00:27

    Today’s ride was my best of the season so far! It was a cool start at 6°C but warmed up to 16°C over the course of the ride. I did well in the sprint into Selkirk and over the “Big Bridge”. After re-grouping I rode with 7 other guys in the “fast” group and we worked well together keeping a pace in the 40-45km/h range until we caught up to the main group. It was a slow pace over to Hwy 206 where I found myself at the front and then suddenly alone as the group had dropped back. On 206 I’m usually starting to fade and typically get dropped going up the two small hills.

    But today, today was different. I still felt strong and again found myself at the front as we approached the hills. I kept a steady 35 up both hills and was just waiting for somebody to try and pass as I was ready to really jump on the petals and give them a run for it but nobody came! At the top, I dropped right & back to let somebody else take the lead and then there was a sprint for the Park gate on the flat. I was trapped in the shoulder side with everyone coming by on my left. Once I got a break it was time to hammer down and I caught all but a coupe of guys before the gate.

    After a half lap of the park it was the long downhill to Hwy 59. We’re in the line and my buddy says “let’s go” so we both pull out and are flying down to the overpass. I suspect this is where I hit the 57km/h. The two others eased off, but I kept up a solid 40 up to the top of the overpass before taking a breather. Even going up 59 where I’m usually shot, I was still feeling good and riding well. As we turn back onto Henderson Hwy, one of the guys says “I’m just going to spin back”, I said “Did he say spin back or sprint back” and my riding buddy and I leave the group behind as we sprint back to the parking lot.

    A great day and a good ride.

  • Pirates Unite!

    Ayyyy,matey! is that a pirate on your shoulder, or are you just glad to see me? It seems every cause and group can have it’s day.

    The Official site for International Talk Like A Pirate Day – September 19

    September 19th (every year)
    is International Talk Like A Pirate Day
    [All Hope Abandon, Ye Who Enter Here]

  • Treasure

    I just couldn’t let this message evaporate off the BB. Thanks for sending it. I treasure it.



    05/29/2008 6pm

  • One more Time

    Lance is not the only one making a comeback one more time. So is Tina Turner at age 68! Rock on!

    International Tina Turner Fan Club – Contact Us

    It has been confirmed that Tina Turner at the age of 68 years old is going back on tour in October 2008. The opening night will be in Kansas City in America. We will be adding 6 – 8 more shows which will go on sale in September. The European leg of the tour has been confirmed and it’s without a doubt that Tina will also be visiting Europe.

  • Is it true or just a rumour?

    Lance Armstrong reportedly to seek to race in 2009 Tour de France – Los Angeles Times

    Lance Armstrong will end his retirement and hopes to compete in the 2009 Tour de France, according to a cycling journal report, but Astana cycling team officials denied the comeback would be associated with them.

    “He is no part of our team,” Astana team press officer Philippe Maertens told the Associated Press in an e-mail. “Team Astana has no plans with him.”

  • Collapse of the BowFlex SelectTech Stand

    This morning I was working out using the BowFlex SelectTech weights, which by the way I’m quite happy with, when the stand collapsed. Well, perhaps collapsed is not quite the right word but as I was gently placing one of the weights back in the stand, both bolts that hold the trays to the top of the stand sheered off!

    Bolt Sheer
    Bolt Sheer
    Originally uploaded by Big Dadoo

    In looking more closely at the design you’d think they would have spec’d stronger bolts. After all each weight is 52 lbs, plus the two trays, plus the forces exerted every time you replace the weights. I’m sure that some people probably drop them in harder that I do. That’s a lot of force for some low quality bolts. For sure I’ll replace the bolts with something of a more substantial quality and strength.

  • Geeky Goodness

    Ubiquity, was a hot recommendation from and internal IBM blogger that I followed up on. It certainly looks like it has great potential, so I’ll be trying it out and tracking it’s progress. Have a look.

    Ubiquity for Firefox from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.