nomadic

Last night after riding home I flopped down on the living room couch. I was home earlier than usual and, with the days being longer, became preoccupied with the clouds rolling north over the ocean. I am reading a biography of Ed Ricketts and his ideas about animals and ecosystems being interrelated, his relationships with Joseph Campbell, John Steinbeck, et al.

So, then it seemed to make sense to have a short glass of bourbon. I lay there watching clouds move from my left to right, warmed by the liquor, squinting to make the clouds look like mountains jutting out of a glacier field - watching it all going back and forth; coastal clouds/elevation glacier … very cool, and then I went back to my reading.

Here is the “mule” and my bike trailer. I have been pulling a bodyboard and, with it being light later, can hit the surf on my way home. Next project is to figure out how to get my surfboard lashed on to this thing. That will complete my geek, dork, bike transformation.

I ride by this house every day and am remiss in not posting about it. In front of this guy’s house are a collection of classic two-tone Edsels, various Cadillacs and a beautiful BMW Bavaria. Not pictured is a yellow Packard Clipper circa 1954 (my guess) and others. I am sure he drives his neighbors crazy, but I would love to be one. On top of it all on the second floor front balcony of his house is a huge Buddha statue, looking out over it all.

When I see something new that I have not before experienced on my bike, I try to mention it here. Last night, on the way home, I had a new unique experience (no Jon, not that. But I still hold out hope).

On the Sorrento bike path I always see rabbits, sometimes snakes, occasional owls … but last night a tarantula running across the road. It saw me before I saw it and what impressed me was how fast is was. The thing really motored off the path (which is an old road) fast.

So today I got somewhat ambitious and left the office at 5PM (early for me) to see if it is practical to pull a bike trailer with a body board on it and then to get out in the surf. Turns out it works pretty well, although not much surf this evening. Nonetheless a great way to enhance my commute.

Next up, figuring out how to strap on my surfboard ….

Microsoft formally unveiled Bing, its new search service, and gave a demonstration at The Wall Street Journal’s D: All Things Digital tech conference.

“We needed a name that says this is all about search,” CEO Steve Ballmer said.

Will someone tell me WTF “Bing” has to do with search?????

A later post:

OK, while I still don’t get how Bing = Search from a naming perspective, I have been playing around with it and it isn’t bad at all. Simple, good results and pleasing to the eye.

I spoke to soon. Sorry to the huge monopolistic desktop-dominating mega software company on a whim.

When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.  ~H.G. Wells