March 01, 2004
The Return of Biking, Part Menage-a-Trois
I got to ride again today, just another hop and skip around the hills of Syracuse. I'm already climbing faster and more eagerly. It feels great, and I sleep better. Better than sex. Well, I hope so, seeing as how getting outside played no small part in killing my last relationship ;-).
I also hit up Open Road and got my road bike dialed in. Ken seemed a little less than enthusiastic to be helping me out though, so it will probably be one of my last visits (aside from a tune-up and possibly a pair of Spy RX glasses).
I also got more bike parts delivered today: Race Face Turbine LP cranks (ISIS drive), a race face signature bottom bracket, and some tools for yanking cranks, BBs, and cassettes. Still on the list to grab is a new fork, chain, a one-man hydraulic brake bleed kit, some DOT 5.1 fluid, and a little elbow grease. Yes, I am now a full-service bike shop. On the plus side, I can use a lot of this stuff when I pick up the motorcycle...
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Further back...
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Previous Trips...
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Hiking Mount Whitney, 2007 
Spring Break in West Virginia, 2005
New Year's in Paris, 2003-2004
Coming to America, 2003
Protesting in Berlin, 2003
Prague Bier-Tour, 2002
Dresden, 2002
Recent Reading
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Stealing the Network
I first bumped into the Stealing the Network series when reading the exploits of Joe Grand, one of the book's many hacker authors.
The 'Stealing the ...' series of books follows a rather disparate group of computer hackers as they help a former NSA spook (many of them unwittingly) gather the money he needs to retire.
The stories themselves are not fantastic fiction. The writing is uneven and choppy, the characters are stereotypical and not very well thought-out. What is fascinating about this book series is the technical accuracy of the exploits (at some points *too* accurate, with screen shots and step-by-step instructions).
It's a great series to read if you're a system administrator, or just getting into the wonderful field of computer security.
Rated 
by reid
on March 06, 2011
by reid
on March 06, 2011
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Close to the Machine
Ellen Ullman is one of those authors that somehow avoided my radar. Until now...
Close to the Machine is less a book than a collection of loosely related personal anecdotes from Ellen's time as a very rare thing -- a successful female bisexual independent computer programming consultant.
In the course of her work and relationship life, she learns hard lessons about programming, running a business, being lonely, and loving the wrong people. I found it particularly poignant being a crypto-nerd with difficult times in relationships and a more-or-less NDA'd, secret work life.
This book is a must-read for anyone into running their own business, programming, or anyone dating a person that is a business-a-holic or programmer.
Rated 
by reid
on November 23, 2009
by reid
on November 23, 2009
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The Long Trip Home
I had the joy of dining with the author in Florida. We went to a little Brazilian BBQ where he spoke with our waitstaff in (what I can only assume was) flawless Portugese.
Brian Wyllie spent 1969-1971 living in Brazil working for the Peace Corps. His recent book outlines his trip back to the United States via Bolivia, Peru, and the Carribean chain, by way of bus, train, and sailboat. The format comes spattered with observations from the modern day, and makes me think, "this must be what John McPhee's journal looks like."
The trip sounded like a fantastic one, but I was left wanting more detail...where did the gun (being snuck through customs in a variety of places, no doubt) come from? And how did Geneve's hair smell? Alas, we'll have to wait for another book to find the answers.
Rated by reid
on April 16, 2009
by reid
on April 16, 2009
you got a blog, you're on the inter-web, why not throw your stuff online while you're trying to get it published in something reputable. Of course, if its a patentable idea, its probably not the best to have it online until the concept is at least patent pending.
I know how it feels, I had an idea once, but as it turns out real dolls already exists.
would posting a new and possible profitable concept online be proof of prior art or proof of stupidity?
Posted by: Pete on March 2, 2004 10:54 AM