Saturday, October 25, 2008
Scheduled ride
Tonight I tried out my new light by riding over to the neighbors house, it's like 5 houses away so it allowed me to see the lights turn on without having to go too far. He was outside on his porch so I stayed for a few minutes and chatted. He told me that we should go on a bike ride tomorrow at 3pm over to Beach Park. Well, all I can say is good luck to him and his goal hehe. I'm not quite sure I can make it that far but we will see. It's actually not that far from the point that I usually just turn around and go home so here is to keeping a goal. If it works out I will blog (uh, duh, I blog about everything lol).
Light Set for Bike
My light set finally came today. I bought it exactly a week ago on Saturday and it came today which is a Saturday hehe. That's ok, I wasn't too empatient... NOT!
I installed it immediately and almost right away I ran into a huge snag. The headlight could be installed in 1 of 3 locations. 2 places on the handlebars, the screw on top that you use to adjust the handlebars but that screw doesn't come out. You unscrew it and it is connected to the bottom of the pipe to tighten the handlebars so when you adjust it to go up or down it tightens. Then there is a screw in the middle of the handlebars in the front that you use to adjust the handlebars to tilt them up or down. That screw comes out but it was too thick to go into the hole for the light bracket.
So my only alternative was the brakes. As soon as I took the screws off the brakes I messed things up. The diagram shows that you have to remove the brakes and put the light behind them so it's all the way in the back which I was able to do no problem. But when I went to replace the brakes and tightened the nuts the brakes wouldn't work. They were locked in place. I didn't put it back on right and the way the spring is on there you cannot put something behind it. It's just not done. So I had to take the light off and figure out how to get the brakes back on right which I eventually did. I got the manual out but couldn't find it in there. It then occured to me to look at the back brakes to see how they are installed lol DUH. Anyway, I got them back on and put the light in the very front of the brakes. It's all good now.
The generator got put in place and so did the back light. It all works. Although I can't really tell in the daytime, I have to ride it when the sun goes down to see how well it all works. From what I remember when I was a teenager and having this same light system the lights aren't very bright when you are riding a normal speed which I guess is 10mph. When you are going down hill the lights turn on bright because you picked up speed. So it makes sense that when you go faster the lights go brighter. And of course as soon as you stop the lights turn off.
I'm just glad to have it finally so I was able to check that off my wish list for the bike.
I installed it immediately and almost right away I ran into a huge snag. The headlight could be installed in 1 of 3 locations. 2 places on the handlebars, the screw on top that you use to adjust the handlebars but that screw doesn't come out. You unscrew it and it is connected to the bottom of the pipe to tighten the handlebars so when you adjust it to go up or down it tightens. Then there is a screw in the middle of the handlebars in the front that you use to adjust the handlebars to tilt them up or down. That screw comes out but it was too thick to go into the hole for the light bracket.
So my only alternative was the brakes. As soon as I took the screws off the brakes I messed things up. The diagram shows that you have to remove the brakes and put the light behind them so it's all the way in the back which I was able to do no problem. But when I went to replace the brakes and tightened the nuts the brakes wouldn't work. They were locked in place. I didn't put it back on right and the way the spring is on there you cannot put something behind it. It's just not done. So I had to take the light off and figure out how to get the brakes back on right which I eventually did. I got the manual out but couldn't find it in there. It then occured to me to look at the back brakes to see how they are installed lol DUH. Anyway, I got them back on and put the light in the very front of the brakes. It's all good now.
The generator got put in place and so did the back light. It all works. Although I can't really tell in the daytime, I have to ride it when the sun goes down to see how well it all works. From what I remember when I was a teenager and having this same light system the lights aren't very bright when you are riding a normal speed which I guess is 10mph. When you are going down hill the lights turn on bright because you picked up speed. So it makes sense that when you go faster the lights go brighter. And of course as soon as you stop the lights turn off.
I'm just glad to have it finally so I was able to check that off my wish list for the bike.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Holiday Themes
As you can already see, I'm using a theme for my blog that is a Halloween theme. I think it's pretty neat. As soon as Halloween is over and on November 1st I'm just going to put it back to the dark red that I had before. I couldn't find a Thanksgiving theme but I've found at least 3 Christmas themes and I already know which one I'm going to use. So the day after Thanksgiving I'm going to put the Christmas theme in place.
It's so much easier to change the theme in a php based blog than it is to change it on my website.
Edit: I took off the Halloween theme because it removes the pages that I made for like Wish List and Before You Comment and About. The themes that don't remove those pages removes the comments on those pages. I don't like that. So I guess I will just keep this theme instead.
It's so much easier to change the theme in a php based blog than it is to change it on my website.
Edit: I took off the Halloween theme because it removes the pages that I made for like Wish List and Before You Comment and About. The themes that don't remove those pages removes the comments on those pages. I don't like that. So I guess I will just keep this theme instead.
Proof of Ownership
Ok. You are going to laugh. I went to Albertson's on my bike and I have one of those locks that is like telephone cord that is curly and it has a 4 number combination that you can set the numbers for and when I got to the store I went to lock it and as I was pushing the lock together I felt and heard a clicking sound and as I was pushing it in I knew I messed up big time. I immediately tried pulling it out and it wouldn't budge. I started freaking out. I started trying different combinations because I thought that I turned the dial to set it then accidentally turned a number as I was pushing it in, which I have done before. I had no luck.
I went into the store and told the lady at the information counter (she sells lottery tickets, cigarettes, electronics and does the photo stuff) and told her what happened and she called Jim to call her and told him what happened. This other lady came up and I told her what happened and she said that she knows I come in here a lot but how do they know it's my bike. Luckily, I have the paper work with the serial number and the manual with the model of the bike on it as well as the reciept and I even took a picture of it. WHEW!
So Jim finally came to the front with bolt cutters and I showed him my paper work which he didn't actually look at because I think he figured if I took the time to get someone to bring it to me and I was showing it to him then he believed that it was indeed my bike. So, he tried cutting it and it was really hard for him to cut it but eventually he did get it off. It made me feel good that he couldn't get it off because I knew I had a good lock. But on the other hand... I wanted my bike back lol.
He told me that if I didn't have this proof of ownership then it would've sat there until someone tried to claim it and then eventually they would've had to call a company out to get it and auction it or something. So I'm very glad I bought my bike at a store and not at a thrift store with no manual and no reciept. And I'm especially glad that I took a picture of it too.
Here are some pictures of the lock. The first one is where he tried to cut but it just wouldn't cut then the 2nd one is where he finally got it cut.
I went into the store and told the lady at the information counter (she sells lottery tickets, cigarettes, electronics and does the photo stuff) and told her what happened and she called Jim to call her and told him what happened. This other lady came up and I told her what happened and she said that she knows I come in here a lot but how do they know it's my bike. Luckily, I have the paper work with the serial number and the manual with the model of the bike on it as well as the reciept and I even took a picture of it. WHEW!
So Jim finally came to the front with bolt cutters and I showed him my paper work which he didn't actually look at because I think he figured if I took the time to get someone to bring it to me and I was showing it to him then he believed that it was indeed my bike. So, he tried cutting it and it was really hard for him to cut it but eventually he did get it off. It made me feel good that he couldn't get it off because I knew I had a good lock. But on the other hand... I wanted my bike back lol.
He told me that if I didn't have this proof of ownership then it would've sat there until someone tried to claim it and then eventually they would've had to call a company out to get it and auction it or something. So I'm very glad I bought my bike at a store and not at a thrift store with no manual and no reciept. And I'm especially glad that I took a picture of it too.
Here are some pictures of the lock. The first one is where he tried to cut but it just wouldn't cut then the 2nd one is where he finally got it cut.
Directory Assistance
Do not call 411! Get a phone book for crying out loud. Are you that lazy? There is also a free 411 that you can call that doesn't cost you a dime, all you have to do is listen to an advertisement which is less than 30 seconds out of your day. 1-800-free-411.
Here are the facts about 411. I just got my phone bill and it shows 3 411 calls billed at $1.50 each for a total of $4.50. You are allowed 1 free 411 call now. Before it used to be 3 free 411 calls but now it's just 1. But that's not all. They have also itemized it in Local Toll category with 661-411-0000 which brings that total up to $5.97 so for 3 411 calls it cost me total $10.47. That's $10 too much. For 3 calls! Get it? Look below. I pasted directly from my bill just in case you don't believe me.
Why is it so hard to just pick up a phone book? They waste so much paper and kill so many trees so that you may look up a phone number for free. You can also go on your computer and look it up at www.yellow.com or www.yellowpagesonline.com or whatever. But for god sake, stop using 411!
UPDATE: It's best if you go to Google's 411 service. Read the blog for that here.
Here are the facts about 411. I just got my phone bill and it shows 3 411 calls billed at $1.50 each for a total of $4.50. You are allowed 1 free 411 call now. Before it used to be 3 free 411 calls but now it's just 1. But that's not all. They have also itemized it in Local Toll category with 661-411-0000 which brings that total up to $5.97 so for 3 411 calls it cost me total $10.47. That's $10 too much. For 3 calls! Get it? Look below. I pasted directly from my bill just in case you don't believe me.
| Directory Assistance | |||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||
| Local Directory Assistance | |||||||||||||||
| 4 Call(s) placed | |||||||||||||||
| 1 Call(s) allowed | |||||||||||||||
| 1-04 3 Call(s) billed at $1.50 each 4.50 | |||||||||||||||
| Local Toll | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Why is it so hard to just pick up a phone book? They waste so much paper and kill so many trees so that you may look up a phone number for free. You can also go on your computer and look it up at www.yellow.com or www.yellowpagesonline.com or whatever. But for god sake, stop using 411!
UPDATE: It's best if you go to Google's 411 service. Read the blog for that here.
Prop 8 Will Hurt Me Directly
I need to ask for your help. There is an unfair ballot proposition that, if passed, will take away my fundamental rights. This is really important to me. Will you help me defeat Prop. 8?Prop. 8 would eliminate the right to marry for same-sex couples. I trust you agree that eliminating fundamental rights - from anyone - is just wrong.
I hope you are already planning to vote NO. If you are, there are three things you can do below.
But just in case you're unsure, I want you to know the real deal.
Virtually every major paper in California is against Prop 8. The L.A. Times says it is "a drastic step to strip people of rights." La Opinión called Prop 8 "an unnecessary initiative". The San Diego Union Tribune wrote that Prop 8 "offends many Californians' sense of fairness."
If that doesn't convince you, I hope you'll email me so we can talk about this.
If you plan to vote NO, there are a few easy things to help ensure it is defeated.
1. Email everyone you know and care about and get them to help us defeat Prop 8. Send them a message at http://noonprop8.com/messages?r=friend. You can quickly and easily send messages.
2. Make a donation. The other side has raised over $10 million more than us. They are using their war chest to spread lies and misinformation. Your donation will help us reach undecided voters who need to hear that Prop. 8 is wrong and unfair. http://noonprop8.com/donate?r=friend
3. Volunteer your time. Sign up to call undecided voters or help out in field offices across the state. http://noonprop8.com/volunteer?r=friend
Thank you for doing all you can to defeat Prop. 8.
Here are some videos that I personally have not seen on TV and I really don't know why.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)