Blink, Wisdom and Freakonomics

My reading as of late has been done with my ears. I started out with Confessions of an Economic HitMan and The Tipping Point near the end of 2007. From there I finished Blink, The Wisdom of Crowds and Freakonomics all in the first two months of this year. I am enjoying good writing at a rate that I would have never done in the past. I am a bit of a slow reader and when it comes to choosing to keep up with comics or a book when I'm home with free time the comic is always going to win. Audio books on the other hand allow me to listen in the car, when I am getting ready in the morning and even while I'm at the gym.

Blink is Malcolm Gladwell's follow up to the Tipping Point. It focuses on what he describes as "thin-slicing" or making use of the split second decisions your mind makes and that you may not even be aware of. It is a good mental exercise and a bit more organic than the some what more business oriented Tipping Point. It is interesting stuff though and I have made use of at least one of the many topics since reading it.

Priming is the act of subconsciously or consciously preparing your mind to change your future actions. Every night around 10pm Crystal goes to bed on the futon in our computer room. Around 12am or 1am when I am ready to go to bed I wake her up to walk to the bedroom with me. Most nights she does not even remember the trip, but she will on occasion get upset with me or refuse to make the trip without 5-10 minutes of gentle coaxing. I decided that before she went to bed every night I would prime her to wake up to some action or word I used. Some nights is would be a rub on the arm and a song. Other nights it was a kiss on the forehead and phrase. It worked since I started and when remember to do it has made the transition from the futon to the bed the easiest thing in the world.

The Wisdom of Crowds was my next choice after finishing Blink, it is a great concept, but the book tended to drag a bit. It is mainly about the power of medium to large collective decisons versus individual "expert" decisions. I can see the statistical applications it has, but when it tries to transition to business it starts to fail. Not as a whole, but it feels like a very loose argument. It got a bit redundant near the end as well, but I don't know if that was my questioning of its assertions or the actual writing.

Finally Freakonomics was my most recent finish and also the most entertaining. The questions it ask and attempts to answer are not always practical, but they deliver. Want to know why drug dealers still live with their Mom's? Why did the raging crime rate of the early 90s and late 80s suddenly tail off? How are salesman like the ku klux klan? These are the kinds of questions it attempts to answer and usually does so convincingly.

Site Watch
iFanboy is the home and community of two of my favorite podcast and the host that produce them. I listen weekly and suggest anyone that is getting back into comics or never lost interest to start listening and watching too.

Gearing my Check

My frame (pics) came in and I picked it up this past Friday. Man it is a pretty beast. I just want to throw it together and ride all over creation. There is some work needs doin' first though. It needs parts to make it whole and that means going shopping...

• Bomb proof wheels
• Shifting like butter
• Gears that don't hate me
• Brakes that grab rain or shine
• etc...etc...etc...

So far I have compiled a simple list of of parts, that will only expand as I do more research. Once I gather all the parts I will have my local bike shop lash it together....

Frame
Surly Cross Check 60cm - $369.00

Seating
- Salsa Shaft Seatpost 27.2 x 350mm - $50.00
- B-17 Champion Special british racing green - $106.00

Hands
- Salsa MotoAce S.U.L. Stem 105º x 90mm x 26mm - $33.00
- Nitto "Noodle" handlebars - $44.95
- Cane Creek SCR-5 Brake Levers - $36.00
- Cane Creek CrossTop Brake Levers - $31.00
- Cane Creek S2 Headset 1-1/8" - $50.00
- Green French Cloth Tape Amber Shellac - $4.00 x 4

Drivetrain
- Shimano Dura-Ace Downtube 9 Speed - $65.95
- Shimano Tiagra 4500GS Rear Triple Derailleur - $49.95
- Shimano FD-4503 Tiagra Triple Front Derailleur- ???
- Sugino XD600 175mm - $99.99
- Shimano Tiagra Cassette 9 Speed - $35.00
- Shimano BB-UN54 Bottom Bracket 68x113 - $23.99

Wheels
- Shimano XT M760 Front Hub 36H - $39.00
- Shimano XT M765 Rear Hub 36H - $70.00
- Salsa Delgado Rim 36H - $35.00 x2
- DT Champion Black Spokes - $25 x2
- DT Green Alloy Nipples - $11.20 x2
- Velox Rim Strip - $4.00 x2
- Build Cost - $35.00 x2

Wheel Total with Shipping: $372.82

Misc
- Time ATAC Alium Pedals - $54.98
- King Waterbottle Cage - $15.00 x2
- Tektro CR720 Brakes - $27.00 x2

Some of the sites I have linked in my site watches in the past few weeks will also serve as my stores of choice when I start ordering. Below they are listed in no particular order...

Wallbike
Harris Cyclery
Peter White Cycles
Rivendell
Web Cyclery
Velo Orange

That is all for now I expect to be updating this post often for my own personal reference, but please leave comments if you have opinions on the gear already posted or suggestions for other parts.

Riverside Four
Went for yet another ride on Saturday: Russ, Grant and myself. Check out the photos (pics).

Workshop and Arcade Reborn

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes my workshop (pics) recently rose from the ashes old paint cans. When we moved in almost three years ago the previous owner left a workshop full of old paint cans and chemicals on the shelves. He also installed bulky kitchen cabinets over the work bench to the point were it felt almost cave like. After two years of thinking the smell in the workshop was the walls and just tossing my tools in at random I decided to actually work on it over the past weekend.

I started by taking down the cabinets and tossing them in the pile to go to the dump. I installed two lights (pic) to brighten up the area and carried about 40 cans of varying liquids out to our shed (to be taken to the dump at a later date). Turns out it was the chemicals that made the workshop smell not the walls, who knew? After that I laid all my tools out on the counter and reorganized them in the drawers and on the shelves. It is a marked improvement, but I still have a wish list of improvements to make over the next few years.

Over the summer I bought supplies to build an SNES arcade controller. I end up just setting it all aside when I got distracted by other hobbies. Restarting this project as a MAME controller and eventual cabinet is what inspired the workshop clean up. I spent three nights measuring, cutting and sanding the first few pieces and then snapped a few photos to share.

Uncut wood with templetes and measurments.

Parts and wiring things

Macro shot of the inner workings

Test placement of buttons

Sins of a PC Empire

Oh man that is a crappy title. It was either that or just use the actual title of the game that this post is about. Sins of a Solar Empire is the first RTS that I have enjoyed since the Warcraft III expansion. It is a mix of Masters of Orion III and Homeworld II in regards to what I have played that is. Apparently it is a lot like Galactic Civilizations II, but as I said I am basing this off what I have played. Linksplosion in this paragraph aside, SoaSE is the first time I have been excited about PC gaming in a really long time. Outside of WoW all of the FPSs that I have been playing are available on the console and usually look better there too.

It has the pacing of a turn based RTS meaning it is not a hotkey button mashing memory game. It also means you can sit down, relax and enjoy managing your galactic empire. It is near turn based pace though which can on occasion be a little too slow. I am a visual kind of guy, I like to see my ships fighting, exploding and ferrying around space. The graphics are a steep above Homeworld II and you can either get down in them or manage everything from the solar system level. If I can convince some friends to pick it up for some coop play, I can see myself playing for a very long time.

Site Watch
Always a fan of AV and more specifically home theaters I was thrilled to find the audio video interiors blog. It has some rough tutorials, but the main attraction is the user showcases. They have pictures of DIY home theaters that average Joe's have built as well as their parts list and budgets.

Yet More Riverside

This is becoming a bit of a tradition, we have ridden the same riverside loop three weekends in a row. We are planning to do it again this coming weekend too. It feels great to be back in the saddle on a regular basis. This ride was not the allstar cast that last weeks ride was, but the roster was an oldie but goody none the less. Mike, Grant and I were two wheels rolling by 9am. What I am now calling my frankenbike (see below) ran like a dream.

Nothing to eventful on this one. We did pass by the parked Ringling Brothers train and stop to take a few photos by it (see above). Seeing a bus full of menacing circus folk though, we didn't test our luck for fear or a elephantidae phallus beat down. We stopped by Byrd park as well for some more saddle shots and were quickly on our way. We were back at Grant's place in plenty of time for him to make his 11am appointment. Good fast ride with just enough time to take in the city.

For a bit of further explanation. I dubbed it the frankenbike because after many years of loyal service the fork and headset on my Schwinn were on their last leg. After last weeks ride and fighting with the headset for an hour prior I decided it was time to take her in. I got the cheapest headset and fork available at Rowlett's to tide me over till the Check is complete. I thought I would dislike the mismatched fork on my burgundy frame, but it actually fits quite well.

My Pictures (limited battery = limited photos)
Mehtul's Write Up

Site Watch
Monday I featured one of the sites that I would be buying parts from for my new ride. So I figured I'd do the same today. Wallbike is a fine outfit that carries some of the coolest niche bike parts on the web. I am the proud owner of a Brooks saddle and a Gilles Berthoud saddle bag from their store already. I expect that many a part for the Check will come from them too.

The WoW Comic(s)

About two weeks ago I got issue #3 in the mail of the official WoW comic. The art in it is superb, the writing is good, but not great (not on the same level as the books at least). The story they are spinning so far is about pvp and arena teams, but it looks like the tale may become more grand very soon. I like that it is about the horde because that is all I ever played and I like that it visits so many places in the game world. One of my favorite things to do after finishing a Warcraft book was to go and visit all the places mentioned. Going to Medivh's tower before it was just a ten man raiding stepping stone was a blast.

Reading the comic has got me excited about the coming expansion again. I've been checking MMOC regularly for screen shots and other media of WOTLK. I have also been thinking about going back soon to prepare my character for WOTLK. I still need an epic mount and a purse full of gold would be nice too. This time when I stand in line with Tazeer at midnight he won't be mocking me for being a geek, he will probably be buying two copies.

Cycling
On Friday I picked up my frankenbike and ordered my creamy dreamy Surly Cross Check. I am in the process of planning out the gear to go with my lovely, but the frankenbike is running like a champ with its new fork and headset in the mean time.

Site Watch
Harris Cyclery is an online bike store created by the late great Sheldon Brown (1944 - 2008). They have a ton of great parts available for sale and leave a good bit of personal commentary on each. I will probably end up buying a bunch of my parts from them very soon for the Check mentioned above.

Missed A Day

After I set out to make the year of 2008 more consistent from the blogging front I missed my first Wednesday post yesterday. Unfortunately I have a good excuse. My parents were in a car accident over the weekend and I drove up to Pittsburgh Saturday to be with them. Long story short is that everyone will be fine and I drove home yesterday which did not allow for time to write. My post from Monday was by way of Pittsburgh and I plan to be back on schedule with tomorrows post.

I played a ton of DS in the waiting room while in Pittsburgh for five days. Most of it was Pokemon, multiplayer Mario Kart and New Super Mario Bros, but I also tried out some new titles as well. So some time next week I should have some insight on those.

Winter Love on Wheels

After round one of Winter love on two wheels the pants crew went back out this Saturday for some more cycling. The route was the same, but the cast differed slightly. Russ, Grant, Matt and myself meet at casa de Grant at 8:30 sharp for another two hour jaunt around riverside. Mehtul was MIA on a journey to pick up a new puppy, but we know his spirit was with us on the road.

We took less breaks this ride and general kept the pace fast and smooth. Grant had another two hour limit on the ride and this time we got him back with fifteen minutes to spare. We said our goodbyes, Grant went to catch some father in law brownie points, Russ and Hose went for some tasty eats and I went to get my baby some love.

Said baby needed love because my headset and fork saw their final days on this ride. The fork was completely striped inside and the headset will not grab the stem anymore. So off I went to the local bike store. I ordered up a new fork and headset that should be ready for next weekends ride. I also took the time to talk to the owner about ordering a new frame. I have always wanted a frame to call my own, as my first one and current one was a hammy down from Grant. I have eyes on a Surly Cross Check in grayish white that makes me long for a racing green brooks and brass parts by the truck full.

My Pictures

Site Watch

Wallbike will most likely see lots of my hard earned dollars in the coming weeks and months. They have great prices and all kinds of unique bits and pieces for your ride of choice.

Two Wheels for Riverside

Before I was struck by sickness late Saturday night I went for my first ride of 2008 with the pants crew that very morning. Present and accounted for, Grant, Mehtul and I set out from the neo brick's place on the edge of the fan. With a window of two hours to ride we kept the trip local and of the southside variety.

Crossing belle island after a big rain is always an adventure. Taking it easy on my aleing ride, I took it a little too easy and endoed when my wheel grabbed a ditch on the rocks. Crashing to the ground is never fun even in slow motion, but at least there were no injuries. Just a bit shook up, I dusted off and got back on my steed.

Exiting the james river park system on to Riverside we cruised the rolling hills and swooping curves to the rhythm of blowing through our alloted time. The crossing at the nickel bridge usually brings many hisses and jeers, especially at the toll booth. On this day we opted to try out the pedestrian crossing instead and were rewarded with a ninja like crossing and no ill temper from the golems that safeguard the passage.

Right outside of Dogwood Dell is the ritzy suburb of Windsor Farms. Classy as its name implies the homes in this neighborhood are old, well kept and grand. The closest you will come to money like this in downtown Richmond is the main drag on Monument or the side streets of Park. In any case the ride is pleasant and the residents seem fine enough with our crew just passing through. We returned Grant only 15 minutes past his limit and bid him adieu.

For more on the ride check the linkage below...

Grant's Write Up
Mehtul's Write Up
Mehtul's Pictures
My Pictures

Comics
I picked up the first trade of Preacher last night after a quick dinner at Moe's with my lady. After seeing a full episode of iFanboy on the series and the glowing praise they heaped on it, I figured it had to be worth my time. That assumption was correct, I read through the whole trade in one sitting and I am contemplating picking up the next one tonight.

Preacher is not a late 70's Conan the Barbarian trade for sure. It actually has a compelling story and heart. That may seem like a knock at Conan, but outside of the art I grew really tired of the writing after just three trades.

With a Sickness

Woe unto me, that I did eat greasy onion rings and consume copious amounts of distilled spirits on Saturday night. I then proceed to remove every ounce that I had taken in back from whence it came. I expected to wake up Sunday morning slightly hung over, but no worse for wear. I was wrong.

Sunday brought sickness: stomach pains, fatigue, coughing and sinus drainage. Apparently my body was on the verge of becoming sick and my imbibing Saturday night pushed it over the edge. Push is so tame, it felt like I filled up an old station wagon full of gasoline cans and drove it over a cliff with a lit cigar. I spent Monday and Tuesday laid up and at home as well. It was not a complete waste though. I caught up on reading, Discovery HD and my Pokémon training. Mostly sleep and drinking liquids though.

I started reading listening to Freakonomics over the weekend. So far it seems like a really interesting approach to the topic of economics. Although economics was one of the more interesting topics I studied in college, so it didn't take much to get me interested. A book that made accounting interesting, now that would be a grand feat.

Unfortunately, I being sick rewarded you (the reader) with this boring entry on me being sick. The post Monday about PC gamings decline was thankfully in the can late last Friday night. Hopefully this coming Friday's post will yield much tastier fruits.

Personal Computer Gaming

Down and out or just slumping?

PC video game sales were only 17% of the total video game sales for the year 2007. Now I have been hearing about how the imminent death of the PC game for years now, but I never really bought into it. To be honest I don't know how to reconcile 17% without prior year numbers. The feeling I get from the PC market is the real problem though.

Maybe I am just worn out from years of expensive hardware updates, but my computer is barley playing Crysis at the moment and I am not the least bit inclined to buy it more juice. It is pretty, but the story is straight out of Clichéville, USA. The writing is torcherous and all it can say is at least I look damn good, well not on PC it doesn't. Beyond wanting to ogle Crysis there is no title for the PC coming down the pipeline that makes me want to take out a second mortgage for more processing power.

I mentioned in a post many moons ago that Bioshock was the first, first person shooter that I had purchased on a console (360) since Goldeneye 64. I don't think that was anomaly. With up coming PC titles looking bleak and consoles soaring, it isn't hard to imagine a future where the majority of my gaming takes place on a 50" plasma in HD. Not to mention my new found love of all things handheld gaming. The PC will be interviewing for its own job this coming year of 2008. Is there any reason it should keep it?

Site Watch
Rock, Paper, Shotgun is a site that I was recently turned on to that focuses exclusively on PC gaming. They have up to date news and previews and insightful commentary to go with it all. It may look bad for the PC down the road, but RPS helps point out the sunny days when they do crop up.

Anime for Adults

No, I'm not talking about tentacle pr0n!

I have been watching anime since the end of high school and I have yet to find a definitive review site I trust. For the most part I have relied on box art, trailers and imdb descriptions to make my choices. Needless to say I don't always end up with the cream of the crop. I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly and might be able to share some insight.

Anime is an art form that is primarily derived from manga. In the US it is often presumed to be for children as the last animated film or show most American's watched was from their childhood. While some anime deserves such a label, there is a large amount that doesn't. A lot of anime has adult themes, heady concepts and morale struggle. This type of anime should not be missed or mislabeled. The following is a short list of titles that any adult should not be embarrassed or hesitant to enjoy.

Ghost in the Shell
The first GITS movie is outstanding. Over the top procedural action, the philosophical ramifications of artificial intelligence and political intrigue set in postcyberpunk Tokyo. The television series is much of the same, but tends to dive even deeper into the ethical issues to the point of confusion and convolution at times. The first film is a must see with sub titles, but I cheated on the series and watched it in dubs because of the overly complex dialogue.

Akira
The film that brought anime to the US, it was was shown in art houses across the country during the 80s and gave many viewers a taste for more. The film is based in a post apocalyptic neo Tokyo and focuses on a biker gang that gets mixed up in a military experiment. I didn't see this film until well after its original release, but I caught the same anime fever from it.

Cowboy BeBop
This series the pinnacle of anime for me. Film noir meets American jazz meets space bounty hunter saga. The art direction, music and writing are on par with any feature film I have seen. This is by far Shinichirō Watanabe's best work, although I am a huge fan of all that he has done.

Samurai Champloo
Another series by Watanabe that also evokes a strong musical presence coupled with fantastic animation. It is essentially a ronin story set in Edo period of futile Japan. The musical back drop is hip hop, fight scenes are timed to rhythms and set changes are transitioned through scratching.

Fullmetal Alchemist
Probably one of the most misleading titles listed here. It is a series about two kid brothers who attempt to bring back there dead mother and lose their bodies in the process. While the main plot seems to point to more mature concepts the series also is about two kids. Steampunk is the cats ass too, so check this one out.

Berserk
This is the hardest series for me to recommend because it ends in such a poor way. Every episode in the series is spectacular until the last two to three where the plot and series completely unravel. Due to financial constraints the 26 episode series end at 25 episodes. So whether or not the ill fated 26th episode would have wrapped everything up is unknown. It is a great series at its core though, based in medieval Europe with a focus on the super natural.

Ninja Scroll
This was the first anime I ever watched after hearing about it from friends at school. It had ninjas, violence, sex and beautiful art. I was hooked. Yoshiaki Kawajiri directed this film, but had no part in the crappy TV series that carries the same name. Be warned there are a few unnevering scenes that are not for the feint of heart.

The Animatrix
This is the most americanized film of the bunch. It was created to cross promote the Matrix trilogy and in my opinion is better than any of the three films. It is a series of shorts done by an allstar cast of anime directors. Watanabe, Kawajiri and Chung to name a few.

Site Watch
Merlin Mann is by far my favorite personality from Mac Break Weekly and his site 43 folders is something I check on a regular basis. It is a site about personal productivity, life hacks, and simple ways to make your life a little better. Good stuff, so czech it out!

New Love
We picked up a second DS (yes it is pink) for Crystal over weekend. For an added bonus I snapped a shot with the new skin I created for the M3DS Real we procured for our bundle of joy!