in the parlance of our time
2023-01-16T16:17:48+00:00
http://bobsica.com
Trump Travel Ban Extends to 2017 Solar Eclipse
2017-04-01T00:00:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2017/04/01/trump-bans-eclipse
<h1 id="blog-has-moved-15-january-2023">Blog has moved! (15 January 2023)</h1>
<p>New stuff in <a href="https://bobsica.com">My Bobiverse is here.</a></p>
<p><img src="http://blog.bobsica.com/public/1april-eclipse.png" alt="New path of the 2017 solar eclipse." title="2017 eclipse." /></p>
<p>President Trump today extended his controversial travel ban to include our closest star, The Sun. The travel ban now includes the eclipsing of solar system objects in a manner that “decreases luminosity reaching the soil of the USA or its territories.” This order effectively eliminates the potentially deliberate action of our Moon to completely block sunlight from reaching the surface, impacting the lives of millions of Americans, on August 17, 2017. White House Press Sean Spicer said when questioned:</p>
<div class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"><div class="highlight"><pre class="highlight"><code>The decisive action of The President today again shows his commitment
to protecting the environment by stopping global cooling, increasing
argiculture productivity, and protecting jobs for solar astronomers
threatened by big business in China.
</code></pre></div></div>
<p>In a statement President Trump said:</p>
<div class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"><div class="highlight"><pre class="highlight"><code>The Sun knows its job and has a duty to warm America. Real warm.
Big league warm, I'll tell you why. CAUSE TRAVELLING TO FLORIDA
EVERY WEEKEND SUCKS. Got that, more Sun, warmer in DC, better for
my golf game. So if the Sun thinks it is going to waltz over the
border from Canada and turn itself off over the USA in the middle
of summer it can screw off.
</code></pre></div></div>
<p>Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tweeted, apparently in response to Trump’s action:</p>
<div class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"><div class="highlight"><pre class="highlight"><code>CDN all for Sun expressing itself how if feels most comfortable.
Hot or Cool CDN loves u & welcomes u & all stellar objects! #eclipe2017
</code></pre></div></div>
<p>More on this story to follow as comments from world leaders roll in. In the meantime leave your own comments below.</p>
FM Radio is Dead so I Move on
2017-01-15T00:00:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2017/01/15/goodbye-FM-radio
<p>The death march for FM radio has started and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/05/norway-first-to-start-switching-off-fm-radio?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">Norway is leading the charge</a>, beginning to switch off FM radio this month (January 2017). Switzerland, Britain, Denmark among others to follow.</p>
<p>I am now officially old. I have a real, indisputable benchmark. FM radio in the NYC burbs in the 60/70s is where <em>all</em> the cool kids hung out. Dennis Elsas. Alison Steele. Jonathan Schwartz. Dave Herman. Vince Scelsa and man he was the trippy-est, he got the weird shifts at the times you were really ready to listen, and as soon as you heard the tape loop ending with “I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore” it was Game On for the heads.</p>
<p><img src="http://blog.bobsica.com/public/dennisElsasJohnLennon.jpg" alt="John Lennon drops in on Dennis Elsas at WNEW-FM in NYC. Image from Dennis Elsas' website." /></p>
<div class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"><div class="highlight"><pre class="highlight"><code> John Lennon drops in on Dennis Elsas at WNEW-FM in NYC.
</code></pre></div></div>
<p>Rainy Sunday afternoon, 28 September 1974. I was in first year at university, sitting out on the “balcony” (embellishing here) on the old brownstone at 113th & Broadway. I started uni in engineering which meant we had to take an elective course outside of engineering, and for me that was an introductory astronomy course. So I was reading <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Exploration-Universe-George-Abell/dp/0030759552%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q%26tag%3Dduckduckgo-d-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0030759552">Abell’s <em>Exploration of the Universe Text</em>.</a> Consider all this detail and more I can/will give you in light of the fact I can’t remember my “new” mobile number, which is about 18 months old now or most else. But I can still smell the wet air and will not forget Elsas saying he had a visitor stopping by to spin some discs and that dude was none other than Dr. Winston O’Boogie.<sup id="fnref:Elsas" role="doc-noteref"><a href="#fn:Elsas" class="footnote" rel="footnote">1</a></sup> The next couple hours were a gas and somewhere maybe still I have a cassette tape of the broadcast, because the cassette player I had included a FM radio. Because at that time FM radio was not dead, although cassette players are. Channeling Vonnegut “so it goes.”</p>
<p>Ha the weather report Lennon read was silly and a total LOL on his reading of the ad for the NJ club <em>The Joint in the Woods.<sup id="fnref:LennonQuip" role="doc-noteref"><a href="#fn:LennonQuip" class="footnote" rel="footnote">2</a></sup></em></p>
<p>Sadly I also remember sitting my in the penthouse of the <a href="http://www.gi.alaska.edu">University of Alaska’s Geophysical Institute</a> working on my thesis instrument, a <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabry–Perot_interferometer">Fabry Perot interferometer</a> and hearing what went down on 8 Dec 1980. And then was another time I got much older. And I didn’t hear that on FM because back then Fairbanks was mostly off the grid and we liked it like that.</p>
<p>How and where we listen to music and assimilate pop culture is so different now. So much choice. No better, not worse, but kids I remember that I would sit up way to late to hear <a href="http://lotharandthehandpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/presenting_thumb.jpg">Lothar and the Hand People’s </a> <em>Space Hymn</em>, because you just could not hear it any other way but on FM radio.<sup id="fnref:album" role="doc-noteref"><a href="#fn:album" class="footnote" rel="footnote">3</a></sup></p>
<div class="footnotes" role="doc-endnotes">
<ol>
<li id="fn:Elsas" role="doc-endnote">
<p><a href="http://www.denniselsas.com/john-lennon/">http://www.denniselsas.com/john-lennon/</a> <a href="#fnref:Elsas" class="reversefootnote" role="doc-backlink">↩</a></p>
</li>
<li id="fn:LennonQuip" role="doc-endnote">
<p>“he said losing his green card…” <a href="#fnref:LennonQuip" class="reversefootnote" role="doc-backlink">↩</a></p>
</li>
<li id="fn:album" role="doc-endnote">
<p>Although ultimately I did find it in a cut-out album bin. <a href="#fnref:album" class="reversefootnote" role="doc-backlink">↩</a></p>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
Run GMC Live in Ontario
2016-12-28T00:00:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2016/12/28/run-GMC
<p><img src="http://blog.bobsica.com/public/runGMC.jpg" alt="Run GMC." title="Run GMC." /></p>
<p>While the Girl could only have a brief stay in LndOnt the Boy and Run GMC are still around. Run GMC is the Boy’s mobile operations centre, complete with bedroom, living room and the latest project in progress today: a kitchen. Although older than the Boy himself, Run GMC would have made <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_A-Team" title="!w the a team - Google Search">Mr. T and the A-team</a> proud by making it all the way home on an extended road trip back from the Left Coast.</p>
<p>Mrs. Sica was amazed by this happenstance and remarked in verse:</p>
<div class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"><div class="highlight"><pre class="highlight"><code>Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes
Have come
With your chrome heart shining
In the sun
Long may you run
</code></pre></div></div>
<p>which will be well know to you Neil Young fans (<a href="musics://itunes.apple.com/mx/album/long-may-you-run/id306292060?l=en" title="long may you run itunes - Google Search">listen</a> ).</p>
<p>All me and the Girl can say is:</p>
<div class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge"><div class="highlight"><pre class="highlight"><code>Gonna live, POSITIVE, forever, AND EVER
Run-G[sic].M.C. and we're "Tougher Than Leather".
</code></pre></div></div>
<p>Stay strong Run GMC.</p>
Happy #Bloomsday #episode4 #desolation #rain #suisse
2016-06-16T09:24:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2016/06/16/happy-bloomsday-episode4-desolation
<img src='https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e15/13402745_1547836355525843_977177627_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI3MzgwMTg2NzkwNjA5MTI0Nw%3D%3D.2.c' style='max-width:586px;' /><br /><div>via Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGtdAzKxYjv/">https://www.instagram.com/p/BGtdAzKxYjv/</a></div>
You Shouldn't Be Able To Do This on a Road Bike
2015-07-02T17:56:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2015/07/02/you-shouldnt-be-able-to-do-this-on-road
Extreme road bike freestyle<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BM0oQIRIyrs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BM0oQIRIyrs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br />
Cultural Baggage I understand this article by Patrick Lagacé in...
2015-01-23T13:49:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2015/01/23/cultural-baggage-i-understand-this
<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img src='http://36.media.tumblr.com/f9c7f9db88ccd3f89a5e7774bf02b4f8/tumblr_nimr7q4zDN1rxebp6o1_500.jpg'/><br/><br /><br/><br /><h1>Cultural Baggage</h1><br /><p>I understand this article by Patrick Lagacé in today’s Globe Mail about <a target='_blank' href='http://m.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/french-quebec-has-its-own-take-on-blackface/article22565904/'>differences in cultural norms within Canada</a> from a new perspective after living in a French speaking region; I agree with the author that culturally you have to carry your own baggage. It’s always easy to judge others.</p><br /><p>Photo credit: Lisa Gansky (Wikipedia)</p><br /><p>via <a target='_blank' href='https://dayone.me/1gf1zr5'>https://dayone.me/1gf1zr5</a> </p><br /><br/><br /><br/></div>
Almost Famous!
2014-09-21T15:45:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2014/09/21/almost-famous
<a href="https://dayone.me/OpqzyT">Almost Famous!</a>: <br /><br /><br /><br />(Jens Voigt 1 hr record start, picture with RS, PS and EB (slightly) visible)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk" style="font-size: 13px;">'via Blog this'</a>
#death of a #cumulus #cloud #hyperlapse
2014-08-28T17:18:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2014/08/28/death-of-cumulus-cloud-hyperlapse
<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><iframe allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' frameborder='0' height='710' width='612' src='http://instagram.com/p/sP-IAnxYn9/embed'> </iframe><br/><br />via <a href='https://ifttt.com/?ref=da&site=blogger'>IFTTT</a></div>
GoGoGoGo AllezAllezAllezAllez
2014-06-22T07:50:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2014/06/22/gogogogo-allezallezallezallez
<a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/06/news/video-mix-giant-shimanos-sprint-train_332621#P6MvmDrL1HO0mHF1.99">Video: In the mix with Giant-Shimano’s sprint train at Tour de Suisse</a><br /><br />Having trouble getting out the door to train today? This will get your motor running!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/13BENuYp19w" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="500"></iframe></div><br /><br />
Happy Bloomsday! #2014
2014-06-16T08:39:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2014/06/16/happy-bloomsday-2014
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DavyByrnesPubDublin.jpg#mediaviewer/File:DavyByrnesPubDublin.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="DavyByrnesPubDublin.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/DavyByrnesPubDublin.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">"</span><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DavyByrnesPubDublin.jpg#mediaviewer/File:DavyByrnesPubDublin.jpg" style="text-align: start;">DavyByrnesPubDublin</a><span style="text-align: start;">" by </span><a class="extiw" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:DanMS" style="text-align: start;" title="en:User:DanMS">DanMS</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';"></span> <div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-indent: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';"><span style="text-indent: 1em;">"Bloom ate liv as said before. Clean here at least. That chap in the Burton, gummy with gristle. No-one here: Goulding and I. Clean tables, flowers, mitres of napkins. Pat to and fro. Bald Pat. Nothing to do. Best value in Dub.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';">Piano again. Cowley it is. Way he sits in to it, like one together, mutual understanding. Tiresome shapers scraping fiddles, eye on the bowend, sawing the cello, remind you of toothache. Her high long snore. Night we were in the box. Trombone under blowing like a grampus, between the acts, other brass chap unscrewing, emptying spittle. Conductor's legs too, bagstrousers, jiggedy jiggedy. Do right to hide them.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';"></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-indent: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';">Jiggedy jingle jaunty jaunty.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';"></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-indent: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';">Only the harp. Lovely. Gold glowering light. Girl touched it. Poop of a lovely. Gravy's rather good fit for a. Golden ship. Erin. The harp that once or twice. Cool hands. Ben Howth, the rhododendrons. We are their harps. I. He. Old. Young.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';"></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-indent: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';">—Ah, I couldn't, man, Mr Dedalus said, shy, listless.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Liberation Serif';"><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-indent: 1em;">Strongly.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-indent: 1em;">—Go on, blast you! Ben Dollard growled. Get it out in bits.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-indent: 1em;">—<i>M'appari,</i> Simon, Father Cowley said.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-indent: 1em;">Down stage he strode some paces, grave, tall in affliction, his long arms outheld. Hoarsely the apple of his throat hoarsed softly. Softly he sang to a dusty seascape there: <i>A Last Farewell.</i> A headland, a ship, a sail upon the billows. Farewell. A lovely girl, her veil awave upon the wind upon the headland, wind around her.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-indent: 1em;">Cowley sang:</div><div class="pgmonospaced" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><i>—M'appari tutt'amor:<br />Il mio sguardo l'incontr...</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-indent: 1em;">She waved, unhearing Cowley, her veil, to one departing, dear one, to wind, love, speeding sail, return.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-indent: 1em;">—Go on, Simon.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-top: 0.75em; text-indent: 1em;">—Ah, sure, my dancing days are done, Ben... Well…”<br /><br /></div></span>
200 Bikes Stolen from Scott Factory in Givisiez
2014-06-11T20:07:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2014/06/11/200-bikes-stolen-from-scott-factory-in
<a href="http://road.cc/content/news/120731-huge-200-bike-theft-scott-headquarters-switzerland" target="_blank" title="">Huge 200-bike theft at Scott headquarters in Switzerland | road.cc</a> <br/><br/>No small theft, these bikes were worth an average of CHF 4,500 each and included 2015 prototypes. And to think this happened just outside Fribourg. I feel bad for someone who just ordered a bike and has has to deal with this. The dealers as well. I hope thy nail the thieves soon. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>
Canadian Bilingualism - Kerfuffle over Mufferaw Joe
2014-04-02T09:05:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2014/04/02/canadian-bilingualism-kerfuffle-over
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://wpmedia.sports.nationalpost.com/2014/03/big_joe-1.jpg?w=620" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://wpmedia.sports.nationalpost.com/2014/03/big_joe-1.jpg?w=620" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/redblacks-mufferaw-now-just-another-joe-after-francophone-backlash/article17763432/">RedBlacks’ Mufferaw now just another Joe after francophone backlash - The Globe and Mail</a><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><blockquote class="tr_bq">Now Joe had to portage from the Gatineau down<br />To see a little girl he had in Kemptville town<br />He was back and forth some many times to see that gal<br />The path he wore became the Rideau Canal</blockquote></blockquote>Step 1: please read the Globe article above if you’re not aware of the brouhaha in Ottawa over Mufferaw Joe. What a uniquely Canadian story!<br /><br />Mrs S and I are currently living in a quad-lingual country that effectively is bilingual over much of its area. The culture difference here appears to be an acceptance between the various Mother Tongues that language/culture is not an issue, you learn 2 or 3 languages, you cheer for the Fribourg Gottéron or the Freiburg Gottéron and life goes on. There is not the (valid) concern and associated sensitivity that is so strong in Canada, where the minority language group is concerned about losing their language and culture. Maybe the difference here is being surrounded by countries that speak different languages rather than bordering one of the works largest and most unilingual English-speaking countries.<br /><br />Either way, Mufferaw Joe teaches us in multilingual society you best do your homework and consult with a wide range of folks before deciding on something like a mascot or logo!<br /><br />I’ll leave you with Stompin’ Tom singing Big Joe Mufferaw.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3WA9iZximU8" width="560"></iframe></div>
The Day Rababou Burned
2014-03-02T19:04:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2014/03/02/the-day-rababou-burned
Some videos from Carnaval today in Fribourg, ending with the burning of the wood thief Rababou. Basically an acid trip where everyone is speaking in a foreign language (well because they were). Most surreal moment: the guy dressed as <strike>Cinderella</strike> (whoops Snow White, eh?) leading the band of Dwarfs? You make the call from these short clips.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/Qf_sPCm4Zk4/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/Qf_sPCm4Zk4?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/Qf_sPCm4Zk4?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/-fEkyYqml5Q/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/-fEkyYqml5Q?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/-fEkyYqml5Q?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/k0bljG59GnA/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/k0bljG59GnA?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/k0bljG59GnA?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/68bKRBsI8uw/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/68bKRBsI8uw?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/68bKRBsI8uw?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Set up for this one: we are in a wall to wall sea of people walking behind the parade into Place de Petit St-Jean square in Fribourg’s Vieux Ville. It feels like this only more cramped.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/ekzPGfbS8E8/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/ekzPGfbS8E8?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/ekzPGfbS8E8?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A bit of Rababou’s trial. He had no real defence and for each charge read the crowd wailed “Rababouuuuu”.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/rZ4bHiVh6X8/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/rZ4bHiVh6X8?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/rZ4bHiVh6X8?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Fo4kcVPbjwU" width="480"></iframe></div>
Carnaval madness at Charmey #Gruyère #GrosTete
2014-03-01T18:21:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2014/03/01/carnaval-madness-at-charmey-gruyere
Crazy day on the hill today at Charmey. Costumed skiers and the madness of a Carnival celebration at 1600 m. Video evidence submitted below. More Carnival tomorrow including the mock burning of Rababou (the wood thief) tomorrow afternoon.<br /><br />Note: watch carefully at the end of the video pour la gros tête!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/YaRko0LEHAE/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/YaRko0LEHAE?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/YaRko0LEHAE?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/luCdY8500Ow/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/luCdY8500Ow?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/luCdY8500Ow?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><br /><br />
minor struggles and #VictoryIsMine ?
2013-12-30T23:41:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/12/30/minor-struggles-and-victoryismine
If this post appears on Facebook without a “wrench” image, or perhaps even with my picture, I will have:<br /><br /><ul><li>learned more Open Graphics then I ever og:wantedto</li><li>fruitfully filled in times I should have been packing</li><li>allowed myself to die in peace.</li></ul><div>Goodbye crossed wrench and Robertson (you’re damn right, that is a Robertson screwdriver on the icon). </div><div><br /></div><div>So let’s flip this little chromium switch here and see what happens…</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
So Clever, Mashing up Bob Dylan & Channel Surfing
2013-11-20T23:29:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/11/20/so-clever-mashing-up-bob-dylan-channel
This is so clever, once you gronk it. Bob Dylan singing “Like a Rolling Song” interactively with a bunch of cable channel. Don’t ask, click on the link.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_S5dFdpF6xm0/Ss-wdYVUi-I/AAAAAAAAAdk/Tq85aQqeWmI/s400/Dylan-Like-A-Rolling-Stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_S5dFdpF6xm0/Ss-wdYVUi-I/AAAAAAAAAdk/Tq85aQqeWmI/s320/Dylan-Like-A-Rolling-Stone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://video.bobdylan.com/desktop.html" target="_blank">Bob Dylan "Like A Rolling Stone" - Official Interactive Video</a>
Swiss equivalent to The Simpson’ Man Getting Hit With Football #freitag
2013-11-17T20:24:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/11/17/swiss-equivalent-to-simpson-man-getting
I’m weird? I’m sophomoric? Mrs. S. has begged to see this multiple times. OK its funny. But please limit yourself to less than 5 views per day. And don’t try this at home!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/79292298" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> </div><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/79292298" target="_blank">FREITAG - F301 MOSS; F302 ROY BUSINESS BAGS</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/freitaglab">FREITAG lab. ag</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br />ps… anyone catch the bag names shout out (Roy & Moss); here’s the answer: <a href="http://youtu.be/AvyVNmhT4V0" target="_blank">WhoAreRoyAndMoss?</a><br /><br />
xkcd: Simple Answers
2013-11-11T19:16:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/11/11/xkcd-simple-answers
I also miss Mad’s “Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions."
A Week in Wisconsin and Back
2013-09-01T20:13:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/09/01/a-week-in-wisconsin-and-back
<blockquote>I was bad at Rev 3 but Jilly was worse... a real Crampfest... Mirror Lake and Picture Rocks... Back home to the Party Grotto</blockquote><strong>Rev 3 - Moo</strong><br />Mrs S and I headed out recently for a vacation trip which started with the Rev 3 - Wisconsin. Won't bore you with one of those too long race reports:<br /><ul><a href="assets-library://asset/asset.JPG?id=F472BFB7-E1AB-47E8-9691-8154180BEF05&ext=JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"></a><li>Who: me</li><li>What: a well run race </li><li>Where: 113.1 k of mostly hills, punctuated by torrential rain and a few technical descents. Hard to believe you could find a hillier course anywhere that was not in the mountains. The bike elevation gain was 920 m making this more climbing then TTT or a lap of IMLP. And some beautiful scenery, particularly around Devil's Lake. Hills the whole way on the run. A great course. </li><li>Why: wanted an AG place and got it. </li><li>How: the hard way. First out of T1, stayed upright on the bike but had perhaps my toughest run in 26 years of racing due to cramps. </li></ul>But what was special about this race was a rare social decision, to enter the Rev 3 Worst Wetsuit contest. Don't take me lightly here. I don't have some old wetsuit with repairs. I have a 1987 ProMotion turquoise blue wetsuit with pink accents. I never saw another back in the day and I don't image another has been seen since Scott Molina last raced as a pro. So I thought perfect, whip out that puppy and win hands down. Until I met Jilly. And her worse wetsuit.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="assets-library://asset/asset.JPG?id=F472BFB7-E1AB-47E8-9691-8154180BEF05&ext=JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobsica/9646166779/" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="400" id="blogsy-1378065868424.6104" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3665/9646166779_1e6dc74280_c.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div><br />As my son would exclaim: "What are the odds!" So I lost a contest but gained a soulmate, a try kindred spirit who has done more IMs than moi (I believe she has done every IMmoo!).</div><br />Watch the contest here. It was no contest, Jilly and her <em>custom</em> ProMotion suit was the WORST! <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/72120550" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe> <strong><br /></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><strong>On (not in) the Water</strong> <br />After the race we sis some kayaking in the Dells region, some urban trekking in Milwaukee, then home via the UP and the Tobermory ferry. Great weather and we avoided capsizing in Lake Superior. <br />2 cool things in particular. <br /><br />1. Check out the effects on the rocks we saw kayaking in Mirror Lake. Never seen anything like this including being in conditions where, well everything was kinda like this.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="assets-library://asset/asset.JPG?id=F472BFB7-E1AB-47E8-9691-8154180BEF05&ext=JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"></a><a href="assets-library://asset/asset.JPG?id=F472BFB7-E1AB-47E8-9691-8154180BEF05&ext=JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"></a><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" height="225" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=76f41a4634&photo_id=9649228892"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=109786" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=76f41a4634&photo_id=9649228892" height="225" width="400"></object> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Don’t have flash available? You can watch the video here: <a href="http://rjsi.ca/1cwepcG">http://rjsi.ca/1cwepcG</a>.<span id="goog_1725451426"></span><span id="goog_1725451427"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="assets-library://asset/asset.JPG?id=F472BFB7-E1AB-47E8-9691-8154180BEF05&ext=JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="assets-library://asset/asset.JPG?id=F472BFB7-E1AB-47E8-9691-8154180BEF05&ext=JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"></a>2. Pictured Rocks in the UP is stunning. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/bandpkayak2013/#nosidebar" target="_blank" title="Kayak trippin' 2013">Check out some of these shots in this album.</a><br /><br />PO,<br />boB<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobsica/9649038844/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Untitled by seek113, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="149" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3670/9649038844_70e535690b.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patsica/9645885345/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Untitled by patsica, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="150" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7408/9645885345_e6e21cf50d.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /><div id="blogsy_footer" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: right;"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Posted with Blogsy" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="margin-right: 5px; vertical-align: middle;" width="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>
Existential Star Wars
2013-08-03T16:10:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/08/03/existential-star-wars-in-french
and I care not if you view this, as my torment is not released by your engagement.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Q-uQWNd540I" width="480"></iframe></div>
Mr Roboto - 8 Gb of fun!
2013-07-30T00:25:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/07/30/mr-roboto-8-gb-of-fun
Thanks to Cheyenne for a belated but wonderful birthday present!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QgI1cul-PvY" width="459"></iframe>
TIL that ampersand...
2013-07-19T20:42:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/07/19/til-that-ampersand
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampersand">TIL that *ampersand* is a corruption of the phrase "and (&) per se and", meaning the symbol & means “and”.</a><br /><br />and I’ve never been able to hand write the darn things, they look like funny 8’s.
Not yet! (via Harry Bliss)
2013-06-26T14:23:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/06/26/not-yet-via-harry-bliss
<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="75%" src="http://d.pr/i/aXJn/k3b7RHF5+" width="75%" /></div><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 12px; text-align: center;">No way harpie! <i>Lord the band kept us too busy, we forgot about the time!</i></div>
Wine Tasting is Bullsh*t (via Daring Fireball)
2013-05-10T18:13:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/05/10/wine-tasting-is-bullsht-via-daring
Saw this via Daring Fireball. Nothing I wouldn’t expect and what did we used to say, “2 kinds, good and better" inre: another substance? Love the comparison of the same wine with and without dye. Talk less and sip more!<br /><br /><a href="http://io9.com/wine-tasting-is-bullshit-heres-why-496098276">Wine Tasting is Bullsh*t: Here's why</a>
The Terrapin Family Band
2013-04-13T21:12:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/04/13/the-terrapin-family-band
I haven’t had time to read or watch Game of Thrones, but css assures me the books are excellent so maybe I will sometime. I’ve got 5 min to hear the theme played by Phil Lesh and the Terrapin Family Band. As a DeadHead what I love is seeing Phil so engaged watching his boys give ‘er. The best part of parenting is when you get those chances to share experiences with those young adults who you have known all their life.<br /><div class="attribution"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DttQVD5-lrA?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div>
Long Service? It was in!
2013-04-09T19:37:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/04/09/long-service-it-was-in
<div style="text-align: center;">I distinctly said only 30 min ago that today was not going to get any worse, now I’m a “life-er”. Looking in the hall for a droid to program: “Save me @tweedybirdnorth you’re my only hope.” <img height="75%" src="http://d.pr/i/OSY8/ym3lC43v+" width="75%" /></div>
How many times should you shoot a dead coon?
2013-03-31T20:53:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2013/03/31/how-many-times-should-you-shoot-dead
So I’m on a ride today and I get to the Outskirts then the country and see an OPP cruiser pulled over and an officer getting out. In front of him in the middle of the road is a RoadKillCoon, so I think “OK, he’s going to remove him from the road", nod, and ride by. I get about 50 m up the road and hear a 44 roar and almost jump out of my shorts.<br /><br />He capped the RoadKillCoon. I screamed “Thanks for the heads up!" and kept riding, made my way up the road a bit and turned, when, “POP" the 44 roared again.<br /><br />He capped the RoadKillCoon. Twice. Now I wasn’t famous for my shooting skills in Alaska but I’m thinking if I really needed to shoot a RoadKillCoon from less than a meter away I would feel confident. Cocky really. But 2 shots?<br /><br />Just sayin’, but if this had been a Mall heist scenario what would be the odds of hitting “nothing but net"?<br /><br /><em>The positive animal news:</em> rolling out this AM still in the City right near my house 3 big whitetail deer ran with me up a semi-major street for a couple hundred meters, before they bounded back into some yards. Great escort.<br /><br />Remember Calvin & Hobbes: “Be careful or be road kill!"
For those about to support a triathlete: we salute you!
2012-10-03T14:15:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/10/03/for-those-about-to-support-triathlete
If endurance athletes are crazy, what does that make the people who love them? Patience and understanding incarnate, with a little crazy mixed in as well.<br /><br />After having to watch an Ironman cheers to Mrs S for all her support this and previous seasons. The odd trip to an exotic local (Kelowna counts, right?) makes it all worthwhile, right?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.active.com/running/Articles/Does-Your-Partner-Support-Your-Training.htm" target="_blank">Does Your Partner Support Your Training? | Active.com</a>
Priceonomics Blog: What Happens to Stolen Bicycles?
2012-09-23T18:40:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/09/23/priceonomics-blog-what-happens-to
Thanks to John Gruber (@gruber) on <a href="http://www.daringfireball.net%e2%80%9d/" target="_blank"> Daring Fireball</a> for pointing out this article on why “a$$holes” steal so many bikes. Was going to take my bike to SF, maybe not after reading this.<br /><blockquote>At <a href="http://www.priceonomics.com/" target="_blank" title="Priceonomics Price Guides">Priceonomics</a>, we are fascinated by stolen bicycles. Put simply, why the heck do so many bicycles get stolen? It seems like a crime with very limited financial upside for the thief, and yet bicycle theft is rampant in cities like San Francisco (where we are based). What is the economic…</blockquote><a href="http://blog.priceonomics.com/post/30393216796/what-happens-to-stolen-bicycles">Priceonomics Blog: What Happens to Stolen Bicycles? </a>
#xkcd: ADD
2012-09-14T09:35:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/09/14/xkcd-add
Week long intensive working group meeting…. so many balloons to grab.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/add.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="555" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/add.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
internal monologue #xkcd
2012-08-01T17:26:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/08/01/internal-monologue-xkcd
A nickel for every time I’ve had this conversation.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/internal_monologue.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/internal_monologue.png" width="372" /></a></div><br />
SKODA Tour De France 2012 Commercial
2012-07-22T15:52:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/07/22/skoda-tour-de-france-2012-commercial
Nice to see the peloton give George and Chris honours to lead them onto the Champs-Élysées. Congrats to Team Sky for an excellent tour, Thomas Voeckler for a reminder to us to HTFU on race day and Jens Voigt for his awesome attacks.<br /><div class="attribution"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gcLU8O6-j64?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div>
A Friend Asks About the Higgs Boson
2012-07-07T00:02:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/07/07/friend-asks-about-higgs-boson
My good friend AO writes:<br /><blockquote><span style="color: #262626;">I am still struggling with how to explain the Higgs boson particle to my friends. Any physicists out there who can help me? The Margaret Thatcher/ Justin Bieber analogy in the paper today did not really help. ☺ </span></blockquote>As a professional in this area I am obligated to respond. My analog would be to hieroglyphics. We pretty much understand these and can interpret all the stories. But say there was one symbol that appeared a lot and, if we misinterpreted it, the rest of our understanding of the other characters would not be consistent. We aren’t sure what the symbol means, but we have some theories and a model that ties it all together that unfortunately has many free parameters (a math-y way of saying that it fits stuff because we pick numbers that let the model work). Also, the stories all make sense so there appears to be no need to change them, but we would really like to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. So we spend decades obsessively devoted to showing that, though we are still not completely sure what the unknown symbol is, no matter what it is the other stories will remain the unchanged.<br /><br />The importance of this result was recognized by the team of Lennon-McCartney, who in a seminal work wrote:<br /><blockquote>I read the news today oh, boy <br />Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire <br />And though the holes were rather small <br />They had to count them all <br />Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall</blockquote><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4xljFT44Y1Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />My personal part of the story is I almost spent my scientific career doing this stuff. I was fortunate enough to have a senior physics seminar with Leon Lederman. I worked a summer at Fermilab back in the 70s. And I sensed that, while intellectually challenging, this field was going nowhere after the glory days of the 50s and 60s. All they were doing at that time was searching for the Higgs Boson. Fast forward to 2012 and they have a statistical resonance in the correct location that will probably, in a couple years, actually turn out to be the Higgs.<br /><br />And that will be that.<br /><br />Sub-atomic physics was the 20th century. The 21st century is about macroscopic, complex systems like the economy, epidemics, weather and climate. You could know everything about a single atom but it won’t allow you to calculate how water will flow down a hill or how a new drug will behave on the molecular level.<br /><br />By the way AO, I also have an extended rant about exoplanet research if you have an afternoon or 5 hour bike ride to kill go ahead, ask.
Dalek: [evenly] "You would make a good Dalek."
2012-06-21T23:16:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/06/21/dalek-evenly-would-make-good-dalek
Thanks to <a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://jillthompson.tumblr.com/post/25489313837/so-much-win-thanks-to-steve-olle-on-fb" target="_blank">jillthompson</a>:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="75%" src="http://d.pr/i/cSfV/2NPE9dBl+" width="“100%" /></div>
The Game is Fast!
2012-06-10T21:30:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/06/10/the-game-is-fast
This angle gives you some idea of how fast the game really is, we get used to super-slow motion and 50 replays! Poor JQ, as an ex-goalie that time between the goal and the faceoff seems like about an hour.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" height="383" id="embed" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://nhl.cdn.neulion.net/u/videocenter-v1/embed.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashVars" value="catid=0&id=181068&server=http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/&pageurl=http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/&nlwa=http://app2.neulion.com/videocenter/nhl/" /><embed name="embed" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://nhl.cdn.neulion.net/u/videocenter-v1/embed.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="383" quality="high" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashVars="catid=0&id=181068&server=http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/&pageurl=http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/&nlwa=http://app2.neulion.com/videocenter/nhl/"></embed></object> </div><br />(via <a href="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=181068&cmpid=twt" target="_blank">Inside the Net Cam: Parise puts Devils ahead Video - NHL VideoCenter</a>)<br /><div class="attribution"><br /></div>
Marty Never Too High or Too Low!
2012-06-07T15:41:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/06/07/marty-never-too-high-or-too-low
<blockquote class="tr_bq">"You know, I think we wanted to make them jump on a plane and come to New Jersey. We had to go anyway. Might as well get a game out of it." </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Marty Brodeur</blockquote><a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2012/06/07/the-old-man-and-the-kid" target="_blank">http://www.torontosun.com/2012/06/07/the-old-man-and-the-kid</a>
May the Ump Be With You
2012-06-04T14:18:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/06/04/may-ump-be-with-you
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.mcclatchydc.com/smedia/2012/06/03/22/29/1ltGU0.SlMa.91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="552" src="http://media.mcclatchydc.com/smedia/2012/06/03/22/29/1ltGU0.SlMa.91.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Darth Vader and the Star Wars crew at the Detroit Tigers game Saturday night. They helped the Tigers beat the Yankees.
@tweedybirdnorth: Here’s your dream job
2012-04-12T15:10:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/04/12/tweedybirdnorth-here-your-dream-job
<div class="posterous_autopost"><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class="p_embed p_image_embed"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/world/europe/a-dutch-churchs-angel-is-in-demand.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" target="_blank">A Dutch Church’s Angel is in Demand</a> via <a href="http://nytimes.com/">nytimes.com</a><br /><br /></div>Maybe instead of an elevator this is what HF should be installing, then you can be the "Little Angel"? There is texting, sexting, would this be pr-exting? Blessexting?</div></div>
#GretchenReynolds reports on the metabolic cost of barefoot running.
2012-03-30T19:07:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/03/30/gretchenreynolds-reports-on-metabolic
<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote><div><p><strong>Correction Appended</strong></p><div><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/03/21/health/21physed_well/21physed_well-blog480.jpg" height="267" alt="Does it take more work to run in sneakers or barefoot?" width="480" /><span>Jordan Siemens/Getty Images</span><span>Can a sneaker improve your performance?</span></div><div><a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/r/gretchen_reynolds/index.html"><img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/06/16/magazine/PhysEd_Pog.jpg" height="125" alt="Phys Ed" width="75" /></a><p><a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/r/gretchen_reynolds/index.html"></a></p></div><p>For the past few years, proponents of barefoot running have argued that modern athletic shoes compromise natural running form. But now a first-of-its-kind study suggests that, in the right circumstances, running shoes make running physiologically easier than going barefoot.</p><p>The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado in Boulder, began by recruiting 12 well-trained male runners with extensive barefoot running experience. “It was important to find people who are used to running barefoot,” says Rodger Kram, a professor of integrative physiology, who oversaw the study, which was published online in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.</p><p>“A novice barefoot runner moves very differently than someone who’s used to running barefoot,” Dr. Kram says. “We wanted to look at runners who knew what they were doing, whether they were wearing shoes or not.”</p><p>Specifically, he and his colleagues hoped to determine whether wearing shoes was metabolically more costly than going unshod. In other words, does wearing shoes require more energy than going barefoot?<span></span></p><div><div><h6>Related</h6><ul><li><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/phys-ed/" title="Phys Ed columns">More Phys Ed columns</a></li><li><a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/features/style/fashionandstyle/series/faster_higher_stronger/index.html" title="Faster, Higher, Stronger">Faster, Higher, Stronger</a></li><li><a href="http://health.nytimes.com/pages/health/nutrition/index.html" title="Fitness and Nutrition">Fitness and Nutrition News</a></li></ul></div></div><p>A few previous studies have suggested that in terms of physiological effort, it’s easier to go barefoot. After all, shoes have mass; they add weight to your feet, and pushing weight through space, as you do with every step while running, demands energy.</p><p>These earlier studies generally concluded that every additional 100 grams (or about 3.5 ounces) added to your feet should increase the energy cost of running by about 1 percent. Over many miles, that 1 percent becomes magnified if you wear heavy running shoes, which can easily weigh 300 to 400 grams or more.</p><p>But for the new study, Dr. Kram and his colleagues wanted to use a relatively lightweight, cushioned shoe. They chose the Nike Mayfly, a model that, as the name intimates, is a flyweight, barely reaching 150 grams.</p><p>The runners were asked to run multiple times on treadmills while either wearing the shoes or not. The runners were never completely barefoot; when unshod, they wore thin yoga socks to protect them from developing blisters and for purposes of basic hygiene on the shared treadmills.</p><p>Next, the researchers taped 150 grams’ worth of thin lead strips to the top of runners’ stockinged feet. By adding an equal amount of weight to the bare foot, they could learn whether barefoot running really was physiologically more efficient than wearing shoes.</p><p>It wasn’t. When barefoot runners and shod runners carried the same weight on their feet, barefoot running used almost 4 percent more energy during every step than running in shoes.</p><p>To the surprise of the researchers, barefoot running, often touted by fans as more natural than wearing shoes, was actually less efficient.</p><p>“What we found was that there seem to be adaptations that occur during the running stride that can make wearing shoes metabolically less costly,” says Jason R. Franz, a doctoral candidate at the University of Colorado who led the study. Shoes, he says, “provide some degree of cushioning.” If you eschew shoes, “something else has to provide the cushioning.”</p><p>That something, he and his colleagues believe, is your legs. If you are barefoot, the job of absorbing some of the forces generated by the collision of foot and ground shifts to your leg muscles, a process that Dr. Kram calls the “cushioning effect.” As a result, the leg muscles contract and work more and require additional energy. The metabolic cost of the activity rises.</p><p>Of course, most barefoot runners don’t head out to jog wearing leaded Band-Aids, as they did in this study. But notably, even when unweighted barefoot running was compared foot-to-foot with running in the Mayflies, the shoes won out. For 8 of the 12 runners, wearing shoes remained slightly more efficient than being barefoot, even though the shoes added more weight.</p><p>It’s important to note that the study looked only at the metabolic efficiency of wearing shoes, compared with going barefoot. The scientists didn’t evaluate the common claim that barefoot running lowers injury risk.</p><p>In the end, the difference in metabolic cost between going barefoot or wearing lightweight shoes is probably of greatest interest to competitive runners. Serious racers might want to mull over the trade-off between having less mass on their feet when barefoot versus having greater potential strain on their leg muscles.</p><p>For the rest of us, the lesson might be that even if you’re not interested in going barefoot, you might want to invest in a slimmed-down trainer. “There is a metabolic cost to wearing really heavy running shoes,” Dr. Franz says. Lightweight models, though, that provide cushioning to spare leg muscles without mass to slow movement may be the physiologically smartest alternative, he says, to being bare.</p><p><em><strong>Correction: March 21, 2012</strong></em></p> <em /><p>An earlier version of this post misstated the weight of running shoes, which may easily weigh 300 to 400 grams, not ounces.</p> <p></p></div></blockquote><div class="posterous_quote_citation"><em>via <a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/making-the-case-for-running-shoes/">well.blogs.nytimes.com</a></em></div> <p>My take home message from this study is their results are consistent with my testing on myself, that I'm a bit faster and more comfortable with a bit of padding underfoot, but not much and the flatter the shoe the better. CSS and I just got the scale out and my Minimus, VFFs and Free 3.0's are all well under 200 g, and I have some Hattori's coming for tri season which are about 150 g. CSS loves his Hattori's, which seem to be a great compromise between low weight, no heel lift and some cushion underfoot (as well as appearing to be tri-perfect with the velcro closure and sock upper).</p></div></div>
On learning a new parlour trick & my #engagement. Smile @ultragirl09 #swimming
2012-03-21T14:51:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/03/21/on-learning-new-parlour-trick-my
<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>It's a big deal to learn a little thing even if lots of other people can do it. Juggling, whistling that kind of thing. So after a few years of false starts and a new commitment to success this swim season I tried again to band-only swim. Most years I quit after a couple times of going 12.5 m and having my legs pointing to the bottom of the pool with my arm cadence at 200. Same when I started again 2 weeks ago after taking at 4+ month break from swimming. </p> <p>But today I relaxed and with calm arm movement swam 50 m LC. Tried it again, 60 s length. Again, 58 s length. What more when I put the paddles on after this set for 8x100 p (no buoy) finally, after at least 10 years of hearing "engage your lats" (and wondering WTF), they engaged. Somewhere Coach BB is smiling!</p> <p>It makes me no never mind that I have friends who are excellent swimmers, like AO, who can effortless swim 1000 m like this without any additional effort. Whether this translates into better racing or not is largely irrelevant, as this was more about the journey that the destination. And it will probably not have a large effect in wetsuit racing. But to as #AmyFarrahFowler says it adds "another arrow to my quiver of whimsy."</p> <p>And hopefully a 1000 straight band swim before summer's end!</p></div>
Congrats to @cnezzy world champion. What are you doing with all the chocolate you won? #LDNont
2012-03-12T12:57:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/03/12/congrats-to-cnezzy-world-champion-what
<div class="posterous_autopost"><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class="p_embed p_image_embed"> </div><div class="posterous_quote_citation"><a href="http://getfile2.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/bobsica/AftIzsFEkBnJqJlhqxfsasfBzpzDmHqwkbhozoEmFjcbobyjuICdualtqCzr/media_httpithestarcom_stIvn.jpg.scaled1000.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://getfile2.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/bobsica/AftIzsFEkBnJqJlhqxfsasfBzpzDmHqwkbhozoEmFjcbobyjuICdualtqCzr/media_httpithestarcom_stIvn.jpg.scaled1000.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.thestar.com/sports/wintersports/article/1144544--canadian-speed-skater-christine-nesbitt-crowned-world-s-best" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;" target="_blank">Canadian speed skater Christine Nesbitt crowned world’s best</a><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">via the Toronto Star</span><br /><br /><br />I heard you won chocolate with each race, so you better share with the entire team or you are going to get a tummy ache! :-) <br />What a day and taking one of Anni Freisinger's track records at her home track is quite an achievement. I hope your taper to Worlds goes as planned. <br />"Canadian speed skater Christine Nesbitt crowned world’s best", from @tostar.</div></div>
RIP Peter Bergman, #FiresignTheater: I’ve spread hamburger all over the highway in #Mystic CT in yer honour #AhClem
2012-03-11T23:16:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/03/11/rip-peter-bergman-firesigntheater-i
<div class="posterous_autopost"><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><blockquote><div><div><a href=""><img alt="" height="152" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/03/10/arts/BERGMAN-obit/BERGMAN-obit-articleInline.jpg" width="190" /></a></div></div><h6>Firesign Theatre/Columbia Records. Clockwise from far right, Peter Bergman, Phil Austin, Phil Proctor and Dave Ossman of the Firesign Theater in 1970.</h6></blockquote><div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://nytimes.com/">nytimes.com</a><br /><br /></div>To Wit, let me flip this little chromium switch here: <br />Mark Time! <br />Clone me Doctor. <br />Take speed my Lord. (Edmond, double Edmond!) <br />He's been up for a week, but he's coming down. <br />Face it people: All I Know is Everything You Know Is Wrong <br />{And even Fletcher must sleep sometime :-( }</div></div>
#TIL Togo did not get near the credit he deserved in saving Nome AK. Thanks #Togo
2012-02-20T16:58:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/02/20/til-togo-did-not-get-near-credit-he
<div class="posterous_autopost"><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class="p_embed p_image_embed"><a href="http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/from-nenana-to-nome-bringing-lifesaving-serum/" target="_blank">Traveling Across Alaska, With Lifesaving Serum</a> via <a href="http://nytimes.com/">nytimes.com</a><br /><br /></div>Spirit of a Racer in a Siberian Husky’s Blood, from the New York Times, describes Togo's near forgotten role in saving the population of Nome in 1925. So when you see Balto in Central Park give some love to the Lead who pulled his team 261 miles across the moving ice of Norton Sound in the dark.</div></div>
@tweedybirdnorth I promise thee many hammers. #MyBrainHurts #KeepItSimple #KISS
2012-02-14T13:00:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/02/14/tweedybirdnorth-i-promise-thee-many
<div class="posterous_autopost"><br /><div class="p_embed p_image_embed"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/valentine_dilemma.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/valentine_dilemma.png" width="600" /></a></div><br /></div><br /></div>
What a #DayOfActivity in #ldnont. Nice to see #uwofa waving their flags
2012-01-21T19:23:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/01/21/what-dayofactivity-in-ldnont-nice-to
<div class="posterous_autopost"><br /><div class="p_embed p_video_embed"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-599b17857645b082" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/get_player"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=https://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?requiressl%3Dyes%26id%3D599b17857645b082%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dblogger%26app%3Dblogger%26cmo%3Dsecure_transport%253Dyes%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1484822627%26sparams%3Drequiressl,id,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D3232D0FA5EE3E3CD283FA319E5862AC00EA03348.5B2966FB3AE8A0C03D84B923656B9931066E3CB3%26key%3Dck2&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D599b17857645b082%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DBPaJtu09Vqy3s8NFE_7tAscClCg&autoplay=0&ps=blogger"><embed src="//www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=https://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?requiressl%3Dyes%26id%3D599b17857645b082%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dblogger%26app%3Dblogger%26cmo%3Dsecure_transport%253Dyes%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1484822627%26sparams%3Drequiressl,id,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D3232D0FA5EE3E3CD283FA319E5862AC00EA03348.5B2966FB3AE8A0C03D84B923656B9931066E3CB3%26key%3Dck2&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D599b17857645b082%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DBPaJtu09Vqy3s8NFE_7tAscClCg&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object></div><br /><br />This video catches some of the day's spirit driven by a beautiful speech by the head of the Sisters of St Joseph’s.<br /><br />The EMD workers are in for a long fight with CAT. Brothers & Sisters "stand up for your rights, don't give up the fight!”<br /></div>
Well done #Obama. Stomped on #SOPA / #PIPA. Stopped #Keystone. You done #AlmaMater proud!
2012-01-19T14:52:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/01/19/well-done-obama-stomped-on-sopa-pipa
<div class="posterous_autopost">So maybe it was worth waiting for a bit or "Roar Lion Roar" from the White House the last few years? The facist bully boys wanted to use eminent domain to steamroller ranchers in the West and keep the rest of us net neutrality, but the Prez got in their faces good! I'm smilin' today.<br />Be the Rain! (or to be more accurate for southern Ontario today, the snow). Hope you enjoy being able to see Neil and the Famly dancing because if SOPA were ever to happen you couldn’t!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="417" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SrSmtC0Skg4?wmode=transparent" width="500"></iframe></div></div>
Computers will NEVER win at #CalvinBall! #xkcd: Game AIs
2012-01-11T17:10:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/01/11/computers-will-never-win-at-calvinball
<div class="posterous_autopost"><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class="p_embed p_image_embed"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/game_ais.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/game_ais.png" width="312" /></a></div><br /></div>and I agree never at Seven Minutes either!</div></div>
@stevefleck @rappstar Crank Call: Ectomorph, Endomorph there’s the rub
2012-01-06T02:28:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2012/01/06/stevefleck-rappstar-crank-call
<div class="posterous_autopost">I needed a few more than 140 characters to make a point that often gets overlooked in this talk about crank length/cadence, etc (and many other position related issues). I called out Steve and Jordan in the title in part because they are tall, lean riders, who might not appreciate what your options reduce to if you are short. They can ride a 15 cm or greater tri drop, and probably 10 cm on a road bike with no problem. Hence, changing crank length is possible in their generous fit box* allowing them even more room to explore. This freedom does not exist for small people with extremely tight fit boxes.<br />Consider a small endomorph like myself. If you use <a href="http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/bikefit.html" target="_blank" title="Empfield pad drop">Dan Empfield's average drop</a> for a person my size riding at 80 degrees you'll find I'm on the low end of drop (e.g. aggressive for distance tri), 7.5 cm, and probably about half (or less) of what tall folks can ride and still be in a fairly relaxed aero position.<br />This situation is a sense related to the seat angle issue: for short people we can move our butts a small amount on the saddle to change our seat angle significantly (a few degrees) while that adjustment is not practical for the big folks as the distances are to far.<br /><br />Don't believe me? Find your favourite short person hop on your road bike and go for a spin. Play around trying difference drops/positions as you roll along. You'll quickly realize as a tall person the issue the small people face: tall people can imitate all the pictures you see of top road and tri riders, while the short people can't be in many of the positions you see (and I want to note here on a scale of flexibility for an AG triathlete I would put myself on the high end, I stretch religiously, this is not a flexibility issue it is just a question of space). Put another way a 5'3" tall person isn't going to be able to flatten their back like Dave Zabriskie.<br /><br />While going to shorter cranks for a tall rider who has sized up to a 180 mm crank for TT they may be able to drop their position enough to <em>significantly</em> reduce their CDA** using a relatively short crank. But I am highly skeptical that <em>significant</em> CDA changes are attainable for small riders who are already in the middle of their fit box. In my case I have ridden as short as 160 mm cranks and now ride 172.5 mm ones with basically the same CDA. Our fit boxes are just not as sensitive to these changes.<br />Riding in the real world on real hills there are real advantages and disadvantages between shorter and longer cranks, but for smaller riders in a TT position crank length is not likely to have a significant effect on CDA. For taller riders the differences may indeed be significant.<br /><br />*******<br />*fit box refers to the area one can adjust a rider's position and still be in an acceptable aero position, e.g. changing seat angle versus dropping bar height.<br />**CDA is short for the product of the drag coefficient times the rider's frontal area; the drag force on the rider is directly proportional to CDA, so a smaller CDA means your position is more aerodynamic.</div>
Boxing Day in the Medway
2011-12-26T23:30:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2011/12/26/boxing-day-in-medway
<div class="posterous_autopost">We got a beautiful, really Fall-like day today on Boxing Day (or Wrestling Day as it is known to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32CwrOZVobo" target="_blank" title="12 days of Christmas">Doug and Bob</a>). The kids went skating down in the Park and we brought our coffee cups over to a lookout on the Medway. If you saw the "teaser" video I posted from there you could hear how quiet and so how pretty it was. So I had some fun with the camera.<br /><br />Oh right, Americans Boxing Day is the day Canadians bring small gifts to there servants for the hard work for them preparing our feasts on the previous day. In our case we gave them the morning off as well, but that's just us!<br /><br /><div class="p_embed p_image_embed"><br /><a href="http://flic.kr/s/aHsjHcAzjt" target="_blank">See 8 photos from our walk on Flickr.</a></div></div>
xkcd: Money Chart. 99% of you REALLY ought to have a look at this.
2011-11-21T20:23:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2011/11/21/xkcd-money-chart-99-of-you-really-ought
<div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><br /><div class="p_embed p_image_embed"><a href="http://xkcd.com/980/" target="_blank">Money Chart</a> via <a href="http://xkcd.com/" target="_blank">xkcd.com</a></div><br />What a phenomenal effort you could spend (not literally, figuratively, see chart) hours looking at this. Do you already know who has more $, the 5 richest rappers or JK Rowling?</div>
#GoodGrief! Something Christmas related I’m not ranting about.
2011-11-18T22:29:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2011/11/18/goodgrief-something-christmas-related-i
<div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/cb-xmas/Photo-Nov-18,-10-58-27-AM.jpg" /></div><br /><div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/11/18/charlie-brown-christmas-ipad/">mashable.com</a></div><br />from Mashable: "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Makes the iPad Feel Like Magic<br />I love Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack and would actually like to try this interactive book version of the story from back in the days you could talk about the Bible and Christmas ON TV!</div>
@xkcd: Family Decals #whatif #touche
2011-09-04T17:54:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2011/09/04/xkcd-family-decals-whatif-touche
<div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/family_decals.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/family_decals.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://xkcd.com/946/">xkcd.com</a></div><br /></div>
Hey Mista Sica when’s recess? "after #Bombardment"
2011-06-08T20:25:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2011/06/08/hey-mista-sica-when-recess-bombardment
<br /><div class="p_embed p_image_embed"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/p230-scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="P230" height="298" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/p230-scaled1000.jpg?w=300" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/p232-scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="P232" height="298" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/p232-scaled1000.jpg?w=300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="p_see_full_gallery"><br /></div></div>
Grad time coming up
2011-06-08T17:18:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2011/06/08/grad-time-coming-up
<p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/p201-scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="P201" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/p201-scaled1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/></div><br/></p>
Some Quality Time in the Ditch, cause if #TheThunderDontGetYaThanTheLightningWill. Wild weather in YXU.
2011-06-05T01:50:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2011/06/05/some-quality-time-in-ditch-cause-if
Saturday long ride. Did a long check before leaving consulting several forecasts, radar, etc. With at worse a 60% chance of showers and no thunderstorms until afternoon it didn’t look too bad, particularly if I headed out east towards Tavistock for a long ride as part of the day’s brick. OK everybody sing together, “A 3 hour tour, A 3 hour tour”. Got through Harrington on the backside of the Lakeside Loop and planned on another 15 min or so before heading back and finishing the loop. Had gotten some rain, a light amount in the first hour, by the time I got to Prospect Hill I put on my rain cape as the showers came and went. Had a Pop Tart and suddenly behind me and to the SW some lightning was happening. Hhmm. Looked north and another cell was activating, with some lightning. Damn. Turned around and started to weigh my prospects and thought I better just head straight back west and split the middle.<br /><br />Within 5 minutes the cells merged. Not good, as the temperature quickly dropped, the wind picked up and the hail started. And the lightning got real bad. I started to hammer towards Harrington, a small town but somewhere that would give me some shelter to wait it out. But it got worse very fast, I stopped counting at 3 s between flash and bang (sound speed nominally is 330 m/s so do the math). I was quickly running out of time and bucking a bad headwind. I wan’t going to make it so I hung on and made it down a hill to a bit of a valley with some trees (mostly cleared farm land here) and brush, lower than the ridge across the road. And I did what I’ve taught for years in this situation, get the hell in a ditch. So I went near not under some trees and curled up in little ball for about 15 min while it downpoured and boomed and flashed.<br /><br />I spent the time alternating thoughts of Maxwell’s equations (particularly Poisson’s equation) trying to reassure myself I was in a deep minimum even if my butt was getting wet because my dry ditch was now filling with water, and staring intently at the weird grass that was growing there (not that kind of grass). This stuff had tall (50 cm) stalks that looked identical to the palm stalks they give you on Palm Sunday. So I tried to alernate my science mind with the warm feeling of Palm Sunday Mass in April down in FLA where it was so warm, because I was getting very cold. The activity died down and I summoned the courage to stand up, accessed the situation and said, well at least I can make it to Harrington and took off. The weather was crazy. The winds switched from southward to north eastward very quickly en route. Weird clouds formed, check out this odd bank, which extended for much farther than the picture.<br /><br /><div class="p_embed p_image_embed"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_1259-scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_1259" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/img_1259-scaled1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a></div></div><br />I don’t quite understand how this odd bank of clouds popped out of the scud that was all around, but I think they are marking the boundary of the cold and warm air which caused the convective activity. So drama over for now I was able to get another couple hours in then warmed up on a pleasant and dry transition run after.<br /><br />Morals of the story are (a) as good as our current forecasting/monitoring equipment is small-scale phenomena can form and grow rapidly, (b) please don’t f*#k around with lightning, stay away from tall objects, get low like in a ditch.<br /><br />And remember while you get weaker, Bob squats in the bush and gets stronger:<br /><br />PO,<br /><br />bob
Adieu Woody
2011-03-18T15:30:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2011/03/18/adieu-woody
<p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image-scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Image" height="776" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image-scaled1000.jpg?w=224" width="580" /></a><br/></div><br/></p>
Canadian Friends Please take a moment and sign this! Bill to require
3-5' for car to pass a bike.
2011-03-01T20:59:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2011/03/01/canadian-friends-please-take-moment-and
<div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><br/> <blockquote><div><br/> <h3><img src="http://xlr8bootcamp.com/images/cyclistkilled.jpg" height="211" alt="" width="500" /></h3><br/> <p>©Ryan Remiorz/ Canadian Press</p><br/> <h3>About Bill 74</h3><br/> <p></p><br/> <p>Ontario Bill 74 passed its first reading in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on May 18th, 2010. The private member's bill, introduced by Parkdale-High Park MPP <a href="http://www.cheridinovo.ca/" title="Cheri DiNovo's Website" target="_blank"><strong>Cheri DiNovo</strong></a>, is intended to make Ontario's roadways safer for cyclists by requiring motorists to give cyclists a wide berth when passing (between 3 and 5 feet depending on the motorist's speed). Fines for motorists breaking this law would range from $310 to $750.</p><br/> <p>On December 10, 2010 Bill 93 received Royal Assent making Nova Scotia the first Canadian Province to enact a one-metre safe passing law. Sixteen US States have 3-foot laws in effect, including Arkansas, Florida, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Illinois, Tennessee, Minnesota, Utah, Wisconsin, Arizona, Oklahoma, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, Maryland and Maine. When passed, Bill 74 will make Ontario the second Canadian province with this type of law. </p><br/> <p>Information on the bill itself can be found <a href="http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=2364" title="Bill 74, Highway Traffic Amendment Act" target="_blank"><strong>HERE</strong></a>. </p><br/> <p>Information on cyclists run down by motorists can be found <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2010/05/14/quebec-cycling-accident.html" target="_blank"><strong>HERE</strong></a> and <strong> <a href="http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Spate cycling accidents leads advocates call public education/3580334/story.html" title="Ottawa Citizen" target="_blank">HERE</a></strong> and <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/09/10/ottawa-hit-and-run-cyclist.html" title="CBC News" target="_blank"><strong>HERE</strong></a>.</p><br/> <p>If you support Bill 74, please fill out the form below. An email will be sent directly to:</p><p><br/> 1. Kathleen Wynne, the Ontario Minister of Transportation<br/> 2. Cheri DiNovo, the originator of the Bill<br/> 3. You </p><br/><p>If you are extra passionate about this cause, please write or email your local Ontario MPP to show your support. You can find your Ontario MPP, organized by electoral district, in the column on your right. Simply copy and paste the sample email below and change the appropriate names when mailing or emailing your MPP.</p><br/> <h3>Email Your Support for Bill 74</h3><br/> <h4>fields with <span>*</span> are required.</h4><br/><br/><br/><div><br/> <br/> <h3>Other Things You Can Do</h3><br/> <h4>check out these great ways you can get involved</h4><br/> <h4>Visit the <strong><a href="http://www.sharetheroad.ca/" target="_blank">Share The Road</a></strong> website for valuable information on how you can support safe cycling.</h4><p></p><br/> <h3> </h3><br/> <h3>Bill 74 Petition</h3><br/> <h4>Print off this petition and get it signed!</h4><br/> <h4>Download the petition <strong><a href="http://xlr8bootcamp.com/bill74.php#" target="_blank">HERE</a></strong>.</h4><br/> <br/> </div><br/> <p> </p><br/></div></blockquote><div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://xlr8bootcamp.com/bill74.php">xlr8bootcamp.com</a></div><br/> <p>I greatly appreciate you support of this Bill.<br/><br />Bob</p></div>
“It’s been hard doing anything…” My year starts tomorrow. I can see theWelcome to MonksVille Sign.
2011-01-02T22:12:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2011/01/02/its-been-hard-doing-anything-my-year
<span style="font-size: small;">Magnolia Electric Company’s Jason Molina did the heavy stuff lifting, some thoughts from me in italics. </span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Almost Was Good Enough (Once)</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">It’s been hard doing anything</span><span style="font-size: small;">winter stuck around so long</span><span style="font-size: small;">I kept trying anyhow and I’m still trying now</span><span style="font-size: small;">just to keep working just to keep working</span><span style="font-size: small;">I remember when it didn’t use to be so hard<em> (newsflash: 55 just ain’t the new 33, don’t believe the hype)</em></span><span style="font-size: small;">this used to be impossible <em>(no longer for sure)</em></span><span style="font-size: small;">A new season has to begin</span><span style="font-size: small;">I can feel it leaning in whispering “Nothing’s lonely now”</span><span style="font-size: small;">Nothing anymore in pain <em>(No Pain, maybe I’ll write that down for the bag at the turn around in OK Falls on the run. With my can of Red Bull)</em></span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: small;"><em></em></span><span style="font-size: small;">A tall shadow dressed how secrets always dress</span><span style="font-size: small;">when they want everyone to know that they ‘re around</span><span style="font-size: small;">leaning in whispering “my friend over there</span><span style="font-size: small;">don’t know what [s]he’s talking about” <em>(and I will trust her wisdom on this one, in case you’re wondering)</em></span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: small;">Did you really believe</span><span style="font-size: small;">that everyone makes it out? <em>(we are all not winners. never forget that)</em></span><span style="font-size: small;">Almost no one makes it out <em>(I say this over and over on those long ugly rides and every 30 s after 3 hr on the run)</em></span><span style="font-size: small;">I’m going to use that street to hide</span><span style="font-size: small;">from that human doubt</span><span style="font-size: small;">to hide from what was shining</span><span style="font-size: small;">and has finally burned us out</span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">But if no one makes it out</span><span style="font-size: small;">How come you’re talking to one right now</span><span style="font-size: small;">for once almost was good enough <em>(for once in 2008, but that was long ago and its 2011 and there is still a very bad taste on my lips, that I’m hoping will keep me thirsty until I can drink at the well Aug 28).</em></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: small;"><em>So tomorrow my journey begins. I am completely detached from it at this point. Just one of my parallel universes that we all drift through. Nothing to see here people until at least June. Have to avoid my propensity for peaking too early with my AAA in August. But in the immortal words of DareDevil, “time to get off this pity kick and start using some muscle."</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="font-style: normal;">PO,</span></em></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="font-style: normal;">boB</span></em></span><br /><br /><br /><br />
Why we like art, the Bern Bears face-off with the Joisey Tigers,
Weather Report SWEET
2010-11-29T21:53:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2010/11/29/why-we-like-art-bern-bears-face-off
<div>Long day and physical/mental collapse loom so in new world order. </div><p /><div>On the run today I finally realize why art is different from science and why we like it.</div> <p /><div>Back to that, on the run it was snowy, first snow run of the year. Up river like Kurtz got to the Baren Park. SOB they do have bears here, in this tiered hillside with a moat at the bottom and a fence at the top 3 of the fabled Bears of Bern and this Tiger ate his hat, you weren't kidding KW. Mamma Brownie with 2 cubs having a grand old time doing the bear thing with a few gronking tourist and an old guy who didn't even slow down, I mean in Fairbanks this would be common place, PPPAATTTTT, where's the magnum that bar' is back in the yard again.</div> <p /><div>What does that have to do with art, simple cause I was on the run heading downriver, and got on these lonely snow covered trails in a flurry with the sun popping in and out and Weather Report Suite never sounding better (as if that could happen) and a pelican flew by (cold for a pelican I would have thought) and Crows (not my Crows, locals) crying.</div> <p /><div>And yeah and more Euro-dogs, one woman leading about a DOZEN dogs all well behaved, big doggy dogs and ALL off-lead, I ran right through them, wow.</div><p /><div>So I thinking I'm happy and how it resonated with me and it all became clear in the moment people, about how similar happiness and resonance are. When it's good it is on and you know it. So I think what happens is we like different stimulus, whether art, music, food, whatever because we are all similar in the frequencies we experience, but all different in how these frequencies interact with us, you know, in the broad picture we experience the same frequency envelope but our uniqueness is in what grabs us in narrow little happy bands, like Jerry's guitar or running hard up the big hill home. And my frequencies peak (shift) to just slightly different places then yours. It is why are molecules are in a sense different and how they interact so we are just systems of these systems so I don't see that this is much of a stretch. These resonances are deeper then our conscious brain, which mucks up everything anyway by trying to explain, explain, explain.</div> <p /><div>No one tell Paul Harvey this, cause it is at the rest of the story and he might be dead anyway?</div><p /><div>So Were-wolfs of London, Bears of Bern, Tiger of Tenafly, Mustangs of Western etc, I'm almost out of here. But this is Bern and this is where in 1905 as a young, probably considered eccentric kind of guy named Albert Einstein, who was as famous at the time as that mosquito you killed last July, was a patent clerk here, and he walked these same streets and realized if you ran with a mirror at the speed of light you couldn't see yourself in it and the rest is history.</div> <p /><div>So on the way to the meeting today we, I realized, I had resonated in the same place, only separated only by time. And yeah we had a good science chat as well at the Meeting!</div><p /><div><div class="lyrics_text" style="font-size:14px;line-height:19px;"> <b>"</b>Winter grey and falling rain, we'll see summer come again,<br />Darkness falls and seasons change (gonna happen every time).<br />Same old friends the wind and rain, Summers fade and roses die,<br />You'll see summer come again, Like a song that's born to soar the sky."</div> <p /><div class="lyrics_text" style="font-size:14px;line-height:19px;">boB<br /><p /></div></div><div> <br /><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/photo.jpg"><img alt="Photo" height="435" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/photo.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/></div><br/></div>
Stereotypes
2010-11-28T19:14:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2010/11/28/stereotypes
I love stereotypes. What I mean is a love when a stereotype is a <br />stereotype because it is correct. I'm particularly stoked tonight as I <br />think I got just about all of 'em out of my system in less than 6 hrs <br />in Switzerland. <p /> In no particularly order. <p /> Saw a St. Bernard (no barrel around neck; oh year Amy P a beagle too. <br />Also Euro dogs, hanging out in malls/trains/etc, hey that's one too). <br />None of the dogs were smoking. <p /> Saw a Swiss Army knife store. <p /> Saw Swiss Balls in a furniture store. <p /> My hotel has Lindt and Tolberone bars. And Ricola (only one I missed <br />today was the guys with the long horns cause...) <p /> On the train connecting gates at the Airport they projected on the <br />tunnel walls at one point a short video that had both a hot "Swiss <br />Miss" in the hot "Swiss Miss" outfit smiling and waving, plus a cow <br />moo'ing in the background. Would have made Mrs. Sica homesick. <p /> General Euro stereotype: walking back from dinner saw a student <br />protest about who knows what, with the riot police in full kit <br />following them. Why I don't know, they were politely writing their <br />slogans in chalk. <p /> Everything by the train tracks was tagged in Zurich, many with the F <br />word (en anglais). <p /> Ikea, MacDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks (had a lunch in Zurich, 2 <br />close to the hotel here), H&M (well they are Swedish). <p /> Asked directions in a Swatch store. <p /> etc. <p /> PO, <br />boB <p /> ps: torn between iPad or an 11" MBA? 15 min after getting off the <br />train in Bern I had 300 mb of 3G iPad data for $20 including a <br />microsim card. Try that with an Air! <p /> ppss Chey, check out these Cons, an American icon how'd Switzerland <br />get all the leather/faux fur lined ones including the knee highs (see <br />photo). <p /> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pUa99K-JiT67gARU5gIAlg?feat=directlink&fgl=true&pli=1">http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pUa99K-JiT67gARU5gIAlg?feat=directlink&f...</a>
VPN for People with a Life
2010-11-11T01:19:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2010/11/11/vpn-for-people-with-life
<p>… where we do something a bit different and talk some tech</p><br/><p>OK people, I’m stepping into some new ground here and doing so occasional tips, tricks and tech stuff I have learned. Not just computers, but bikes and anything else (like maybe even TF’s awesome place to get tires online). So today I’m starting with something I posted as a warning the other day and a few of you comment on, the latest in a line of threats one faces using open public wifi nets. This one, firesheep, can be easily downloaded, run by basically anyone and provides a graphical interface so you can jack peoples unsecure browsing session, like facebook. The post I read is this one from Mashable: <span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;border-collapse:collapse;"><a href="http://mashable.com/2010/10/28/firesheep-vpns/">http://</a><span class="il"><a href="http://mashable.com/2010/10/28/firesheep-vpns/">mashable</a></span><a href="http://mashable.com/2010/10/28/firesheep-vpns/">.com/2010/10/28/firesheep-vpns/</a>.</span></p><br/><p><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse:collapse;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse:separate;">Enough is enough so I bit the bullet and took some time to try to sort out this VPN stuff. Long story short, VPN allows you to get use an encrypted connection on an open network. First think I quickly concluded there were plenty of roll your own solutions possible and that I wasn’t going to have the time/effort level to do any of them myself. So I was going to go with a commercial service. The arrays of potential providers is huge, and I checked out a few of the bigger players, e.g. strongvpn (the biggest, baddest and most option rich, like trying to weed through godaddy to get a domain), hotspotvpn, purevpn and WiTopia. </span></span></span></span></p><br/><p>Here’s a list of urls for you: <a href="feed://feeds.pinboard.in/rss/u:bobsica/t:vpn" title="vpn links" target="_blank">feed://feeds.pinboard.in/rss/u:bobsica/t:vpn</a></p><br/><p>I spoke/chatted with several of the companies, and with vpn customer service seems to be important, they were all very willing to help me out. Prices range from a couple dollars to over $30 a month depending on what you want. For the purposes of what I wanted, security in public places, ability to use OpenVPN (best for laptop) but still getting decent PPTP vpn (what you have to use on an iOS device like a touch, iPhone or iPad) protection I went with WiTopia. I like paying for a year rather than by the month and $70 / 12 months looks like a good deal. I’m using iOS device plus a Macbook Pro: installation was a breeze. Connection worked instantly, I tried using IPs both in the States and Canada I got downloads faster than my local ISP. And BTW on you iDevice it works either on wifi or on 3G. Cool.</p><br/><p>Verdict: I’m not willing to forego being the kind of loser who uses his laptop/iPad/iPhone everywhere, but I’m not longer willing to be an easy mark for a black-hat loser either. So I’m cool with the < $6/month I’m shelling out. Especially if I can get anyone else to play <a href="http://www.foursquare.com" title="foursquare" target="_blank">foursquare</a> with me. :-)</p><br/><p>Surf safe,</p><br/><p>boB</p>
OUAA Cross Country Championships
2010-10-31T02:23:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2010/10/31/ouaa-cross-country-championships
<p><span style="font-size:x-small;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/><div><span style="font-size:x-small;"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKo72UIap4U?wmode=transparent]</span></span></div><br/><p /><br/>Time is short but I wanted to get these pictures and video up before I get on a plane tomorrow for the CANDAC workshop in Halifax. Congratulations to the team for a great season and showing a lot of character on a tough course today.</span></span></p><br/><div><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Pappa Sica</span></div><br/><p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0845-scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0845" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0845-scaled1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0809-scaled-1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0809" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0809-scaled-1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0812-scaled-1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0812" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0812-scaled-1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0814-scaled-1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0814" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0814-scaled-1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0818-scaled-1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0818" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0818-scaled-1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0822-scaled-1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0822" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0822-scaled-1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0824-scaled-1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0824" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0824-scaled-1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0826-scaled-1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0826" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0826-scaled-1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0830.jpg"><img alt="Img_0830" height="435" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0830.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0831-scaled-1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0831" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0831-scaled-1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0833-scaled-1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0833" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0833-scaled-1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0835-scaled-1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0835" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0835-scaled-1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0837-scaled-1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0837" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0837-scaled-1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0841-scaled-1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0841" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0841-scaled-1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><a href="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0843-scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0843" height="433" src="http://bobsica.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_0843-scaled1000.jpg?w=300" width="580" /></a><br/><div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://blog.bobsica.com/ouaa-cross-country-championships">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div><br/></div><br/></p><br/><p> </p>
Lecture Report
2009-09-17T23:58:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2009/09/17/lecture-report
<div>(the following silliness is for trigeeks only)</div>Lecture Report<br /><div>Physics 2070/2700 Lecture 1</div><div>Tuesday Sept 15, 2009</div><div><br /></div><div>Short version: went over course outline, lectured on the Sun. Best solar lecture in Ontario on Tuesday, M50-54, 1hr 38 min 12 sec</div><div><br /></div><div>Long version:</div><div><br /></div><div>All week I had been tense knowing about Tuesday's lecture. When I got signed up to do the lecture last May by my Chair it seemed so far off. I worked hard all summer not thinking and trying to talk for only minutes at a time so I would be ready on the big day. And it came! I barely slept a wink Monday night, and was only half-asleep at 3:30 when the alarm rang. I got up and had my pre-lecture breakfast of sardines, tuna, pickled herring and buttermilk. At 5:27 I left for the lecture site. I had checked and re-checked my lecture bag and new I had what I needed for this 2 lecture hour endurance test: cup of tea, power cord, laptop, green laser pointer & iphone. I sat outside the room and waited for my turn to enter.</div><div><br /></div><div>At 1120 the class using the room last filed out and I made my way in. As the students filed in I set up my lecture area (L1) with my electronics. I tested the internet connection and waited, first for the yellow flag signaling 5 min to start, then the green flag meaning 1 min. 1130 came and I found myself in a panic saying "Hello, my name is Prof. Sica". I steadied myself and remembered how I got here, the hours of training and practice in kindergarden, primary school, secondary school, tertiary school and a postdoc. I got in a good rhyme and fired up the browser to the class outline, deftly pulling the browser window off my laptop screen onto the projection screen. I had a good rhythm thought the outline and handled most of the points well, my intent stares stopping any poor soul's questions with a glance.</div><div><br /></div><div>Onto the last section on Religious Accommodation I let up a bit preparing myself for the transition from the course outline on Preview to the Keynote lecture on the Sun. I had struggled at this point other years, in particularly with GI problems and knew this was a terrible part of the day to have gas. Fortunately my low fiber eating paid off. I closed the window and quickly switched from the campus network to a private wireless network and my iPhone hooked up like I had practiced and took control of the first slide using Keynote Remote.</div><div><br /></div><div>From here it was easy, as I tend to have more trouble with the class information sheet and rules than the lecture content. I avoided tripping over the explanation of power output for the Sun, and heading into the final part of the lecture on the future state of the Sun over the next several billion years I realized I had a PB going, as I usually just skip this bit. I didn't run the java applet of the process on the last slide, but got the essence of the diagram explained.</div><div><br /></div><div>After the lecture I answered some questions and headed home, where Pat greeted me with a warm hug. Without her constant help I never could do have done this. I also want to thank my parents for their constantly reminding me to do my homework, Columbia University, University Alaska, everyone there, thanks so much.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now do you understand why I NEVER WRITE RACE REPORTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>haha,</div><div>boB</div>
Quiet Dignity and Grace
2009-09-05T22:08:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2009/09/05/quiet-dignity-and-grace
Quiet Dignity and Grace<br /><div><br /></div><div>Well it wasn't my A day at IMC last week, in fact it was a PW rather than a PB.<sup><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4599947215754335931&postID=7065642806492628271#FOOTNOTE-1">1</a></sup> But I am a scientist, and the scene below describes my feeling succinctly:</div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mC-mO-WtVJo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mC-mO-WtVJo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><div><br /></div><div>(ahhh what a movie huh?)</div><div><br /></div><div>My race result was not unexpected after losing so much training time in May and June. Never got to race much so I had a decent base but no "pop" (e.g. lots of cake and no icing?). So while I ran the marathon I ran at (for me & most hominoids) a glacial pace. Vignettes:</div><div><ul><li>picked a good "hole" in the swim pack at the start and had little contact the entire race. Unfortunately swam by the turn buoy by quite a bit which didn't help an already slow swim.</li><li>my transitions where reasonable fast, both < 4 min</li><li>excellent pacing/ride to 160 km. Last 20 km supposed to be recovery (mostly downhill) but the Okanagan Valley had 3 weather surprises Sunday: warmed up 5 deg from the temperatures of the last week (low 30's), a dense layer of forest fire smoke blew in and hung at about 500 m above the surface and a wicked headwind kicked up in the last 20 km of the bike which sucked the life out of me. Lost 10-15 min on this piece.</li><li>held run together for about 6 km or so, then my pace just decayed for the next 30 km or so. I could only run fast enough to sneak by the walkers but the runners would blow by me. Am curious to find out how many places I picked up in run but I think lots, I've never seen so many people walking in a race. Saw a deer hop by on the course. Answered the trivia question at the Peachtree Runners booth at Mile 21 but the guy on the mike took the answer from the crowd, not me :-( (it was the 3 Company's Theme, I said it first damn it!).</li></ul><div>Race goals:</div><div><ul><li>I did manage to find Pat and the kids in the last 300 m and get my cowboy hat to finish in</li><li>I did do a quick <a id="h.nm" href="http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1639351" target="_blank" title="with a baseball bat">peanut butter and jelly time</a> at the finish (AO tell O.F.)</li><li>I didn't beat my 11:37 time from 1990.</li><li>I didn't finish top 20 in my AG.</li></ul></div><div>So thanks to all of you that sent kind words before and condolences after, and have been waiting to hear it I had jumped off the Physics Building or what. I really appreciated it and carried your thoughts with me through the long day. Special thanks go to The Coach, who manages to put up with me and requires I keep it real. AO who gives me full bandwidth to her right ear and "listens" to all my moaning: great training partners are hard to find and I am lucky. CSS and CSS (should have thought about that before we named 'em, huh?) were awesome with race support. CSS is running now and CSS is doing tris and vows to do the entire Subaru series next summer and I hope to join him. Cause, in those now famous words of AO:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size:130%;">I'M NOT DOING IRONMAN THIS (2010) YEAR!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Coach has decided she can make a short courser out of me and I am both skeptical and willing to tri. </div><div><br /></div><div>And lastly but not leastly 3 cheers for PjS and her high tolerance to living with a triathlete. And defying all the draft people and course cones to get me into the Burger King drive thru line after the race.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stay tuned here cause I'm doing the Muskoka 70.3 next Sunday, as are many TS people (don't ask why, I believe the argument I got was "Hey, you don't have to train for it and it will be fun.") AO is organizing a pool, you each put in $5 and guess how many km I can run before I blow. Contact her for details, she has seen me post-IMC and has already bought in for 2, 3 and 4 km. She is betting with her head and not her heart, but I'll give you folks a tip. I did a tempo piece on the Port Stanley hills today on the and appear to have a little bit left in my legs. I'll see how my first post-race run goes tomorrow.</div><div><br /></div><div>PO,</div><div>boB</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><sup>1 </sup><a name="FOOTNOTE-1"></a>Personal Worst/Best
Surviving in the Desert
2009-08-14T20:22:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2009/08/14/surviving-in-desert
Surviving in the Desert<br /><table style="width:auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QcUevLRNkIxxfRj4zcBjSA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_h27ICAFKOFA/SoW8tYIzobI/AAAAAAAAA5g/4d8JNouS61I/s400/photo.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Bob.Sica/DropBox?feat=embedwebsite">Drop Box</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I haven't written in a bit but with the race coming up and training leveling off I'll have to get more words out. Been keeping with the big hours since Steelhead which leaves little time for much beyond swim, bike, run, repeat.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have 2 brilliant friends, fellow members of the professoriate and knowledge in many thing. I have heard them quoted on the CBC, newspapers, etc. Their expertise is far ranging, and spills into all areas except geography. They attempted to convince me I am in a desert (see above photo from of few minutes ago of water pouring out the drain spouts on the OK Falls OP-centre). I confess to not being a geographer either, but I know a bit about weather and offer the following observations from this morning.</div><div><ul><li>At noon today the temperature was 11 C (50 F). Noon is the period in the <i>middle</i> of the day, as <i>opposed</i> to midnight (gee it cools off so much in the desert at <i>midnight</i>).</li></ul><ul><li>The "desert" we are in has at least 6 gigantic lakes. These lakes are full of water. Many deserts, like say the Sahara or the Gobi, are often characterized by their <i>lack</i> of millions of liters of standing water, much of which I'm guessing came from the sky and was not trucked in from Vancouver.</li></ul><ul><li>The profs mentioned that there are scorpions about. I'm sure they were here on a reunion tour in 2003 where they did a blowout encore of "Rock You Like a Hurricane" to 5000 fans at the Penticton Stockyards.</li></ul><ul><li>At yesterdays ride the profs were wearing vests, arm warmers and possibly thermal underwear. Presumably this was to avoid skin damage from dust storms?</li></ul></div><div>(wait my fingers are numb, I'm turning up the gas fireplace in the condo now, be right back)</div><div><br /></div><div>Where was I, oh yeah, the desert. I got to take in the beautiful desert views from the completely empty lake, where my only companion for my mid-morning swim was a loon-like bird (presumably a desert loon). Not a soul was on the beaches, nor did a single boat push off its mooring. Presumably this is because the locals no better than to venture out in the heat of the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of way cool note: near the beginning of my swim I looked down in the clear lake and saw a large (3/4 m) moving black cloud. I dove down and it was a ga-zillion tiny fishies all swimming together (back to school early out here?).</div><div><br /></div><div>It is rumored to be warming up here during the week, so I'll grant this place a charitable semi-arid rating. Last time I was here in 1990 we camped the week before the race with our 2 little babies and a crappy tent, and whiled away the hours in the campground bathroom trying to stay warm as it rained day after day. 19 years later and I'm happy to have moved to the living room with a fireplace.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Anyway we can,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We're gonna find something</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We'll dance in the garden</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In torn sheets in the rain</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We're the deadbeat club</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We're the deadbeat club</i></div><div><br /></div><div>OK, got to run. Literally, I got some intervals to do before the thunderstorms purge the region in the afternoon of all whose consciouses are not clean.....</div><div><br /></div><div>PO,</div><div>boB</div></div><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/24Bl44jDtGcm3us7MYl_WQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_h27ICAFKOFA/SoW82GBdQ9I/AAAAAAAAA5o/fI7Ub8SlPc4/s400/photo.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Bob.Sica/DropBox?feat=embedwebsite">Drop Box</a></td></tr></tbody></table>
The Kolomogorov Spectrum
2009-04-10T00:52:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2009/04/10/kolomogorov-spectrum
<div><img src="http://docs.google.com/File?id=dfjf9qth_375m65vrdhb_b" style="width: 330px; height: 181px; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px" id="zxmi" /></div><div><a id="u_2g" href="http://blog.bobsica.com/" title="The Kolomogorov Spectrum">The Kolomogorov Spectrum</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>Yeah, maybe yesterday I should have taken a step back there and thought maybe everyone doesn't think a lot about eddies in fluids. An eddy is the rotating swirls you see in a moving river. What happens is these large scale whirls rapidly break down into smaller and smaller whirls. In this manner a fluid can transfer energy from large scales to individual molecules. So watching the vortices in the river yesterday you can watch them getting smaller and well, you get it now, right? The math-y way to describe this is called the Kolomogorov spectrum and is like the Matryoshka (nesting) dolls on the right here: each doll is similar but exists at a smaller and smaller scale.</div><div><br /></div><div>The famous fluid dynamicist Lewis Fry Richardson summarized all this in a rhyme:</div><br /><div><i>Big whorls have little whorls that feed on their velocity,</i></div><div><i>and little whorls have lesser whorls and so on to viscosity.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Viscosity is the term for friction in a fluid, in a higher viscosity fluid (like honey) molecules have stronger forces between one another and flow past each other slower than a lower viscosity fluid (like water).</div><br /><div>Now you know the rest of the story...</div>
My Whole Life
2009-02-22T22:29:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2009/02/22/my-whole-life
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h27ICAFKOFA/SaHVFd4mn0I/AAAAAAAAAQk/AbeHeM8uofU/s1600-h/FamBW.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_h27ICAFKOFA/SaHVFd4mn0I/AAAAAAAAAQk/AbeHeM8uofU/s320/FamBW.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305756125917257538" border="0" /></a>If I don't write something I'll spend the next 5 years with a mind to post something grand. So if I haven't talk to you in like 30 years or whatever this is my entire life.<br /><ol><li>I went to Columbia University in the City of New York after attending Tenafly High School. I noticed a month or 2 after being there 4 years I had a degree, I think in Physics. It is in Latin, which despite me being a well rounded liberal arts graduate is Greek to me.</li><br /><li>I went from there to U Colorado for grad school in, hold on, "astrogeophysics" (talk about amalgamating programs) with the former Pat Crelling, whom many of you reading this may have had the pleasure of meeting.</li><br /><li>Stayed there 1 year up in the mountains, with Richie Furay from Poco as my neighbor (though never met him he supposedly did the road plowing) in a geodesic dome with no insulation and no heat. "A Good Feeling to Know" was more like "I Freezin' and Its 20 below". I couldn't find a project I liked and had an itch to get back to Alaska. Ending up doing my PhD at the Geophysical Institute of the U of A in Fairbanks measuring winds and temperature in the upper atmosphere and the influence of the Northern Lights on them. Ms. Crelling morphed to Mrs. Sica. Left in 1984.</li><br /><li>Did a postdoc at Utah State (Logan). 1987 gave us son (Cassady), 1988 daughter (Cheyenne). Loved living behind the Zion curtain. So many sins, so little time as they say in Utah.</li><br /><li>When Chey was 2 months old I got my job here at UWO, where I still am (London, ON), as is Pat. I'm still in University, just getting paid rather than paying. Pat did yeoman service with the kids full time. They are both in 3rd year University now, Cass is at Brock in a program to get a teaching degree (wants to be a Phys Ed teacher), Chey at Queens University is into Geology.</li><br /><li>Pat got a job a few months back as a video game tester for a company in London. She apparently was so good at this they are having her help with game design. Who'd a figured that, she is charitably not strong with computers and spent considerable time making sure our kids didn't play any video games. "When life looks like EZ street there is danger at your door." In January the company essentially folded and about 20 folks lost their jobs. :-(</li><br /><li>I spend my free time training for distance triathlon, which translates to I have no free time. Must have been trying to run that Hunger Walk in Grade 9 that inspired me (see previous post)!</li><br /><li>My parents are no longer with us, my Dad lost a cancer battle in 2000 and my Mom joined him in early 2004. They were living in Toms River at the time, so my kids have good memories of going to the Shore every summer and chillin' at Island Beach.</li><br /><li>When my Mom died we had to go back to take care of things and I took them through Tenafly, then over the GWB. I managed to find my old house but it had changed so much I couldn't even recognize the corner. That being said I'm proud to be a Joisee Boy and thank God for Joisee Girls.<br /><br />Tweaked version of one of my first fboo letters to VA. VA, if you can forget you are married I can recycle my own words, just like I do with my lectures. :-)<br /><br />So people that's the past, on to the future!<br /></li><br /></ol>
IM (partially) back to the real world
2008-06-29T19:13:00+00:00
http://bobsica.com/2008/06/29/im-partially-back-to-real-world
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h27ICAFKOFA/SGff7ktObkI/AAAAAAAAAJw/Ox3suBCQWRQ/s1600-h/imcdafin08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h27ICAFKOFA/SGff7ktObkI/AAAAAAAAAJw/Ox3suBCQWRQ/s320/imcdafin08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217384907890650690" border="0" /></a>Sorry Yogi, but I have dropped the bear I have been carrying on my back for 4 years now. Pat and I have happily returned from the wilds of Coeur d'Alene Idaho, where I have <i>veni,</i> <i>vidi,</i> <i>vici'ed</i> Ironman Coeur d'Alene (at least as much as I'm going to vici it). My "thing" (in the parlance of the time... or some other time) for awhile now has been triathlons, which I have done on and off for 21 years now. I got back into the Ironman triathlon thing in 2004 and 5 IMs later I have finally achieved my goal: to beat my time from 1990 when I did IM Canada. We all have our peculiarities, right? So what I have mostly been doing is swimming, biking, running and drinking way to much coffee.<br /><br />So what is next. For my tri friends, who understand, it is only the beginning of the race season so we don't quit now, right? There will be a big race in Muskoka, Ontario (Cottage Country) in early September, which will bring out all the best Ontario triathletes (for those from outside the area you might be surprised to know that Ontario is one of North Americas (and the worlds) keenest regions for triathlon), and we'll all be pumped for that. Then I plan on doing the World Championship Ironman triathlon in October in Kona, Hawaii.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Everything else:</span> Pat (my wife) is putting her energy into her work testing and developing video games for BeanBag Software in London. The kids are both home from University, Cass (my son) is chillin' for now after working in a education program teaching kids outdoor skills and biology as part of his resume building to be become a teacher and Cheyenne (my daughter) is working too much at a research job in the Geology Department at Western during the week and her old job in Retail on the weekends. Take a break girl!<br /><br />More on tri for sure and anything else exciting that might happen in the coming months (but don't hold your breath on that).<br /><br />PO,<br />bob