As mentioned in a previous post I had a doctors appointment last Friday and was hoping to take my bike on an official trip, not just a joy ride. Well, that didn't happen. I had other stuff to do, like drop off the recycling, and the storage capabilities of a motorcycle are somewhat lacking. Plus the weather didn't look too promising.
Thankfully, the doctor decided I needed some fasting blood work done, so Saturday morning at 6:30 I am on my way to the hospital lab for blood work. On my bike of course. It was 48 degrees out and pretty foggy. I closed the vents on my helmet, but it was still a pretty chilly ride. By the time I got to the lab, I was also pretty wet driving through the fog. It is amazing how much moisture is in fog. The ride home was much warmer with the sun shining brightly.
No problems on the ride, in fact it was nice to ride the open road. Of course, at 6:30 on a Saturday morning there isn't much traffic either.
I was able to carry my paperwork and other items in a backpack I purchased. It worked perfectly.
This weekend is Thunder In the Valley. I am not sure if I will attend the main event in Johnstown or some of the surrounding events like the Nanty Glo Pool n Pork or the Ebensburg Wheels and Wings. Either that or I will be a rebel and have my own one man ride! Thunder at Doe Valley!
Until then, keep on thinking....
June 20, 2013
June 13, 2013
Cell Phone Use, Which Ear / Hand?
The other day I read a study from JAMA about which ear is used to listen on a cell phone. Here are the results:
Results A total of 717 surveys were returned. Ninety percent of the respondents were right handed, and 9% were left handed. Sixty-eight percent of the right-handed people used the cell phone in their right ear, 25% in the left ear, and 7% had no preference. Seventy-two of the left-handed respondents used their left ear, 23% used their right ear, and 5% had no preference. Cell phone use averaged 540 minutes per month over the past 9 years.
You can read the entire report for yourself here: JAMA: Hemispheric Dominance and Cell Phone Use
After reading these results I thought they were crazy. Why would a right handed person use their right hand to talk on a phone? It doesn't make any sense. How do you write things down or perform other tasks while talking on the phone and your right (dominate) hand is holding a phone.
Today, I decided to take my own survey and prove the medical professionals wrong. Obviously, my sample size was significantly smaller, however, my survey data provided the same results as the medical professionals.
It just doesn't make sense to me. When I talk on the phone I use my left hand, holding the phone to my left ear. My right hand is dominate and free to do other things while talking on the phone. It just makes sense!
Am I crazy or is everyone else?
Still thinking here in Doe Valley.
Results A total of 717 surveys were returned. Ninety percent of the respondents were right handed, and 9% were left handed. Sixty-eight percent of the right-handed people used the cell phone in their right ear, 25% in the left ear, and 7% had no preference. Seventy-two of the left-handed respondents used their left ear, 23% used their right ear, and 5% had no preference. Cell phone use averaged 540 minutes per month over the past 9 years.
You can read the entire report for yourself here: JAMA: Hemispheric Dominance and Cell Phone Use
After reading these results I thought they were crazy. Why would a right handed person use their right hand to talk on a phone? It doesn't make any sense. How do you write things down or perform other tasks while talking on the phone and your right (dominate) hand is holding a phone.
Today, I decided to take my own survey and prove the medical professionals wrong. Obviously, my sample size was significantly smaller, however, my survey data provided the same results as the medical professionals.
It just doesn't make sense to me. When I talk on the phone I use my left hand, holding the phone to my left ear. My right hand is dominate and free to do other things while talking on the phone. It just makes sense!
Am I crazy or is everyone else?
Still thinking here in Doe Valley.
June 12, 2013
Not so fast Florida's Natural!
While I was grocery shopping last week at Wal*Mart, I noticed a new item, Grower's Pride juice made by the parent company of Florida's Natural. The price was lower than the Wal*Mart branded Great Value product. I picked up a carton and something caught my eye. See if you see what I saw.
Yep, there it is. 59 ounces. Not the 64 ounces that we are all used too! When you factor in the 5 missing ounces, the product is not cheaper per ounce than the Great Value brand.
Nice try Florida's Natural, but you can't catch me!
June 11, 2013
Response from Rep. White
I knew when (if) I got a response from Representative Don White it would not be supporting my position. Rep. White is a cosponsor of the legislation that will raise the gas tax for Pennsylvanians. For whatever reason he does not e-mail. He chooses to use the postal service with his fancy bonded letterhead. It seems to me, that is just another waste of taxpayer money.
June 10, 2013
Shadow Adventures - First Fill-up
I bought some biker boots on Saturday and was itching to try them out. I wasn't sure what I wanted for boots and most are expensive. I saw a great deal on some Harley Davidson boots, but they were too tight. So I got these GBX Dorado boots, not bad for $9!
I knew that I needed some gas in the bike as well, so what better way to test out the boots than to do a road trip for fuel.
The local gas station is about a mile away and should take about 5 minutes to get to. But of course that is not the gas station I opted to patronize. I went to Sheetz, which is several towns away. It was a great ride. The boots felt perfect.
The trip involved some rural roads, two lane and four lane highways. There wasn't much traffic. The temperature was nice with a light breeze. The trip was about 35 miles and took about an hour.
I filled up with 104 miles on the tank and it took about 1.6 gallons, so that equates to around 63 miles per gallon. Not too bad.
I am hoping for a road trip on Friday where I will actually have several stops to make. I still need to research saddlebags or some other type of storage options.
I knew that I needed some gas in the bike as well, so what better way to test out the boots than to do a road trip for fuel.
The local gas station is about a mile away and should take about 5 minutes to get to. But of course that is not the gas station I opted to patronize. I went to Sheetz, which is several towns away. It was a great ride. The boots felt perfect.
The trip involved some rural roads, two lane and four lane highways. There wasn't much traffic. The temperature was nice with a light breeze. The trip was about 35 miles and took about an hour.
I filled up with 104 miles on the tank and it took about 1.6 gallons, so that equates to around 63 miles per gallon. Not too bad.
I am hoping for a road trip on Friday where I will actually have several stops to make. I still need to research saddlebags or some other type of storage options.
June 07, 2013
Response from Rep. Reed
Below is the response I received from our local PA Representaive Dave Reed regarding my email to him about the gas tax. I wonder what other states do to finance their roads and infrastructure?
*********************************
Wesley –
Thank you very much for your follow-up e-mail to our town hall meeting with your support for fixing our roads and bridges as well as your opposition to raising the gasoline tax. I certainly agree that before any fees or taxes are raised that more efficiencies should be implemented within government and especially within the Department of Transportation. Do you have any thoughts or ideas on how the additional dollars to fund such upgrades should be raised once such efficiencies are enacted? I am more than open to any suggestions you may have since the maintenance of our infrastructure is a core function of government as well as one of proper places for government to invest in supporting our free market economy.
Thanks,
Dave
*********************************
Wesley –
Thank you very much for your follow-up e-mail to our town hall meeting with your support for fixing our roads and bridges as well as your opposition to raising the gasoline tax. I certainly agree that before any fees or taxes are raised that more efficiencies should be implemented within government and especially within the Department of Transportation. Do you have any thoughts or ideas on how the additional dollars to fund such upgrades should be raised once such efficiencies are enacted? I am more than open to any suggestions you may have since the maintenance of our infrastructure is a core function of government as well as one of proper places for government to invest in supporting our free market economy.
Thanks,
Dave
June 05, 2013
Shadow Adventures - Nature Area
My adventures continued last night with a ride to a local nature area. The weather was perfect, sunny and a comfortable 70 degrees.
Before the trip, I needed to check the coolant. I started the bike to let it warm up a little. All of a sudden the bike stalls. I start it up and it stalls immediately once again. I start it up and open the throttle a little, stalls again. It was as if it wasn't getting any fuel. Then I remember to turn the fuel value to the "on" position. The bike fired back up again and continued running.
I looked at the coolant reservoir but I couldn't see any fluid in there so I drove the bike up to have my brother check it out with me. Up there we were able to see the coolant level and it was fine. It appeared to be blueish so I'll have to research that a little more. I gave him my trip details and off I went.
This trip was going to involve a short run on two major highways in the area. One is a two lane and the other is a four lane. I started my journey. As I approached the first major highway there were three other bikers in front of me so I followed them and to my surprise they were turning onto the same road I was going.
Apparently, they were not out for a joy ride, because as soon as we turned onto the rural road they took off! I kept going about the speed limit which was 45 mph. As I approached the four lane highway I wasn't sure which way to go because of the way the intersection is laid out, but I always say when in doubt go right. So right it was!
There weren't many cars on the four lane so it was a nice ride for about half a mile, then I turned off onto the road to the nature area. The exit ramp was recently repaved, but as soon as you crest the little hill the paved road turns into a shale road. Thankfully, I was not traveling fast and had no problems making the adjustment to the road condition.
The nature area was about a mile down the road. As I approached the parking lot, I saw the biggest black bear I have ever seen in my entire life. He looked at me and started to walk away. Then he turned and looked at me again, so I revived up the bike and he continued on his way. I was not carrying my gun at the time either. Even if I was, I don't think my 9mm would have done much too him. Time to start researching .357's again!
I hopped off of my bike and snapped this picture of the sign.
I looked around briefly at the nature area and it didn't look like it was maintained very well. The trails were not trimmed. Obviously there is at least one gigantic bear that roams the area. I may head back again to check it out, but I think I'll take some protection with me next time!
Back on the bike to the four lane highway. Another half mile to the next exit and then back home. It was a great ride, about 25 miles in 45 minutes. The next ride will be to the gas station. Until then.....
Before the trip, I needed to check the coolant. I started the bike to let it warm up a little. All of a sudden the bike stalls. I start it up and it stalls immediately once again. I start it up and open the throttle a little, stalls again. It was as if it wasn't getting any fuel. Then I remember to turn the fuel value to the "on" position. The bike fired back up again and continued running.
I looked at the coolant reservoir but I couldn't see any fluid in there so I drove the bike up to have my brother check it out with me. Up there we were able to see the coolant level and it was fine. It appeared to be blueish so I'll have to research that a little more. I gave him my trip details and off I went.
This trip was going to involve a short run on two major highways in the area. One is a two lane and the other is a four lane. I started my journey. As I approached the first major highway there were three other bikers in front of me so I followed them and to my surprise they were turning onto the same road I was going.
Apparently, they were not out for a joy ride, because as soon as we turned onto the rural road they took off! I kept going about the speed limit which was 45 mph. As I approached the four lane highway I wasn't sure which way to go because of the way the intersection is laid out, but I always say when in doubt go right. So right it was!
There weren't many cars on the four lane so it was a nice ride for about half a mile, then I turned off onto the road to the nature area. The exit ramp was recently repaved, but as soon as you crest the little hill the paved road turns into a shale road. Thankfully, I was not traveling fast and had no problems making the adjustment to the road condition.
The nature area was about a mile down the road. As I approached the parking lot, I saw the biggest black bear I have ever seen in my entire life. He looked at me and started to walk away. Then he turned and looked at me again, so I revived up the bike and he continued on his way. I was not carrying my gun at the time either. Even if I was, I don't think my 9mm would have done much too him. Time to start researching .357's again!
I hopped off of my bike and snapped this picture of the sign.
I looked around briefly at the nature area and it didn't look like it was maintained very well. The trails were not trimmed. Obviously there is at least one gigantic bear that roams the area. I may head back again to check it out, but I think I'll take some protection with me next time!
Back on the bike to the four lane highway. Another half mile to the next exit and then back home. It was a great ride, about 25 miles in 45 minutes. The next ride will be to the gas station. Until then.....
June 01, 2013
Book Review
I finished reading "The Chronological Life of Christ" by Mark E. Moore this week. The author takes the life of Christ, mainly from the Gospel accounts, and harmonizes them to create a story of Christ's life. The author provides his commentary on each section. The language is a more of a conversational and contemporary style than academic.
Mark Moore was a college professor at Ozark Christian College and taught 4 courses on the life of Christ. He has his lectures and notes available on his website. I listened to the lectures as I read the book.
While I do not always agree with the comments many commentators have, it is always interesting to read different perspectives. I found a few places where the author takes great lengths to explain something that seems pretty straight forward and doesn't, in my opinion, need a great deal of explanation. Other times, however, I found myself wanting more of an explanation on other passages.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in studying the life of Christ.
Mark Moore was a college professor at Ozark Christian College and taught 4 courses on the life of Christ. He has his lectures and notes available on his website. I listened to the lectures as I read the book.
While I do not always agree with the comments many commentators have, it is always interesting to read different perspectives. I found a few places where the author takes great lengths to explain something that seems pretty straight forward and doesn't, in my opinion, need a great deal of explanation. Other times, however, I found myself wanting more of an explanation on other passages.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in studying the life of Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)