Now In 4D!

If you thought 3D was the “next big thing” just wait until you read about 4D.

Today’s Personal Project
Do that data backup I failed to do the other day.

Today’s Daily Challenge
Pledge to end your “screen time” at least one hour before bedtime tonight.

Watching your favorite show or catching up on Facebook might be fun right before bed, but it can interrupt your sleep and make for a less restful night. That’s because the light and motion from the screen activates the brain and creates an alertness that can keep us awake. Powering down early lets your brain relax and get ready for good rest, and good rest means you’ll be better able to deal with whatever challenges the next day throws your way.

Mer. I don’t buy into this one wholeheartedly.

Dropped. Dropped. Dropped. Dropped.
It might have been better had I not made it to the parking lot on time. However, then I never would have known that there is little need for me to fight my way over to Vinings again this summer because I am not close to being in the same league (or shape) to ride with these people again.

Oh, the Ds…

1. Dropped – In my rush to get out of the office and over to Vinings I apparently dropped my cycling socks and iPhone mount on the ground. I didn’t realize this until I couldn’t find them at the ride’s start. After the ride I drove back to my office and found the socks and mount outside the building. My WIB plan is off to an ominous start.
2. Dropped – It was bad enough that I was hustling to get to my very first ride with this group and that nothing was going my way. The pack took off, with me at the tail end trying to snap on my helmet and put on my gloves. I was at the literal tail end of the pack when I realized that the split occurring ahead of me was all women (hence it was a women’s-only ride heading in another direction) and that I’d have to pick up my pace to latch on the tail of the main (Men only? Probably not.) pack. I did my best, but it was apparent early that my best was not going to be good enough. I didn’t have to worry about Brookhaven and Silver Lake, I was getting dropped before Buckhead.
3. Dropped – As the pack made a right turn a car approached our intersection. There was confusion so I began to slow to a stop, and unfortunately left foot never exited the pedal as planned. I dropped to the ground like Arte Johnson in Laugh In (Google it, youngsters).
4. Dropped – My ego was severely bruised as two more riders came upon me asking if I was alright, and then my rear tire was locked against the brake pad. At this point I gave up the dream of riding the remainder of the ride, fixed my wheel, and dropped out.

I turned around and headed back to Vinings. Because I had been (almost literally heads-down) on the ride to then I had no clue on which roads we had turned. My supreme knowledge of the road system is apparently warped, I began what proved to be one of the most circuitous (and hilly) routes I could find. I wound up back in the parking lot after some of the group riders returned. Out of curiosity I might attempt to map my ride, at least the portion I can recall, to see what the fuck I did.

What a serious let down.

ITP Flickr Pic
I like this parabolic mirror currently on display at the High Museum.

And when (if) I get some free time I’m going to work on this photo some more in order to whiten the wall considerably.

Tonight, The Opposite Of Last Night
I’ve once again fallen behind schedule at work so tonight I’ll be working late and heading straight home. The goal is to get a bit of relaxation time in, as well as some chores done.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – sad
Current Music – silence
Website Of The Day – Somehow Virtual Ego Booster seems like the perfect remedy for my mood.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – walking, ~4.7 miles and riding, ~15 miles (my best guess since I had no computer running)
Morning Weigh-In – meh

Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~64.5 miles
Wheel Mileage – ~143.9 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 0 flights

Days Of Bed-Making – 0

Vegetarian Days – 4
Carnivorous Days – 20
Pancakes Eaten – 3

Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0

Books I’ve Read/Heard In 2012

1. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me — Mindy Kahling
2. Flotsametrics and the Floating World: How One Man’s Obsession with Runaway Sneakers and Rubber Ducks Revolutionized Ocean Science — Curtis Ebbesmeyer
3. God, No! — Penn Jillette
4. The Elephant to Hollywood — Michael Caine
5. Here Comes Trouble — Michael Moore
6. How We Decide — Jonah Lehrer
7. Steve Jobs — Walter Isaacson
8. Death of a Salesman (Penguin Plays) — Arthur Miller
9. Fahrenheit 451 — Ray Bradbury

July Goals
– Take at least one load of stuff from my house to Goodwill
– Post at least ten new photos during the month (let’s try this again)
– Lose at least two pounds (net weight loss)
– Finish two books (audio or otherwise, comic books do not qualify)
– Exercise for thirty minutes no fewer than twenty days
– Not to get sick for the entire month (may be a moot point as of today)
– Eat vegetarian no fewer than ten days
– Watch all of the classes in the 2011 Winter semester of Stanford’s CS193P (iOS Development) course
– Ride no fewer than 150 miles

2012 Goals [will be a little less fluid than last year]
– Get my weight under 200 pounds, or at least whittle myself back down to where wearing a 36″ pant size is comfortable
– Completely read ten books, audio books permissible
– Run Sharpened Stone as a real business
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Attend at least one professional photography workshop
– Ride in no fewer than five 50 mile or 50K bike rides
– Run in no fewer than one one 10K
– Submit at least one application under the name “Sharpened Stone” to Apple’s iOS store
– Restore the ITP Estate to a condition where it can be put up for sale at any time
– Buy a new iPhone (iPhone 5?), a new iPad (iPad 3?), and MacBook Air [look, not all goals have to be altruistic]

The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient and profitable programmer in Objective-C
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
– Eat smaller portions
– Start, and continue, to make my own bread using my bread machine as well as using the technique outlined in Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking
– Read and discard magazines during the month in which they arrive (even digitally)
– See more live concerts than I did in 2011
– Eat more pancakes
– Drive/Fly somewhere for a real vacation

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]