About This Blog

As time permits, in-depth musings on myriad subjects will be posted. Abbreviated adages will be announced via Twitter.

Monday, July 27, 2009

IrDA

A few weeks ago, I scored a(nother) Polar S725x HRM off eBay for a decent price. This was the "Tour Edition" I'd my heart set on for some time, plus it included both the S1 foot pod and USB IrDA adapter, the latter used for uploading workouts to the computer. At least, it should be so easy. Unfortunately, I have been unable to get the <expletive> thing to work, let alone be recognized by Device Mangler. I've tried a number of drivers from various chipset manufacturers, followed all of the instructions & suggestions off of the Polar site, but nothing; I ain't got <expletive>.

No real point to this post, other than to moan & groan over the conundrum that is use of the nifty, "new" S725x: On the main 'puter, I have the ProTrainer software installed, but no IrDA interface. On the laptop, I've a functioning IrDA interface, but no ProTrainer software. So, what to do. Methinks I'll do my prescribed StretchCordz & yoga workouts and then head to bed. It's been a long day, and tomorrow is looking to be another one. I can only hope to get this <expletive> IrDA adapter to work sometime soon; the next TT is this Saturday.

Thanks for listening to me whine, and thanks for reading.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Lessons Learned

Read a story today in USA Today about ComiCon in San Diego. Today, apparently, is Star Wars day at the annual comic book/sci-fi convention, and the article entailed how fans of the two sets of trilogies are trying to reconcile the differences. From the sound of it, it sounds like the (older) fans of the original trilogy are becoming more accepting of the newer ones, although the younger generation has yet to learn to appreciate what came before, even though it comes after, chronologically speaking.

And so I got to thinking of assorted scenes, quotes, and so on from the new trilogy, and one stands out from TPM that I really like. Yoda, speaking to 9 year-old Anakin Skywalker, says, "Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." (italics, mine).

While I still consider the original trilogy far superior to the CG-riddled prequels of 1999 and thereafter, there is much that can be learned from them, the above quote, in particular. Still, ESB remains, not only my favorite of the Star Wars series, but also my favorite movie of all time.

May your fear never get the best of you and morph into anything more malevolent. Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

I Live, Again.

That one lasted a little over a month.

For the second time in as many years, I tried to kill my @off242.com email address. Once, again, I failed -- but it wasn't for lack of trying! Some of you even updated your addresses this time.

This most recent attempt was inspired by May's purchase of an iPhone (at $199; they didn't drop down to $99 until a few weeks after N--- & I purchased one for the each of us; thank you, AT&T), as the checking of my own domain's email proved problematic, given the horrendous amount of spam that manages to easily work its way through my host's filters. Simply put, Gmail provided a cleaner product and made life easier for me. To heck with everyone else who had to go through and update their address books. To heck with them, again, apparently.

During a conversation with S--- yesterday afternoon (glad you called, G; it was good to actually hear from you, and I can't wait to meet up for lunch or something next week), I was informed that Gmail offers the ability to check accounts from other mail servers, apply its own, superior filters, and deliver to the Gmail box. Additionally, users can send messages from Gmail and use the return address of an external domain. In short, @off242.com, an address I have had in excess of ten years, now, can remain active -- and with 99.9% less spam, too! So, mad props to S---, without whose guidance I would be a sheep...@gmail.com.

For any of you who have already updated your address books, don't fret: Messages sent to my Gmail account will still get to me. Or, change it back to @off242.com; whatever works for you. Just keep the messages coming; keep in touch. As always, thanks for reading.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Point Two-five

Ran this morning, feeling like poo the first 20 minutes or so. Things turned around shortly after the turn-around for the return leg, which wound up making for an amazing run. The only thing that came close to sucking about it was the sad realization that mapmytri.com was right: The route I had previously clocked at 6.25 miles is actually 6.00 miles...at least, according to the more accurately calibrated Polar foot pod, signaling the S725x HRM. Yeah, I'm back in geek mode, again, but more on that in the future. For now, I need to go sort through the past in the folks' attic; I apparently still have a lot of crap over there. I'll let you know if I find anything good.

Thanks for reading.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Nothing to Say

Not that I can articulate, anyway.

The summer has been relatively uneventful, post-Ironman. I've cleaned house, I've read, I've watched assorted DVDs -- oh, and I've gone to see an alleged summer blockbuster. I know that I am old, for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was one of the worst films I have ever seen and the worst $10.50 I have ever spent. Going to see Bruno (which I won't be doing, so calm thyself) would likely be a step up in both entertainment and intellect.

Swimming, biking, running continues to be somewhat of the norm, although not so much on the swimming; I need to fix this, along with my right arm stroke. Last Thursday's outing to Boerne Lake was most disappointing, for I noticed the right arm provides absolutely zero, zip forward momentum. It as though I move my right arm through the water simply out of ceremony. No wonder my swim splits suck. Running is almost in the same boat, for I am just generally unmotivated to go run. Gotta fix that, though, for I've a 5k at the end of August. Now, cycling? That has been vastly improved since Idaho. Gotta keep that going, too.

But, first, it is time to clean house -- a task I intended to begin when my run fell to <expletive> this morning. Now that I have napped, fed, and goofed off for an unreasonable amount of time, I must begin. After all, tomorrow (and Wednesday, and Thursday), I get to go proctor TAKS! I truly know how to spend my summers.

Enjoy what precious little remains of the summer break, dear friends. Thanks for spending a bit of that time here, reading.