jenk

The NY Times blog "Bitten" is syndicated at bittenblog_nyt.

Slate's Explainer tackles Iraqis & shoes.

More locally, The Stranger's Erica Barnett provides this illuminating interview with Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond on what the hell's been up with Metro the last 2 days. In a nutshell: Thursday their snow plan, which is about a 20% reduction in service, basically failed. So Friday they decided to "pull in and focus our service in places where we have confidence the buses can run" - mostly not in places like West Seattle and Redmond, mostly not with articulated buses, and realizing that the trolley buses (that use electrical wires above the street) can't usually change their routes to avoid a problematic hill. It ended up being about 50% of normal service. Communicating this is a problem, too.

Desmond did say they plan to run mostly normal schedules on Saturday & Sunday, assuming no more snow. Um....

As for us, well, 'nother storm is expected, a windstorm this time, which frequently means falling trees, downed power lines, and so on. Does look like a fairly normal windstorm for us - lights will probably flicker, may even go out, but hopefully not for a week this time please?

We have done prep: We have food that doesn't need much prep. Since our old downstairs flashlight died we got a new one last night. Also batteries. We also have loads of candles, including candles in glass jars (thanks k_crow for that tip.) I ran the roomba downstairs last night; dishwasher running now, and I'm off to vacuum upstairs & do a last load of laundry.

• 09:15 Watching a crow check the transit center for food. Food doesn't seem plentiful.
• 16:01 Hotmail is whining that Chrome is weird. Or not recognized, at least. And do I want to upgrade? ;)
• 18:35 Oops: Realizing on bus1 of a 3-bus trip that I lack schedules for bus2 & bus3.
• 18:46 8 Verizon trucks on Redmond Way.
• 18:52 Crews are mostly standing around. Hopefully that means dsl is fixed.
• 19:18 At home, on intarwebs. W00t.

Automatically copied from http://www.twitter.com/jenk3 via LoudTwitter cause it's easy :)

5-9pm, Thursday, at Redmond Town Center. Might be interesting.

http://www.grtma.org/yourEcoFairEvent2008_2.asp


Also: article on electric bicycles (with sidebar)

Tracks for new "walking" playlist:

Follow Me Down, Seanan McGuire
Pretty Little Dead Girl, Seanan McGuire
I Feel Fantastic, Jonathan Coulton
What About Everything? Carbon Leaf
Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show, Neil Diamond

For years I'd resolve to go for a walk each day, do it for a few days or weeks, then stop.

A few months ago I got some free bus tickets and started taking the bus, which drops me off a bit over a half-mile from work. This is working well because my good intentions really only have to last long enough to get me onto the bus -- after that, I'm kinda stuck :)

When I started I was badly enough out of shape that I would drive to work one morning, walk+bus home that night, and reverse it the next day. I did this all while recovering from a pulled muscle and found it really helped.

Now the walking is easy enough I occasionally get off a stop early :) Sometimes it's pleasant to be walking and alone with my thoughts - or jazzing to music. And sometimes I really don't like it. I'll be sore and cold and tired and don't wanna. But that doesn't usually hit until I'm off the bus, at which point I don't have much choice beyond walking. (Or calling someone and asking for a ride. I'm not willing to be that much of a wuss.) So I walk on anyway.

I will say that having walked usually does feel good. Even if I'm sore, I arrive at work feeling more awake and relaxed. And I'm much less stressed if I bus home than if I drive.

Does this add more time to my commute? Yes. The time spent on the actual buses is about the same as if drove, only I get to read :) The walk? Is additional, but less time than going to a gym. Waiting for the bus? That can get old, and is sometimes long. I'm fortunate that I can usually wait at a lighted shelter where I can read.

How about cost? I started with incentive Metro tickets from the city, free. I've since bought a 3-month 1-zone peak pass for $162 and my company reimbursed me half that cost ($81). I've also bought a more visible coat; a more comfortable, waterproof, & stylish backpack; and a light folding umbrella.

Bottom line: I'm feeling better, I have more endurance, and I've stuck with this longer than most gyms I've joined. So I think it's for the best.