Passing on Liebster

Here are the rules for the Liebster Award:

Passed to me from "Mid-life Cycling"

1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.
3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them about the award.
5. No tag backs.

FACTS

1. My first name is spelled oddly. Rather than the common "Steven" or "Stephen," my proper first name is "Stephan."
2. I worked 11 years at Boeing, but never worked for Boeing, unlike both my father and mother-in-law.
3. The University I went to tore down the dorm I lived in last summer.
4. My loyal reader may know I like Jaguar cars, but it is less well known that we own two that still carry Washington license plates, awaiting their journey home.
5. One nickname for our youngest, we jokingly say, is "99 for short."
6. I have been to the Dr Pepper Museum and to the XXX Root Beer in Issaquah. Amazingly, these are listed as one item.
7. Three relatives were hung as witches in Salem a long time ago. One was actually from Topsfield.
8. I am not closely related to Earl Averill. He came from the Maine wing of the family while I came from the Connecticut branch.
9. My favorite Mariner was Joey Cora
10. I learned to sail in an El Toro
11. I like xeriscape

Here are the questions I'm supposed to answer:

1. What is the best or most meaningful gift you ever received?

• My grandfather's pocket watch.

2. What was the best-received gift you ever gave anybody?

• Glasses we gave to my wife's parents

3. What historical figure would you be most interested in meeting?

• Jack Northrop. In his prime.

4. If you were a country, which one would it be?

• England. Any doubt there, other than Canada which is just as exotic, only closer?

5. Was there any part of your schooling (elementary, secondary, university, vocational) that you especially liked or disliked? Why?

• The year I went to school in New Orleans because it changed my life as I realized I wasn't a loser in school. It's also where I was when Kennedy was shot.

6. Think of all of the places in which you've ever lived, or visited. Which is your favorite? If you had one day to spend there, what would you do?

• Salisbury. I'd tip a pint of Bishop's Tipple

7. Have you ever Googled the name of someone you hadn't thought about in years? If so, did the results surprise you?

• Yes. And no. And yes.

8. If you had the opportunity to become the President of the United States or the Pope, would you take it? Why or why not?

• No. I'm not Roman Catholic. Strictly speaking, however, it isn't a requirement for the former...

9. What is the most surprising or unexpected thing anybody could learn about you?

• You'd be surprised!

10. If you could bring five books with you to a desert island, what would they be? What else would you bring?

• Well, my set of 1911 Encyclopaedia Brittanicas come to mind. Ditto for Complete Shakespeare. Third would be the annotated Sherlock Holmes. Fourth would be "Golf in the Kingdom," and fifth would be a fixit or gardening book appropriate for the island situation. I'd also bring a generator and a tanker full of fuel.

11. Butter pecan, cherry vanilla, rocky road, pistachio or chocolate chocolate chip?

• Rocky Road; Spumoni wasn't one of the choices...

Now for my eleven own questions:

1. Does the chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?
2. Are oysters or clams better?
3. Is Ortlieb better than Arkel? Why?
4. Do you prefer electric shifting or friction shifters?
5. When was the last time you drove a manual shift motor vehicle?
6. What is your favorite color?
7. Without checking, can you name any country that borders Burundi? If so, which one is your favorite? Feel free to consider it your favourite if you're not from the USA.
8. When will the LA Dodgers next win the World Series and who will be their opponents?
9. Is Wayne Gretzky greater than Jennifer Jones, and WHICH Jennifer Jones did I have in mind?
10. Which agency of the three following do you like most? IRS, EPA, ICE
11. Was Edison right about electricity, or are you a Tesla fan?

Now to pass the torch - in NO particular order other than most recent post:
Durango Texas
Flat Tire
One Speed GO
Hometown by Handlebar
Pondero
Los Alamos Bikes
London Daily Photo and Cycling, London, and Life
Urbana-Champaign Cycling Ventures
Springfield Cyclist
Two Feet Off the Asphalt
Rantwick

One Point Perspective

You might wonder about blogs and what possesses those that write them to do so. Occasionally, I wonder that myself, and note bloggers I GREATLY enjoyed (like here and here) that have moved along in the recent past.

Well, I cannot speak for others, but I pick up reminders and inspiration from my fellow bloggers. FOR EXAMPLE:

The last time I drove to work was a year ago on Thursday. An inspiration to keep "the string" going is this post, made by the "Cal Ripkin" of bike commuting. A record that I will never approach. Much like his namesake.

AND, the banner of this blog, from one whose artistic predilections appeal to one who could never be more than an artistic poseur.

AND, spurs to do better from here.

AND, finally, from a post that reminded me of the good and bad of my own v3 versus v2 commutes. It really IS nice not to ride an hour and a half in pitch black darkness.

It is nearly time for Spring to spring!

Keller Google Bike Ban?

Typical Highway 377 Afternoon Traffic. Google Bikes WON'T Let Me Choose 377

I looked at Google Bikes recently to see how it has evolved in its opinion of what my commute route should be. Interestingly, I find it will not allow me to select Highway 377 in Keller as part of my commute route. It allows me to select the Alliance Gateway Freeway (though not the Cabela's Service Road), but not 377. I have no idea why Highway 377 can't be ridden on a bike, since I ride segments of it both northbound and southbound, and frequently see other cyclists on that road. Where I ride it, it is a typical, five lane road with heavy traffic. I think I shall see what Google has to say for itself. Are there frequent instances where Google will not allow someone to pick a bike route on an otherwise restricted public road? Is there some flag that'll let you know that Google is avoiding a road?

Google's choice for my bike commute route, here

An approximation of my real commute route, here.

There are a few obvious oops items in Google's attempt to go where I go, like the 377 detour and a bike path bobble. It also hasn't picked up a number of street realignments.

Google Bicycles Really DOESN'T Like N Main Street (Highway 377) in Keller

In response to my inquiry, Google replied:

Hi Steve,
Thanks for taking the time to report a problem with Google Maps. We'll send you an update once your report has been reviewed to let you know the resolution.

We have created ID: 9C00-710A-DD88-667F to track this problem.

Report history
Problem ID: 9C00-710A-DD88-667F
Your report: Google bicycling won't allow me to choose N Main Street in Keller, though I and others ride it daily and it's quite suitable for cycling
--
Thanks for your help,
The Google Maps team

Steves Official Bike Bag Browser

The iPhone was MADE for Cyclists that Drink Coffee!

Despite claims (mercifully made in private) by Rantwick that I sometimes remind him of an ADHT squirrel, I think much of it is a combination of a really convenient browser that'll fit in a pocket or bike bag, and free wifi.

For your consideration, the photo at left is evidence that a little trip on a bike can lead to comments galore.

Add a bit of caffeine and, pretty soon, Rantwick's worried about my sanity. For the record, that's a "tall" coffee with no room. Actually, it's a "free registered card tall refill." I'm not an "artsy fartsy" coffee drinker.

Hmm, Rantwick worried about MY sanity. THAT is truly a scary thought...