Update on Sunny the Bike

Yes, my bike is called Sunny.  Turns out, didn’t even really need many repairs!  Yay!  I took it to this shop to get a repair estimate where this like showed me how to put the basket on properly and how to make the middle fold.  He said actually the wheels didn’t need to be aligned just now and really just recommended getting grippier break pads.  He even topped off the tires for me! I’m going to have to slip him a tip next time I go over there.  The owner even gave me 10% off of a helmet.  So, of course, once all that was done, Sunny and I had to go on a “getting acquainted” ride. :)  Well, my bike is a one speed and Berkeley has some nice little hills…so between that and some pretty busy streets some of that ended up being a getting acquainted walk, lol.  But it was fun, and quite good exercise, I’m sure.  Berkeley has lots of bike lanes and where there are none I think you can ride politely on the sidewalk.  A colleague told me that since Sunny’s a folder I can also take it on the BART any time of day with no problem, so if I ever wanted to go ride around SF or some other nifty spot I can hop on a train and head for the city.  So good times there.

Look What God Did :D

My friend/ former physics classmate is leaving the country to go to grad school after visiting her home country :(.  (We plan to keep in touch :)).  She needed to get rid of some stuff…I had just told the Lord I REALLY wanted a bike.  And I REALLY wanted a musical instrument.  Well among a few other acquisitions, guess what she gave me for a super low price?  Check it out!

My little Japanese Brompton-like folding bike here is a sweet ride :D.  Just needs a couple of repairs and a helmet and I’ll be cruizin around town!   Oh yeah…and look at this:

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!   YESSSSS!!!!!!

See,  now I’m excited.  I already figure I should be able to learn to play some Newsboys in short order… and maybe lil’ Sis and I can rock a duet sometime (Hi Princess!)

He’s Always Good, and this is just icing on the cake, but I just wanted to say: BARUCH HA-SHEM!

no, it’s just called bootleg

I went to the “Physics Idol” singing contest yesterday where the prize was advertised as “a $50 iPod equivalent”…LOL

I wasn’t asked!

When I hear, for example, that “ a New York Times poll found that 60% of people nationwide favor the new [Arizona immigration] law, or support making it even tougher ”, my question becomes, “who is being asked?”  Not me!  I was not polled.  And it seems like there are a lot of people around me who weren’t invited to vote, either.

Being a scientist, I understand that it is virtually impossible to get everyone’s opinion.  That said, when I hear statistics of this nature being quoted by reputable newscasts, I want to know about your scientific method.  You need to write a paper explaining your sample population, how it was selected, and a background analysis of the statistical fluctuations arising from the phrasing of the question.  You should indicate the conditions under which the data was taken and demonstrate that your sample is representative of the population over which you are claiming your results to be valid.

A note on that law:  Listen, I understand the need for border control, but I also understand that there are a lot of people in America who have motives other than national security for targeting people of obviously extra-European backgrounds.  Legislation that carries the possibility of the harassment of citizens and legal immigrants in their homes because they look like they might be from Mexico (or Cuba, or Haiti) is not a good idea.  Don’t forget, “we were all immigrants”.  It’s just a matter of when.

Real Christians Have Joy