LDB - Everywhere

Here comes drummer boy,
Here comes drummer boy,
Right down drummer boy lane...

***

O little town of drummer boy...

***
Pa rum pa pum pum,
Pa rum pa pum pum,
Pa rum pa pum pum all the way
Oh what fun it is to sing
With the little drummer boy.

***

Oh come all ye drummer boys,
Joyful and pa rum pa pum pum...

***

Hark, drummer boy,
Sweet drummer boy,
All seem to play,
pa rum pa pum pum...

***

And I was going to do "White Christmas", but... it comes off like a pedophile's song.  Try it in your head, it's really bad.  Consider it the one you just don't do.  Like when Tiny Toon Adventures didn't do Plucky in the Name Game.

The Ride

So, it's not really news to most people that 30 Seconds to Mars is one of my favorite bands.  When I came across their music, their second album (A Beautiful Lie) was brand new.

When their third album came out, they pre-released a singles called "Kings and Queens" with a video.



Today that song came on my iPod as I was making my way towards the BART station.  It's a great song, and an even better song to ride to, if a bit tiring to keep up with the tempo.

Decorating

So a few weeks ago, you all saw the picture of our finished Christmas tree.

I think that this Imy comic best describes how I feel.

We (meaning my family) has never had a store-type decorated tree.  Even when we had two front windows in Kentucky and the family room tree was colored lights and the living room tree was white lights, we just split the number of ornaments in half.  Yes, mom and dad ended up buying a bunch more ornaments, but the trees weren't made to look like a store display.

LDB - The Wonder and Beauty

So most of this weekend, except during the GURPS game on Saturday, my iPod was playing a randomized loop of every version I have of "The Little Drummer Boy."

Now, the song permeates me, and it is all I hear.  Soon everyone will feel this way.  It will become the new start-up sound for Windows.  It will play year-round over MUZAK systems.  It will be the anthem for the world.

Can't you hear it?  Don't you wish you could be listening to it right now?

Go on... Give in...  You know you want to.

LDB - The Truth

So, the other day I announced I was out of the LDB game.

But you know, since then I've listened to it now probably a dozen times, and it's really grown on me.

There are really some subtle nuances to the song, no matter who is singing it, that it takes several listens to really catch.

I urge everyone to take some time and listen to your favorite version of the song.  And if you're playing LDB, maybe this year, just stop, and enjoy the song.

LDB

I'm out.

Little Drummer Boy came on the satellite music Jennifer was listening to.

PV=nRT

As you know, I recently got new tires for my bike.  What was bugging me was that even though my tires felt well inflated inside, a few blocks from home I got the familiar "slogging though sand" feel of flat tires.

So, let's talk science.

First off, here is the Ideal Gas Law defined.

Now for simple comparisons, the constants can be ignored, so you are left with PV/T; meaning, the ratio of  the product of the pressure and the volume to the temperature is constant.

So let's look at my bicycle tires.  The volume (the space inside the inner tube) is constant.  So when I take it outside and the temperature of the air inside drops, then the pressure has to drop as well.

Then I started to think about the differences during the year.  So in the winter, the tires are experiencing a drop in temperature of around 40 degrees (yes, I know that's Fahrenheit, so maybe 20 degrees Celsius).  In the summer to get the same effect, I'd have to be riding in 110 degree heat or more.  Fortunately it never got that hot in Walnut Creek this year.  At least not while I was riding.

Chillin'

It almost seems that my past has been preparing me for riding my bike to work in all kinds of weather.

Several years ago, a friend had a Chrome bag.  I was fascinated by the seat belt buckle straps and clasp.  I believe I bought it for my birthday one year.  Now it is perfect for carrying things to and from work (it is a messenger bag after all).  And it's great on those rainy days being nearly waterproof.

Today I had to be prepared for the cold.  There was a 10 degree difference in temperature from Emeryville to Walnut Creek, and that 10 degrees was colder to the east.  I wore a long sleeve pullover, a thick hoodie, and a North Face rain jacket my parents gave me many years ago.  Now this is without the removable liner, which being a North Face liner, would bake me in my own juices while I sat on the BART train.  Today, it was perfect for blocking the wind.

Then there's this little scarf I have.  It was probably a hand-me-down from my dad who as provided me with many cool pieces of clothing through the years (not the least of which is a great red and paisley button up shirt that he thinks may be anywhere from 30 to 50 years old).  This scarf is black, synthetic, and very thin.  However, it is incredibly warm.  It's perfect for biking.

My gloves lately have been CLC hi-visibility work gloves that are bright orange with a reflective stripe as well as reflective finger tips.  They're not too thick, but have a padded grip, and keep my whole hand warm while also making me feel safer when I signal.

And finally some behind the head fleece earmuffs.

So, I promise, I'm keeping warm.

A Following Wind

So, last night I was awakened by the wind.  It had worked our window open from half a crank to nearly three cranks.  The breeze was a bit much, so I went ahead and closed the window completely.

This morning when I got up, it was still blowing, and I checked the weather to see what I'd be dealing with on my ride.

As it turns out 20 mph winds aren't so bad when they are predominantly a tailwind.  They're even better when you're going uphill.

Interior Decorating

So, yesterday Jennifer and I took down our Thanksgiving decorations, and brought our Christmas decorations out of storage.  We didn't get very far doing anything else lacking the motivation.

Today, we buckled down and decorated while watching football on NFL RedZone.

Felix was the first to discover the tree skirt.

Then we had the blinds open for the beautiful weather, and he found the storage boxes.

Then he left, and Oscar found them.

Keep in mind, cats are only semi-solids, and will flow slightly in direct sunlight.

Felix was frustrated by the packing material being in his sunlight.

And here is the completed tree.  The rest of house will be decorated this week.