today i got bored and built up some new wheels for the nature boy. had some new velocity a23's hanging around so i laced them to the all city hubs i already had with some new dt swiss comp spokes and purple nipples. went ahead and put on some new skinwall cazaderos to round it all out.

Ain't nobody got time for that!

These aint even fixed, bunch of infants riding on identical oversized bmx bikes.

Today I spent some time researching LASIK eye surgery. Working this last year with welding, my glasses have been a huge impediment to my productivity and comfort. Since I was recently laid off, free time has opened up and I'm thinking this is the window I have to do it and make my life so much easier in the future. Man, and I will actually get to wear sunglasses while riding! Crazy. I have been wearing glasses for 14 years.

Today I learned how to open my car's hood when the hood release cable is broken. It was a gigantic pain in the ass, so this thing better not break again.

Right.

You ain't kidding.

About a decade ago I got it in February and was still coughing in July.

Pretty sure that it will kill me some day, hopefully a long time from now.

Today I found out my credit card info had been stolen. Watch out for your numbers folks.

Yowzer that has got to suck.

Been there, sucks so hard! Sure I got all of the transactions reversed but I felt violated.


Funny thing is the dbags who stole it used it for vape crap, military surplus crap, steam games, origin games, and xbox live.

With the gaming stuff, xbox, steam, and origin all have an account ban policy if a bankcard chargeback is initiated. So I'm pretty sure when I had those charges reversed by my bank, the idiot thieves all had their gaming accounts permanently banned.

What did your thieves use your credit card on?

A bunch of online orders from Adidas.

It is a weird feeling. I called my bank to freeze the account and file a fraud claim, so I should be getting it cleared up. Went to the track and took out my frustration on my pedals, feeling much better now.

I've had my credit card numbers stolen multiple times over the years, and there is probably nobody on earth who hasn't had this happen to them. The best you can do is regularly monitor your account and get alerts from your bank on your smartphone. Also, use only a chip card for store purchases, and if possible use protected payment methods like PayPal for online purchases. Wherever possible, I use old fashioned cash for direct payment for goods and services. Also, only use a debit card for cash withdrawals at your bank's ATM.

i think id like to move to a different country for a while. anyone have any experience with that?

A credit card company which doesn't catch this stuff on their own should be fired.

My card info was stolen and my credit card company called me multiple times, froze my account when I didn't answer the phone, sent a certified letter to me overnight and declined/reversed the fraudulent charges. They did this completely on their own. I didn't have to do a thing.

Simmons First, but I have heard that other card issuers do this as well. If I cross the state line and buy gas I get a call about 15 minutes later asking if the charge was legit.

There is no need for frustration of any kind. Just get a better card. I still check my bill though.


-Tim-

My daughter is going to Wellington, New Zealand (think Lord of the Rings) for six months on a student visa.

She is a physics major at Georgia Tech and doing a concentration in Geo Physics, will study in Wellington and visit the observatories, fault lines, thermal features, etc. common there.

Not sure it is the same experience as moving and working but if I can answer a specific question then let me know.

One thing to consider is whether you will move to an English speaking country or one where you will speak a foreign language. Another consideration is the countries relationship with the US - if something hits the fan then you want to be able to get to a US Embassy or other safe place.

Developed world vs undeveloped, the presence of medical care, what will you do for phone service... Uganda is not the same as Singapore or Ireland.

Does your health insurance cover you over seas? Take care of medical issues before you go. She had one wisdom tooth out last week. Do you need shots?

Living in the developed world you can often get temp housing for short term stays <1 year but will have to wire transfer a deposit. Student housing is easy.

These are some of the things we had to figure out.


-Tim-

This^

Also, check for skimmers by tugging the card slot on susceptible card readers on ATMs and gas pumps.

congrats to the wee'un, thats an awesome opportunity.

NZ is on the list but ive heard down under is a bit harder to get into, they really stress the "scratch my back ill scratch yours" motif. if you cant help their country youre just on vacation

if i moved to another country id be changing jobs, hence insurance would be whatever i would/wouldnt get in said country

im not looking for "better", im just looking to expand my very narrow viewpoint of humanity as a new yorker. NZ, france, morocco, thailand, india are lookin pretty interesting

Be bold/red, I understand exactly. The fact that you live in NYC automatically gives you a broader outlook than many Americans though. Atlanta as an example, is getting more diverse but in many ways has exactly two cultures - a white middle class Scotch/Irish culture on the north side and a black urban culture on the south side, and neither can get out of their silly little world to see the big picture. I miss the diversity of NY.

You are in IT? Ireland is big on IT workers right now and once you are in the EU you can go anywhere. I'd love to tour china someday, maybe by rail. Cycle through Greece or Turkey or something like that.

Do you know The Bike Wanderer? Seriously, you of all people should check out his video's.

Bike Wanderer

I am trying to download all my old bike pictures off of Photobucket, but holy hell that site is slooooooow.

Got my new Swift Ozette Rando bag for the Cinelli Work : )
Stoked as hell to ride with it. I copied Thomson/Ortleib Decaleur hack (from the Radavist) but instead of the Ortlieb stuff I used Lone Peak hooks and they are super secure no movement at all. Anywho without further ado the bag:

I want that Campy patch.

And i require that avocado patch. Holy hell thats amazing

I'm in Canada and it was 20 years ago, but if you wanted a temporary working visa for Australia you had to be under a certain age, twenty something I think. There were some areas that ran on temporary labour, eg fruit and vegetable picking around Bundaberg QLD. Just check into a hostel there and you could be working the next day. Around the big cities, work for working visa people tended to be wait staff, canvassers etc.
I think you also had to prove on entry that you had the resources (money) to support yourself for a bit and a return ticket home.
Every country has different laws regarding this and they vary according to the treaties negotiated between your country and the visiting country.

This is true for New Zealand.

My daughter had to provide 6 months bank statements to the New Zealand State Department as part of the visa process.


-Tim-

Yeah, you do:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/2422787...home_active_15

Yeah it was a tough choice for patches there were a bunch that I wanted the didn't make the cut but now having the bag I might add more...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/4972189...f=sr_gallery_1

I will peel and eat avocados like they are a banana or clementine or something and just chomp down on a full on 'cado.




I have seen clips and some episodes of Flight of the Conchords, does that count ; )