Month: March 2013

bookmark_borderThe Best Google Reader alternative

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It was only back in December that I pondered this but with the news that Google Reader is to shut down I find myself revisiting some of those choices.

I still use Google Reader heavily, I consume it mostly through the website itself and via Reeder on my iPad, so it’s annoying that they are pulling this service.

But, as the adage goes, you get what you pay for, so I find myself, once again, revisiting the ‘what am I willing to pay for’ line of thought.

There are a few alternatives to Google Reader out there, I’ve tried some myself in the past, and already the tech blogs are offering their ‘best alternatives to’ posts.

But for me, the new consideration has to be whether I have the option to pay for the service with the hope that it offers a level of protection against the service disappearing on me. It’s either that or roll my own, or perhaps a 3rd party option like Fever (I have a server, and it is an option I might look at when I have more time, i.e. probably never!).

So far, of the many suggestions, the one I’ll be trying is NewsBlur precisely because it has a ‘paid for’ option.

As well as the specific impact of Google closing Reader to those that use the service, the fact that a company as rich as Google is (rightly) shutting down services that it sees no value from is a trend that is likely to start to pick up momentum.

Instagram prompted my original post on the “Going Paid” trend, how long before FaceBook push that application behind a paid for subscription?

Time will tell how this trend will pan out, but one thing remains constant and that’s the ever shifting nature of social media applications and their usage models.

bookmark_borderBad Motorist

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You couldn’t make it up.

One day after berating a bad cyclist, I have the perfect example of how to be a bad motorist.

Part of my commute crosses a small, narrow, humpback bridge. It’s an old bridge, with high solid stone walls. Visibility is nil from either side.

Obviously this is the perfect place for an oncoming car to try and overtake a cyclist on the road. He was a couple of feet across the white lines, so how I missed him on one side, and the wall on the other, I have no idea. I did, out of the corner of my eye, see the cyclist wobble a bit as the car cut back in so I’m guessing he almost knocked the cyclist off too.

Stunningly stupid, dangerously reckless.

Cyclists 1 – Drivers 1!

But no, this will not be a theme of posts as, frankly, I could probably start up a separate blog on this topic alone! Instead I’ll give you the top two links you get when searching for “Bad cyclists bad motorists”.

  • Bad Drivers – a list of examples compiled by a user called Cycling Addiction
  • Bad Cyclists – a montage of examples compiled by a user called StoryOfBike

Which prompts the question, if cyclists are calling out other cyclists, where are the drivers calling out other drivers?

bookmark_borderBad Cyclist

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I was driving to work this morning and witnessed a minor incident that irked me.

As I approached a pedestrian crossing the lights were changing back to green and by the time the car in front got to them, they had been green for a couple of seconds.

That didn’t stop a cyclist, cycling on the pavement and across the road at the pedestrian crossing almost getting taken out as he only started crossing the road when the light changed to green. I saw it happening from a distance and braked but the car in front of me had to slam his brakes on (there were others cars in the left lane, likely blocking his view).

The cyclist, once he’d gotten across the road. Stopped, turned and started shouted at the car in front of me as it drove off.

As, by that point, I was level with the cyclist I had half a mind to have a go at him!

Now, I cycle, not as often as I should, but when I do a lot of it is on busy roads. I have cycled to work and I think I have a fair grasp of roadcraft. I’m not the best cyclist, but neither am I the best driver.

I also know that this incident is probably not that common.

Unfortunately I think it’s this type of thing that sticks in the minds of the (pro) drivers and the (pro) cyclists. The driver probably drove away thinking “bloody idiot cyclist” and the cyclist was probably thinking much the same about the driver (despite being in the wrong!)

To all drivers, please be vigilant. Not every road user will use the road properly and you are in a large hunk of metal that can hurt and kill. Be mindful of that.

To all cyclists, please try and obey the rules of the road. I realise that jumping that red light, or using the pavement and a pedestrian crossing to cross the road is an easy option, but it’s dangerous (and I’m pretty sure it’s illegal).

A wee bit of give and take and the roads can be usable by all of us.

(I really don’t like writing this kind of preachy bollocks, I know it won’t make an ounce of difference, but it pissed me off!)

bookmark_border100

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This seems to be the number that is driving a lot of my thoughts at the moment.

100.

Kilograms to be precise.

I’ve been a little bit lighter (and a lot heavier in the past) but for the past few months I’ve maintained my weight around the 100kg mark.

This needs to change, more exercise, healthier eating, I know what to do.

The ‘doing it’ part evades me at present though but there are signs that is changing, that my mindset is shifting and that I’m slowly gaining the resolve to push myself. I’m challenging what I eat more than I have in the past few months and I’m finding ways to get a little bit more exercise into my day.

For now I’m really just aiming to be more active, but once the weather improves I’ll step it up, get the bike out and I’m contemplating a couch to 5K program (gammy knee withstanding) to get me back into running.

There are some incentives. We have two weddings to attend soon, and I have a nice suit which will fit nicer if I can drop a some weight the next time, and I visit the doctor I want to be closer to the 90kg mark (or below?) as that’s the target for them to lower my blood pressure medication. That check up is likely to be early June so plenty of time!

Motivation is the main struggle at the moment, with my new role at work taking a lot of my time and energy, but I’m starting to get to grips with it, and the balance is starting to appear so that should ease up a little in the coming weeks.

One thing that I am noticing as I process all of this to try and figure out how to get some motivation back is that I’m learning not to be so hard on myself, not to let my own expectations weigh me down (especially when I don’t meet them).

A few weeks ago I had a bit of a ‘moment’ when I realised just how hard I was treating myself in that respect, since then, and with the help of my wonderfully supportive (and currently kicking ass in all sorts of ways) girlfriend I think I’m getting a better perspective on ‘me’.

Seems odd to still be discovering myself as I approach my 40th birthday.

And yes I’m certain that that approaching landmark, no matter how much I try and play it down, is making me pause and reconsider a variety of aspects of my life, and my approach to how I live.

Is this my mid-life crisis? Who knows. I’m just happy to be where I am right now. In a good place, in a great relationship, and very very happy.

Now if I could just get my average weight for this month to be below 100kg I’ll be ecstatic!