by Ethan Johnson
August 22, 2008

This article is potentially extremely image intensive, but I am going to compromise and have some inline photos interspersed with hyperlinks to supporting images, okay? Onward.

I have been reading a few cycling blogs lately, and thinking that I should get more serious about bike commuting. Of course, I can hop in the minivan as needed to buy ice cream or other perishable items for speedy transport. But frankly, a trip to the corner bank or the library doesn't involve refrigerated/frozen items, other than my bottle of water. As gas prices rose this year to record levels, I saw more people hauling out the old 10-speed and trying to recapture former glory. It's not that simple when we get older. And, as this article will explain, there are other factors in play that make bike travel a bit daunting. Not impossible, but daunting.

by Ethan Johnson
June 11, 2008

I have a stack of books waiting to be read, but the vast majority are heady tomes that may not qualify as "light reading". I have been reading ostensibly fluffier fare in the short term. As fate would have it, I read two similar yet different books in a row, and before I return the library copy of the two, I have some thoughts to share about each.

by Ethan Johnson
May 31, 2008

Headline of a recent Christian Science Monitor story:

Europe balks at $8 a gallon gas

They might be balking at high gas prices, but what might be worse is the sin of omission committed by the Monitor.

by Ethan Johnson
April 9, 2008

Back in the days when I had ready access to WSCR AM (Chicago), someone was about to ask Norm Van Lear (former Bulls player) about college basketball, and then stopped short, assuming that he'd only want to discuss pro teams. "Basketball's basketball," he replied, and the conversation resumed.

by Ethan Johnson
February 12, 2008

This was a made-for-TV special about the USWNT, and may not be widely available for viewing. If it is airing locally, by all means, watch it. If you have children, watch it with them. The special covers the history of the USWNT from the first Womens World Cup in 1991, to the 2004 Olympics. The Hope Solo/2007 WWC controversy is not covered.

In short, this is an incredibly inspirational program. The USWNT overcame incredible hardships and setbacks (relatively speaking, in the sporting world) to rise to becoming the greatest team nobody has ever heard of. As I have reasoned in a much earlier article, narrative is an essential ingredient for compelling sporting events, and this program provides it in spades.

Here is what I learned from this show. If you don't think you'll ever get to see the program, read through the highlights:

by Ethan Johnson
February 8, 2008

Holy cow. I was minding my own business, tending to my mostly daily exercise plan, and realized that February 3 was my 1 year anniversary.

by Ethan Johnson
December 31, 2007

Various thoughts and linked items to close out the year:

by Ethan Johnson
December 24, 2007

Every so often, I'll click a link at random, and wonder why I don't engage in random link-clicking more often. Case in point: Below the Eight. Read the blog to learn the story behind the name. Anyway, the author wrote out a list of things that she doesn't "get", and pretty much nailed something that has nagged at me here and there, as one of the unwashed masses: