Exit171… it’s all about the journey

Well I finally took the dive and purchased a bicycle. Actually, my son Kyle and I now have new bicycles. I picked up a Trek Jet 16 for him and I got a Trek 7.5 FX fitness bike. I’m looking forward to some enhanced outdoor exercise and some leisurely riding with Kyle.

I came close to purchasing a Specialized Sirrus Sport, but opted for the Trek FX. I guess my company’s sponsorship of the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team (and Lance Armstrong) influenced me a little. I also picked up a Saris Bones 2 rack for the Bimmer. So far everything has been working out great.

Of course I already have the techie side of things in motion. I sent my Suunto t6 back to Suunto for a firmware update so I can use their Bike POD (I had an early version of the t6). Plus, I’ll probably also get a handlebar mount for my Magellan Meridian Color GPS.

If you’re in the market for a bicycle or accessories, be sure to check out CycleSport in Park Ridge, NJ. Dean and Drew made the buying process a great experience from start to finish — a first class shop!

Special thanks to Chris Huller for sharing his expertise and making some great recommendations. I definitely made a better decision with his help.

Fun with my Nikon D100…

As planned, I finished reading The Da Vinci Code before the movie is released on May 19th. Once again, Dan Brown did not fail to deliver. As with all of his novels I’ve read, The Da Vinci Code kept me engaged and was a great read… very thought provoking. It’s no wonder he’s sold over 40 million copies.

As you’ve probably heard, this book has been very controversial since it challenges traditional teachings of the Catholic Church. I won’t go into all the details (there’s no shortage of that discussion in the media and on the web), but I intend to research the claims raised in the book. Although Dan Brown mentions at the beginning that “All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate”, I’d still like to dig-in deeper and see for myself.

In a previous post I mentioned I read Angels & Demons (the prelude to The Da Vinci Code) as an ebook. I also read The Da Vinci Code as an ebook on my Cingular 8125 Pocket PC phone, which worked out well. However, after finishing this ebook I ran out and purchased the Special Illustrated Edition hardcover. I plan to read the book again and refer to the artwork, symbols, and photographs along the way.

I’m also looking forward to the movie (directed by Ron Howard) coming in May. The trailer and cast look pretty good (Tom Hanks and Ian McKellen).

BTW, I took the panoramic photograph above during a visit to the Louvre in Paris in September 2000. Click on the thumbnail for a full-size version. I can’t wait to visit again in the future.

I love quality products and services. Even more so, I love great customer service. Smart companies realize the importance of this and strive to develop strong relationships with customers… so they become repeat customers.

Let’s face it, no matter how well a product is made sometimes things go wrong. Most consumers can accept this, as long as things are handled quickly and fairly by the company. As Donald Porter, VP British Airways, once said, “Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong.”

I rarely have problems with Bose products (I own at least 6 of them). Yes, they charge a premium, but their products are well designed and work well. Unfortunately, I’ve encountered problems with their QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones a couple times already. I blogged about this last year and I was very satisfied when Bose quickly replaced my defective headset with a brand new unit (for free and no questions asked). As luck would have it, the replacement unit they gave me was an identical design and eventually I encountered the same problem.

This second time around Bose gave me a new headset for free, but it was an updated version. Apparently I wasn’t the only one encountering this problem and Bose felt compelled to fix the issue. In a nutshell, they’re now using a more flexible material in the headband area that kept breaking. Based on what I can see, it looks like they may have addressed the issue. Time will tell.

Kudos to Bose for recognizing their flaws and fixing them! Not only did they correct their product, but they’ve kept their customers happy. I wish more companies would act more like Bose. I will continue to be a loyal customer for a long time to come.

It’s been several months since I started exercising and I’m feeling good. I’ve lost ~15 pounds, my blood pressure is lower, and I’m eating healthier. However, I still want to lose a few more pounds and lower my body fat %.

My primary exercise has been a stationary recumbent bike and walking (street and track), but I’m always looking for alternate activities. I recently noticed at the Park Ridge High School track that they now have their hurdles out of storage. I’ve been tempted to see if I can still 3-step some high hurdles (yeah right!). I’ll have to take that one slowly or else I’ll be blogging from the hospital.

I had an opportunity to go rollerblading last week at The Rink in Montvale and it felt great. Maybe I’ll start blading again, if I can find my old Rollerblades. I’ve also been thinking about buying a bicycle (mountain or hybrid) or getting back into hiking. I’d also love to play more golf this season too (walking not riding). So many ideas, so little time…

Minimally, I’ll be content if I can just maintain a more consistent exercise routine. I started off strong last year, but I’ve been slacking off a little bit lately (primarily due to the baby arriving and work being busier than ever). You know… priorities.
More exercise details at the link above.

I’ve had a lot of different jobs since I was 15 years old (some of them in the food services industry). I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to personalities. I think this USA Today article raises some valid points in assessing a person’s character. I also like “Swanson’s Unwritten Rules” in the sidebar.

[via Digg]

Aidan Kiefer Dipasupil

More pictures here

I confess… I’m addicted to 24. Yes, the Fox show notorious for blatant violence, government conspiracies, terrorists, big explosions, incredible computer skills, and some of the fastest PDA downloads I’ve ever seen in my life. Oh yeah, and of course, Jack Bauer!

I’m so addicted to 24 that I’ve gone as far as changing all the ringtones in my house and cell phones to the CTU ringtone (good thing my wife likes it too). Actually, it’s a very good ringtone — kind of mellow, but it can cut through a lot of noise. Plus, when you hear it it gets you thinking about repositioning satellites and saving the nation.
What I like about the show is that it always moves. There’s always something interesting going on and it never fails to surprise you when you least expect it. Best of all, I like living vicariously through Jack Bauer. He beats people up if they piss him off, knows everything about everything, and is friends with the President. He’s simply the modern day super hero. No cape or special powers… just a 9mm, great interrogation techniques, and a cell phone battery that lasts forever.

I finally finished watching Season 2 this past weekend — awesome! I realize I’m years behind, but I actually tried avoiding 24 for a few years. I knew once I started watching it I’d get hooked (it took me one episode!). Besides The Sopranos, it’s really the only television show I consistently watch these days. To date I’ve seen seasons 1, 2, 4, and currently 5. Season 3 is waiting for me on DVD and my video iPod. I can’t wait.
Be sure to check out this site, if you’re as addicted as I am: TwentyFour.TV