14 October 2011
New Coldplay album
Coldplay fans will be delighted to learn that the band is releasing their long-awaited fifth studio album, Mylo Xyloto, on the 24th October.
From their 2008 tour. Credit: Karl Axon from Liverpool, England
I am really looking forward to how this new album fares as their last studio album, Viva La Vida, sold more than nine million copies worldwide.
You can pre-order the album on Amazon now for £7.99.
11 October 2011
Masked crime fighter arrested
Earlier this year, I blogged about a Seattle vigilante, who calls himself Phoenix Jones. His real name is Benjamin John Francis Fodor. How did I learn about his secret identity? Well, the "super hero" was arrested last Sunday under this name.
Well, today I read in the news that he has been arrested for breaking up a fight with pepper spray.
It sounds funny but you can't just go around simply spraying people with pepper spray even if they are fighting. Leave crime fighting to the police.
Earlier this year, he broke his nose and I am worried that he might get into serious trouble one day.
Well, today I read in the news that he has been arrested for breaking up a fight with pepper spray.
It sounds funny but you can't just go around simply spraying people with pepper spray even if they are fighting. Leave crime fighting to the police.
Earlier this year, he broke his nose and I am worried that he might get into serious trouble one day.
New job, Coventry and the auto industry
In case you are wondering what I am going on about. read on and you will understand.
Last week I joined Coventry University Business School as a lecturer in marketing and advertising. I got the job finally after 6 interviews and hundreds of rejections. We are really delighted that I got into Coventry University as it means that we do not have to relocate to another city in the UK. Furthermore, I have always wanted to remain in academia as a lecturer.
I also joined at the right time as Coventry University is growing massively with new buildings and facilities. Its ranking has gone up to 53rd overall in the Sunday Times University Guide 2012 - a huge jump of 30 places from the last time. I was really happy to learn that the University is now ranked higher than some of the other Universities that rejected me.
I have grown to love Coventry and am learning a lot about it's history. Car buffs will definitely be aware that Coventry was once the auto capital of the UK and my office is located at the William Morris building, named after the founder of the Morris car company. The building dates from 1916 and they used to have their engine manufacturing facilities here.
Going around the building, I was trying to find traces of the former building and suddenly I noticed that near my office are the remains of the old bannister on the stairs with fine detailed carvings. They are carvings of bulls. Not sure whether they mean anything.
Will try to find some more traces of the old building.
Last week I joined Coventry University Business School as a lecturer in marketing and advertising. I got the job finally after 6 interviews and hundreds of rejections. We are really delighted that I got into Coventry University as it means that we do not have to relocate to another city in the UK. Furthermore, I have always wanted to remain in academia as a lecturer.
I also joined at the right time as Coventry University is growing massively with new buildings and facilities. Its ranking has gone up to 53rd overall in the Sunday Times University Guide 2012 - a huge jump of 30 places from the last time. I was really happy to learn that the University is now ranked higher than some of the other Universities that rejected me.
I have grown to love Coventry and am learning a lot about it's history. Car buffs will definitely be aware that Coventry was once the auto capital of the UK and my office is located at the William Morris building, named after the founder of the Morris car company. The building dates from 1916 and they used to have their engine manufacturing facilities here.
Going around the building, I was trying to find traces of the former building and suddenly I noticed that near my office are the remains of the old bannister on the stairs with fine detailed carvings. They are carvings of bulls. Not sure whether they mean anything.
Will try to find some more traces of the old building.
20 September 2011
Cycle tyre puncture - prevention better than cure
As you might have guessed from my previous posts, I am really into cycling now. I even borrowed a couple of books on cycles/cycling from the local library (I know there are loads of information on the net but nothing beats a good book with illustrated pictures).
Anyway, one thing I am really worried about is getting my tyres punctured while riding to the University. I got myself a cycle tyre puncture repair kit. Through it has never happened but repairing a tyre by the side of the road is not something I am really keen on. I tried practising at home using the old bike I am restoring - getting the tube out, trying to find the hole and then patching it up. I have seen YouTube videos and they make it look so simple. Prying one side of the tire bead over the edge of the rim was the hardest.
Here is a popular clip on YouTube on how to repair a puncture:
Searching on the net, I came across a site which sells Amerityre tyres which they claim are 100% puncture proof but they are not cheap. On the other hand, Andreas at the London Cyclist Blog says that there is no such thing as 100% puncture proof tyres. However, there are a number of tyres which are said to have high puncture resistance.
While shopping at Halfords I noticed a green bottle - it was the Slime Tube Sealant. I didn't buy it because I was sceptical and wanted to read the reviews first. Apparently this product was really good with so many positive comments on various sites. I noticed that it was also available at the Go Outdoors store. I later took my bike along on my way back home from the university and bought a bottle. The in-store bike mechanic put the green liquid in both my tyres for free. I haven't had a puncture even once but I do feel much better now.
I now want to put the Slime in all my bikes and doing an online search realised that I could have got it much cheaper elsewhere, with the cheapest online at Amazon Here is a comparison of the prices:
Halfords: £8.99
Go Outdoors: £8.09
Wikinson: £4.97
Amazon:
Anyway, one thing I am really worried about is getting my tyres punctured while riding to the University. I got myself a cycle tyre puncture repair kit. Through it has never happened but repairing a tyre by the side of the road is not something I am really keen on. I tried practising at home using the old bike I am restoring - getting the tube out, trying to find the hole and then patching it up. I have seen YouTube videos and they make it look so simple. Prying one side of the tire bead over the edge of the rim was the hardest.
Here is a popular clip on YouTube on how to repair a puncture:
Searching on the net, I came across a site which sells Amerityre tyres which they claim are 100% puncture proof but they are not cheap. On the other hand, Andreas at the London Cyclist Blog says that there is no such thing as 100% puncture proof tyres. However, there are a number of tyres which are said to have high puncture resistance.
While shopping at Halfords I noticed a green bottle - it was the Slime Tube Sealant. I didn't buy it because I was sceptical and wanted to read the reviews first. Apparently this product was really good with so many positive comments on various sites. I noticed that it was also available at the Go Outdoors store. I later took my bike along on my way back home from the university and bought a bottle. The in-store bike mechanic put the green liquid in both my tyres for free. I haven't had a puncture even once but I do feel much better now.
I now want to put the Slime in all my bikes and doing an online search realised that I could have got it much cheaper elsewhere, with the cheapest online at Amazon Here is a comparison of the prices:
Halfords: £8.99
Go Outdoors: £8.09
Wikinson: £4.97
Amazon:
12 September 2011
Vintage Falcon bike restoration project 2
This follows on my previous post "Vintage Falcon bike restoration project".
The bike was from the Chris Thompson Cycles shop in Darlington, Durham. Found out that the shop was dissolved in 1997.
Shimano Derailleur gears (Japan)
Simplex gear shifter (France)
Presta vavle on the 27 x 1 1/4 Michelin World Tour tyre.
I took off the rusted panniers, the saddle and the rusted chain and cleaned up the bike a bit.
On the bottom of the Reynolds 531 tubing
Serial No: 2736
Other markings:
TS1
APJ77
Can someone tell me how old this bike is?
Sugino crankset (Japan)
Weinmann Brakes (Switzerland)
The bike was from the Chris Thompson Cycles shop in Darlington, Durham. Found out that the shop was dissolved in 1997.
Shimano Derailleur gears (Japan)
Simplex gear shifter (France)
Presta vavle on the 27 x 1 1/4 Michelin World Tour tyre.
I took off the rusted panniers, the saddle and the rusted chain and cleaned up the bike a bit.
On the bottom of the Reynolds 531 tubing
Serial No: 2736
Other markings:
TS1
APJ77
Can someone tell me how old this bike is?
Sugino crankset (Japan)
Weinmann Brakes (Switzerland)
Vintage Falcon bike restoration project
A few days back I went to pick up a slide which my wife had bought for the kids over eBay. As I was leaving the lady who sold us the slide mentioned that they had loads of stuff in the garage and enquired whether I would like to take a look. Of course, I couldn't refuse. I suddenly noticed this old black bike and the Falcon sticker. I told her that I would like the bike. Unfortunately her husband was not around and asked me to call up later.
I totally forgot about it until we received an email from the seller later inquiring whether I still wanted the bike and to put in an offer if I did. I offered £20 and he accepted. Later on we had a chat over the phone and he asked for £25. That was a little bit more than I wanted to give him but then one similar bike had gone for little more than £60 on eBay (it was in a better condition though). I had also been looking for a vintage bike to restore and decided to buy the bike.
When I brought it back home, my wife was furious. "What were you thinking?" "I don't want the junk inside my house".
She only calmed down after I explained that the Reynolds 531 alloy frames were going for more than double the price of the bike on eBay.
Here is the lovely looking bike.
I guess this was one of their cheaper models as it only has a sticker instead of the stamped metal headbadge.
The famous Reynolds 531 tubing made of a manganese/molybdenum steel alloy and apparently these are in high demand by fixie bike fans.
Badly rusted pannier rack. I read somewhere that the spokes were cadmium plate units and they must have been shining when they were new. I think all it needs is a touch of metal polish and elbow grease to remove the oxidation and bring the shine back.
It is interesting that this bike has components made in Japan, US, Taiwan, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland and of course, England - truly a global bike.
The cycle has Shimano derailleurs and Weinmann brakes which are in excellent condition. The front tyres are Michillin World Tour 27 x 1 1/4" and still hold air. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the rear tyres (made in Taiwan).
I have no idea how old this bike is as there is very little information about Falcon bike on the net. My guess is that it is from the early 70s - meaning that we might be around the same age.
Initially I was thinking of stripping of the old paint and getting it repainted but I found out that the vintage look is in right now - people actually like the old weathered look on old bikes and have decided to leave it that way with some cleaning and touching up.
I totally forgot about it until we received an email from the seller later inquiring whether I still wanted the bike and to put in an offer if I did. I offered £20 and he accepted. Later on we had a chat over the phone and he asked for £25. That was a little bit more than I wanted to give him but then one similar bike had gone for little more than £60 on eBay (it was in a better condition though). I had also been looking for a vintage bike to restore and decided to buy the bike.
When I brought it back home, my wife was furious. "What were you thinking?" "I don't want the junk inside my house".
She only calmed down after I explained that the Reynolds 531 alloy frames were going for more than double the price of the bike on eBay.
Here is the lovely looking bike.
I guess this was one of their cheaper models as it only has a sticker instead of the stamped metal headbadge.
The famous Reynolds 531 tubing made of a manganese/molybdenum steel alloy and apparently these are in high demand by fixie bike fans.
Badly rusted pannier rack. I read somewhere that the spokes were cadmium plate units and they must have been shining when they were new. I think all it needs is a touch of metal polish and elbow grease to remove the oxidation and bring the shine back.
It is interesting that this bike has components made in Japan, US, Taiwan, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland and of course, England - truly a global bike.
The cycle has Shimano derailleurs and Weinmann brakes which are in excellent condition. The front tyres are Michillin World Tour 27 x 1 1/4" and still hold air. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the rear tyres (made in Taiwan).
I have no idea how old this bike is as there is very little information about Falcon bike on the net. My guess is that it is from the early 70s - meaning that we might be around the same age.
Initially I was thinking of stripping of the old paint and getting it repainted but I found out that the vintage look is in right now - people actually like the old weathered look on old bikes and have decided to leave it that way with some cleaning and touching up.
09 September 2011
8th Blogoversary
It has been 8 long years since I first started blogging on ah ok lah in 2003. What first started out as a place on the web to voice out and share my thoughts, emotions and events ended up changing my life completely. From a hobby it became my source of income and also my area of specialisation.
I received a scholarship to do a PhD in marketing at the Warwick Business School my research looks at the relationship between interactivity and attitudes towards blogs and towards advertising on blogs. I now blog on several blogs and even have been invited to speak about blogging to different audiences including a presentation on teaching with blogs to some academics at the University of Warwick.
Some say blogging is addictive - in my case it has been therapeutic. Other people play golf, or video games or do yoga. In my case, blogging helped me whenever I was stressed. It has definitely helped me with my writing skills in a language which is not my mother tongue.
I have come a long way - from someone who used to enjoy reading blogs to someone who is now considered an expert on blogging.
Why do I blog?
I received a scholarship to do a PhD in marketing at the Warwick Business School my research looks at the relationship between interactivity and attitudes towards blogs and towards advertising on blogs. I now blog on several blogs and even have been invited to speak about blogging to different audiences including a presentation on teaching with blogs to some academics at the University of Warwick.
Some say blogging is addictive - in my case it has been therapeutic. Other people play golf, or video games or do yoga. In my case, blogging helped me whenever I was stressed. It has definitely helped me with my writing skills in a language which is not my mother tongue.
I have come a long way - from someone who used to enjoy reading blogs to someone who is now considered an expert on blogging.
Why do I blog?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
