Berkeley Denied

This just pissed me off.

I've been looking for a job, and I sent an application for a position at a place called "Berkeley Press". Their listing in the job posting is almost identical to what I do.

I got this back from the joker who you are supposed to address applications to:

Hi [Lavi],
Thanks for your interest, unfortunately I really need local
candidates (local defined as 'Within biking distance") as it best
suits our culture here. Las Vegas to Berkeley is a long bike ride..

You know, I thought the idea of looking for an employee entailed getting the best person for the job, not snarkily dismissing possible ideal candidates because they might not "suit the culture".

The ad does not mention "Local candidates only", and I am willing to relocate at my own expense. I suppose everyone else who works at Berkeley Press just grew up out of the ground like a bunch of mushrooms. If this guy's attitude is any indication, they probably did.

If this were a larger company, I would press the issue. but I read that there were only 50 people, which means that the possibility of having to deal with this moron on a daily basis is pretty high. Hell, he might even be the head fungus.

Here's my reply:

[Dickhead],

I live within bicycle distance of my current employer. I fully intend to move within bicycling distance of my next.



[Update]

I received a response to the above:

"Hi [Lavi],

We really are just looking for currently local candidates. I know
its short-sighted of us but we have the best success with people who
are already established.

Best of luck,"


Which, in my opinion, is what he should have wrote in the first place.

Oh well, I've sent off crappy emails in haste in the past myself.

Full Regalia

The Casino Cruiser, locked and loaded.

"The suspect was seen fleeing the scene on a heavily modified, 1986 Montgomery Ward Free Spirit"

Yes I Did

I made good on a long-time threat to put speakers on the Casino Cruiser and ride the Strip with sound.

Ringer

Since getting the 3-speed rear wheel for the Casino Cruiser, I've struggled with trying to get the gearing right.   Initially, I used first gear almost exclusively, second and third not being of much use.

Then I replaced the rear, 19-tooth cog with a 22-tooth.   That helped marginally.   Now I was riding using first and second, third gear still being too ridiculously high - especially for a bike with only rear brakes.   I just don't want to go that fast on this bike.   There is no such thing as stopping quickly with a coaster brake - you will skid.   Bikes with front-and-rear caliper brakes stop much more quickly, rarely with wheel slip (depending on surface conditions)

Now, thanks to the great folks at Bike World, I have achieved Nirvana.

They sold me an adapter plate which allowed me to fit an old 32-tooth front chainring, from a traditional derailleur-type bike, onto the crank of the Casino Cruiser.   This yields a near-perfect gear range.   I spend most of my time shifting between second and third and occasionally using first when I'm on a tough grade.

Awesome.   The first time I took the bike out to ride, I didn't want to go home.

Like you care.   Oh well, at least I'm happy, and that's what really matters.

Type at ya later - I'm going for a ride!

Let the Bodice Ripping Begin

Rockin' the Cat's Box

In order to clear up some of the confusion surrounding the "Casino Cruiser" and in light of the fact that the Scum went ahead and posted a shot of hisself, I am posting this image of me and the anti-Islamicycle.

I live in the untamed suburbs west of the Las Vegas Strip, within bicycling distance of about a dozen bars, casinos, restaurants and shopping and about five miles from work.   Therefore, the Casino Cruiser allows me to use as little gasoline as humanly possible in order to "stick it to the man", whether he wears a necktie or a towel.

9AM?   Fuck Allah, I'm getting a beer.

Hey, what does an Islamic cowboy yell?



Jiiiiiiiiiiiii - Haad!


PS:Here's a closeup of the new chainring.   Notice the nice, tight, crank-pinhole.



PPS:"Nexus" is the brand-name for Shimano's line of "internally-geared hubs"

Soft Pedal

This is what happens to your chainwheel when you lunge into the pedals while forcing your beach cruiser up a slight incline.   The gap around that peg results in a very annoying hesitation when pedaling.



In order to avoid having to apply that much force, it is advised that you install a multi-speed hub.



Those of you new to this blog might not know how much I love bicyles

Where You At

If you ever end up face-down drunk on the pavement and wake up wondering where you are, well, if you're on the strip, you might just be lucky enough to pass out next to one of these nifty little surveyor pucks and all doubt will be erased.   (Click on image to enrage)

Bike Buster II

To be fair, I had crashed in the wet grass just before I got to the Blockbuster.

I had patches of mud on my windbreaker and fatigue pants.   I had had a couple of vodka-rocks before I left the house, so the kids on duty probably thought I was a near-homeless drunk.   I mean, only losers ride beach-cruiser bicycles to the store, right?   (Well, at least around these parts)

And, because of the door set up, it is really not a great idea to take the bike in this particular store, although there was plenty of room along the wall for it, out of anyone's way.   I just wanted to give it a try because it was simpler than locking the bike to a tree the way I did last time.

Speaking of crashing, this looks cool.

Bike Buster

11/16/07 20:35

I just rode my bike up to BlockBuster local store #32016.   I leaned my bike against a wall inside, far from any merchandise racks.

I was quickly informed by an employee that the manager, Brandon, didn't want me to put my bike inside, because it "could be a hazard".

Seeing as how there was no bike rack outside this store, I thought this was something that needed addressing.

If gasoline gets to $5 a gallon, LOTS of people are going to suddenly find that bikes are a great way to get to Blockbusters.

If I were you, I'd put cheap iron bike racks outside of EVERY Blockbuster and then advertise how BB is helping the environment by encouraging the use of alternative transportation.

The BBs that don't have bikeracks?   Let people park their bikes inside.   Ooh, Scary.

You have stores.   Your death-rival, Netflix, does not.   This is something you can do that they can't.

I'm just saying.


MjM

Thank you for your inquiry.
The reference number for your question is 'xxxxxx-xxxxxx'.   Depending on the
category you selected, you should receive a response from our Customer Care
Department within the timeframe listed below.

* BLOCKBUSTER Online Rentals and Total Access - 4 hours
* BLOCKBUSTER.COM Website Feedback - 4 hours
* BLOCKBUSTER DVD Purchases - 1 hour
* BLOCKBUSTER Rewards Program - 24-48 hours
* BLOCKBUSTER Store Feedback - 24-48 hours
* BLOCKBUSTER Corporate - 24-48 hours
* Other - 4 hours

If you do not receive a response from us, please check your SPAM or Junk Mail
folder.   We also recommend adding blockbuster@custhelp.com to your address book to allow receipt of our replies.


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Update - 11/20/07
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


You see the line(s) above that read, BLOCKBUSTER Store(Corporate) Feedback - 24-48 hours?

Well, precise calculations using both Mickey's hands and a few of his toes, reveal that it's now been about 77 hours and not so much as a "WTF?" from my dear friend Mr. Block Buster.

My friend Dave suggested I throw my bike through their front window and somehow attempt to blame them for the incident.   Well, hell no, I spent way too much time working on that bike.

If I had a choice between bike rides and movies as my life long form of entertainment, I'd take a Specialized hard-tail with pannier-mounted hellfire missiles, just so you know.

My Bike is Hawt

I love bicycles. I love riding bicycles. I love that bicycle parts - can be - very sweetly crafted. Bicycles and bicycle parts are, for me, the flip side of guns. Guns are very powerful and many of them are very sweetly crafted. I have many friends with guns. But I am more into the bicycles.

The above is a picture of my "Casino Cruiser". I live within three miles of about 20 restaurants, bars and casinos. It seemed a shame to me to pull out the car and drive 1.2 miles to a bar. Not to mention the whole DUI mess.

So I went shopping for a "Beach Cruiser". I found the beauty pictured above at the BroadAcres Swap Meet

It's a steel, 26 inch, men's frame, beach cruiser. $40.

I'm gonna juice (pimp?) it up. But don't tell anybody. Springer front end, three-speed hub rear end. Oh yeah.