A Day Off - Visit to the Other Side

I decided last night that it was about time to take a day off from riding. Since the weather has been so cooperative lately, I can't remember the last time I skipped a whole day, and that in and of itself is ample reason to do so.

So today I pretended to be normal. Although I've always aspired to normality, I admit there's something in me that rebels against it at every turn. I didn't start racing bicycles because it was "the thing to do." In fact, back when I started it would have been more properly termed "the thing NOT to do." Hence, of course, I did it. Likewise my decision to pursue science and research, which although somewhat sidetracked along the way, still serves as my primary motivational guide. Anyone with a lick of common sense would have ditched the bike racing and majored in Business Administration or Pre-Med.

Anyway, I got to work an hour earlier than usual, via a motorized vehicle, with air-conditioning, and a cup of Starbucks coffee, wearing a tie, and didn't need to change shirts once I got there. How normal is that?

Just to remind me that all is not perfect on the "other side," as I pulled into the garage at work, I heard the front brakes squeal, which means that the pads are worn down to nothing and will need to be replaced right away. That will almost surely involve new rotors and enough money for a season's worth of entry fees.

Well, it's Internet Worm-Virus time again. Every year, just as school starts, there is a huge outbreak of internet worms and viruses as all those student computers start connecting to the campus network. We got a notice just today:

New virus appearing on campus: W32/IRCBot.worm!MS05-039
A new Internet Relay Chat (IRC) bot worm has appeared on campus. This worm has the ability to spread by exploiting systems which are not yet patched for the MS05-039 vulnerability.
More information, including removal and prevention instructions is available on McAfee's Web site at:http://vil.mcafeesecurity.com/vil/content/v_135491.htm
If you require help or need additional information, please contact the Tulane University Help Desk at (504) 862-8888.
If you do not have anti-virus software, visit http://www.tulane.edu/~software/downloads/index.shtml for instructions on acquiring your Tulane licensed copy (Tulane University faculty, staff and students only).

I talked with The Daughter last night, asking if her computer was working because I hadn't seen her on AIM lately. Turns out one of the roommates who moved out took the wireless router with her, so they need to all get together and get a new one for the house. Classes start Monday, so hopefully that will be high up on the priority list.

I'll leave with a favorite bit of Kipling, who unknowlingly wrote something immensely relevant to bicycle racing:

Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky;
And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back—
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.