Epic traffic jam?

I just cannot fathom being stuck in a 10-day long traffic jam and the prospect of sitting in it until the middle of next month! A 10-minute traffic jam makes me, well, unhappy and can cause some roadrage-esque sentiments.

Right now, across the world in China motorists are just coming out of sitting in a traffic jam dozens of miles long that according to reports was to possibly last well into mid-September. Maybe it’s due to the roadwork or the massive increase of personal vehicles on Chinese roads; regardless, how exactly does one cope in a 10-day (or worse month-long) traffic jam? What about work, school and the daily necessities of life?

The route is popular with tourists visiting the Great Wall in the stretch from Beijing to inner Mongolia. According to news reports, mini-economies have sprung up along the road-side where locals are selling water and food and exorbitant prices.  Good ol’ supply and demand!

The social media war: Giant vs. Giant

Google, the heavy weight champ of internet search, is rumored to be stepping into the ring with Facebook to challenge their reign as social media champions. A recent NY Times article titled “Google Develops a Facebook Rival” discusses Google’s top-secret project called Google Me and their latest effort to penetrate the multi-million dollar social media industry.

To me the name Google is synonymous with success. They continuously achieve their corporate goals while pushing the boundaries of innovation. Their corporate philosophies are the envy of many in the technology sector and their products have become staples of our everyday life. However, for some strange reason, Google’s been unsuccessful at entering the social media industry and it’s not due to their lack of trying.

You may remember a few of Google’s previous attempts to dethrone Facebook (or maybe you don’t). Most recently was Google Buzz, the supposed Facebook killer that came out with a lot of bark but no bite. Before this was Orkurt, a social media site that never gained popularity in North America or Europe. Also, Google had their Friend Connect and Google Wave that were both heavily anticipated attempts to beat Facebook but never lived up to their initial hype.

This leads me to two questions. Why does Google continue to spend billions in this social media battle?  Secondly, what will be different with Google Me that could persuade people to leave Facebook? To answer the first question let’s take a look at some numbers. Facebook recently announced it passed 500 million members (a startling 1 in 10 people on earth) and in 2009 they reportedly earned a whopping $800 million (and they’ve grown exponentially since). Therefore,  Google’s current list of users and their expertise in advertizing transfers well to social media and will surely be another gold mine for the company.  Also, Facebook has pushed their IPO back until 2012 giving Google Me some much needed time to gain market share before they go public. The second question is more difficult to answer as Google rarely gives insight into their bag of tricks.

Their only hint about Google Me is they’ve recently purchased 4 online gaming companies that will probably be added to the platform. Online gaming is very popular on social media sites as these simple (and fun) games allow people to play with friends in their networks. Social gaming was a $700 million market in 2009 and analysts believe the market will triple by 2012.  Sure, this sounds pretty cool but is that all Google Me has to offer?

I understand why Google continues to battle Facebook for social media supremacy but nothing I’ve heard about Google Me seems overly innovative or ground-breaking.  This giant versus giant battle is very inspiring but I question if online gaming will be the secret formula that Google Me needs to finally triumph over Facebook. Their previous attempts were miserable, unGoogle-like, and probably quite humbling for the company. However, they continue to get up and fight another round. Will this be another humiliating defeat for Google? Only time will tell….

Vigilant Futures donates computers to local teen-focused organization

Yesterday, the Vigilant Futures team went down to Youth in Motion –a Montreal organization in the Little Burgundy area close to downtown – to donate seven fully-equipped computers to their cause.

Youth in Motion is the go-to afterschool spot for teens in Little Burgundy when they want to play basketball, need a tutoring lesson or just surf the web. It’s hard to surf the web when you don’t have a computer, or in Youth in Motion’s case, have to set up a schedule because they simply don’t have enough to meet the neighborhood demand!

The organization has been helping families in the area for the last 10 years through educational, recreational and cultural programs.  Although primarily for teens between the ages of 12-17, the center does a lot of good for the entire family through parent/family workshops that provide empowerment, education and support.

To donate or volunteer, click here.

To read our press release, click on http://www.vigilantfutures.com/media-news.

Is it time to tune your bike?

Tips on what to check to see if your bike is in need of a tune-up

Like all mechanical devices, regular maintenance will help to ensure bike will run smoothly for decades.  Just as neglect can see even the most expensive bike wear out in less than a season.  Below is a series of simple things to check without the need for any tools (short of a ruler). 

Brakes

• Check that your brakes are tight enough by depressing both brake levers.  If you are capable of squeezing either/both lever far enough that it touches the handlebars, your brakes are too loose and they need to be tightened.
• Make sure your brake pads are properly aligned to your rims (does not apply if you have disk breaks).  Watch your brakes open and close as you engage the breaks.  Do the brake pads on both sides of the wheel touch the rim at approximately the same time?  Is your break pad touching the center of the rim?  Unless you answered ‘yes’ to both of these questions, your brakes need adjusting.

 

Wheels

• With the wheel off the ground, give it a good spin and watch the rim at its closest point to your brakes.  If you see the space between the rim and the break getting bigger and smaller, it may be time to have your wheel trued (the act of making the wheel straight).  If the wheel spins without rubbing on the breaks, then it’s only slightly out of adjustment and can be safely ridden.  However, if it rubs against the brakes on one or both sides of the wheel, it needs to be trued.
• When the wheel is spinning it should not generate any vibrations in the bike.  If it does or when it’s spinning you notice that is slows down quickly, the hub is too tight and needs to be adjusted.
• With your bike in a standing position, firmly grip the tire and try to wiggle the wheel from side to side.  If you feel it rocking back and forth or any looseness, your hub is too loose and needs to be adjusted.

 

Headset

• Apply the front break tightly and rock the bike back and forth.  If you feel anything loose or shaking, your headset is too loose and needs to be tightened.
• While the front wheel is off the ground, grab the stem at its lowest point (just above the headset) and gently turn the wheel fully to the left, fully to the right and repeat a few times.  If you feel any roughness, resistance or stiffness, the headset is too tight and needs to be loosened.

 

Bottom Bracket

• Shift the front derailleur to the lowest/smallest gear and with a rag/cloth/paper towel/etc… pull the chain off the smallest gear and let it hang on the bottom bracket.  Grab the crank arm at point it’s connected to the bottom bracket and slowly rotate the crank arm around.  If you feel any roughness or resistance (should spin freely), the bottom bracket is too tight and needs to be loosened.
• With the chain still off, grab both crank arms near the pedals and wiggle them back in forth in unison (push the Crank Arms in the direction of the blue arrows, then the green & repeat several times).  If the Crank Arms shake around at all, the Bottom Bracket is too loose and needs tightening.

Chain

• As you use your bike, the chain will slowly stretch (a well lubricated chain stretches much slower).  A certain amount of stretching is ok, but if your chain stretches too far it will wear out other components and when it comes time to change the chain you’ll have no choice but to replace the components that wore out due to this stretched chain.  To check if the chain has stretched, take an imperial ruler and place the zero mark in the center of one of the pins in the chain.  Measure out 10” and if your chain is in new or near new condition the 10” mark will fall in the center of another pin.  If it falls off center of the pin but not near the edge, your chain has stretched but still has some life left in it.  If it’s near the edge of the pin, bring your bike to a professional so to be accessed.  If the 10” mark is outside the pin, your chain is badly stretched and further components will need to be changed along with your chain. 

Shifters and Derailleur

• While slowly riding the bike, shift through all the gears one at a time.  After each shift does the chain move to another gear?  If it doesn’t shift, falls off the gears, takes a few moments to shift or makes a continuous clicking noise before/after the shift, the derailleur(s) need to be adjusted.

 

Like all mechanical devices, with proper maintenance, the majority of the mechanical components of your bicycle will last you a life time.  But left unattended a component that’s too tight or too loose will wear out, cost more in repairs, reduce the efficiency of your bike and diminish the smoothness of your ride.

Although these simple tests are a good indicator or the condition of your bike, many of the components can only be conclusively diagnosed through some level of disassembly of your bike.  Therefore it is always recommended to get your bike a full tuned-up (avoid the basic tune-up that adjusts your brakes and shifters/derailleur alone) at the beginning of each season.

Be sure to regularly lubricate your chain and keep your tires inflated to the pressure marked on the tire sidewalls.