OK Computer [computers]

I'm at home for the morning because I got word that Frodo is ready to be picked up, but the bike shop doesn't open until noon. Typing this on S's Mac Mini, which is running OS 10.6. I don't remember what OS my previous generation MacBook has, and its battery is currently dead with the charger at work, but of course now I'm curious.

It's amazing how much a computer death can mess up my sense of organization. I had a couple key braindump text files on the dead machine, and now I'm in one of those spaces of, "Do I try and work on my course schedule spreadsheet file using the Oogley's Cloud Spreadsheet doohickey, or just wait until I get to the office?" The Mac Mini doesn't contain any Windows software, and is outdated enough that I'm having issues accessing certain websites on it, including the Chrome Remote Desktop thingy.

It will be fine in the long run. It's just anxiety-producing in the short term as I feel the precious few days between now and the start of the semester slipping away.

At least the Mac Mini lets me type on a keyboard. I brought the work iPad home last night and that just confirmed that using it is like using an oversize smart-o-phone and I hate tappity tapping on glass screens. As a friend commented long ago, towards the beginning of the tablet computer era, tablets are designed as consumer devices, not creator/producer devices. Yes, one can eventually set them up for creator/producer functions, but that's a whole 'nother process and set of expenses.

Anyway, grump grump. This, too, shall pass.

From the Annals of Bike Maintenance [bicycling]

Picked up Frodo. In addition to the rear wheel replacement, they also had to replace the front brakes because after they cleaned the old ones, one of the return springs snapped from corrosion.

So I guess that's an answer to what the salt kills quickly. Springs. Not a huge surprise, given that springs are metal under tension. I've already had to replace the rear brakes - what, a year or two ago? - for the same reason.

By this point I very much regret getting V-brakes instead of disc brakes, but that ship has now sailed and I'll keep riding Frodo till it dies. Which may take longer now because they also applied framesaver to the frame as part of the spa treatment.

It felt good to be back on Frodo. Princess TinyBike is really helpful and versatile, but with those itty-bitty wheels and bars, rather twitchy feeling for daily commuting purposes. My arms and I missed Frodo's Ergon grips, and my feet missed the MKS Lambda pedals. I have also missed the sparkly colors of the Monkey Electric light at night.

With that, time to head home.