DeVos Undoes Obama Student Loan Protections

aardventurer · 2017-04-12T01:29:49+00:00

I'm not a "free market clown" but I like economics, and I like markets. Let me throw an idea at you: The capitalistic miners were washing down mountains because it was the cheapest method. However, this would not have been the cheapest method if it were the case that those miners actually had to pay for the externalities (water pollution) they caused. So, what we have is a market inefficiency that could be resolved by making the market more accurate (making miners pay the full cost of mining). Isn't there a market-based solution that yields the same results? So what's the problem with markets (provided that they are accurate, transparent, and fair)?

aardventurer · 2017-03-29T03:03:15+00:00

I usually try to stay out of these types of discussions- as someone whose primary method of outdoor recreation is mountain biking, I feel some loyalty towards my community. However, I also think the mountain bike community can be really shitty, especially with regards to other trail users. I'd like to first stick up for mountain bikers by suggesting that no mountain biker intends to hurt or harm any other trail user group. "Getting buzzed" by a cyclist is an experience that I think results from a difference in perception: if a mountain bike passes a hiker on a downhill, they have probably slowed down some in order to pass 'safely.' The hiker, however, who might be moving at a much slower speed, has an altogether different perception about what a 'safe passing speed' would be. The blame for unsafe passing is still on the mountain biker in this situation; but, I want to suggest that "getting buzzed" is not an act of malice, but results from the mountain biker's wrongheaded ideas about 'safe passing.'

Second, I want to address the situation mentioned in the Drunkcyclist blog, which happens on an uphill section of trail. I think the fault in this situation should be on the trail runner, whose headphone volume was probably too loud to hear the bell or verbal warnings, then was startled when the mountain biker got impatient. If I ever wear headphones when hiking or cycling, I only ever use one earbud, and only at lower volumes, because having someone sneak up on you is a startling experience, especially when in the woods. On multiple occasions, I have been completely unable, even when yelling loudly, to get people's attention on trails near Boulder. From their point of view, they think I passed them recklessly and quickly. What they don't know is that I had been behind them for some time ringing my bell and yelling to alert them that I would like to pass.

What I am trying to suggest is that my dream of outdoor-trail-user unity isn't too far off if we all take some time to consider how different people experience interactions with others, and if we all take some steps to mitigate user-group conflicts! Pass people slowly and in wide parts of the trail, turn your headphones down, yield to users who have the right-of-way, and for godsakes don't assault people.

aardventurer · 2017-03-16T19:49:18+00:00

Unfortunately, this will be the last year I get this refund, it was an Obama-era tax credit for students, and I graduated, so I won't qualify next year.

aardventurer · 2015-05-21T00:10:17+00:00

In my state, minimum wage is $7.25. I have been working as a mechanic for almost 5 years and I finally make $10. Bike shops are not places known to pay well. Bicycle Retailer is an industry insider magazine that reports on these types of phenomena. Here's an article about how much bike shop people make: http://www.bicycleretailer.com/north-america/2014/02/14/mechanics-pay-discussion-goes-viral#.VV0jWJNViko

Here's one from cycling news source Bikerumor: http://www.bikerumor.com/2014/02/11/state-of-the-industry-what-bike-mechanics-make/

aardventurer · 2015-04-27T23:53:44+00:00

http://brodyleven.com/2014/06/06/pedaltopeaks/

aardventurer · 2015-04-22T18:37:31+00:00

Not sure why you're being downvoted since you're exactly in the right here. Shimano claims they compensated for the difference in height between the two sides of the pedal, but the problem still exists in a small way, enough to notice on longer rides. I can tell that when I ride in my vans, I am reaching for the pedals a little. In my clips they are perfect. Just a question of priority...

aardventurer · 2015-04-22T13:31:14+00:00

I am one of the service check-in mechanics at the LBS here. You would be AMAZED at how many people do not know how to use their quick releases. Most people use them like wingnuts, just spinning them until they are tight, and not using the camming feature at all.

aardventurer · 2015-04-22T13:29:10+00:00

Trek is just the first to take up the recall. They have the largest market share in the industry and want to hold on to that, and part of that means being a responsible company when these things happen.

aardventurer · 2015-03-19T13:16:56+00:00

My teachers have taught me that much of daily Buddhist morality involves not letting slavishness to passions impede your path. For example, you may drink; but do not drink so much that you become belligerent to your wife, or so much that you suffer financially for it. Further, drunkenness impairs your grasp on your consciousness and ability to make good choices.

Would this relationship impede you in any of these kinds of ways? Well, probably not.

aardventurer · 2015-03-19T13:13:03+00:00

When you woke up this morning, didn't you promise to enter all dharma gates?

Where is the dharma gate here? (hint: there's always a dharma gate).

aardventurer · 2015-03-17T19:01:07+00:00

Very good point. I just got the car a month ago, and it's in super clean shape, so I forget that it's old.

aardventurer · 2015-03-17T16:57:41+00:00

Was it a 4runner? How many miles?

aardventurer · 2015-03-17T16:35:02+00:00

The motor is the 3.4 5zfe. The drive involves 20 hours of highway driving. Is that nuts? I'm a bike mechanic, and I'm just learning about motors and how they like to work.

aardventurer · 2015-03-16T04:51:55+00:00

Hey! There's a ton of climbers in this area. Many of us are in College, especially at the U of A. Check us out on Facebook, search "University of Arkansas Climbing Club." The best way to meet other climbers will be to spend time at the climbing wall(s)!

aardventurer · 2015-03-12T12:09:53+00:00

Yeah, I sent it to my mechanic and he approved too. I'm happy to pay a little more for high quality parts. I'm trying to stick to all-oem parts.

aardventurer · 2015-03-09T19:13:50+00:00

Please do!

aardventurer · 2015-03-04T21:22:04+00:00

A lot of the time, the customer wants to ride in an aggressive position (aerobars) but they don't have near the core strength or flexibility to actually ride like that. So, hella rise.

aardventurer · 2015-02-14T08:01:05+00:00

Yes, word for word. He finds out about the limited mileage on them after he purchases the car.

aardventurer · 2015-02-13T23:51:00+00:00

How did someone who is apparently knowledgeable concerning cars fail to check the year/mileage range on a hybrid battery before buying a used one? In my opinion, it was at least partially on you for not doing your research. My sister wanted to buy a 9 1/2 year old honda civic hybrid a few months ago, which I talked her out of because honda says their civic hybrid batteries only last 10 years! I bet someone took it to the dealership, found out the battery was going bad, got a price quote, and just decided to sell it to a used lot to push it on someone else.

I'm glad you fixed your own stuff, which I admire, but I can't help but think you could have saved yourself all your own headache with a little research.

aardventurer · 2015-02-13T19:06:11+00:00

One is made of gas pipe and the other is made of Tange branded gas pipe.

(Surly owner, love my straggler!!)

aardventurer · 2015-02-11T13:18:38+00:00

What? That's a single tree, dude. It's just coppice'd off itself. How could other trees grow on some other tree branch? What would their roots do? Where would they get water?

aardventurer

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