- Velophilia.
- The difference between Japanese and U.S. nuclear reactors.
- The film “Cadillac Lawyer.”
- And how to get the best value from a salad bar.
The mind reels after over 3 inches of rain in 24 hours and the prospect of being house-bound for the remainder of the week.
Velophilia. It may be the first time I recall seeing the word, in this case referring to what a writer for the New York Times Magazine, Tim Adams, calls “… the closest thing London has to a political philosophy.”
Can’t say in the end he’s a velophan, but makes some interesting observations about how the mayor of London, one Boris Johnson, has single-handedly changed the city’s commuting and transportation philosophy.
He’s not much interested in anything else. “His zealotry is reserved for pedal power,” writes Mr. Adams. One of the most visible symbols of his political platform is Boris Bikes, the 5,000 rental bikes distributed all over the city, ready to propel people on their errands and commutes.
It turns out that the velophilia may have as much to do with the need for exercise than with economics. Among other thing it costs the equivalent of $16 to take a motor vehicle into the center of town.
So Mr. Adams decides to try out one of the Boris Bikes after demurring for six months or so. His experience? After a few hours’ ride, with snarling traffic, potholes, and construction zones, “… I docked by bike near the river an set off to walk home while the convoy of the righteous, heads down, legs pumping, swept by to where they had to go.”
Can’t please them all.
Oh… about the other things on the mind this rainy day.
Tomorrow I’m interviewing for an hour the head of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Reactor (KCBX,90.1 FM, 4 PM) and madly doing my homework.
Took time off to see “Cadillac Lawyer,” which I loved. (“Rango” is a blast, too.)
And there’s another piece in the NY Times Mag about the price of salad bars, the individual price of the things that make up the bars, and how to get your money’s worth. If you chose well, the mark up can be about 8%. Choose poorly and you give the market a 223% markup.
Gotta go: Going to get a salad bar at Ralphs ($6.99/lb)… honest.
