The goal here isn’t to mimic a road bike or gain speed or anything like that. The goal is to provide more hand positions for longer rides. And with drop bars, I’ll have about 5 different positions to choose from. The drops will also create a lower position on those entirely-too-windy days.

I was hoping for decent weather this weekend to give her a good test ride, but there was icy rain all day yesterday and it seems like the high today will be in the low-to-mid 30s. Monday should have highs in the 40s and the rest of the week should be in the 50s, so maybe I’ll get a commute in.

It’s been a while since I’ve commuted, so I’ll need to get a few longish (the Rails-to-Trails path should be long enough) to get comfortable with the new bars and controls. And I may need to adjust the seat a little because of the new riding position. All of that will work out after the rides.

I’ll try to get some better photos, too.

Go check it out and leave some love.

So, I have this idea for an iPhone app. It’s not groundbreaking or even anything more than maybe ten people would want.

The idea: A BrockNet app.

The specifics: It would provide access to all BrockNet blog posts with ability to comment and access to writers’ Twitter/Facebook feeds.

It doesn’t sound very complicated. And I bet all the functionality is available in different apps. But how can I create my own app with the functionalities I want?

Unfortunately, my local libraries don’t have an iPhone programming books and it’s not something I want to spend money on…Yet.

iPhone programmers, how hard would this be?

It’s quite the interesting group…Kenneth Lewis is dogged by having the same name as the former CEO for Bank of America. Elaine Marshall has low name recognition, even though she’s been Secretary of State since 1997. Cal Cunningham is the candidate that wasn’t and even formally ended his campaign that wasn’t…Until the DSCC courted him after their first choices (Representative to the US House Bob Etheridge, NC Attorney General Roy Cooper,  ) backed out.

If it weren’t so serious to get rid of Senator Richard Burr (Republican), the Democratic primary would almost be comical.

Photograph by Thomas Brock and his trusty iPhone (C) Thomas Brock Photography 2010

It’s a new year. And that means new goals. Many of my goals are the same as last year…Goals that I’ve failed at achieving. But, we never let failure stop us from trying to succeed. We’d really never get anything done if we did!

There’s a number of things I want to do this year.

Writing: I want to start writing more and better. 2009 saw me get hired on as one of the parent-bloggers for Onslow Memorial Hospital’s Mom-Talk blogging network. I’m hoping that will continue through 2010 and flourish into some new opportunities. New opportunities that include include publishing in magazines and other websites. I want to start and keep a journal. My goal is to write one non-blogging piece a month for submission to magazines. I’m focusing on publications that look for creative non-fiction like The Sun Magazine. If you know a similar magazine that’s looking for something new, please let me know.

Reading: I want to actually finish a book this year. I’ve read horribly little the last few years. I want to read some creative non-fiction to help build the writer I want to be…But I also want to read good fiction. My goal is to read one book a month. Starting this month with Jack Kerouac’s Town and Country. I’ve been reading off and on (mostly off…) for months. I’m looking for recommendations, so if you’ve got them, send them my way.

Photography: I want to start taking photos…Again. To that end: I’ll be taking a self-portrait a day. Today it’s with the iPhone (at left). Future self-portraits may be well-planned shots, others on-the-go. The idea is to get back into the habit of taking pictures. I also want to start using my Nikon D40 more. I want to take more photo-walks and maybe even take the camera along on some bicycle rides and commutes. My goal: Post weekly to the Photography blog. Post daily self-portraits there, here and on Twitter and Facebook.

Bicycling: I have been extremely lazy when it comes to bicycling since October. I want to get back into using the bicycle as my primary form of transportation. I also want to get back into blogging more about bicycling and working harder to advocate for the bicycle as a viable form of transportation in Jacksonville, NC. My goal:  250 miles ridden a month by bicycle.

Fitness/Weight-loss: I have completely failed at all previous attempts to get into better shape. This year, I hope to make real and lasting lifestyle changes to get back to a reasonable weight. My goal is to lose 25 pounds by May 2010. I can achieve this by making better food choices, exercising and bicycle commuting more. Tools like the Lose It, 100 Push Ups, 200 Sit-Ups and 200 Squat iPhone apps will help me. As will getting to the gym and not being a slave to sodas.

Activism and Issue Advocacy: I’ve been remiss in advocating for the issues that are important to me for some time. In 2010, I want to take a more active role in the world around me. That means making more time to research issues and contact the elected leaders that can influence them. More letters to the editor, more letters to elected leaders (local, state and national) and more work pushing the ideas and ideals that I believe. It also means a more active role in the City of Jacksonville Recreation and Parks and Trails and Greenways Commissions.

So. Those are some of my goals this year. What are yours?