help is on the way

help_is_on_the_way.jpg, a photo by chris_rocket on Flickr.

It's nice to know help is only a button away. But the last time I accidentally pressed the "help" button, I got someone's voice mail.

messengers must not loiter

messengers_loiter.jpg, a photo by chris_rocket on Flickr.

This sign is posted by a freight elevator, and you have no choice but to "loiter" by it while you wait for the very slow elevator.

Messengers are often forced to ride the freight, which can take longer than actually riding from pickup to delivery.

sabormetrics

Dogs, a photo by (ariel) on Flickr.

As my beloved Giants turn "torture" into "waterboarding," I propose a new way of enjoying baseball -- sabormetrics -- the quantitative analysis of ballpark food. At AT&T Park in San Francisco, everyone knows (and fears) the garlic fries, but I'd like to return to the value of the humble hot dog, or ballpark frank. Photo courtesy of Ariel.

There is one, and only, Doggie Diner at AT&T that has hot sauerkraut. Combine that with grilled onions, and you've got a tasty frank. My friend Cris, who has been to many ballparks, thought it was delicious. I give it a EDA (Earned Drool Average) of 1.02.

Across the bay in Oakland, there's cheaper beer, of course, but also delightful grilled burgers! During an afternoon game, the scent of sizzling meat drifts from the BBQ outpost in left field. I thought the double cheeseburger was amazing, Cris thought it merely average. My favorite O.co treat: two tacos with a tallboy of Corona Light.

More sabormetrics photos here

baby blue heron

It might be gone by now, but the last time I made a delivery to the Old Post Office in Oakland, 201 13th St, there was a noisy baby blue heron demanding food, in this tree right about here:

http://tinyurl.com/4xzx9ff

It was making a noise like a crazed homeless person, audible about a block away. I hope it got some food.

words not to say

Two things I'd like no one to every write or say again:

-- "app" for appetizer. It's bad enough that "application" is now shortened to "app" for mobile devices, and we have to hear about "killer apps" constantly, but the Chronicle food writers should just give it up. Call it by its right name. Actually, what the hell is an appetizer these days anyone? It's like an entree, but more $$ per ounce.

-- "vacay" for vacation. I shouldn't have to explain this.

SF superior in jeopardy

This is serious. This could really mess up justice in SF. I'd rather see the city ditch the Zoo than the court system. After all, if someone owes you money, and the court won't help you, your only alternatives are the mafia, or street justice. Not to mention 15 months for a divorce.

Read about it here and here

bike jock

Watching Dodgers v Giants tonight. Never thought of myself as a jock, but I guess I am. A skinny little bike jock. My friend Deuce pointed out that watching baseball is calming. I agree. You should follow his blog 2+2=2, a truly gritty chronicle of the NorCal road racing circuit. Tour de France minus the steroids, podium girls, and 6-digit contracts. Racing for the pure love of testing yourself and your machine.

Austrian messenger wins Race Across America`

28-year-old bike messenger from Austria wins the Race Across America (RAAM) ... to learn just how difficult that is, read on

landlords who lose security deposits

Here at Docket Rocket, we seem to be serving more and more small claims actions against landlords who refuse to return their tenants' security deposits, sometimes for no reason at all. By San Francisco law, they're supposed to keep the deposits in a separate account. I'm wondering if they made bad investments, lost their tenants' deposits, and invent a pretext to avoid returning the $$$. I'm also wondering if anyone at the SF Chronicle or Examiner is interested in looking into this story.

bike.jpg

banksy_bike.jpg, a photo by chris_rocket on Flickr.

Can you name the artist and SF location?

follow this blog

Read my friend Irene's blog: thislittleplot.wordpress.com. We met in a writing class at San Francisco State years ago, and happily coincidence, she also knew my wife. Irene writes movingly about family, health, nature, and life.

bread

I am becoming a Bread fan. I'm not being ironic. I really like it.

triple rush -- bike messenger TV show

Looks like Triple Rush has flamed out after only three episodes. Keep an eye peeled for repeats on Travel Channel.

Rest assured that my company, Docket Rocket, is nothing like any of these companies.

All I could find on YouTube was this:

double rush / triple rush

I enjoyed watching "Triple Rush" on Travel channel. Like any reality show, it distorts reality and creates drama, and I doubt the people involved were too happy about how they came off, but that's the danger, isn't it?

I just found out that there was a short 1995 messenger sitcom called "Double Rush," featuring David Arquette. It actually made me laugh, in a good way. Reminded me of "Taxi." Check it out (the pilot is in 3 parts). I love the New York 90s look: body armor, full-face helmets... like Fly Girls and ski racers.

Docket Rocket legal courier

me_elevator_best.jpg
Originally uploaded by chris_rocket

Might as well tell you who we work for. Docket Rocket legal courier, San Francisco's best process serving, document delivery, fax filing, court filing service. Owner and worker-operated. Ten years in business.

http://www.docketrocket.com

'nuff said.

Surf City cyclocross

IMG_6341
Originally uploaded by tedketai

3rd overall in Men's B at Surf City Series, Santa Cruz. And my season is over.

Thanks to Ted Ketai for use of the photo.

muddy fun

P1110095
Originally uploaded by SWoo

For once, a muddy start to the cross season. I'm liking it.

Thanks to Mr. Woo for the photo. And the offer of his mountain bike after I crashed into a pole (not the one in the photo, but about 2 minutes later) and broke my front brake lever.

Salsa!

salsa.jpg
Originally uploaded by chris_rocket

Old-school, I'd guess 1980s, Salsa MTB, Columbus tubing. Keeping with the retro-grouch vibe, it's got Shimano 7-speed thumb-shifters. I caved in and got a Marzocchi suspension fork.

Shot on Marys Peak, outside Corvallis, OR.

Felt TT bike

felt_tt.jpg
Originally uploaded by chris_rocket

Felt TT bike, 10sp SRAM, Time cranks, yes that's a Campy front derailleur, somehow it all worked. Ritchey tubulars.

Surly Pacer

surly.jpg
Originally uploaded by chris_rocket

This is for my friend Maria at bicyclekitty.com

This is one of my two main work bikes, a 2008 Surly Pacer with SRAM Rival 10 speed drivetrain. The steel is pretty soft, not sure what kind, generic Chromoly. I think they updated to a nicer tubeset for 2010. I give the frame a lukewarm recommendation. I only weigh 140lb, but with a 35lb banker box on the rack, there's a lot of frame flex. I replaced the stock fork with a carbon (aluminum lugged) fork from some Raleigh.

Overall, a decent bike for day rides, light touring, commuting, messengering. I wouldn't recommend it for racing or carrying heavy loads.