Perplexed Orange Independent Biker

Delta and Northwest Airline admits their online checkin doesn’t work on a Mac. Pathetic.

> From: Delta.OnlineSupport@delta.com
> Subject: Re: Web_Feedback – Current and Future…
> Date: 8 March, 2009 12:31:07 AM CST
> …
>
> Dear Mr. Steeves,
>
> Thank you for contacting us concerning your difficulty with our online
check-in option. At this time, the problem with printing your boarding
card appears to be directly related to the Mac platform.
>
> Currently, delta.com is designed and constructed to be best viewed by a
Windows-based, PC platform using Internet Explorer 6.0 (and higher), as
well as Netscape 7.2 (and higher) browsers. This was established based
on the dominant type of users throughout the industry. We regret that we
cannot guarantee service on every computer platform. However, we will
regularly review the Mac population of users and respond accordingly.
>
> We recommend that you take advantage of our airport kiosk location to
avoid the ticket counter lines.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jessica Tribbey
> Online Customer Support Desk
> http://www.delta.com

_UPDATE, 28 Oct: This isn’t working right now and is very frustrating. I can sync a new database from either device but can’t get the iPhone to take the latest from the MacBook._

Tonight I upgraded from OmniFocus 1.0 to 1.5 sneakypeek, purchased OmniFocus for iPhone, and set up free WebDAV sync using sharemation.

Downloading and installing the OmniFocus upgrade was easy, as was purchasing OmniFocus for iPhone from the app store. The first time I ran the upgrade it converted my database which took a minute.

Creating a free account at sharemation was easy. I did not create any folders there. To connect to the highest level folder using WebDAV from Finder, connect to “https://sharemation.com/username”.

Next I set up sync for OmniFocus on the Mac. Knowing the URL, username & password that worked in Finder was all I needed. The first sync took a couple minutes.

The next thing I did was send my settings over. This did not go so well. I kept getting trapped in a loop of selecting between the local & server databases, or re-entering my sync username & password. I finally got out of this by syncing the local database from the iPhone to make a successful sync from there. Then on the next sync from my Mac I had to tell it to use its local database, not the blank one I’d just synced from the phone. On the next sync from the phone I got the right database down, I think because I didn’t have to enter credentials again.

So there was a bit of hassle, but with some perseverance it seems to be working. And free. If I was doing it again I would back up my database, then sync blank or starting databases to get sync going, then restore the backup & sync it to the phone.

Dew cockpit

Originally uploaded by dansteeves68.

I feel pretty responsible for Craig’s relationship with this Kona Dew Deluxe, as I helped him select & purchase it a couple years ago. The result was good for both of us, as he likes the bike and we ride together.

Last year I helped his wife select the Titec H-Bar as a birthday present. This week I finally got around to properly setting up the brake/shifter pods for the new bar. Craig has a smaller Dew, which came with a 70mm stem. When he simply put the h-bar on a year ago, he had to leave the brake/shifter pods way out on the tips of the bar ends because the cables were too short.

Well, I finally got this bike into my garage for a few days. I found a longer 110mm stem in a local shop used bin, and bought some cable stuff. I had a hard time deciding between this setup and the pods on the extension side of the bars which was better for braking. But the shifting was just too awkward out there, so here it is. I like the “jaunty” Rivendell look of the long-ish cables. I maybe could have taken an inch or two off them but there you go.

Elite race leaders

Originally uploaded by dansteeves68.

I saw some good bike racing tonight, and enjoyed the London cycling scene. Not supposed to “poormouth” but sure do wish I could afford more Rapha gear.

Elounda, Crete (stolen)

See you next Wednesday. Off to Crete with my lovely wife of **8 years** and our boys, both of whom are anticipating the trip more than Christmas.

Back in the saddle

Originally uploaded by dansteeves68.

The franken-claw got an “all-clear” from the specialist yesterday. He was as surprised as all of us that nothing worse came of being run over by a bus. To celebrate, I rode the IRO fixie to the office today. It was painful to grip hard, but for the most part no worse than how it felt first thing in the morning before a cocktail of Advil and Tylenol.

[Creepy good production, almost not for children.](http://www.artsdepot.co.uk/event_details.php?sectionid=children&eventid=652&searchid=current)

Will post pictures to [flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/dansteeves68/) later, but need to blab about a day in London with my yung’uns.

* We got out of the house about 9:30am, amazing what you can do without Mom.
* Bus/tube to Victoria Station.
* Snack at [Pret a Manger](http://www.pret.com) — croissants, juice, coffee.
* Walk & view Westminster [Cathedral](http://www.westminstercathedral.org.uk), [Abbey](http://www.westminster-abbey.org/), [Palace](http://www.parliament.uk/about/history/building.cfm), Bridge, [etc.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben)
* Ride bus to Covent Garden, eat lunch at [Belgo](http://www.belgo-restaurants.co.uk/), my new favorite place due to cool ambience, reasonable prices, one of my [favorite foods](http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=moules+frites&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi), and **kids eat free**! My boys really behave themselves well at restaurants, and I was able to fully enjoy the experience of my moules, frites, salad, and pint of Belgian beer. (And Quinton let me share his chocolate ice cream cone too.)