03/22/23 Biking & Listening

Biking is something else I both love and hate. It takes a lot of effort but does provide good exercise and most days over an hour to listen to a good book or podcast. I especially like having ridden.

Here’s my bike, a Rockhopper by Specialized. I purchased it November 2021 from Venture Out in Guntersville; Mike is top notch! So is the bike, and the ‘old’ man seat I salvaged from an old Walmart bike.

Here’s a link to today’s bike ride. This is my pistol ride.

Have you heard of Bard? By Google? It’s their artificial intelligence program. I have it a try today.

My query: Help me describe today’s bike ride in the rain.

Bard’s response:

Sure, I can help you describe today’s bike ride in the rain.

It was a cold and rainy day, but I was determined to go for a bike ride. I put on my waterproof jacket and gloves, and I set off into the rain. The roads were slippery and the wind was strong, but I was enjoying the challenge. I rode for about an hour, and by the time I got home, I was soaked to the bone. But I felt great! I had had a great workout, and I had enjoyed the feeling of the wind and the rain on my face.

Here are some tips for biking in the rain:

• Dress in layers so you can adjust your clothing as needed.
• Wear a waterproof jacket and gloves.
• Use a helmet with a visor to protect your eyes.
• Be extra cautious when braking and cornering.
• Be aware of your surroundings and be prepared to stop suddenly.
• Enjoy the challenge and the feeling of the wind and the rain on your face!

Not bad, says I!

Here’s a few photos taken along my route:

Today, while biking, I listened to an hour’s worth of The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins.

A preeminent scientist — and the world’s most prominent atheist — asserts the irrationality of belief in God and the grievous harm religion has inflicted on society, from the Crusades to 9/11.

With rigor and wit, Dawkins examines God in all his forms, from the sex-obsessed tyrant of the Old Testament to the more benign (but still illogical) Celestial Watchmaker favored by some Enlightenment thinkers. He eviscerates the major arguments for religion and demonstrates the supreme improbability of a supreme being. He shows how religion fuels war, foments bigotry, and abuses children, buttressing his points with historical and contemporary evidence. The God Delusion makes a compelling case that belief in God is not just wrong but potentially deadly. It also offers exhilarating insight into the advantages of atheism to the individual and society, not the least of which is a clearer, truer appreciation of the universe’s wonders than any faith could ever muster.