Several posts ago I posted about rollerblading more... specifically to work. Short answer is that I won't be doing much of that because I sweat like a hog when I blade, and it is work after all. Maybe a bicycle.

I have however been on the new k2's about 12-14 times now.

I'm really not impressed with these skates. For some reason the fit is poor and the much-vaunted "comfort" of this brand is now old news. Salomon seems to have surpassed them in engineering skill after initially falling behind, is my take. My previous Salomons are just much better. K2 had some advice from guys who invented a soft boot, but there is more to life than just a soft boot.

The k2's make up for their lack of good fit with a need to overtighten the top buckle, which is made of cheap plastic. This top fastener is thus secured so that uncomfortable plastic parts dig into my inner ankles, and after a good distance it feels like little hammers are hitting the ankle with every stride. The skate overall lacks stability, thus power. These are supposed to be a "power" model.

Also, after only about 12-14 skates, the "bigger, harder wheels" are worn down really far, so they seem to be crap too.

Moreover, unlike previous pairs, the bearings have not loosened over time, so the speed of the skates remains molasses-like, which gives you a workout I admit.

I'll put new wheels on my old worn Salomons and they'll be better than this new pair, I think. :(

Then again, maybe I'm just a wuss. Yesterday I ran into a woman whose van had just been robbed as she discovered upon returning from her blade. A brick was thrown thru the window, purse stolen, glass everywhere, and she was having quite a tough time. Before helping her get things straightened out, we chatted about her new blades, and she showed how her old ones gave her "blisters" which looked more like two-inch-deep gashes, which were still bleeding. They made my ankle bruises look pretty weak!

When I start thinking I'm a tough guy I need to remember people like Sandy, a single working mother of three who somehow makes a go of it, and rollerblades every bit as far as me, with two-inch-deep gashes in her foot, without complaining a bit. Now that's tough!

The absurdity of the "and now, this..." culture of broadcast news is really brought home when you see a major global conflict brewing. And the online world is far from immune.

On the My Yahoo page (before logging in), the top news items flash from one to the next, interspersing a couple of lighter items. So you have a "choice" to click on the story showing Mr. T. flexing his muscle (yes really), or the Hezbollah leader's home getting blown to smithereens.

I'm not sure I want to see the data on how many people clicked on T.

"Overdoses of acetaminophen are the leading cause of acute liver failure." Yikes. This is what passes for public health in our society.