David Beazley
@dabeaz.com
Free-range computer scientist living in Evanston, Illinois. I wrote some Python books. If you want to talk code, take a CS course https://www.dabeaz.com/courses.html. I'm mainly here for dogs, bikes, trombones, and other random stuff.
Stepped outside just now. Bleah!! Think the trainer is getting set up today.
November 9, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Stepped outside just now. Bleah!! Think the trainer is getting set up today.
But you actually have to blow the whistle for bears.
November 8, 2025 at 3:07 PM
But you actually have to blow the whistle for bears.
I'm hoping it's not messed up as well. Not quite back on the trainer yet, but its time seems to be approaching.
November 8, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I'm hoping it's not messed up as well. Not quite back on the trainer yet, but its time seems to be approaching.
Some further backstory. Many of my cyclist friends have decided to replace regular "road rides" with solitary "whistle patrol rides" around Evanston during the day. It's often low-key stuff. My neighbor caught/chased away some goon eating lunch in his car on a ride the other day.
November 8, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Some further backstory. Many of my cyclist friends have decided to replace regular "road rides" with solitary "whistle patrol rides" around Evanston during the day. It's often low-key stuff. My neighbor caught/chased away some goon eating lunch in his car on a ride the other day.
One thing I'd mention. By having the whistle clearly visible while biking, motorists and pedestrians in Wilmette started shouting out to me "THAT WAY" while pointing. I found those goons about a minute later.
November 8, 2025 at 1:19 PM
One thing I'd mention. By having the whistle clearly visible while biking, motorists and pedestrians in Wilmette started shouting out to me "THAT WAY" while pointing. I found those goons about a minute later.
Good to know. I'm actually biking around with a 120db back-country survival whistle. "Do not use near people" it says on the package. Think I'm good ;-).
When I crossed paths with agents in Wilmette, they actually said "hi", but saw the whistle and knew they were cooked. Left area immediately.
When I crossed paths with agents in Wilmette, they actually said "hi", but saw the whistle and knew they were cooked. Left area immediately.
November 8, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Good to know. I'm actually biking around with a 120db back-country survival whistle. "Do not use near people" it says on the package. Think I'm good ;-).
When I crossed paths with agents in Wilmette, they actually said "hi", but saw the whistle and knew they were cooked. Left area immediately.
When I crossed paths with agents in Wilmette, they actually said "hi", but saw the whistle and knew they were cooked. Left area immediately.
I didn't stick around long for that parade because it seemed like they were just slowly driving laps for no purpose. There was some action around Wilmette. Some people snatched. Saw solitary soccer moms guarding work crews as well as one driving all around Kennilworth warning crews. We chatted.
November 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I didn't stick around long for that parade because it seemed like they were just slowly driving laps for no purpose. There was some action around Wilmette. Some people snatched. Saw solitary soccer moms guarding work crews as well as one driving all around Kennilworth warning crews. We chatted.
Yikes. After I followed those agents out of Wilmette onto Crawford, I went down to Dempster and encountered a whole parade of honking cars and e-Scooters following some goons around the neighborhood down there. Pretty active day around here yesterday. Sadly.
November 8, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Yikes. After I followed those agents out of Wilmette onto Crawford, I went down to Dempster and encountered a whole parade of honking cars and e-Scooters following some goons around the neighborhood down there. Pretty active day around here yesterday. Sadly.
Where was this? I stumbled across a pair of cars with more "low-profile" goons out spotting landscapers in Wilmette and started following them around on my bike--at which point they bolted south into Skokie.
November 8, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Where was this? I stumbled across a pair of cars with more "low-profile" goons out spotting landscapers in Wilmette and started following them around on my bike--at which point they bolted south into Skokie.
Maybe you just haven't spent enough time getting good at it.
October 27, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Maybe you just haven't spent enough time getting good at it.
I'm not a runner, but watching it is pretty inspiring.
October 12, 2025 at 2:15 PM
I'm not a runner, but watching it is pretty inspiring.
Having completed a 28mi bike ride this morning, I look at my time (meh) and then I look at these marathon runners in awe. I'm still faster, but not by that much.
October 12, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Having completed a 28mi bike ride this morning, I look at my time (meh) and then I look at these marathon runners in awe. I'm still faster, but not by that much.
I sometimes use "here." And I don't care.
October 5, 2025 at 10:45 AM
I sometimes use "here." And I don't care.
Apropos of nothing, I've used this technique to successfully produce several caffeinated keyboards.
August 26, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Apropos of nothing, I've used this technique to successfully produce several caffeinated keyboards.
The UP-N can get pretty dicey through Kennilworth.
August 21, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The UP-N can get pretty dicey through Kennilworth.
Wait, I thought the whole point of biking someplace was to bike back!
(This looks so awesome by the way).
(This looks so awesome by the way).
August 5, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Wait, I thought the whole point of biking someplace was to bike back!
(This looks so awesome by the way).
(This looks so awesome by the way).
Whoa. Are you solo biking this?
August 4, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Whoa. Are you solo biking this?
I think you need a good 4am bike ride.... I could swing by some morning.
July 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
I think you need a good 4am bike ride.... I could swing by some morning.
Is it a carbon-fiber belt buckle?
July 7, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Is it a carbon-fiber belt buckle?