I was sorting my bookmarks yesterday and stumbled over Katinka Matson site. And I am still amazed over her pictures, the sheer minimalism and purity of the flowers. If I was a flower and needed to take a picture of myself – she would be on the top of my list.
You should go here if you like flowers….
http://www.katinkamatson.com/prints/paper1.html
http://www.katinkamatson.com/prints/paper2.html
Enjoy….
I was once a loyal Centurion bike fan – now I’m not.
In 2000, I bought my last “real Centurion Challenger” and unfortunately it died last year. I used the bike daily in all kinds of weather without having any mechanical problems. The occasionally flat tire, of-course – but after changing to kelvar tires this hardly happened. Near the end, the bike was so worn down, the gears broke. The repair would cost me close, to what a new bike would cost, so I decided to “let go”.
All this was quite OK, I had got my full moneys worth and had had lots off fun with her. She was one cool bike. The workmanship, quality and value for money was truly amazing – as close to perfection you could ask for.
Now that was then and unfortunately this is now. In April 2006 I bought a new Centurion Challenger at “Sand & Olsen” close to where I live. The price was about dk. kr. 5000,- which is very reasonably for a good, durable and quality bike. Tragically, this bike was a far cry from what I had expected. The bike was/is a disaster financially, due to the massive amount of repairs and total lack of reliability. In effect, I don’t have a bike.
This is a rough outline what I have experienced the first year.
1) Numerous flat tires the first month. I had to change the rear tire to a quality kelvar tire after 5-6 flat tires.
2) Gearshifter, broke three times. This is the cable and mounting that changes the inner gears. This repair had to paid for in full by myself. Apparently it locked-up, when it gets below zero centigrade. It’s too bad, since I live in the temperate zone, where it can get cold in wintertime. But I can live happily in knowing that Centurion bikes in the tropic don’t have this problem. Am I asking too much for in a “quality” bike? My previous bike never failed me in that manner.
3) When bicycling in first gear, the bike had a tendency in going in to “partial free gear”, where the pedals would go round but the bike would go nowhere. I had to return my bike three times to “Sand & Olsen” before the problem was fixed. The total repair time was about a month and I had to go without (again) without my primary mode of transport.
4) The constant doubt if the bike at all was able to get med where I was planing. This worried me and I was in high risk at being delayed due to “bike error”. The bike wasn’t dependable and I had to inform myself constantly about alternative public transport routes. I distrusted my Centurion.
At this point, I contacted the producer Centurion (DanBike) and asked for my money back or a bike that wouldn’t fall apart. I felt that I was being cheated, because the quality was nowhere near the quality one would expect of of a bike in that price range. I felt that Centurion (DanBike) were morally and legally accountable. Centurion did not agree and since the bike was still fixable.
5) The axle between the pedals came lose last month. I returned the the bike to “Sand & Olsen” and demanded my money back. They where not interested in this because this was a new area of repairs and probably fixable. The bike is still at the store.
The only legal option I’m left with, is to make a case before “Forbrugerklagenævnet”. They are a small claims court where you are able to complain over products. This is all very well, but it will take 5-7 months before they are able to deliver a verdict. And still, it’s not sure if “Sand & Olsen” will accept the ruling and then I’ll be forced to make a lawsuit.
I’m utterly disappointed that Centurion are now making subs-standard bikes and in effect overpricing their product. Somehow this seems to defie logic, what they are doing. “Centurion bikes” used to mean quality, value for money, and close to perfection. By degrading their brand – they are cashing out of the market. Consumers arn’t willing to stand for this. I see a future where Centurion will have to charge less for their product and having increasingly a hard time making ends meet. The previous loyal consumers will find good brands and stay clear away from Centurion – no matter what Centurion produces in the future.
It seems that I’m running out of options. The problem is, that I’m very angry and annoyed over this whole affair. Instead of bottling my anger up and having a lousy time – I have decided in using it as fuel for my next IT-project. I bought hosing and the domain www.skod-centurion.info, which basically means crappy centurion in danish. On this site Ive planned to list all of my problems with Centurion and utter my opinion of the product “Centurion” in Danish, English and even German. Hopefully other centurions stories from other x-centurion users will come along. I should have the site up and running in medio June.
I have contacted Fri Cykler and told them of all my problems and hope they are able to help. They are affiliated with “Sand & Olsen” and seem to be the wholesaler. I wrote yet another mail to Centurion and told them of my last problems and my “project”. These are all last ditch attempt in getting what I find fair. I’m not very optimistic and it is highly unlikely I’ll get a speedy resolution in the near future. If aren’t interested now – when would they?
My experience has been gained at high financial cost. Now I’m seriously thinking about giving up using a bike as my primary mode of transport. At the moment I can’t afford a good bike and can’t afford another “Centurion adventure”. I probably will have to use public transport even though I prefer using a bike.
Still I don’t understand why the Centurion seem, oblivious what the consumer thinks about their product. The total lack off understanding and disinterest still has me amazed. I just don’t get it.
Looking at the Centurion site feels me with mixed feelings, simply because of their slogan – “Centurion, close to perfection”. Well I better not get into this topic – I’ll just get angry,…..
About a year ago i discovered the fantastic world of podcasting. I was in awe of the amount and range of subjects there is on the vast seas of the web… Of course, like the rest of the web, there was also an abundance of crap.
One of the greatest surprises was the “turn off your television” podcast. As the title clearly states, he has a not so positive view about the use and effects that television has on people. The podcast is critical of the benefits of TV, the influence that the American media (mainly TV-networks) has on American society. The podcast is very inspiring and it has in many ways affirm my belief that television is a “bad thing”. Ron Kaufman is the main driving force behind the podcast and site.
I have always had a problem with television. As a child living in America, i watched way too much TV – i would even go as far as too say that it was abuse. Especially on Saturdays, i would get up at 5 A.M, so i wouldn’t miss out on all the cartoons. The mere willingness and consumption of time has since always filled me with respect for the “temptress of television”. And i have taken the consequences – got rid of my TV. This is a great ting – has given me time to do the things i should be doing and things that are worth doing.
In one of the podcasts Ron Kaufman, highly recommends “Four arguments for the elimination of television” by Jerry Manders. I just finished the book and this is a definitely a “must read”. It’s amazing to think that the book was published back in 1978 but the book is as relevant as it was back then. His arguments are sound, relevant and easy to comprehend.
Especially the “Eliminate personal knowledge”, section was very inspiring. The main argument is, that when you are passive receiving from the tv, you are absorbing, but not able to put it in some point of reference. How can you relate to what you are receiving? The answer is only in part, the experience is shallow compared to reality. The media is not able to convey the debt of senses that you otherwise can get. A great ex-ample is looking at the moon, a sea view… – these are shallow if viewed on TV, but can be worthwhile event in reality.
You are being entertained, and not interacting with people. In the wider context you are slowly degrading your social abilities and knowledge how you fit in to the wider natural system. In the extreme, it can make it impossible for humans to separate the natural from the artificial, real from unreal.
Manders context is of course the American media and is still heavy influenced by advertisement and the private ownership of the media. In Europe there has been a tradition of state owned tv/radio channels, but in the last twenty years these institution have come under pressure as a wide new range of private channels have come. In here lies the problem.
How can the private compete against public funded media? The justification of this, is the so-called “public service obligation”, in where there has to be a healthy body of good, informative and more marginal programming.
DR (Danmarks Radio) has been one of these state owned channels who have for the moment been able to convinced the populous. I am on the other hand, not satisfied. DR has fought with teeth and nails to uphold good ratings. They have been a victim of there own success. To get good rating the have sacrificed their own right to exist, by lowering the quality of programming to a wide degree. I do not have a television, but when my eyes wonder on the different channels i cant see the difference between the public and private. It is the same, bulk of programming. Endless reality shows, game shows, snappy news coverage and so on. The only difference is the lack of advertisement.
If you are interested in Manders book, you can probably borrow it at your public library or buy it on Amazon. Good reading…
Now, in Denmark you have to pay a licence fee (dk: ”licens”) for having a television and radio. The income goes to finance the Danish public broadcasting network (Danmarks Radio). The “licens” has recently been expanded, to also include computers and mobile phones with a Internet capacity. DR has a public service obligation – to inform, cultivate and educate the citizen. This, service obligation is in fact the justification for DR continued existence and financing.
The expansion if the licens is in many ways not just; you are paying for a service you aren’t using (non-tv/radio users). The new licens is priced at about kr. 2000,- annually and will target the people that now don’t have to pay. Students will be hurt hard by this – you can’t study today without a computer and access to the internet.
In the pre-2007 era, you had a chose. You pay, if you had a TV/radio or you go without. Now there is no choice, the licence is mandatory if you have a computer. This is a shame, it doesn’t seem just to me.
DR is a remnant of the old days, where they were “the only show in town”, and has all tell tale signs of an old rigid state monopoly. DR has tried to reform themselves, but they still lack the dynamics you need to preform in the modern media landscape. DR has two TV channels, four FM channels and a range of DAB channels as well. The only truly informative channel is the radio channel P1 (FM).
DR has increasingly come under pressure from a wide rage of commercial channels and has responded by lowering the standard to uphold their ratings. Reality and game shows… basic entertainment without real content. The product they deliver is near identically to what the commercial channels show and it makes you think. You might as well watch some of the commercial channels. DR is in a fix – how far should they go and can their existence be justified?
I understand that we all have to pay for the common good – but do we all have to pay for bad television?
Today, I hear the terrible news that the USA has decided to escalate the conflict, by sending 20’000 additional troops. The situation in Iraq is horrible and seems to be going from bad to worse. The vacuum of centralized power has split the country into numerus factions. Irak is a war zone and in a state of civil war.
The Iraqis are without hope. Desperate at the situation, they see the American/Coalition presence as the cause of their inhuman life. The guerillas seem to have no problem in getting support from the population and even the local police. They are being helped with their silence, help, and ressources. The conflict will only worsen, unless the country is stable and find a person or idea to back behind – somehow to find a new common Iraki identity.
The parallels to the Vietnam War are horrific. There military are sending more resources and trying to delegate the military power to the local authorises. The question is how can conventional troops gain a military victory in a civil war, without support from the population? They are slowly getting deeper and deeper bogged down. They won the war but lost the peace. This it tragic for both parties, they are as now doomed to continue the dance of death. More dead troops, more dead Iraqis and pushing the country into further destruction.
The sending of further troops, are just making more potential targets for the disillusion population. Never underestimate the power of hate, it is far easier unite against someone with hatred, than to unite for a common good. I guess what Bush and the “neo-cons” where planing was some sort of nation building. But what do you do with a country that doesn’t have the institutions to handle democracy. Is there hope? There is all ready enough pain to go around and there has to be a solution! Saddam might be gone, but was is really worth it sacifice? Are the Iraqis better of now?
I hope that Iraq gets stabilized and that there can be some kind og peace. I might be grasping at straws, but maybe there is a Iraqi Atatürk? The founder of the republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was able to reform Turkey to a secular democratic progressive state. His legacy has kept Turkey in the realm of the secular state. Maybe he could succeed where the Americans have lost? I know, i know - I am grasping at straws….
In going to end with a little quote and a picture…
“Oh rational creature,
who desires eternal life.
Here you have wisdom, worth noting:
to properly end your mortal life.
It’s called the dance of death,
which everyone will learn to dance.
For man and woman it’s natural,
Death spares neither small nor great [persons].
In this mirror everyone can read
that he will dance likewise.
Sage is he who mirrors himself well.
Death makes the living [one] advance,
You will see the greatest begin [= lead the dance]
for there is nobody whom Death does not vanquish.
It’s a pitiable thing to consider.
All are forged out of the same material….”
(Source: http://www.dodedans.com/Eparis.htm)
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Holbein-death.png)
