On this date in 1920, Republican power-brokers met in a private meeting room at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago to choose the party's candidate for president, after the convention had deadlocked. After many indecisive votes, they decided on Warren G. Harding, a relatively minor candidate. Raymond Clapper of United Press coined the term "smoke-filled room" to describe the meeting. Harding's previously negligible potential gave birth to the murky and suspicious implications of the term. Credit: https://w.wiki/R5jN Photo: Liberty Magazine, 1942, Public Domain https://w.wiki/R5je I joined the Thursday evening A ride, which I rarely do. It was just me, Jim, and Caroline, and once again I was the slowest A rider. So thanks, Jim and Caroline, for slowing your pace to keep me in sight behind you. The route was Empire Grade to the fire station and back. I've ridden that several times lately, but it felt harder tonight. Maybe because I almost never ride in the evening. I did bike 11 miles earlier today for errands, but nothing strenuous. I bailed on the route when we got back to town. The route went down to West Cliff, but I expected it to be very cold there, so I finished via Mission and Water.