religious truths

1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God's chosen people.
2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian World.
4. Baptists do not recognize each other at Hooters.

and one more truth:
The Pope has not read the Bible!

i'm in love

i didn't see anyone

so it's not trespassing, right?

Palestine/Israel "is given over wholly to weeds. … We never saw a human being on the whole route." --Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad

Strangely enough Innocents Abroad was recently used to justify the "displacement" of Palestine's/Israel's previous occupants by the current regime there. I, for one, am not at all comfortable justifying imperialist enterprises and hence our nation's foreign policy on satire.

In response to an earlier response to his response to a nationally syndicated columnist, one recent writer to our local paper claims that before the Zionists settled in Palestine/Israel that the land was empty and not really "Palestine" anyway. To back up his claim he goes on to refer to not one, but three books: the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Bible and the Muslim "Bible" or Quran, "And this is the land the Jews returned to reclaim in accordance with the divine sanctioning of the Bible and the Quran!" WTF!?

No one ever settled an argument peacefully by relying on revealed truth.

The more I think about this the more I am sickened that this sort of argument is taken seriously by anyone. WTF!? Using ancient texts of "revealed truth" to justify the slaughter of countless thousands? WTF?! And both sides of are doing it.

It makes me want to puke.

my new ride

I might even get to ride it soon.

all they need are grocery stores

Developers can include bars, hotels
City approves deal for Stadium tract.

By MATTHEW LeBLANC of the Tribune’s staff

Published Wednesday, September 6, 2006

Despite objections from neighbors who don’t want bars and hotels near their homes, a local investment group has won city approval to build a major commercial development at the eastern terminus of Stadium Boulevard.

[more...]

First of all look at this map

Then ask, "What neighbors? The ones who live by highway 63? And they are worried about noise? Why did they move next to the highway?" It's their noise I have to listen to everyday as they drive in and out of town.

2nd of all...Of course there should be commercial development in a new residential area. Otherwise what you have is...oh hell what's it called? oh yeah, "sprawl" Like what the neighbors live in. Sprawlsville. Now all they need is a grocery store. Why aren't the neighbors demanding that? With that and bars nearby they won't ever have to drive again! No more DUIs either. That'd be living in the big city!

These people who move to the edge of a booming city then get upset when the city comes to them! WTF! They move to a sprawling subdivision and then drive their goddam cars, suvs and pick-em-up trucks and make the automobile traffic in the city that much worse for those of us who live in the city. You'd think they would be the most vocal and ardent supporters of walkable and dense cities. And if they don't live and work in the city...they damn well better be farmers. Then their wagons would be most welcome downtown at the farmer's market.

cx season is upon us!

I picked up a new (to me) bike the other day. A 2005 Redline Conquest. I am stoked about it but it's not yet rideable...needs a few parts. Anyone have any of these laying around?

9spd Right Brake/Shift Lever
9spd Rear Derailleur
9spd cassette (12-25?)
Chainrings (110)
Chain
Front Derailleur (unless I go with one chainring at first.)
Rear Cantilever brakes
Rear Brake Bosses

And possibly a pair of, whaddaya call 'em, "sissy levers"? top of the bar brake levers.

Watch out here I come!