obsessions

'Cross!

2008-08-07T08:42:00.002-05:00

Events/Dates:

Diamond Blackfan Cyclocross Challenge

September 28th, 2008

Lenexa, Kansas

Chris Cross
October 12th, 2008
Lawrence, Kansas

Smithville Cyclocross Festival
October 25th & 26th, 2008
Smithville, Missouri

Veterans Cross

November 9th, 2008

Leavenworth, Kansas

Kansas State Cyclocross Championships
November 16^th, 2008

Leavenworth, Kansas

Eat to Live - Live to Ride - Ride to Eat

2008-08-04T14:57:00.001-05:00

let me tell you...not too many oreos

#1 son in action

2008-06-26T10:47:00.003-05:00

Kids having fun

2008-06-25T15:17:00.002-05:00

at Camp Lakewood

some pictures

2008-06-03T13:40:00.001-05:00

work work work

2008-03-01T16:01:00.003-06:00

I can hardly stand it. I have been inside since 8:50 this morning. Working. Watching the weather channel and noting that the temperature is now 69F and sunny. There are no patrons, they are too wise and are out playing I guess. I am planning on riding tomorrow but the forecast isn't nearly so nice.

i'm respectable

2008-03-01T13:06:00.001-06:00

what happens if...

2008-03-01T09:27:00.004-06:00

you door one of your heroes?

Last night after the girl's soccer game, we stopped at Schnucks for a bit o' dinner. I pulled into a primo parking spot (right by the "reserved for the cops" slot) and started getting out of the car. Nora, not wanting to wait for me in the car, got out too. She started opening her door but at the same time one of two the mu soccer players (dressed in black) was trying to get to her own door which was on the car next to ours. Nora about whacked her she didn't though. The player was polite and let Nora get out. Nora was speechless for a bit. "...did...did...you see...who that was?" Pretty cool.

no frozen toes

2008-02-27T08:03:00.003-06:00

What the hell was that last post? Waste of digital space is what. Meanwhile life goes on and on. Bridget is in her 3rd week of work at the new job! Going well with few frustrations along the way getting settled into her position. I stayed home with Nora last week when there was no school because of the snow (if you blinked you missed it) and then she got sick on Friday. Of course it was friday when she got sick, always does. And of course we should have gone to the doctor on Friday but I thought, maybe she'll get over it quickly...she didn't Sunday at 10am she still wasn't well so I took her into Urgent Care. Urgent Care, of course, costs 2x as much as a regular visit, and it turns out she had strep. Should've gone in Friday. Didn't feel well myself all weekend and that combined with taking Nora in kept me from even watching Froze Toes. So now with that out of the way, I have 7 months to build up to 'cross season. Normally of course running is required in cx but since I can't run, my dismounts will have to be slower and i will step over the barriers instead of jumping. All this means I will have to be faster on the bike. Actually maybe by then I'll be able to jog slowly and even if I can't I'll have to work on my dis- and re-mounts so I don't lose anytime there.

Vote for Edwards?

2008-02-04T20:23:00.001-06:00

From Christopher Cook http://www.christopherdcook.com/

Politics is about negotiation, leverage, power and ideas, among other things. In my estimation, both Obama and Clinton have failed to exhibit a strong consistent commitment to progressive ideas--and thus need to be pressured on this front, and held as accountable as possible to progressive ideas such as universal healthcare, strong sturdy anti-war policies, and economic justice. Neither candidate (not even Obama, who has since voted for war payments) has been clear and consistent on the war and when/how to end it. Neither candidate has taken a strong clear stand on a universal healthcare plan that truly breaks the insurance industry's hold over America 's healthcare system. To the extent that either has mentioned issues of poverty and workers' rights, and corporate greed/power, it has been by virtue of prodding by the Edwards candidacy. Both these candidates have consistently shown they are willing to sell out progressive causes in the name of power politics and centrism, or, in Obama's case, some vague appeal to moderates and Republicans.

This is not an anti-Obama or anti-Clinton appeal; rather, I encourage you to consider voting for Edwards tomorrow on the basis of representing progressive ideas in the electorate, and sending as many delegates his way as possible, in the hopes that he will be that much more empowered to exact some pledges for his endorsement of either candidate.

I believe progressive ideas win only when they are strongly represented, not when they are tucked in the back pocket and slipped in on the margins later, if at all. Politics is largely about the bargaining and wielding of power and ideas; you don't start the negotiation by bargaining away your ideals, you start with your ideals and work back as little as possible. It may seem that the pragmatic thing to do tomorrow is to support Obama or Clinton and rally the party toward a quick nomination of one or the other; but if we want progressive policies to be promoted by either of these two, they need to hear from us -- and tomorrow we can speak through our votes by telling both of them that they need to be more accountable to the progressive ideas promoted by Senator Edwards.

Ultimately Democrats will rally behind whoever takes the nomination -- but right now, in the primaries, this is an important time to impact not only who gains that nomination, but what they say they stand for, and to whom they are accountable. So I say let's bring a little pressure on these two and vote for Edwards tomorrow -- and as his pile of delegates continues to accrue, even at small levels, so will at least some small measure of pressure for more progressive policies in the party platform.

Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

workaday

2008-01-31T09:43:00.000-06:00

My wife now has a job! She starts Feb. 11th at the ARC. Big changes in store for the entire family. Before and after school care, Soccer camp, lacrosse camp, day camp, summer camp anything to keep the kids occupied while the parents are at the

happy happy joy joy

2008-01-16T11:21:00.000-06:00

Was at the Doc's this morning. Seems my knee is doing great. Cartilage seems whole and everything is healing nicely. It's just a matter of strength and time now. No running yet; more leg presses, etc. I am really looking forward to running again. Right now it's out of the question because it would hurt too much and I am not really strong enough. If the pain went away I would like to but Dr. Smith says to hold off another year yet. That means my '08 CX season may also have just been called off. I don't go back until next January.

recent activities

2007-12-15T04:58:00.000-06:00

Walked 8 miles on the MKT.

Went to St. Louis for work and took the kids.

Watched Nora perform with her school choir at her teacher's wedding.

Survived the first ice storm of the season.

i heart crazy fun but not in the rain

2007-10-15T14:20:00.000-05:00

Spent Saturday in the rain with Sam but not Dr. H-V.

cx is here

2007-10-03T08:04:00.000-05:00

I'm a bit nervous. I didn't expect to be but I am. Heading out to cx practice tonight at the scene of my accident last fall. I probably should have put bigger tires on my bike and probably should take it easy on the corners, especially since it rained a bucket load last night. I haven't been riding as much as I would like either. Only rode half the number of miles in September that I did in August and close to a third of what I did in July. Not that I have anything to train for anyway. Hopefully by this time next year I will be ready for a real cx racing season.

Congrats to Josh on his most excellent finish in Michigan. That is some stiff competition and he did great!

life

2007-09-10T05:33:00.001-05:00

It's been a while since I wrote.
Here's a summary:
Work, eat, bike, disc golf, watch soccer. And celebrated our 16th anniversary Aug. 31. 16 years wow! THe kids stayed with a friend while we ate at Sycamore, and the Upper Crust. MMmmmm good! Especially the dessert at Upper Crust. We even got a hotel room over night.

Big news this week of course...one more day of work and then I am outta here. Tuesday a.m. road trip to KC for the first stage of ToM. I think I'll stay overnight in KC with my inlaws before heading to the start of Stage 2 in Clinton on Wednesday. Maybe I'll have pictures next time.

baby or Playmate?

2007-08-02T15:37:00.000-05:00

If this is liberated, I’ll opt for dignity

...Bratz dolls apparently aimed at ages "4-plus." "Bratz Babyz makes a ‘Babyz Nite Out’ doll garbed in fishnet stockings, a hot-pink micromini, and a black leather belt. … The baby also sports a tummy-flaunting black tank paired with a hot-pink cap. ‘These Babyz demand to be lookin’ good on the street, at the beach or chillin’ in the crib.’ " Another of the dolls wears heavy red lipstick and bright toenail polish to match red panties. One is almost reduced to sputtering.
For the slightly older set, the "tweens" - girls between 9 and 12 - Target markets thong underwear. Apparently you can find "Care Bear" thongs at some retailers and "push-up" bras at Kohl’s for the first-time bra purchaser.

I don't usually like what I read by Mona Charen and even here I don't like her tone but as a father of a 9 year old girl I have to agree with Mona on this one. I would place the blame on some sort of right-wing, capitalist "conspiracy" to keep women in line rather than left-wing feminism like Ms. Charen does but either way the result is disheartening and depressing to anyone raising a daughter (well, I guess not everyone because someone is buying this crap for their kids).

bwahahaha

2007-07-03T06:29:00.000-05:00

From the latest installment of Trib Talk:

"I hate to rain on the parade of supporters of more streets for cars and trucks, but it is unreasonable to expect them to address certain problems that should give us a pause from our headfirst dive into a new scheme of public transportation. Hundreds of thousands of children are injured riding in automobiles annually, more than any other activity except perhaps basketball. Many of these injuries are serious head injuries, and no other activity comes close by comparison. Adult drivers frequently suffer injuries as well. More streets in more neighborhoods will likely lead to more crime in those neighborhoods. Wish that it were not so. Balance is essential when driving a car. Balance in discussing this community issue is important as well. It is not the job of advocates of streets for cars to provide this balance."

Not really, I plagiarized and edited it for reasonableness but what a strange world it would be if it were so. Unfortunately, the actual blurb went something like this:

"I hate to rain on the parade of supporters of more sidewalks for bicyclists and pedestrians, but it is unreasonable to expect them to address certain problems that should give us a pause from our headfirst dive into a new scheme of public transportation. With few exceptions, most of us will not ride a bike or walk when the conditions are too hot, too cold, rainy or snowy or icy or when the travel distance is very far. Those conditions prevail most of the time. Hundreds of thousands of children are injured riding bikes annually, more than any other sport except perhaps basketball. Many of these injuries are serious head injuries, and no other sport comes close by comparison. Adult bicyclists frequently suffer injuries as well. More sidewalks in more neighborhoods will likely lead to more crime in those neighborhoods. Wish that it were not so. Balance is essential when riding a bicycle. Balance in discussing this community issue is important as well. It is not the job of advocates of sidewalks for walking and biking to provide this balance."

The only legitimate complaint in this entire ramble is "With few exceptions, most of us will not ride a bike or walk when the conditions are too hot, too cold, rainy or snowy or icy or when the travel distance is very far. " But some of that even could change if people accepted a little sweat.

And why exactly would a sidewalk create more crime? Is it the as of yet unheard of population of "green" eco-thieves unwilling to use internal combustion engines to wreak havoc on these unsuspecting neighborhoods,

"Bwahahah! now that you saps have sidewalks, me and my gang, the "Strollers" can unleash our nefarious scheme of walking off with your televisions and stereos, iPods and computers! Oh, had they only put in sidewalks when they built your houses! We could have been robbing you ages ago, you unwitting stooges! And with sidewalks our getaway will be so much easier now that we can simply walk away from the scene of our wrongdoing. And our rivals in the "Walkers" better watch out--we're gonna go for some walk-by shootings!"

WTF!

just 2 months away

2007-06-26T08:26:00.000-05:00

NEWS RELEASE
Top-ranked Team Discovery Channel to participate in the upcoming inaugural Tour of Missouri international cycling race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (June 25, 2007)
Just two weeks before this year’s Tour de France, America’s newest elite
cycling race---the Tour of Missouri---today announced the participation of
the World’s No. 1-ranked team, the American-based Discovery Channel team
for the inaugural race.

The event is scheduled for September 11-16, 2007, starting in Kansas
City and finishing six days later in St. Louis. It is the season-ending
finale for many of the top teams and promises to be one of North America’s
top events.

OFFER: advice

2007-06-25T21:33:00.000-05:00

1) When responding to an offer on freecycle DO NOT use all one case (either UPPER or lower) and DO use punctuation. Your response will most likely be
ignored if you cannot write a readable and courteous email.

2) Because offers on freecycle generate approximately 100 million responses from people asking for the offered item, DO NOT send follow-up emails. If you don't hear
from the offerer, assume you have not won the lottery and won't get the item.

3) DO NOT send emails to the offerer asking for special conditions or
more details and DO NOT ask to be telephoned about the item.

4) Most of all, DO NOT send emails asking if the offerer received your email. He/she did. Your response was NOT chosen from the 100 million responses and someone else's was. DO NOT stress about this; it is the way the freecycle game is played.

The preceding is a rant and rules that were almost posted on freecycle and, because it sounded too much like a similar rant on another yahoo group, was nixed by others in my household with more sense.

Freecycle is a perfect example of community. It's a non-self selecting group; people of all types are participating. There are lots of folks you have to get along with or at least treat with what passes for respect, when in fact you are bothered all to hell by them. You can get lots of great stuff from freecycle but if you offer stuff you've got to be prepared to face a barrage of emails, many from people who do not get the concept very well.

there are no strings (or braces) on me!

2007-06-20T12:03:00.001-05:00

Saw the Doc this morning. He was pleased to see that I am seemingly whole in body again. Not only do I have a working ACL but also it appears that my femur has healed. Evidently if it wasn't healed then I would certainly be in much pain and agony. I told him it was still tender inside the joint and had a sharp pain once in a while but he thought that was normal and was unconcerned about the cartilige fragment we were so worried about.

So...I can ride without the brace now. I can start weaning myself off the brace otherwise. And I don't have to go back to physical therapy. Still need to do muscle exercises like leg presses, quad curls, swimming and elliptical machine, etc.

tuesday nite ride

2007-06-20T05:50:00.000-05:00

Last night was the Brendaville Cycling Team's first training ride. All went really well. Sam, Jordan, Steve and I rode up to Jason's house (we're an inter-'hood team) picked him up and rode to Grindstone where we hopped on the trail and rode it to McBaine. I had never ridden with Jason before but he is a strong cyclist. He is only 12 and rode a bike that was a bit small for him. If he had a bike that fit him with larger wheels he would have hammered Sam and Jordan. We all were tired and hungry by the time we returned but it was a satisfying ride for sure. I hope this was just the first of a long series of rides.

When we stopped at McBaine we met up with some people from Pennsylvania who were riding the length of the trail from St. Louis. They were loaded down with camping gear but wanted to head to Columbia for a bed rather than a sleeping bag. So we escorted them into town. Evidently they have done several different rails-to-trails trips around the country. Sounds like a great adventure and a great way to take a bike trip. There is one along the Erie Canal they would like to do next. I would like to do that one too.

I am off to the Doc's this morning. I hope I get a big thumbs up. I am a bit nervous as I have ridden 5 days in a row now and have already had my biggest week this year with 84 miles and it's only Tuesday. I just hope my knee is not hurt by that. It's kinda sore and tender in the joint. But is has been before and only gotten stronger and better afterward.

of sheep

2007-06-12T06:55:00.000-05:00

My entire family(3 brothers, their wives and children as well as my parents) all got together this weekend outside of Columbia. Friends of ours who live on a small farm went out of town so we took over for them and took care of their animals and garden in return for a place to stay. The weekend didn't start out terribly auspiciously and my career in livestock seemed blighted as I killed two chickens in the first day. I know it sounds terrible and it was. Evidently I didn't know how to operate the water dispenser correctly and on the hottest day of the year the "Meat" chickens (as opposed to the "Layers") ran out of water and two died from dehydration. After having my burying them (Sam and Nora dug the hole) I got a fresh start and didn't kill any more animals. Saturday night as I was closing up the barn, I looked into one of the stalls and saw a sheep and what I thought at first was a chicken. Turns out it was a newborn lamb, the speckled one in the picture above. I started hyperventilating and calling for my wife and as I did so I realized there was another even newer born lamb. Jesus! this wasn't supposed to happen for a nother couple of weeks. WIth the aid of my brothers, we spent the next four hours watching them, wiping them, sanitizing their umbilical cords, and trying to get the lambs to nurse. They didn't seem to know what to do. Or rather they knew what to do but for whatever reason couldn't. I called several veterinarians and finally was able to get a hold of one. True to James Herriot, when I called the vet it was near midnight on Saturday. Isn't that when all the calls in All Creatures Great and Small occured? The vet said that we could wait until morning and see how they were doing then. If they hadn't started nursing within 18 hours of birth then we would need to intervene. He asked if I could stick a tube down the lambs' throats. I wasn't sure about that and hoped it wouldn't come to that. I slept for a few hours then got up and checked on the lambs. Thank god they were still alive and even better were nursing and seemed to be doing well.

I think I could really get into the livestock thing.

Nora discovered fishing this weekend and after catching three fish now wants start fishing regularly. Sam enjoyed the fishing and swimming as well.

Sam started his new job at Shakes yesterday. He even made some tips while busing tables. I hope he enjoys the work and it is a good experience for him. And I hope he makes a wad a dough so he can pay for his trip to Europe next summer.

Nora power

2007-05-19T05:44:00.000-05:00

From Friday's paper:

Gerik Parmele photo

Lee Elementary School third-grader Nora Hargett, center, leaves Flat Branch Park this morning with about 70 other bicyclists and walkers from the school after a free breakfast provided by Broadway Diner. Also participating are Kim Dill, far right, and Nora’s mother, Bridget Murphy, center left. This weekend is the conclusion of Bike, Walk and Wheel Week. Tomorrow’s events include a final rally with free food and music beginning at 2 p.m. at Stephens Lake Park. For a complete list of tomorrow’s activities, visit www.pednet.org.

That's my daughter! She says she'll never get a car.

things are starting to hit a little close to home

2007-04-27T14:31:00.000-05:00

Crash kills 16-year-old boy

Horrible and awful. It's only a matter of time until I personally know one of these kids. Sam can start learning to drive next year and he is starting to know kids in high school. I don't think he knew this boy but Sam probably knows friends of his.

Nora says she is never getting a car. I'll buy Sam a Colnago, Felt or Madone 8.9slx or whatever it's called but not a damn car. One tin can death trap is enough. Look at that picture. I am scared and sad.

Nora with her 1st place trophy

2007-04-23T13:29:00.000-05:00

st. louis lacrosse parents are the worst

2007-04-08T07:56:00.000-05:00

Went to StL Saturday to watch Sam play two games of lacrosse. The first game was exciting, Hickman lost 6-5 but the lead went back and forth the whole game. First one side then the other seemed to be dominating. And dominate is the right word here. Lacrosse is an extremely physical sport, it makes hockey look like a nancy game. I am not sure but it seems you get penalized in lacrosse for hitting the guy with the ball. You can smack the ball out of the opposing team anyway you can, body checking, stabbing with the sticks, smacking the carrier across the back, etc. The game was exciting but unfortunately, did not include my son. Didn't get to see him play. Coach didn't put him. Rather disappointing considering we went to considerable expense and drove two hours starting at 7:30am. With an 18 degree wind chill. It was really too cold to watch him watch the game.

So ok didn't get to see him play the first game but usually he gets some time during the second. Drove in the insane StL traffic to find some food. Found some for Sam at (shhh) Sonic. drove him to the next game, dropped him off and drove to find food for the rest of us (the rest of us didn't want Sonic). Found a Subway, ate a sandwich and had barely swallowed the last bite of something called a, "sweet onion teriyaki sub" when Sam called and said that the second game had been canceled. Seems that for some reason the coach of the other team asked the coach of the Hickman JV team (Sam plays for the freshman team not JV) if the freshmen were coming. Evidently the answer was negative and the Parkway Central High School freshman team went home. Before game time. Sucks. I don't know why the Parkway coach didn't ask our coach but cest la vie, eh. Stupid man. And to top it off, the Parkway Varsity team offered to play our freshmen. Right. Those guys are big, they would have broken our boys' legs. Like a cat 5 going up against cat ones, that's no race. Oh and when our boys declined, the parents of the Parkway team called them "babies."

I think we have one more weekend to drive up to StL and deal with the StL parents and stupid coaches.

HELP - will fiddle for jet

2007-04-06T11:52:00.000-05:00

I'm so friggin' tired of these damn pan-handlers. We should give them a hand-up not a hand-out!

KBIA and the University Concert Series have an unusual request that we hope you, or someone you know, might be able to fulfill.

For its upcoming 100th-anniversary season, the University Concert Series is on the verge of bringing acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman to Jesse Auditorium. As part of his standard performing contract, Mr. Perlman requires private air transportation.

Paying out-of-pocket for a private jet might prove cost-prohibitive for the Concert Series. If Mr. Perlman visits Jesse, the end result for patrons could be ticket prices in line with the expectations of concertgoers in larger cities.

To try to keep down the costs of bringing back this performing legend for his first visit in nearly a decade, we're appealing to you for an in-kind gift that we understand only a very small minority of our listeners could supply. Do you, or does someone you know, have access to a private jet that Itzhak Perlman could use for a day in March, 2008?

If so, then please call us at 573-882-3431 or 800-292-9136 and ask for Mike Dunn. And thanks in advance for considering a gift to one person that would enrich the cultural life of mid-Missouri as a whole next year.

back in the saddle (part 2)

2007-04-04T08:47:00.000-05:00

Ever look at your "tight pants" and realize that they are baggy? I do. Actually they are only half-baggy. They fit pretty well on my right leg but as for my left, I might as well be wearing mtb shorts. That will change soon though! I have ridden the trainer for 2.5 hours so far this week.

One of the good things about riding the trainer in the backyard is that it doesn't matter how many cold beers you get from the fridge, the bike stays upright!

that's the spirit!

2007-03-26T08:16:00.000-05:00

There's something admirable in this.

Germany Men's [x-c skiing] team skipped Falun relay... partied instead!

The German men’s relay team sat on the sideline and drank beer while Norwegians, Italians, Swedes, Frenchmen and other nations struggled through the 4 x 10 kilometer relay in warm conditions in Falun, Sweden on Sunday.

FIS and Vegard Ulvang disliked the German ”stunt." They choose not to race the final World Cup race of the season. Instead they brought several kegs of beer and lined up along the course in the sunshine.

- This is not cool, but it’s not mandatory to race. It’s voluntary to start or not, so it’s not much we can do in this case, said Ulvang on Norwegian television.

Overall World Cup winner Tobias Angerer didn't see any problem with their decision not to race.
- We have had a long and good season. The batteries are empty, so we are choosing to stay here today, said Angerer to German television, while a sequence of Germans were cheering for Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset (of Norway) and drinking beer was shown in the background.

Source: Langrenn.com

back in the saddle again

2007-03-25T06:53:00.000-05:00

Started riding my bike on the trainer a week ago. Beginning with 5 minutes in the morning and 5 in the evening, I slowly worked up to 18 minutes each time yesterday. All this without having the rear wheel touch the flywheel of the trainer. Actually started intervals of using only my left (bad) leg yesterday; one minute one, one off. Was kind of tough. I haven't decided exactly what I will do today. I think I'll start with resistance and try the one leg pedalling again but maybe not for as long as yesterday. One on, one off for ten minutes maybe.

And good news (or not) depending on your persuasion:
All the Columbia Public School Board candidates are against teaching how the magic man done it. http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Mar/20070324News001.asp

a magic man done it

2007-03-23T08:16:00.000-05:00

Nora (13) in the game

2007-03-17T05:49:00.000-05:00

Her soccer team, Columbia Courage, played in a tournament last weekend. They didn't win but they gave it their all.

Sam's lacrosse team, the Kewpies, also played in a tournament last weekend. They didn't win but they gave it their all.

single moms: cutting edge capitalism

2007-03-13T03:41:00.000-05:00

Here's an idea I have been kicking around for a while: marriage is revolutionary and rebellious. OK sounds ridiculous no? Especially when you have groups like Focus on the Family and other religious wingnuts emphasizing an exclusive and hateful version of marriage and family. My idea is that in a capitalist society such as ours marriage goes against the genius of the economy. In short, our extractive economy is creating havoc in our world and anthing that promises to reign that in is worth investigating.

Economics 101 the rev style:
Our affiliations used to be based on the tribe. Every woman who was your mother's age was called "auntie" and every old man was "grandpa." The word "affiliation" itself comes from the latin for "adopt like a son" so it has familial overtones. Our affiliations are becoming more and more fragmented.

After the tribe we separated into what used to be the extended family; father, mother, children grandchildren, perhaps a stray aunt or two. These folks all lived in the same household which was the basic unit of our economy. They shared space, and practically everything else; spoons, towels, toothbrushes. Not much was purchased on the market. With the rise of the market economy, everything changed. The "nuclear family" became the basic unit of our economy. Everyone was expected to strike out on their own and parents were to fend for themselves after the kids were gone. "Empty nest syndrome" is a recent phenomenon.

Now there is much gnashing of teeth and crying about the breakdown of the nuclear family but given our economic system we can't have it any other way. Our economy is premised on everyone buying as much stuff as they can. If I and my wife live together with two children do we really need two dishwashing machines? No. That reminds me, recently I saw ads trying to sell the idea that we all need two clothes dryers because drying takes much longer than washing clothes and it would be much more efficient if you could dry two loads at once. Perhaps we do need to clothes dryers. Does everyone really need their own lawnmower? Think about it. You only use it two hours a week, surely you could find a time to mow when your neighbor isn't and then share a mower.

I would expect that anything shared is not going to do well in our economy. Think of it. What is there that we share or use together freely that is doing well in our society? Monogamy? No! Polygamy? Not!, Mass transportation? Nope! Dormitories at colleges? Nadda! Even watching tv used to be a communal event but now everyone has their own television in their own room (see!).

Don't be surprised as this trend continues. Activities which used to be communal will become increasingly segregated and personal. Look at the death of the metanarratives. Let's take religion. The current trend in the christian religion is for everyone to find and meet their own "personal Jesus." It's no coincidence that the Reformation with it's corresponding individual interpretations of the Bible occured at the same time as the rise of market capitalism. So much for the Catholic (Universal) church. But what about the rise of fundamentalist religions? This is simply an understandable reaction against the disorienting effects of everyday realities. Look at this whole blog entry. It's a fundamentalist reaction too. Just not a religious one. (Oh for the days of the grand marxist metanarrative).

Sharing is the antithesis of capitalism
- if you are to do to do your part for the economy you would: marry, have kids, divorce, and purchase separately outfitted (new) houses. Two of everything for the kids as well. Heck it would be even better if you did that two or three times.
- this is part of the reason why kids who live at home after adolescence are cause for much concern these days. They don't buy stuff. But on second thought, perhaps they are there because that enables them to buy more than they would otherwise. If housing is taken care of then the obstinate son has that much more money to spend on non-durable items such as video games and pizza.

N.B. When I mean marriage I don't mean that hateful constitutional definition "one man, one woman." For this hypothesis, it is unimportant who or for that matter what you marry. As long as the two individuals (of adult status) care for each other or are willing to care for each other I think it's great.

Interestingly, interspecies marriage was legal for a bit here in Missouri where a man married his horse (pun intended).

The longer I write the more I realize that none of this is particularly original but I wanted to say it anyway.

meanwhile in an alternate reality

2007-03-06T08:01:00.000-06:00

And not a fantasy...

I am sure ya'll have heard about the planned Nazi march in our fair city. Seems like outside agitators are coming to use their freedom of speech to advocate taking it away from others. There are some groups organizing in response to the swastika wearing cuckoos. Check out their website and raise some money.

Still, I am not sure these guys are that big of a threat to our American way of life. Probably, a bigger threat is our "homespun taliban" because they don't appear at first glance to be so extreme. All christians are equal just some are more equal than others.

what'll they the think of next?

2007-02-28T08:32:00.001-06:00

The new supermarket near our house has an automatic water mister to
keep the produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of
distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain. When you approach the milk
cases, you hear cows mooing and witness the scent of fresh hay. When you
approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle and the air is filled
with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying. The veggie department
features the smell of fresh-buttered corn.

I don't buy toilet paper there anymore.

even better

2007-02-21T16:39:00.000-06:00

The doc was surprised when he saw my knee this morning. He expected the worst and now is thinking that I am healing as we hoped for. The latest time line is in three weeks I may possibly be able to get on the stationary bike. That would be twelve weeks after surgery and twice as long as he expected. You may remember that at the 6 week point I started walking and rode a bit with unpleasant results. Meanwhile I'm keeping my fingers crossed and gulping those chondroitin pills.

Forget facts; it’s time to get your war on

2007-02-20T15:43:00.000-06:00

Oh yeaaah!

homespun taliban

2007-02-20T08:37:00.000-06:00

Chris Hedges's new book, “American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America,” examines how Christian dominionists are seeking absolute power and a Christian state. According to Hedges, the movement bears a strong resemblance to the young fascist movements in Italy and Germany in the 1920s and '30s. - from Democracy Now!

You can read the transcript or listen or watch streaming video.

Scared? You should be. It's not too late but since these people, just like the Nazis, are good at preying on the fears and prejudices of even the most moderate folks, we need to be on our guard and not let them get the upper hand. Everything, Every Damn Thing, I hold dear and believe in they would ban, criminalize, and destroy. They are called dominionists because they believe their god has given them power over everything on Earth.

More is threatened than many of us might realize by the agenda of the dominionist right. It's not simply gays or abortion--the so-called "family agenda" issues--that they are addressing, although these are hot button concerns that they use to mobilize their base. These so-called Christians have adopted a grotesquely nationalist, militarist agenda. They are pushing a brand of politics that is very similar to the classical fascists in terms of deference to powerful leader figures, and extreme reliance on a hierarchal, top-down power-over model. What's at stake is more than just our freedom--as important as that is--but in fact is our very survival. --Mark Haim from the PeaceNook

Nora is cool!

2007-02-16T09:05:00.000-06:00

Nora playing a short piece she composed.

biathlon is cool!

2007-02-15T15:52:00.000-06:00

It's like cyclocross with skis.

better

2007-02-11T06:38:00.000-06:00

Saw the doctor last week and we are now, "cautiously optimistic." Since my knee quit hurting so badly and I have had no further episodes he thinks perhaps I irritated some scar tissue or something. It has been getting better since then. The swelling is less than ever I think and I am able to walk on it with one crutch with no problem. I still use two and try to take it easy on my leg. I want to take it easy on it for a while still and let it heal as best it can (assuming it still is).

About that femur transplant. I asked. It wouldn't be the whole bone. Doc would take a piece from a cadaver matching the area of my femur which needs repair. just a thin peice with bone and cartilage. Not that I want to do that but that doesn't sound so bad as replacing the whole damn bone. Still that would have to be the last resort I think. What if that didn't work either? then what?

In other news...
We have decided to tackle our attention deficit disorder head-on. Bridget's been reading a book on adult ADD and how to organize your life and home. Lots of good tips to retain order and maintain clutter. Those of us with ADD are mentally incapable of maintaining a system of organization. One big thing I have to work on is finding a place for everything. Right now there is so much junk which has no home of any kind except a pile on the dresser or counter or table or...

not so good

2007-02-04T17:13:00.000-06:00

Last Monday I went to the gym to ride the stationary bike again and do some leg presses as prescribed in my physical therapy regimen. Great. I had been feeling good and walking with one crutch. Basically on top of the world. The world came crashing down on me after ten minutes on the bike. I developed some pain in my knee which grew progressively worse until Tuesday night. I hardly slept. Went to the doc's Wendesday and he was not optimistic at all. He fears that the catilage patch he put on my leg wasn't healing. That would be Bad. He mentioned "femur transplant." I don't know about you but I am not excited by the idea of replacing my femur because a bit of cartilage is torn off but I guess cartilage is like that; once gone always gone. I'm hoping for some new stem cells to find their way into my leg.

I am supposed to call him again tomorrow and let him know how my knee is doing. Right now I would say it is doing pretty darn good. The excruciating pain I experienced Tuesday night disappeared almost completely and every day there is less. Of course, I haven't ridden and have protected my leg from putting much weight on it. Basically I feel like where I was two or three weeks ago. We'll see what he says tomorrow and Wednesday after I go to see him in person.

The upshot of it all is that it may be a while before I walk let alone ride.

back in the saddle

2007-01-24T14:50:00.000-06:00

I rode on one of those fat-saddled computerized "exercise" bikes today. Five minutes, 34 seconds total time. I have permission to ride my bike on the trainer again starting at 12 minutes a day.

rehab begins

2007-01-24T10:51:00.000-06:00

Got my new knee brace today and I can start putting weight on my leg. It (the brace) is cool in that it takes the stress off the part of my knee that was really messed up. It actually separates the bones so they don't rub each other. That way I can start regaining some fitness and continue to let my knee heal.

Here is my starting point (sorry, I know it's not pretty). Note the disparity between my right and left legs and even my good leg has shrunk!

global upheaval

2007-01-22T12:22:00.000-06:00

See this picture:

The only place in the entire world to not have any forecast change in "horrible things" is Missouri. Sure it'll be hotter but overall not as bad as _______. Time to get prepared for all the refugees who will come to steal our food and homes and women. Start forming militias. Here come the new feudal ages!

masters cyclo-cross world championships

2007-01-22T08:29:00.000-06:00

Yo! Check this out.

[Kansas City] Area finishers at the World Masters Cyclocross Championship in Mol, Belgium on Saturday:

Official Results
Mens 35-39: David White, 27th

Womens 40-49: Teresa Jarzemkoski, 9th

Men's 45-49
Mark Thomas: 21st
Dan Hansen: 55th
Bill Anderson: 57th
(Editors note: These finishes are under contention by your own on-the-scene Slimen News Team. They should be listed as Dan 30th and Mark 40th)

Mens 55-59
Dean Parker: 20th

Yet more evidence that the KC cycling scene is more vibrant (if not larger) than the StL scene.

1 more week

2007-01-16T15:15:00.000-06:00

Then I start learning to walk again!

olive branches

2007-01-13T06:29:00.000-06:00

Christmastime 1989. I was visiting a good friend in Freiburg during my year in Germany. Though I don't recall how she got there, there was an American girl with us in his apartment. I was "entertaining" her and while I don't remember her name and how or where I met her, I do remember she wanted to read each and every day of his daily Far Side calendar for 1990. Much to my friends distress, I humored her since she was female and I was a bachelor seeking companionship (it soon became obvious that once again I was looking in all the wrong places). I ended up escorting her home and leaving her there alone.

Every once in a while I am reminded of my friend's agony at having his entire year read out in advance by this girl and his "friend." Usually it happens when Bridget is upset that someone (we in her family all know better now) reads ahead in one of her daily calendars.

So I sent him a new Far Side daily calendar as a way of making up for this old faux pas.

4 weeks down...two to go!

2007-01-09T07:55:00.000-06:00

Needless to say the closest I have been to a bicycle lately is watching the Tom Boonen win the Tour of Flanders on dvd.

I have been somewhat disturbed (but not surprised) by my complete adaptation to being cooped up in the house and on the couch for the past 4 weeks. I seem to be perfectly content to lay on my couch watching television and reading. "Made for TV" you might say. Nevertheless I am looking forward to the day I can move about again without crutches. The ability to carry a plate of food from the kitchen to, say, the couch is something I will never take for granted again. If I knew this injury was permanent I might be more freaked, that is for sure.

Just last night I was laying on the couch with my knee in the CPM last night thinking that even if I don't ever regain use of my leg and lose my job and house and have to go on welfare I would feel really happy because I have such a great family. My kids are the greatest and I know that when they grow up and are rich and famous they will take their ol' Da and Mum in off the street.

riding again

2007-01-06T17:35:00.000-06:00

Went on a great ride this afternoon. A bit chilly at first but with the gorgeous sunshine that didn't last long. Explored the roads off of M west of Ashland down toward the river. Needless to say this was a gravel road ride. It was nice to be back out after the holidays when I didn't get out on the bike much. The hills sure didn't get any less steep during the same time! Damn there are some steepies out there!

three weeks down...three to go

2007-01-02T09:15:00.000-06:00

Then I hope to start walking and eventually riding again.

two weeks down!

2006-12-28T12:07:00.000-06:00

lowlander outdoor adventures

2006-12-23T13:46:00.000-06:00

Check them out.
http://www.lowlanderoutdooradventures.com/index.html
Props to Paul for having the balls to go for it and start an adventure tour business. More power to ya, Paul!

operation and recovery

2006-12-20T08:42:00.000-06:00

Here's a drill going into one of my bones in preparation for attaching my new ACL. (which it turns out was the simplest part of the entire surgery)

And here is my new ACL.

Here's my ripped and broken femur. Turns out I basically broke a bone. So six weeks no weight on it while it heals. See that pink part in the middle? That's exposed femur bone. It should be covered in a nice white cartilage.

Here is the cartilage reattached (with nails). It was floating around in my knee joint area.

Here I am on the couch with my newly reconstructed leg watching the 2006 Tour of Flanders (thanks John!).

Headed back to the doc today for an update.

post-op report

2006-12-15T21:16:00.000-06:00

Finally go to ride with John B. again on Tuesday. At our usual time, 5:30am (0530). Unfortunatly, it was a short one, only a couple of miles, and, even less exciting, in a truck owned by MU. And the ride was to the Institute for Outpatient Surgery. My knee was repaired Tuesday morning. John graciously agreed to bring me in and stay with me until Bridget could get there after dropping Nora off at a friends house at 7:30. She didn't miss much as I didn't get out of there until 2 p.m. The staff of the IOS were great. (At least the ones I remember) Last thing I remember before 2pm was thinking that my glasses which were laying on my lap before surgery needed to go in my bag o' stuff under the bed. Evidently I chatted with John and the nurse for quite a while afterthat, even giving John some sort of emergency authorization (probably one of the smartest things I have ever done). Then Before I woke up I was chatting with the anesthesia people about Sam and Nora. If one gives out deep dark secrets under anesthesia, it sounds like I have a pretty clean life. Dr. Smith did one heck of a job fixin my knee. Evidently it was worse than expected and I think he expected pretty bad. I was in the OR for about 2.5-3 hours. A long time I later learned for a simple ACL repair. My ACL repair was simple but the rest was not. I had shorn off a bit of the end of my femur. Fortunately Dr. Smith was able to find the piece and replace it (Cool!). But that meant that everything will be a lot more complicated as far as recovery goes. I have to be off my left leg for 6 weeks. After that I have no idea what to expect. No weight on my left leg at all. That will be a trying time for all in our household. Started some electroshock therapy tonight. two little electrodes on my quad for half an hour. 10 seconds on, 10 seconds off. Kinda like a little massage. Anyway, enough pounding away at the keyboard. My knee is starting to hurt and I gotta go ice it again.

Pictures soon.

snowy day

2006-12-01T23:21:00.000-06:00

bmi and sports

2006-11-26T08:21:00.000-06:00

Girls sports. I had been thinking that Nora would like cross-country (she says otherwise). The Columbia Track Club has a youth xc program which looks like a lot of fun for the kids. She competed in a race recently with them and did really well but did not enjoy it. Now I read of Propam's experience in women's xc and I think Nora would be better off sticking to soccer. At least it seems that soccer doesn't have the obsession with weight that other sports such as xc and cycling have. Eating disorders that lead to lifelong problems. Sometimes I think that Nora may be a little small for soccer because some of those women are big. Not fat or anything but stout, obviously in good shape when you seem them running around out there. Since ACL injuries have been on my mind lately, I have found out that they are more prevelant among female atheletes than male. Especially soccer players. But a torn acl is nothing when you compare it to the problems that the eating disorders can create.

Now to male eating disorders. It's holiday season and for the first time I can't run or ride off the food I eat. If I didn't want to be competitive I wouldn't really worry about it at all but it will be that much harder to get back in shape after surgery if I have to ride off extra weight too. Just ask Jan.

surgery

2006-11-25T07:54:00.000-06:00

Wednesday December 6 is the first day of next season. Training for Fall 2007 cyclocross racing starts then. That is also the day after I have knee surgery to repair my torn acl, ripped medial meniscus, and the worn-out covering of the medial condyle of the femur (in other words, osteoarthritis). I will be receiving an allo graft. That is a piece of ligament from a dead guy (now I'll have to sign the back of my driver's license!) and physical therapy starts about 24 hours after my outpatient surgery. Actually I already have started therapy as I have some pre-operative exercises to do 2x per day; leg lifts and other quad strengthening exercises.

this really sucks

2006-11-12T06:32:00.000-06:00

Well I ain't going to St. Louis to race today. My knee which is now the size of a grapefruit was totally screwed up yesterday trying not to fall off a damn mound on the downhill course which was included in the cx course that we raced yesterday. I guess I'll go to the doctor tomorrow. I can hardly walk. The best I can do is shuffle around stiff legged. Dammit dammit dammit, I suppose this probably means that the entire cx season is blown. Dammit!

I did see Bubba. He looks a fine hound.

Friday, Nora took an IQ test to see if she qualifies for Triple E, EEE, the advanced education program here in Columbia. We should hear the results in a couple of weeks. Talk about a test, "Here kid, we know you are smart but let's see if you are smart enough to earn the official label of Smart Kid."

glass houses

2006-11-03T08:47:00.000-06:00

"The president of the National Association of Evangelicals, an outspoken opponent of gay marriage, has given up his post while a church panel investigates allegations he paid a man for sex. "

hee hee

i thought i had legs redux

2006-10-27T13:19:00.000-05:00

The results are posted for the Rock Bridge Revenge. I finished 17th of 32 runners in the 20k. I prefer to think of that as not Middle-of-the-pack but First Place! in the second half of the pack. Also I finished 3rd in my age group (out of 8, if I counted right). Props to Bill Stolz for a great 3rd place finish overall in the 10k!

In other news: I am now a Cat three cyclocrosser. Middle-of-the-Pack here we come! Thanks Mike W. I did more CX races in my first year of cyclocross than I did road races in all my years of cycling (33).

In non-cycling news: The Columbia Business Times (which I haven't read at all until a few days ago) evidently has some very fascist leanings or at least it's columnists do. Some guy named Larry Schuster. A paragraph from his recent column in the CBT whining about the smoking ban:

Our brands of do-gooders are self-righteous souls who live under the narcotic delusion that they are the conscience of our community. They make exceptions to fit their playtime but not mine. In my opinion, their concentration in Columbia is akin to the goose population in Stephens Park, just a few too many in a small place. Maybe we should sponsor a roundup and relocation program. Surely scientists will soon discover these folks to be a new breed of hypocrites: “homo sapien goose poopalous.” (my emphasis)

OK. two things here:

The idea that people he doesn't like should be rounded up and sent elsewhere smacks a bit of fascist policies of the Nazi era. or perhaps more to his liking stalinist policies.
As my 13 year old son pointed out: perhaps there are so many of these "do-gooders" in Columbia because they are a majority.

2 questions arise...who the hell is Larry Schuster and how did he get elected to the city council?

While I am on the topic of CBT...Their cover story is about a "consulting firm" who (get this doublespeak) is,"known nationally for its creative mail, radio and strategic communications." Sounds like advertising to me. There is also a fairytale and another screed about the selfishness of the West Broadway folks against 4 lanes in the middle of town. (yes Providence should be made 2 lanes). Jesus! makes me want to barf.

Thanks for reading.

i thought i had legs

2006-10-23T08:10:00.000-05:00

or...why can't I go any faster?

Raced out at Rock Bridge State Park Sunday...the Rock Bridge Revenge 20k run. Actually the revenge part comes the day after the race when you stumble upon getting out of bed because your legs are so racked with stiffness and soreness that they rebel against any notion of movement. Actually "soreness" is not the right word: sore is when you smash your thumb with a hammer, this is more like dropping an anvil on it.

It was a Beautiful run even through the ice-cold creek (twice). It was great to be out in the woods on a sunny morning in October. Trees changing colors, deer out to see why there were so many two-leggers chugging through the woods, and the occasional squirrel yelling in anger at the runners. The actual race for me was kinda weird. My legs were not cooperating with my heart. I never was anyhere near my limit aerobically but my legs wouldn’t go any faster. Everytime I tried to go harder and think I was really starting to push it and my legs would say, "Give us a break, we're going already, ok!" Then I would glance down at my heart rate and it would say, "nope, you are just huffing along on stroll." I guess that is the difference between HR and Perceived Exertion. Nevertheless, great race. Great run. Someday they'll get the results posted and I'll have an idea how I compared to the rest of the back-of-the-pack.

Although running this race was pretty cool, I really missed not racing the latest iteration of the Bubba Memorial Cyclocross series. Probably won't be able to make it to another one until Nov. 5 or 12.

And...what about that local cx scene? The Columbia Fun Times Cyclocross Race and Picnic? Down by the ROTC Tower? Picnic and bonfire to follow at Stephens Lake? Maybe we could talk Bubba into coming?

more nonsense

2006-10-21T14:44:00.000-05:00

check this out from Trib Talk:

"...Now you’ve even made it a rule in Columbia that you can’t have dinner and a cigarette. I think it is ridiculous. This is getting to be more like Russia every day."

Ha ha hahahahahaha, that is so funny!

Let's see...I assume that by "Russia" this caller means the former boogey monster we were all scared to death of back when I was a child. Now there were (are) a few things about the way Russia was (is) ruled that leaves lots to be desired. But, BUTT!, smoking was not one of those things that was outlawed back in the USSR. There were the occasional political crackdowns, gulags, executions, mass murders and other governmental misdeeds but smoking was not something one had to be afraid of doing.

Come to think of it, "this is getting to be more like Russia every day." Maybe I'll start smoking.

I'm number #1

2006-10-20T12:19:00.000-05:00

Cross practice was way fun! Nolan and Ethan showed up. Nolan practiced bunny-hopping most of the time (something I need to do). I rode a good hard 30 minutes then had to scoot home to get Sam to a school dance. (his first). They were both impressed with the course and excited about the possibilities. We set up some cones to make several turns and break up the long straightaways. Ethan said, "Since Butthead won't be here next Wednesday I am going to move practice here."

In other news: I am the top-ranked Cat. 5 in zip 65201 (oops...you gotta be logged in under my name to see that) but you can see that I am one of only 12 Cat 5s to be ranked 638 nationally. And I don't even have the oldest license!

Your USCF Road Race Cat 5 Standings
1!	Rank in your zip code (65201)
18	Rank in your state (MO)
22	Rank in your riding age (40)
112	Rank in 5 year age range (40-44)
174	Rank in 10 year age range (40-49)
638	Overall Rank

mighty mighty c's

2006-10-17T08:41:00.000-05:00

Raced Sunday.

Everything went well;

I didn't fall over the barriers

or skid out in the gravel.

And best of all I won.

Let me tell you, it feels good to win, finally. I have been close many times but I don't believe I have ever won an athletic contest before. So even if it is the Cs race of a local series it is really nice. Back in grade school I couldn't (and still can't) play basketball or any of those damn sports; I always ended up getting hit in the face with the ball and bending my glasses. Really awkward. I tried track in 8th grade and came in dead last. Sucked, I tell you.

This Sunday will be a big test. 20k trail run. I have a feeling I may be slow on the trail. I don't want to roll an ankle or screw up my knees. Gotta Bubba race again the next week.

Buddy, the USCF official, said, "I'll guess we'll have to move you up to the Bs now" So that's where I'll go. Back to the middle of the pack.

A huge amount of thanks goes to Karl at Klunk for all the help he provided getting me set up on my bike. It worked great!

1/3 marathon

2006-10-04T09:36:00.000-05:00

Update of recent events:

Ran my legs off Sunday October 1, doing two legs of a 3 leg relay as part of the Columbia Half Marathon. Our team finished 9th overall in the teams division. There were 36 teams so that is really great! I ran for 1 hour and 7 minutes but I don't know how far. Sometime I have to get out and ride it with my bike and see what the old odometer says. Next year I'll do the whole thing on my own.

Next (foot)race is in one week at Rock Bridge State Park. Should be a cool trail run. I think I'll do the 20k option.

Next cyclo-cross race is Bubba #1. Sunday Oct. 15 at Creve Coeuer Park in St. Louis. Photos and results soon. I heard there was to be a Bubba race in Columbia but that was shot down by the parks dept. dimwits. I'll take my cash and go somewhere else. Hey Josh, what about the field down below the Alpine Tower on the MU campus? It's better than Stephens Lake. Speaking of cyclocross I went out last night with Seth to said field. Had a good hard workout there. The Redline is working great. If I don't do well Sunday, I have only myself to blame.

Sept. 10 Sam and I took the road I course here in town. We are both now officially licensed road cyclists.

Nora has biked to school every day so far except one and that wasn't her fault. It was raining or Bridget had to go somewhere. Something like that. Sam too. Now that he is a certified cyclist he can (and did before) ride to school everyday. He even takes the busy route by choice. Go figger. Give him 30 more years of riding to work and school and he'll look for the quiet streets.

Speaking of Nora, she was elected president of her homeroom. She has to chair class meetings every Monday and Friday. I don't know what all she has to do but she does it with great aplomb I am sure. Now she wishes she had gone for bigger fish and ran for 3rd grade student council representative

Tonight? Tonight we are going to go sit in the cold, drink hot chocolate (we may have to have two thermoses: one adult and one kids) and watch the MU soccer team get beat again. They started so well! What happened?

religious truths

2006-09-29T13:17:00.000-05:00

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

2006-09-29T08:57:00.000-05:00

i didn't see anyone

2006-09-26T15:54:00.000-05:00

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

2006-09-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

I might even get to ride it soon.

all they need are grocery stores

2006-09-06T15:48:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-09-06T15:30:00.000-05:00

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!

Ashland residents take stock of new mailboxes

2006-08-22T14:25:00.000-05:00

Morons to the left morons to the right. There is just so much wrong with this whole story.

As I am always telling Sam...Bad design is the bane of our existence. These guys had to really try hard to create such bad design. Good design would have been the easy way. Any ten-year old could have done better (like the one in the article for instance).

Althought it was hard to pick just one...my favorite line is

Attaching the boxes directly to houses wasn’t an option because that would require postal workers to walk through the neighborhood delivering mail.

Horrors!

some recent rides

2006-08-11T13:36:00.000-05:00

www.RouteSlip.com
My heart rate chart looks like the profile of the Sapp Ride!

he's off

2006-07-11T22:57:00.000-05:00

Sam is on his way to Japan. Endlich. Finally. What started over a year ago with me opening my big mouth is on its way to completion. I am really excited that he has this chance to go and am proud of him to be willing to go. His mother and I have been stressing over all the stuff he has to bring (not much really) and hoping that he will be able to keep track of it all. But I know we really needn't worry.

Last night we all went out to dinner and then had some ice cream at Sparky's. Sam just about sparked a family fight when he refused to share his food with the rest of us. " I didn't order what you have because I didn't want it!" Well! Some of us had ordered our food with reference to what everyone else had ordered and with the idea that we would all share. So his backing out of the unspoken contract was not met with applause and laughter.

Everyone made up before going to bed and after a short night we all got up and went to see him off. I have tried to track the progress of the airplanes via the web today. Frustrating in part because so far both flights have been at least an hour late. I don't envy the kids (and the teachers) having to hang out in O'Hare for an extra hour. Although you know they probably got a kick out of it. If I remember right, and it's been a long time, there are lot's of O'Hare Krishnas in the airport.

More to come...

story of issac

2006-07-06T09:22:00.000-05:00

I forgot to mention this story. I think it's about the most repugnant in the entire Islamo-Judeo-Christian tradition. Just like ol' Abraham, people continue to hear the voice of their god commanding them to kill their children. Only now we call it mental illness. Where the hell was Sarah in all of this? She should be charged with child endangerment.
[updated 2:25p.m.]

all the more reason

2006-06-29T17:34:00.000-05:00

A (presumably) Christian pastor here in Columbia has neatly summarized a few of the best arguments against Islamo-Judeo-Christianity. Thank you Pastor Dooley.

These include:

"Jesus is a loving god, but definitely not a pacifist"
"Jesus participated in destroying Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 and threatened Nineveh with the same in Jonah 3"
" King David, a soldier acclaimed for killing tens of thousands"

critical mass

2006-06-29T09:57:00.000-05:00

Much as I want to stick it to the cars and their drivers this is not a good idea. Hopefully, it's probably the same wankers who wobble on the sidewalk or on the wrong side of the street. At night. With no lights.

I am a critical mass. Critical mass will only be achieved when we get more responsible riders riding responsibly as they go about their daily business. Not by a bunch of folks clogging the roads.

Besides, the damn rules of the road are good for something. Everytime I go and do something I know I shouldn't, like ride up alongside the cars stopped at a light I just about get creamed by a driver who didn't know I was there. Better to wait in line than in triage.

tooth fairy?

2006-06-24T11:10:00.000-05:00

Caution spoiler ahead!

Did you know that compared to 35 years ago, kids get 10 times the reward from the tooth fairy? I have talked with several parents and the consensus seems to be that the tooth fairy brings "about a buck" per tooth. I think I got a dime. Dang! you say? Consider that I remember buying gum and baseball cards and candy for a dime or quarter back then. So a dollar for a tooth seems to be about on target. 75 cents may be more equitable but can you imagine the trouble that would cause the tooth fairy? lugging around three heavy coins per kid when one lightweight crisp 1 dollar bill would do the same if not better?

That said, Nora lost a tooth last week. (If any kids if are reading this, stop. Now.)

After eating dinner and watching some World Cup at my brother-in-law's house we came home and crashed. Nora had the sense to put her tooth under her pillow before she hit the hay. Now...I usually stand in for the tooth fairy, delivering the booty early in the morning if not late at night, but this time the "tooth fairy" had no energy to stay up either and forgot to fish out the tooth and replace it with a dollar. However, after a few hours sleep, I did have the energy to ride early the next morning. Then, as I was finishing up my ride Bridget called and asked if I had replaced the tooth? No, I had not. As soon as I got home I went into Nora's room and looked at the scrunched up pillow and knew that, even though it was in a baggie, it would be difficult to find the tooth without disturbing her. I barely lifted the very edge of the pillow case just a bit but let go and it fall back down. I didn't really even move the pillow at all. Just as the pillow case touched the bed, a "sleeping" litte girl stretched out a hand and said, "Dollar!"

if i only had a pump

2006-05-10T14:55:00.000-05:00

major props to the Perfessor!

I was out toodling around McBaine on my bike pretending i was Floyd Landis when I hit a little rock of some sort in the middle of the road. one or two seconds later i heard the dreaded, "phup, phup, phup, phup" as a the air in my tire followed the laws of physics and redistributed itself from a high pressure area to a low pressure area. my tire was flat in seconds. not to worry i told myself. pull the tube out. put the new tube in (checking the tire first for any sharp thingys). pump up tire. ride.

Not so simple. I learned the importance of pump maintenence this morning. Evidently one has to check the seals on one's pump periodically and lube them too. I haven't done that. I had no functioning pump. fortunately, i had a functioning phone. And double fortunate for me, Nathan Means was almost out of bed and willing to come haul my ass home. He said it was no big deal but we all know differently. He's on summer break. nothing to do but sleep ride and watch the Giro.

Thanks Nathan!

if i only had a brain

2006-04-29T01:50:00.000-05:00

Went to Gentry Middle School Thursday night to watch Sam perform in a school program. He sang some songs with a choir but he (and we) was not as enthused about that as we (and he) were about the short scene from the Wizard of Oz he was to perform. He did quite well! He has never done any acting on stage before so we were all a bit nervous for him. But he seems like a natural. I have a few fotos but they didn't turn out that great and I haven't even downloaded them off the camera yet but I just might put up a picture of him singing. or if i get really ambitious and tech savvy a video clip of him as the Tin Woodsman.

As I write this it's raining outside and that means that most likely Nora's soccer game will be cancelled. That's sad but also a relief. She can sleep and we can relax around here. I took Friday off sick. I really am. Why else would I be up at 2am? The way I feel now I may not be in to work on Monday either.

Which also means that I haven't put nearly the miles in this month that I planned or hoped to. Approx. 100 less than last year. I take solace, though, in the fact that what I have done has been "better" and higher intensity than last year. And I have been running which I think is adding to my base fitness. blah blah...thanks for reading.

janes addiction anyone?

2006-04-18T14:53:00.000-05:00

So I'm sittin' here at work listening to launchcast on my computer. Usually I listen to my own station but today I have been listening to "80s Alternative" All the best music so far has been stuff from 1984-1988. I know lots of folks like to make fun of the 80s music (and there was, like now, lots of crap) but overall these were the Golden years for music in my opinion. The Cure's "Standing on a Beach", All of R.E.M.'s music, Jane's Addiction, Eurythmics, Love & Rockets, I can't even begin to name them all. Butthole Surfers, Dead Kennedy's, there's two more. It was all so good.

It was all on the radio station at K-State; KSDB was a breath of fresh air after the stifling top-40 junk like REO Speedwagon and Journey. Even now I have a hard time listening to any radio station other than a college station. Fortunately, the station at MU is run a lot like KSDB used to be. It even has the same frequency that KSDB did. I don't know the djs or most of the songs they play but I do know they don't play any friggin' commercials. Can't stand the stuff. Once in a while I flip up the dial to KBXR to see what they are playing but usually it's a commercial so I hit the down dial as quick as I can.

But I digress...those years were great ones for music and for me. What a coincidence that these same years were also my under-grad days.

a good time was had by all

2006-04-17T10:41:00.000-05:00

We spent Saturday night and Sunday morning out in the rural hinterlands of Boone County playing. I took quite some photos which mostly turned out pretty good. By the looks of the kids faces it appears that they had a great time.

I of course came home Saturday night to "take care of the dog." It just so happens that I was able to ride the Tour de la Haute Croute before I went back out Sunday morning. Funny how that works.

the hour run

2006-03-27T06:31:00.000-06:00

I ran for an hour on Saturday... not a long time by marathon standards I know but it was a long time for me. I haven't run that long for maybe ten years. So far no problems with my knee but I am not running again until Wednesday and then for only half an hour. It felt great to run on the MKT and I want to do it again next Saturday, but maybe this time with a friend.

Speaking of friends, after running Saturday, I went with Sam and the neighbor, Dr. Foote, out to help a friend who had also been our milk man. His farm by Fayette had been totally destroyed in a tornado March 12. Not just the barn or milk shed or even the house but everything. Gone. Wiped out. We went out and with about a thousand other folks took down what was left standing (part of the house and parts of some sheds) put it into big piles and burned it. Amazingly only one cow died in the storm and fortunately no one in the family was hurt. They were in the basement and by the looks of the house that seems to have been a really good idea. They sure don't build 'em like they used to though. It was an old house and solid. man. I was on a crew that started tearing off the second story. That was one well built house. I had gone downstairs to fetch a wrench and started thinking about the amateurs such as myself who were working in such close quarters with large hammers. Getting nervous for Sam, who was still working up on the second floor having a grand time smashing walls with a hammer, I returned to the second floor solely then to get him down from there. I had no sooner reached the top of the stairs than I has hit in the head with a flying piece of lath and plaster. it was only a flesh wound and didn't bleed much but it certainly made getting my son out of there more urgent.

It was really great to see all the people there helping out and feeling that they owed the family a debt for providing such a service to us.

food

2006-03-21T13:23:00.000-06:00

It's funny what goes through one's mind when one is bonking.

I took the day off and was going to ride for maybe 2 hours and then do some work around the house. I got out on the road and figgerd that, "Hell, it's my day off and I really could put off the work at home..." so I ended up riding for 3 and a half hours. Let me tell all you young'uns...You should bring lots of food with you when riding alone in the boonies for three hours.

Among other places I rode out to Easley and did the hill there 2x. Sheeit, They graded that hill steeper or something since last summer.

But that was all nice and fine cuz it came before the 2 hour mark. I realized then that it was not going to be easy getting home without food. I ate my one little granola bar an hour earlier, and let me tell you there ain't much out southwest of Columbia. I mean Sapp's a nice townlet and all but they don't have a Casey's or 7-11 or even an A&W. I rode up and down the main drag but didn't see a one.

Actually, I was only a little hungry as I headed back down Woodie Proctor (who was he anyway and why does his name sound like a medical procedure?) and I didn't feel any sense of dread at the coming miles. Meanwhile my wheels kept getting farther from home and somehow (and i didn't know this until later) I was drifting with the wind. As I started back up the home stretch toward town on KK I realized just how far I had come with the wind. As the crow flies it's maybe 10 miles from the intersection of K and KK but I wasn't flying. crawling is what it was. wobbling was how I was doing it. Every bump made my stomach hurt. I never felt that one before. a dried shriveled up bean rattling around in my gut. As I passed the various eateries, Upper Crust, Shakespeares, MFA, etc. They all sounded delicious and it was torture passing them but the thought of stopping to eat and then having to get back out ON the bike and IN the wind was too much to contemplate.

I started fantasizing about the food I was going to eat when I got home. Taking inventory of the fridge and freezer. How long would it take to fry up the frozen hamburger (too long). Wondering if my wife would miss the bratwurst we as a family have on the menu for wednesday night (she would). Sudying the most efficient way to get the most food in me with the least amount of work and time...,"I'll walk in, turn on the stove for coffee, mix some chocolate milk, while i drink it, I'll cut the bread for my sandwich, then while I drink my second glass of chocolate milk..." Thank god for tuna in a can.

I ate and ate some more...and then fell asleep.

What a GREAT day off!

Bill Napoli

2006-03-09T08:39:00.000-06:00

What more politics!...Sheeit!

Really, I'm just helping out the Smart Bitches (their term not mine) google-bomb the bastard in South Dakota, Bill Napoli. He is one of the prime backers of South Dakota's new anti-abortion law. His description of a case of acceptable abortion consists of the following (from PBS Online NewsHour):

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Napoli says most abortions are performed for what he calls "convenience." He insists that exceptions can be made for rape or incest under the provision that protects the mother's life. I asked him for a scenario in which an exception may be invoked.
BILL NAPOLI: A real-life description to me would be a rape victim, brutally raped, savaged. The girl was a virgin. She was religious. She planned on saving her virginity until she was married. She was brutalized and raped, sodomized as bad as you can possibly make it, and is impregnated. I mean, that girl could be so messed up, physically and psychologically, that carrying that child could very well threaten her life.

So there you have it...Just doing my part to piss off the radical right.

time flies

2006-02-17T05:59:00.000-06:00

It's been a month since I wrote in this thing. There has been so much going on that I haven't had time to stop and write. I am still not sure where to start and of course now as I am writing nothing is coming to mind.

Nora is still playing soccer on Friday nights. Her team which was beaten 23-1 in their first game, held the last team to only a 2 or 3 point lead and they actually scored! Sam turned 13 Feb. 1 and seems to be really turning into a teenager. Fortunately he seems much more well adjusted than I was at his age (or now). We took him and 14 of his closest friends to a video game "store" where they played non-stop violent games for 2 solid hours on 11 foot screens. I can tell you that won't be happening often. This place has "lock-ins" on Friday nights where you start playing games 11pm Friday until 7am Saturday. Talk about a healthy lifestyle. 8 hours on a couch in the middle of the night sustained by pizza, soda and donuts. Crazy! One of Sam's friends has done this at least once. Not my kid.

one grote race!

2006-01-20T17:18:00.000-06:00

I did one last CX race on the 8th, the Grote Prijs Shawnee. A great race. Spectators, 4 barriers, 2 run-ups (one off camber), beer, coffee and pizza. The course was a tight one in a park and I would never have imagined that you could get a full on course in it but they did. I finished in the middle of the Bs. Got my work cut out for me.

Anyhow since then lots has been going on. The most momentous for me is that I turned 40 last Saturday. S0 far so good. Got a long ride in with The Perfesser and Patti on Sunday. Unfortunately, John was sick and couldn't come. Otherwise it was a perfect ride. Another Ashland loop with the same folks this weekend would be really nice. Bridget doesn't work tomorrow so I will probably get a slightly longer-than-usual ride in.

Last weekend was also the weekend of the flu at our house. It all started when Nora threw up at 4 in the morning Saturday. This was after playing an Excellent soccer match friday evening. She is a wiz with the ball and a joy to watch on the field. Damn! Her team is made up of "free agents", girls who don't have a regular team so they have only known each other for two weeks. The competition is made up of "traveling" teams that the girls had to try-out for. They have been playing together for a (relatively) long time and as a team are much better than ours. They are also a lot older than Nora and many others on her team. She is in a U12 league and she is 7. Still, on an individual level, Nora is as good or better (or will be) than many of the girls on the other teams. It is really fun to watch her skills develop.

Back to the flu...Bridget then got sick later on Saturday and missed a ride on the MKT she had organised in honor of my Birthday. She and Nora stayed home while Sam and I and about 12 other folks headed out for a 7 mile trail ride. Some of my friends on the ride hadn't ridden a bike for years so I was really honored that they picked my birthday to come out and try it again. With children no less.

Afterward we retired to Shakes for some pizza and beer. Actually only me and Sam and the Wrights (neighbors and some of the nicest folks I have ever met) made it to Shakespeares. Ann B showed up. and we all had a great time. Thought about my sick wife and child the whole time of course.

Monday after going for a ride, I came home and got sick. Fortunately I never threw up but I had a much higher fever than the previous two sickies. Missed work tuesday but was all better by Wednesday. Sam got sick tuesday evening and missed school Wednesday. He went to school yesterday and seems to be just fine. I think we may all be better now.

Planning on going out for a run in about half an hour. a short fast 2 mile run.

out of the closet

2006-01-11T15:12:00.000-06:00

Ok...I know. I wasn't going to do this. I am only posting this for public insemination (sic).

The letter in today's Trib finally spells it out.

If a person wants to build a case for same-sex "unions" ([useless parenthetical comment deleted]), it will have to be done without the aid of the Bible.

Of course one could and should just as easily say:

If a person wants to build a case against same-sex "unions", it will have to be done without the aid of the Bible.

Yep, you gotta leave your religion at home when you enter the forum.

hectic around our place

2006-01-05T06:03:00.000-06:00

Bridget's dad had a stroke (he's doing fine)
Bridget went to KC to be with her parents for the week
School started for the kids
Too many late late LATE nights
Most importantly, just in time for my 40th birthday, I found hair growing from out of my ear.

...and a good time was had by all

2005-12-29T04:21:00.000-06:00

Went to my parents on Friday the 23rd and whaddaya know? Santa was there too!

I also went to Midnight Mass. That is some late church!. I don't know what else to say about it right now so I'll just say, "It was nice. "

On other topics...haven't been attending the Church of Gravity very regularly which is unfortunate because I think I will be racing again in a week or so. yikes! I have been running a bit so hopefully I have retained some fitness there but biking...?

Nora starts soccer again next week. This time she will be in a U10 league which is co-ed but there is a girls only team she will be playing on. I hope it's a good experience for her.

countdown begins...

2005-12-22T11:27:00.000-06:00

it's 2am and I just finished getting ready for our christmas (as metaphor). Really Santa has a tough job but I guess someone's got to do it.

I actually put up some more decorations tonight. A couple of years I put up some greenery and lights on the sly and developed a reputation for doing that. Well this year I did it again. finally. The last several years I have not done it for some reason or other. Mainly probably because I have had trouble getting excited about the holiday as much as I used to. This year is different. I have been looking forward to Christmas for a while now. I have listened to Xmas music at work enough to drive anyone crazy but all the same it is almost over and I don't feel like I have even begun to feel like it's here.

True, we do have three weeks of celebrating left. Tomorrow with our little family and Dan, this weekend with my parents and brothers and their spouses and child. Then two weeks later we are supposed to go to KC for a third celebration with Bridget's side. That one will be a quick visit unless Nora doesn't for some weird reason have a game on that sunday.

More later, i got to go to bed...Santa has to come yet and I have a feeling that it will be time to undo all the work I just did in a very short amount of time.

Update at 11:30am: It looks as if I was a bit tired when I wrote this morning at 2. ah well.

Bridget and Sam are off to the mall to exchange a pair of shoes which Santa left for him but which are a bit small. Fortunately, Santa left the receipt with the shoes. Nora has been out playing with her new soccer ball from Santa already and is now sitting next to me on the couch checking out her new "origami a day" calendar. After I wrote that bit up top I got a few hours sleep and after asking Sam to get the coffee going for us Bridget and I made it out of bed by 7:00am. I tell you, it's all worthwhile to see the kids eyes light up at the idea of opening presents and stockings. We try not to overdo it presents-wise. But it's easy to get carried away sometimes. Pictures to follow.

modern day puritans

2005-12-21T12:32:00.000-06:00

Some key quotes from a story in today's Chicago Tribune (subscription required)

A few Christian churches to this day dismiss Christmas with a polite theological humbug, among them a small number of independent Pentacostal churches.

[A] mother of three, sat quietly in the back pew. She covered her head with a white lace, as she said the Bible required women to do in church.

The 3-year-old is the one who asks more than any other," she said, smiling. "He sings the songs of merry Christmas and that he wants Christmas and he wants a tree. We tell him that Christmas is all the time, we celebrate Jesus every day.

"There is nothing biblical" in the yuletide celebrations, said Pastor Santos Carrasco, 56. "And we only practice what Jesus orders us to practice."

[F]or all the pleas to "keep Christ in Christmas," Christmas has not always been, well, Christian.

The day that Christians today think of Jesus' birthday was marked in pre-Christian days by midwinter agricultural and solar observances.

Oliver Cromwell persuaded the British Parliament to make the holiday illegal, terming it both "papist and pagan."

"Christmas was really a carnival season," Stephen Nissenbaum, a professor of history at the University of Massachusetts and author of "The Battle for Christmas," said. "There's that warm remnant of the Christmas season as a time of drinking and letting go and just misbehaving. That survived but it has survived only on New Year's Eve."

To which I say MERRY CHRISTMAS!

“creationism in a cheap tuxedo.” *

2005-12-21T06:11:00.000-06:00

In case you haven't heard, intelligent design as a constitutionally protected and legitimate scientific "theory" went down in flames yesterday morning. (jumping for joy is appropriate at this juncture).

These people were so destroyed! And you wanna know the best part? The judge in the ruling was a 2002 W appointee! hee! hee! Of course, since ID is not really a scientific theory, facts have nothing to do with it and as faith is its only ally this won't be the last we hear of it. Let the fire and brimstone begin!

The ruling from the Dover, Penn. courtroom, "provides an excellent case study of evolution in action; ironically, in this case how the language of creationists has adapted to changing cultural environments. The defense argued that Intelligent Design is an entirely new species unrelated to creation science, and the plaintiffs expertly demonstrated both the clear ancestral relationship between creationism and ID and the selective pressure of higher court decisions that caused the speciation. With that phylogenetic relationship clearly established in the trial, the judge evidently decided that creationism had not mutated enough to survive as the new species of Intelligent Design." -- eskeptic newsletter, Dec. 20, 2005

One of the co-authors' blog has much more good information.

Check out this delicious quote from an unrepentant originators of the trouble, Dover school board member William Buckingham:

"I'm still waiting for a judge or anyone to show me anywhere in the Constitution where there's a separation of church and state," he told The Associated Press. "We didn't lose; we were robbed." -- USAToday, Dec. 20, 2005

File that under "Things you should have learned in school had you been paying attention."

*quote from the article in the eskeptic.

is anyone excited about the holidays?

2005-12-20T05:47:00.000-06:00

There is a certain 7 year old girl at my house who is pretty darn excited for Christmas. The stockings are hung with on the piano with care. There are packages under the tree. But you want to know how I can tell she is excited? For the past two evenings she has spent what seems like an hour runnning back and forth between the dining room window and the front door singing christmas songs. over and over and over and over. It's really very sweet. Naturally one is not supposed to run in the house but I haven't the heart nor the wish to make stop. All I can do is ask her to change her song once in a while for variety's sake.

I myself am excited for Solstice (tomorrow!). The days will be getting longer, which means more sunlight for riding. But if I remember right the daylight usually starts extending in the evening first before the morning.

Happy holidays: So what’s wrong with that?

2005-12-17T17:34:00.000-06:00

From an editorial in the Columbia Daily Tribune, December 15, 2005.

"After all, that friendly admonition ["Happy Holidays"] can include those who get their jollies this time of year from paying homage to Jesus Christ as well as those who don’t, and there are millions of the latter. [more...]"

and a response:

"I’d like to say I take great offense at your disparaging remark about those of us who are devoted followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. How dare you have the audacity to denigrate those who follow the words and teachings of Jesus? It’s quite one thing being tolerant of all things, but to single out the believers of one particular faith, in this case the Christians, to belittle is inexcusable. In my opinion, you owe all Christians a huge apology."

The caller to "Trib Talk" is probably right but let's look at the response shall we?

How dare you have the audacity Sounds like a not-so-veiled threat to me.

It’s quite one thing being tolerant of all things, but to single out the believers of one particular faith...is inexcusable. The caller is also quite right; it is, "one thing being tolerant of all things," obviously the original writer was not, nor did he claim to be. That is his right just as she has a right to be angry with his opinion.

The caller is giving us another another example of the general fundamentalist paranoia which holds that anyone advocating "tolerance" is against Christianity (or whatever fundamentalist religion is being "belittled"). Sometimes the "tolerant" person is against Christianity but most often s/he is intolerant of the intolerance advocated by such hard-core fundamentalists.

new documentary

2005-12-16T10:44:00.000-06:00

Jesus of Nazareth never existed.

low bone density in cyclists

2005-12-15T06:31:00.000-06:00

Lately I had read of some studies (another one, and another one) which point to excessive bone density loss in highly trained male cyclists; middle-aged male cyclists with bones more typical of an elderly woman than a fit young(ish) man. So, after talking my doctor into it, I had my bone density tested last week and got the results back the other day.

Not good.

My diagnosis was osteopenia, or The First Step to Osteoporosis. While my doctor still seemed unconcerned, it concerned me! See the chart? I have "T-scores" varying between -1.1 to -2.3 depending on where it was taken. Osteoporosis is defined as a T-score of -2.5 or less. Of course my results stated that my "fracture risk is moderately increased."

All you cyclists, male and female, get your bones tested. Even if you are young. Do it now so you can take steps to assure that you avoid any problems in the future. You will also know how much better or worse your bones are in the future.

The Mayo Clinic has a good summary of the bone density testing procedure and the results.

finished.

2005-12-14T14:32:00.000-06:00

That's it I am done. I can't take it anymore. There is just no way to get through to these people. They make me feel like throwing up.

Minority tries to undermine America’s Christian customs "As a member of the so-called "silent majority," I am herewith breaking my silence. The ever-increasing crescendo by the anti-Christian zealots in their constant denouncement of everything that suggests Christianity is enraging and insulting."
Kudos to Boston’s mayor for Christmas Tree stand "Christians have stayed silent too long...If someone is going to be offended by someone praying to God, then they should carry earplugs and use them."
Retailers choose to ignore Christmas’ true importance "What happened to Christmas? I just finished looking through 11 retail ads that arrived with my Dec. 4 Tribune. I did not find the word "Christmas" printed even once in the texts of any of these 11 publications...I have seen the story about the Grinch who stole Christmas, but that’s just a fairy tale."

I am happy to let others try.

Season’s bleatings trivialize Christmas "Some of the earliest Christians were stoned for their beliefs. In some parts of the world today, Christianity is a crime punishable by death. And the AFA is feeling persecuted because a salesclerk says "Happy holidays"? That’s not persecution. It’s a persecution complex."
Those who claim Christmas has been stolen only divide "Christians carry their beliefs in their hearts, and they reflect their faith through their generosity of spirit and by the way they treat others."

In the words of one of those persecuted in the above letters, "I suggest that these people lighten up and enjoy this wonderful time of year along with the rest of us." Minority tries to undermine America’s Christian customs

From now on only happy happy things: bike riding, my kids, bike racing, my family, riding bikes with my family.