i took a friend to see the derek trucks band saturday night; she was unfamiliar with derek, the band, his wife susan, and the allman brothers. i know: where DO i find these people. we spent time with them on the bus following the show, she had a great time and all that, but she still is wondering about them.
i sent her several links, including this one, showing susan, derek, warren, and the whole band doing a knock-out cover of "the weight" [only thing finer is adding the memphis horns].
so enjoy this one, and put the load right on me.
Thursday, 5 March 2009
some things
there are some things i understand, some things that i don't fully understand, and some things that just aren't worth trying to understand.
"i have a radio show" is a perfect example.
"rush limbaugh is the voice and the intellectual force and energy behind the republican party" is another.
"rush and kim have radio shows on the clear channel radio network."
it's a big old crazy mixed-up world.
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
the bicyclist's bill of rights, and why it is BAD BAD BAD
the great debate on the hill these days, as it relates to bicyclists, and so long as you don't count [fill in the blanks
for things considered much more important than riding a bicycle in the minds of lawmakers] is the whether or not the state legislature should adopt what is ironically called the bicyclist's bill of rights.
upon close examination, rather than ENHANCE the rights of bicycle riders, this proposal REDUCES or ELIMINATES the status of bicyclists legally, while doing much more immeasurable harm to us even before the bill is approved--if it gets approved. the bill faces an uncertain future at best in the statehouse.
i've included a link to the text of the bill.
read it carefully, and you'll be as pissed off as i am about it. just scan it, or ignore it, and you'll believe, as its author and chief lobbyist for the iowa bike coalition mark wyatt does, that it's the best thing to happen to iowa bicyclists since indoor plumbing.
section-by-section analysis:
1-1, section 1--i'm cool with this one, which asserts the bicyclist's right to operate on the streets or highways.
1-9, section 2--diminishes a bicycle's right to use a narrow lane. in other words, if the lane is narrow, the car can squeeze us out, rather than be prohibited from passing us. BULLSHIT.
1-19, section 3--passing a bike, the infamous 5' bubble. this new language takes away our right to occupy the ENTIRE lane. BULLSHIT.
2-3, section 4--following too closely. the language "reasonable" and "prudent" "with due regard to traffic and speed" provides enough language to fit conveniently up our asses. guess who wins THIS argument, kiddies?
2-13, section 5--please don't honk at me. gee, i couldn't find the penalty provision for this one.
2-21, section 6--hand and arm signals. guess what, our bill of rights guarantees our right to signal with our right arms. praise mark from whom all blessings flow. of all the things i've been hassled by cops about over the years, i've NEVER been given THIS shit. i don't think even the cops knew about this one. get real.
2-35, section 7--when crossing sidewalk or trail, drivers must yield, unless there is a sign posted. translation: watch for a blossoming of "trail users must stop" signs.
3-27, section 8--an open door policy? "darwin at work," or "dumb and dumber?"
4-1, section 9--kill a biker, only 1G.
4-15, section 10--a special simple misdemeanor fine reduced from $150 or more to just $25, or . . .
4-21, section 11-- . . . $35 for the open door thing. hey, bikies: STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM AN OPEN CAR DOOR. even better, ride with care as you pass a parked car. DON'T be a dumbass.
this bill has NO provisions for public awareness for the motoring public, nor does it mention the need to education law enforcement. city police, county deputies, and state patrol officers, as well as city and county attorneys would ALL benefit greatly from several hours of training about the currently available laws as they relate to the legal operation of bicycles in iowa.
i've said it before, i'm saying it now, and i'll KEEP saying it: this bill is WRONG. that mark wyatt is its daddy is further proof that he doesn't understand the needs of ALL bicyclists, and that the iowa bike coalition could be much better served with someone else at the helm. saying that is like saying that anyone would be better than dubya in the white house, isn't it? couldn't do worse, right?
for things considered much more important than riding a bicycle in the minds of lawmakers] is the whether or not the state legislature should adopt what is ironically called the bicyclist's bill of rights.upon close examination, rather than ENHANCE the rights of bicycle riders, this proposal REDUCES or ELIMINATES the status of bicyclists legally, while doing much more immeasurable harm to us even before the bill is approved--if it gets approved. the bill faces an uncertain future at best in the statehouse.
i've included a link to the text of the bill.
read it carefully, and you'll be as pissed off as i am about it. just scan it, or ignore it, and you'll believe, as its author and chief lobbyist for the iowa bike coalition mark wyatt does, that it's the best thing to happen to iowa bicyclists since indoor plumbing.
section-by-section analysis:
1-1, section 1--i'm cool with this one, which asserts the bicyclist's right to operate on the streets or highways.
1-9, section 2--diminishes a bicycle's right to use a narrow lane. in other words, if the lane is narrow, the car can squeeze us out, rather than be prohibited from passing us. BULLSHIT.
1-19, section 3--passing a bike, the infamous 5' bubble. this new language takes away our right to occupy the ENTIRE lane. BULLSHIT.
2-3, section 4--following too closely. the language "reasonable" and "prudent" "with due regard to traffic and speed" provides enough language to fit conveniently up our asses. guess who wins THIS argument, kiddies?
2-13, section 5--please don't honk at me. gee, i couldn't find the penalty provision for this one.
2-21, section 6--hand and arm signals. guess what, our bill of rights guarantees our right to signal with our right arms. praise mark from whom all blessings flow. of all the things i've been hassled by cops about over the years, i've NEVER been given THIS shit. i don't think even the cops knew about this one. get real.
2-35, section 7--when crossing sidewalk or trail, drivers must yield, unless there is a sign posted. translation: watch for a blossoming of "trail users must stop" signs.
3-27, section 8--an open door policy? "darwin at work," or "dumb and dumber?"
4-1, section 9--kill a biker, only 1G.
4-15, section 10--a special simple misdemeanor fine reduced from $150 or more to just $25, or . . .
4-21, section 11-- . . . $35 for the open door thing. hey, bikies: STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM AN OPEN CAR DOOR. even better, ride with care as you pass a parked car. DON'T be a dumbass.
this bill has NO provisions for public awareness for the motoring public, nor does it mention the need to education law enforcement. city police, county deputies, and state patrol officers, as well as city and county attorneys would ALL benefit greatly from several hours of training about the currently available laws as they relate to the legal operation of bicycles in iowa.
i've said it before, i'm saying it now, and i'll KEEP saying it: this bill is WRONG. that mark wyatt is its daddy is further proof that he doesn't understand the needs of ALL bicyclists, and that the iowa bike coalition could be much better served with someone else at the helm. saying that is like saying that anyone would be better than dubya in the white house, isn't it? couldn't do worse, right?
thought for the day
i've not been posting much lately.
yes, i can hear the mixed responses. i've been busy doing stuff, and much of it has to do with cycling: with the radio show, at the legislature and that idiotic bill of rights thing, for the kollective [it's volunteer "season" and we're getting LOTS of folks to come down on friday nights--have YOU?], and with an area elementary school, where we are attempting to build a cycling club to include students, parents, faculty and staff.
there are some very cool things just on and over the horizon, though, and although i can't officially announce anything just yet, i'd advise you to get your old cruisers out, check your tires, tubes, brakes, chains, and streamers, and set aside wednesday nights for the spring, summer, and fall for some sweet, old riding enjoyment. on yehuda moon, there is a sense among some commuter cyclists that the racers don't know how to have fun on bikes. i'm doing all i can to help change that image. oh, by the way, the iowa race season, you know, the season that exists OUTSIDE, kicks off in fine fashion this weekend, with TWO races in the area. saturday, bring your bikes to the mitchelville city park for a 50 mile gravel road race sponsored by all9yards.com racing team. 10 am start. sunday, make it out to the cumming tap for free breakfast burritos from 700 to 900 am, and then hit the gravel for a 100 km out-and-back race. it's a fundraiser for the des moines bike kollective, with great prizes, and a killer course.
DON'T FORGET THAT DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS SATURDAY NIGHT/SUNDAY MORNING.
oh, and about the kollective: there is a 5-week bike repair class that begins tonight, and at the end of the month, ladies nights begin. the 2d and 4th mondays of the month with be all for you, with topics to be announced later.
oh, it's riding time again...
Monday, 2 March 2009
Sunday, 1 March 2009
how soon they forget
You Might be a Republican If... 1) You believe that Bush's redistribution of middle-class tax cuts to thetop 1% of tax-payers was good for America, but Obama's plan to return it to the middle class is 'socialism.'
2) You believe stem cells are living human beings, but thousands of Iraqi children are 'expendable collateral damage.'
3) You believe tax cuts for billionaires are a great idea, yet you wonder why the economy has stalled, your job just got out sourced to India, and oil company executives receive $400,000,000.00 retirement packages as they cut pensions for their labor force.
4) You believe that the surge worked because the violence in Iraq is back to 2006 levels, which is only horrible, compared to what it was in 2007; intolerable. Besides, Brit Hume said so.
5) You think trial lawyers are harmful to America, but you support prosecuting some guy in Muncie Indiana who burned his 99¢ American flag that was made in China by forced child labor.
6) You're all for the 'rule of law' when it's applied to Bill Clinton for lying about his infidelity, but not for prosecuting Karl Rove and Scooter Libby for committing treason.
7) You think George W. Bush is actually a really smart guy, but his folksy manner just makes him seem dumber than he really is.
8) You believe that those privileged from birth achieve success all on their own.
9) You believe Ronald Reagan was a great president who had complete control of all aspects of government, but that Iran-Contra Affair was an insignificant scandal that went on without his knowledge.
10) You believe Democrats tax and spend, but George W. Bush was a fiscal conservative.
11) You believe Oliver North, who was CONVICTED of perjury, obstruction of justice, destroying evidence and accepting bribes is a patriot, but John Kerry, who saved a man's life while under enemy fire in Vietnam is a coward.
12) You believe George W. Bush has kept us safe from terror, and that the failure to prevent the 9/11 attacks were Clinton's fault.
13) You actually believe Fox News is fair & balanced.
14) You still believe Saddam had truckloads of WMDs, and that he somehow managed to sneak them into Syria, right under our noses.
15) You believe Terri Schiavo was sentient all along, and that Bill Frist had the ability to diagnose her condition by watching a 5 second video of her sleeping.
16) You're in favor of stronger prison sentences for drug users, yet your favorite radio personality is Rush Limbaugh.
17) You complain about having to press 1 for English, yet you hire illegal Mexicans to mow your lawn because they're cheaper than hiring the kid next door.
18) Homosexuality is abhorrent to you, except when a Republican senator, the president of the National Association of Evangelicals, and a planted White House journalist get caught having sexual affairs with gay men, then you suddenly feel sorry for them.
19) The war in Iraq makes perfect sense to you, but any suggestion by Barack Obama that we target al Qaeda terrorists in Pakistan is 'dangerous and reckless.'
20) You don't mind that president Bush tortured al Qaeda suspects, yet you're horrified by the barbarism of al Qaeda when they capture one of our guys.
21) You believe the 1/10 of 1% of scientists who claim global warming is a hoax, and reject the 99.9% who say it's real, because Sean Hannity and his friends in the oil industry have convinced you that science is a liberal conspiracy.
22) You believe that patriotism means you should support your government right or wrong (unless a Democrat's in power, then it's your patriotic duty to call him a closet Muslim, challenge his birth certificate, expose his sex life and impeach him).
23) You're proud of your party's 'culture of life.' Yet you support the death penalty for minors, you believe 600,000 dead Iraqis is justified because one of them was Saddam Hussein, and you oppose confronting the genocide in Darfur because they don't have oil.
24) You support prayer in school, as long as your kids aren't subjected to any prayers other than Christian ones.
25) You think Darwin's theory of evolution is a loony fairy tale and that mankind actually began with two naked teenagers, a magic apple and a talking snake.
26) You think $35 billion spent on health care for children is a waste of taxpayer's money, but $3 TRILLION spent on a catastrophic war that has isolated us from our allies, decimated our economy and made us less safe wasmoney well spent.
27) You believe embargoing communist Cuba is sound foreign policy, but trading with China is just good business.
28) You believe Newt Gingrich and Henry Hyde were faithful husbands and that Larry Craig just has a wide stance.
29) You fervently defend the Constitution, but when president Bush got caught monitoring 300 million phones without a warrant, politicizing our justice system, hyping evidence for going to war and pardoning a convicted perjurer who just happened to be on his staff, then it's okay, because he was just 'protecting America.'
30) You were outraged when a gallon of gasoline went from $1.29 to $1.40 during the two terms of the Clinton presidency, but you didn't seem to mind when prices tripled under George W. Bush, the "oil man."
31) You were furious when Bill Clinton pardoned international commodities trader Marc Rich, who was convicted of tax evasion, but applauded when George W. Bush exonerated Scooter Libby for obstructing justice to protect Dick Cheney from a treason indictment.
32) With no evidence whatsoever, you complained of 'voter fraud,' and demanded that thousands of blacks be scrubbed from voting lists during the 2004 election in Ohio, yet when Rush Limbaugh asked his audience to illegally claim to be Democrats and vote for Hillary Clinton during the Ohio Primary in February to "stir up trouble," a felony, you were okay with that.
33) You believe that Barack Obama should be held accountable for every sermon that Jeremiah Wright ever gave, but John McCain, who sought the endorsement of anti-Semitic, xenophobic, openly racist and homophobic pastors should be given a pass.
34) You believe that Barack Obama is either a secret Muslim, was actually born in Kenya, and his parents forged a fake birth certificate when he was born - just in case he should ever run for president, or that his father's nationality disqualifies his son from being president, all because you read that on the Internet.
35) You believe that the 8 consecutive years of prosperity and strong economic growth from 1993 - 2001 was due to the work of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, but today's recession is all Clinton's fault.
36) You think this list is mean-spirited and biased, and even though you privately acknowledge to yourself that it's all true, you believe the Democrats are just as bad. Here's a bulletin: Nobody has EVER been this bad.
The Republican party is OVER. Thank God.
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