Forest Finds Favor

Remember Forest Halford? My favorite bicyclist in Kentucky? The one who wrote MinusCar Essay #15? Here's a reminder -

"I've learned that the bicycle is the natural enemy of impulse buying. My previous dreams of new cars, large houses, and secluded lots far out in suburbia have morphed into dreams of simple, chemical free living with plenty of time to enjoy life. I've learned that I can live without a dryer, that it's okay to sweat in summer. I've learned to appreciate the chill of winter. I’ve discovered my neighbors and we know each other by name. I’ve learned that I’m not meant to go fast, that going slow gets me there just as quickly. I’ve learned to live more deliberately with less."

Still beautiful words.

Forest found his way into the Western Kentucky University newspaper last week. That's where the photo is from.

"He rode through a cemetery. He said he loves riding through cemeteries. It always puts things into perspective," he said. Reminds me of the last Snakebite/FAB Scavenger Hunt.

Hot/Fresh: Bike To Work Day On TV

The City produced a Bike To Work segment for their "Around Downtown" television program. Check it out on the Sioux Falls Bikes To Work blog.

Save Money On Gas, April Edition

Did the weather keep you from riding to work today? The rain was done by the time I departed work but I sure needed to make a lot more eye contact than usual on the way home. If you're reading this I'm glad you made it home too.



As promised here's my end of month mileage and gas report. I bought gas on the 10th. Sorry I forgot to record how far that tank took me. I'll catch up on May (or June). If you need your subscription refunded because of this let me know.

3 tanks in four months.

Today I Posted...

...on 12 Hours In Photos. Hopefully there will be more sets than just mine in the next couple days.

Here's a teaser...



2pm - outside the office supply store to buy printer paper I saw this rare for my town rig. (Hi Jodi!) Yes, our large big box toy store has no webkinz. The mall does, ugh.

Popular

Full strip






James Howard Kunstler and Stephen Colbert were on my iPod last night. His book is "World Made By Hand." I generally lack the fortitude to read JHK, but when I do I'm happiest with him when he's travelling the themes this book seems to.

Perhaps I'll be enjoying it soon.

Postcards From The Edge

Turns out I'm on the good guy list. I got a postcard from the Lunatic Biker yesterday. Thanks Ray!

I can't believe you boys up there in Minneapolis are rolling through stop signs and red lights again. On TV even!

In my city it's the cars that don't stop. You know it's true because we've got cameras flashing pictures at an intersection trying to catch 'em. More than 5,000 got surprised with a postcard from The City last year. Almost 20 a day in July alone.

The day I get ticketed for going through a red light that doesn't sense my bicycle is the day I start asking the courts whether the operator of my vehicle has the right to expect working traffic controls. "Every person driving a bicycle shall have all of the rights and all the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle by this Code…" It's the law.

Bike Parking

The clinic doesn't have much for bike parking.

Dr Wright: Why The Right Could Stop Worrying And Love The Reverend

Update 4/26: Here is the Moyers/Wright interview. It's a bit more to digest than 30 seconds of YouTube.

Thursday morning I decided I’d attempt this post. Thursday night I learned Reverend Jeremiah Wright had a sit down with Bill Moyers for an interview that will be televised this evening. I'd like to point out I was defending Dr Wright (see comments) before defending Dr Wright was cool.

"Government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem." – Ronald Reagan. Is the Rev Dr Jeremiah Wright a Regan Republican?

In perhaps the most famously excerpted sermon since the One on the Mount the Rev Jeremiah Wright argues (too effectively for most people’s tastes) that the American government ought not to be relied upon. It is God who should be relied upon.

In a more complete sermon excerpt (July 2003) than YouTube, published by the Chicago Tribune at the end of March, Rev Wright begins with Lincoln era thinking that Africans are property, continues with Truman era thinking that Africans should be separate. He includes more favorable Clinton era thinking of "the first black president", and ends with Bush era uhh…thinking(?).

Then he turns to the Italian prophet Malachi (3:6) to demonstrate that God does not change. "Where governments lie, God does not lie. Where governments change, God does not change.”

The message is clear. Do not rely on governments. Rely on God. I think he means one person’s bootstraps are another person’s faith in God.

To further cement his argument, to drive it home better than any white 70-year-old president could, he points to the failures of the Roman, British, Russian, Japanese, and German governments. Finally, he points to the United States’ genocide of Native Americans, the internment of Japanese Americans, and the slavery of Africans.

I think Jeremiah Wright might agree with Ronald Reagan.

A Time Of Renewal

It's my birthday! Yeah, it's been a pretty big week. I rode my bike to renew my driving license today. Get this...there isn't a bike rack outside the DMV.

I notice on this very page, in the past few posts I've made favorable mention of Senator John Thune and openly agreed with Bill O'Reilly. With all the extra visits yesterday I wonder if some people may have gotten the wrong impression. Maybe I'll be able to do something about that on Friday.

The Gas Audit: yesterday's hoopla is history. Seems the most striking number, the bit everyone I talk to mentions, is the claim that I purchased 7 tanks of gas last year. I suppose I should mention that my car is a tanker truck.

It's so serious that The Dad's very employment could be at stake (see comment here). Let's make a deal. I will give an ongoing report of tanks of gas for 2008. From now on, the first full week of the month will feature bike miles, car miles and tanks of gas.

So far, it was a tough winter.



8:00am Update - KELOLAND blogger Cory @ Madville Times picks up the thread I laid down a few days ago about KSFY. BikingBrady and MinusCar get heavy play. I print out the post and save it as a birthday present. Thanks Robb at Sioux River Bicycles and Fitness in Brookings for being the one who actually watches KSFY.

Save Money On Gas!

Go to KSFY TV to listen to great tips on how to save money at the pump. Aaron Maguire will walk you through finding the cheapest gas! How far across town do you have to go for that cheap gas? You could get another credit card and save as much as $0.17 a gallon! You could spend that $0.17 on synthetic oil that will make your car more efficient.

Don't miss this little gem at the end! Anchor Valerie Gutierrez, "I guess this beats riding around on a bicycle." Reporter Aaron Maguire, "It does! I considered that, unfortunately."

ORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...

You could listen to this idiot. He thinks he's saved $6,000 in auto expenses over the past three years...by, uhhh...not going to the pump.

The bicycle is the natural enemy to the impulse buy. Save money at the pump and save money at the convenience store too!

The MinusCar Project and Bill O'Reilly agree, "If American's want lower gas prices cut back. Sell those SUV's. Ride a bike when you can. If everyone of us bought 10% less gasoline prices would fall fast." - 4/21 Talking Points Memo

Sorry if this loops for you. I don't like that either.

Reindeer Games

"Surely the game is rigged. Just as surely, if you don't play, you can't win."

The City broke ground this afternoon on a small piece of bike trail between Dunham Park and the not yet shiny but new Legacy Park.



Word went forth from Snakebite to attend by bike. If I'm anything I'm dutiful...it also fit nicely with my lunchtime plans so I did. thE kErnEl did. The Mayor of Hooterville did. Murph did. The Owner, the FAB Pres and a couple others were there as well.



There were a lot of people there in funny clothes. I think they're called suits. Here is a close up sampling. You can tell it's an important event because the guy in reddish with the video camera got front and center. The suits found the middle tier and I took my pictures from the back row standing on my tip toes. That guy speaking, he's a senator from South Dakota. Apparently this piece of trail was federally funded.



This is the actual breaking of the ground. Uh oh...looks like somebody forgot they were supposed to let The Senator dig up the biggest clod of dirt.



Afterword the esteemed Senator found some people in normal clothes to chat with. thE kErnEl came prepared with FAB-bling gifts which were graciously accepted. He also came with all the right words to say, getting in mention of FAB and the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition as if he does this sort of thing all the time.

Who Is The Boy 4?

Warning - parts of this post are not true.

Apparently tomorrow is Earth Day. At least that's what the reporter said Thursday when he called for an interview. So...I'm gonna ride my bike to work tomorrow. I'm gonna ride to work on May 16th too, it's Bike To Work Day. I'll stop for free pancakes on my way - even though it's out of my way.

Then I'll have biked to work at least once a month so far this spring.

I think biking to work is a lot more interesting than driving. My supporting evidence includes the presence of a photographer on this morning's commute. We closed the intersection of 41st & Louise at 8:30am so my left turn on to 41st could be filmed. There was a malfunction with the bullet-time processor so the footage will be pretty standard. I'm surprised The City supported the closure on such short notice.

Hopefully the photog got the "driving billboard" in the shot. Nothing says waste like a truck driving around all day advertising itself. I suppose in some way it's essential to the economy.

Hey, Lunatic! I told them how much of an inspiration you are.

Finally, over the next couple days, if you happen to see my name in the local media, and they happen to catch me calling The Boy 6, The Boy 4, remember this. I might be able to get in the media, but I'm still an idiot.

"Silence is the only successful substitute for stupidity."

Bike Thru Surgery

The Dad sent me this a few days ago...

...I got an appointment with the specialist three blocks from my work. He told me the tooth should come out and that Siouxland Oral Surgery should do it. I thought that was 2 blocks closer to work.

Turns out that Siouxland Oral Surgery is 3 miles away, way South on Minnesota Avenue. When you're on a bicycle, and your wife has the car, and the surgeon will see you "now", then you walk back to your work, get your bicycle and ride to your surgery as fast as you can.

The specialist gave me my x-Ray. When he learned that I was on a bicycle, he cut the x-Ray holder in half. (instead one film in a four slot holder, it became a one film in a two slot holder). But, since it was wet, he wouldn't let me put it in my pocket. He thought I could hook it over my handlebar. That didn't fit, so off to the surgeon I went, up and down the hills of 57th Street, with my x-Ray trailing from a carabineer hooked under my seat.

Of course, I left messages on the voice mail for my wife every time I passed a telephone. At 12:30, when surgery was done, I checked again. This time she was home. Talking through teeth clenching a wad of gauze I told her I was coming home. I was home by 1:00. Not bad: 3 hours after my first appointment, 8 miles on bicycle; 1/3 mile walking.

Hey The Dad, this one's for you:

"Eighteen minutes with an agile mind."

FAB Spring Kickoff

Those boys over at CycleSD sure make nice .pdf. Don'cha think?

If I'm lucky, for lunch Tuesday I ride from the printers to all four local shops to deliver these.

If you don't see this poster up in your favorite shop after Wednesday, you'd better ask about it!