Check this out (the first half is awesome capoeira, the second is music that I didn't listen to)
Monday, August 25, 2008
Friday, August 01, 2008
The Sad State of our Liberty
Two very sad articles have come to my attention and both involve the police (thankfully not on our Left Coast, but still this is One Nation With Liberty and Justice for ALL)
The first involves a set up by narcotics officers who in disguise delivered a package (presumably filled with marijuana) to a house in Mayberry (in DC). They then raided the home and SHOT THE DOGS that live there! So sad. Those dogs are dead, and there is no way we can calculate a value for their lives. The trauma inflicted on the residents is also incalculable. What has happened to our police force? For whom are they working? To keep who safe? They have become terrorists.
The second takes place in New York during the Critical Mass event one week ago. A police officer apprehended and held, then arrested and is now charging a rider with disrupting traffic ("Purposefully making cars stop and turn abruptly"), trying to run down the same officer, and resisting arrest (the defendant was then held for 26 hours). Well it was caught on YouTube and the "Officer" will now be paying the price. You can see it here in video, or follow the link and read the article I read. It is clear that the cop singled out the rider, tracked him down (the way you would track down a tackle on the football field (the cop was once an offensive tackle), and took him out in mid pedal. The cyclist goes flying onto the concrete sidewalk and is then arrested and detained. What trauma, for the cyclist, and for OUR NATION!
People! Politicians! Police! Take back our country for the right reasons! Life! Liberty! The pursuit of happiness! Not this FASCIST, AUTHORITARIAN, NIGHTMARISH VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA WE ARE ALL STUCK IN NOW!
[where: Portland, OR]
The first involves a set up by narcotics officers who in disguise delivered a package (presumably filled with marijuana) to a house in Mayberry (in DC). They then raided the home and SHOT THE DOGS that live there! So sad. Those dogs are dead, and there is no way we can calculate a value for their lives. The trauma inflicted on the residents is also incalculable. What has happened to our police force? For whom are they working? To keep who safe? They have become terrorists.
The second takes place in New York during the Critical Mass event one week ago. A police officer apprehended and held, then arrested and is now charging a rider with disrupting traffic ("Purposefully making cars stop and turn abruptly"), trying to run down the same officer, and resisting arrest (the defendant was then held for 26 hours). Well it was caught on YouTube and the "Officer" will now be paying the price. You can see it here in video, or follow the link and read the article I read. It is clear that the cop singled out the rider, tracked him down (the way you would track down a tackle on the football field (the cop was once an offensive tackle), and took him out in mid pedal. The cyclist goes flying onto the concrete sidewalk and is then arrested and detained. What trauma, for the cyclist, and for OUR NATION!
People! Politicians! Police! Take back our country for the right reasons! Life! Liberty! The pursuit of happiness! Not this FASCIST, AUTHORITARIAN, NIGHTMARISH VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA WE ARE ALL STUCK IN NOW!
[where: Portland, OR]
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Ninja Bike Followup
I have to mention specifically my experience here with Crosslake Sales. I had some trouble figuring out everything with my bike and the components. They consistently responded with lightning speed to every question and inquiry I had, they presented me with better options and have definitely made a return customer out of me! I definitely recommend their ebay store, and if you have any needs for bike supplies give them a click!
Happy hunting.
Happy hunting.
Ninja Bike
With the incredible help of Jim Duthie, I have been steadily building over the past month my dreamy new Ninja Bike. It all started from an idea....
A bike that is:
Stealth (silent, black, capable of being safely reflected and running dark, nondescript, nimble)
Tough
Easily transported on my back
Light
It's a bike I can commute on and ride on secret missions (to my girlfriend's house for example), and a bike I can be sneaky on. Hence the bike took form with Jim's help and some easy imagination. It's a track bike, and it is a single speed. No clicking, no whirring, no jangling of spare bits and bells, no derailer to gum things up. Simple, straightforward, easy to mount and dismount, and easy to ride no handed (for those moments when you need to grab onto an overhead bar to flip up onto, duh).
I started buying parts about a month ago with the wheels. I was able to find an all black set, spokes, hubs, and rim (NON MACHINED - essential to remain all black) on ebay. The wheel set is great.. back wheel is set up for flip flop single speed and fixie!
Next was the frame and as this is a crucial part it was the hardest choice. I thought about going for a Mercier TT from bikesdirect, or just buying one from bikeIsland, but I found a great deal on ebay again from CrossLakes Sales. It's an aluminium frame, comes black with no stickers and a great price tag!
A bike that is:
Stealth (silent, black, capable of being safely reflected and running dark, nondescript, nimble)
Tough
Easily transported on my back
Light
It's a bike I can commute on and ride on secret missions (to my girlfriend's house for example), and a bike I can be sneaky on. Hence the bike took form with Jim's help and some easy imagination. It's a track bike, and it is a single speed. No clicking, no whirring, no jangling of spare bits and bells, no derailer to gum things up. Simple, straightforward, easy to mount and dismount, and easy to ride no handed (for those moments when you need to grab onto an overhead bar to flip up onto, duh).
I started buying parts about a month ago with the wheels. I was able to find an all black set, spokes, hubs, and rim (NON MACHINED - essential to remain all black) on ebay. The wheel set is great.. back wheel is set up for flip flop single speed and fixie!
Next was the frame and as this is a crucial part it was the hardest choice. I thought about going for a Mercier TT from bikesdirect, or just buying one from bikeIsland, but I found a great deal on ebay again from CrossLakes Sales. It's an aluminium frame, comes black with no stickers and a great price tag!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Yet another sad tale of misunderstanding
You can just read this article on the BBC about the Dongria people in India being pushed off their land (unless the supreme court of India prevents it, which they might!) for development. But first let me sum up: Vedanta mining company has already taken some land and kicked off the people living there (which raises the question about land rights... if you and your ancestors have been living on a land longer than any government has existed but never wanted, needed, or taken legal right to the land, how can any one else claim the land? but they can! and they do all the time!!!) and now they want to mine the sacred mountain of the Dongria people.
Vedanta claims:
But here's the misunderstanding that leads to almost every one of these confrontations! "Better living conditions" means something different to every people and person, so who are they to say a road into their land is better or worse? Just as our pristine wild lands are disappearing to development, so are our pristine cultures. And I believe they deserve just as much protection as the land and animals we work so hard to save.
Vedanta claims:
"They will be there where they are today. The only thing is that if that area develops they will get better living conditions, because we may develop some roads, some better infrastructure, better communications, better living conditions."
But here's the misunderstanding that leads to almost every one of these confrontations! "Better living conditions" means something different to every people and person, so who are they to say a road into their land is better or worse? Just as our pristine wild lands are disappearing to development, so are our pristine cultures. And I believe they deserve just as much protection as the land and animals we work so hard to save.
Republicans are LIARS (but they're not the only ones)
Showing their absolute disregard for truth and the people who pay their salaries this crap they spread. How can ANYONE vote for this party? Maybe people just like being lied to.
Check it out: Officials spread false 'not a drop spilled after Katrina' talking point in support of offshore oil drilling
Check it out: Officials spread false 'not a drop spilled after Katrina' talking point in support of offshore oil drilling
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Michael Pollan gets it right (again and again...)
Check out this article he wrote. Yes, I know, it means reading. So hard for so many of us, but utterly worth it.
It made me think of two things immediately.
First is a new blog or photo pool online or something entitled "Thins I will miss when they are gone for good" featuring all the photos people want to include of the things that face extinction with the coming climate change. Birds, trees, nature, your house, an island, forests in California, the Amazon, maybe your cushy lifestyle, whatever! Look for it soon... maybe it already exists. I'll find out.
Second is a garden I am going to plant. In my FRONT YARD. With a sign explaining why, which you will already understand if you read the article. Read it. Seriously.
Peace, Love and ^5s (that's high fives for you not in the know yet (which is everyone but me and Theresa so far))
It made me think of two things immediately.
First is a new blog or photo pool online or something entitled "Thins I will miss when they are gone for good" featuring all the photos people want to include of the things that face extinction with the coming climate change. Birds, trees, nature, your house, an island, forests in California, the Amazon, maybe your cushy lifestyle, whatever! Look for it soon... maybe it already exists. I'll find out.
Second is a garden I am going to plant. In my FRONT YARD. With a sign explaining why, which you will already understand if you read the article. Read it. Seriously.
Peace, Love and ^5s (that's high fives for you not in the know yet (which is everyone but me and Theresa so far))
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Scary stuff
Pregnancy pacts among teens. This is scary. The consequences are so far down the line, i just hope it remains an isolated incident, but right now it doesn't seem likely. I wonder if it's a reaction to the times. The world seems unstable. War clouds our vision and old wounds and fears are being brought to the surface. They say it's always darkest right before the dawn. I hope they are right.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
NASA reveals plans for lunar base
It is so on. I'm all over this. Creativity is spewing out my ears at this very moment. Tarek! Parth! Time to start our consulting agency!
Moon HO!
Moon HO!
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Perpetuation of myth
We name ourselves after mythic heroes and villains in that way we play the roles through eternity, heroes, villains, struggle and path entwined on this course.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Don't Taze Me Dude!
This article strikes fear into my heart (that is afflicted with the chronic condition WPW (which surgery can fix) and in danger of being exploded should a cop every try to non-lethally subdue me with a massive charge).
Thursday, May 15, 2008
CFLs - Better than I thought
From a cool site about Green Technology and living some facts about CFLs
- A CFL contains about 5mg of mercury (and several manufacturers are working to lower that). In comparison, a watch battery contains around 25mg, the average mercury thermometer contains about 500 mg, and older mercury thermostats can contain 6-18 grams of mercury.
- Regardless of the amount of mercury, CFLs, like other mercury-containing devices, can be disposed of safely.
- The electricity produced to power an incandescent bulb from a coal-fired power plant will create 13.3 mg of mercury emissions (which is much more likely to end up in water, Mr. Tinsley).
- Finally, there's never been a $2000 cleanup required for a CFL breaking… ENERGY STAR has clear guidelines for cleaning up a broken CFL. There's probably more danger of mercury poisoning from a tuna sandwich than from a broken CFL.
Personal Flight Realized
I'll just link to TechEBlog's site because they have already done a good job blogging about this man who strapped a wing with rockets to his back and flew. God Speed Fusion Man!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Friday, May 09, 2008
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