In September, I will race my bike for 12 hours a few times, culminating with the grueling Rapture in Misery, which I aspire to win someday. In a race like that, you keep riding because you have to. You crank onward deliriously, often outside of yourself, until the rocks don't even register in your head. It hurts, but the sense of satisfaction is overwhelming.
Today, I spent 12 hours on my bike. Not constantly riding, mind you, and not always at any forced pace. I spent 12 hours on my bike because I was riding in a city I love and a city that was alive with activity today.
I started by heading downtown after stopping for Jamaican BBQ at Black Belt in Westport. Downtown was crammed with traffic because of people leaving a graduation at Municipal, so I weaved and dodged the traffic, fancying myself a bicycle commuter in a congested city. Then, it was the River Market in what has become an almost-daily pilgrimage to 200 Main. The office conversion on 2nd Street has renderings up that look great.
In the River Market, there was a couple walking their dog that was offering directions to some visitors with Nebraska plates. As I rode by, I found myself turning around and observing from across the street. In the back of my mind, I was hoping there would be something that the guy offering directions wouldn't know. I was hoping they could ask me and I could help. I long to interact with visitors. I love to leave them with a positive impression of Kansas City and thank them for coming. I've even ridden ahead of a lost couple downtown, allowing them to follow me to their intended destination.
Yes, I'm from here. Yes, I know how to get there. Please ask me. I would absolutely love to help and I really, really want you to enjoy your stay.
I tried to help some little girls this afternoon as well, but that effort was put to a stop by Kansas City's finest. I stumbled upon the setup for the "celebration at the Station," a fireworks show and free symphony concert at Union Station. I decided that I'd explore KCK all afternoon and make it back to the station at 7:30 when the party got started. When I returned, I explored the crowds and checked out the new MAX bus that was on display. I worked my way toward the Memorial and on my way up the hill, I noticed a group of little girls huddled together, pointing upward at the monument. One of them had lost her grip on her helium balloon and it was floating away. The girls were vigilantly acting as spotters, scheming what would obviously be an impossible balloon recovery plan.
As soon as I figured out what they were talking about, I realized that I could swing around the side of the retaining wall and climb up the steep access road, putting myself in the path of the balloon in time to snag it and return it to the girl. The crosswind was giving the balloon more run and less rise, keeping it in reach if I could gain altitude quickly. I downshifted and stomped down on the pedals, riding with a sense of purpose, and as I swung around the corner with the balloon in sight, the police officer motioned for me to stop and summoned me. I was told I couldn't pass through that way. I conceded, thanked him and turned around to see the balloon drift away.
Sorry, little girl. I really thought I could get that balloon back for you.
All in all, the last 12 hours were very rich ones. On Troost, I guy waved at me for help and I smacked a pair of pliers against his starter while he tried to start his car. I met friends at Broadway Cafe, where a strange man shared his conspiracy theories with us. I ran into a procession of Catholics, marching down the middle of Broadway muttering strange things about Mary, solidifying my opinion that Catholics are weird and a tad scary. I was showered with "git yo ass on the sidewalk" in the heart of KCK, where I rode the entire length of the stigmatized Quindaro Boulevard before travelling the entire length of Wyandotte County north to south. I tried to no avail to set off a drive-through sensor to get a root beer float. I took a short break in the park, where I laid down in the grass to watch the birds deal with the same headwind I had been working against earlier. I met another friend on the great lawn of Liberty Memorial as the fireworks display was ending -- a display I watched rising over the Midtown skyline as I rode down Broadway. I had drunk guys pretend to jump out in front of me in Westport and drank peach tea in the Crown Center parking garage. I tried to speak Spanish when I ordered a tasty fresh fruit treat from Tropicana, the Hispanic dessert shop on Southwest Boulevard. I climbed the concrete stairs of an abandoned school in the heart of Quindaro to check out the amazing view. I found neighborhoods I had never seen and navigated on the fly. I watched the post-bar pickup process between the primped girls and frat boys on the Plaza. I dinged my bell to the delight of awe-struck little kids and was flashed a peace sign by a woman who told me, in a thick Irish accent, that she wished there were more bike lanes and she admired me for riding my bike.
I love this city and I love how much I can experience just by being here and going outside. By going for a simple bike ride, I did a ton of cool stuff today.
The only thing I didn't do was catch that balloon.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Another parking lot, another lost opportunity
KCDowntown, from the KC Skyscrapers forum, captures what all the fuss is about when it comes to parking downtown, extending the law of induced demand from roads to their natural extension.
It is refreshing to know that other people are thinking about these things.
It is refreshing to know that other people are thinking about these things.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Common sense is lost on the jaded
On a recent afternoon enjoying a delightful array of shops and eateries in the Westport neighborhood, I overheard a little girl ask a question that was incredibly profound. This was lost on her dad, however, who was so programmed by the world he is used to that he didn't even consider why she would ask the question in the first place.
We were in a small loop of shops along Pennsylvania St, a street beloved by Kansas City urbanites for its intimacy and pedestrian scale. However, in the section we were standing, the shops are set back from the street to accommodate a small parking lot and a u-shaped drive. This is a lot I've always disliked. When enjoying a meal at a patio table in front of Californos, one has the charming view of a pile of cars in temporary storage. On a street that is so perfectly human scaled, this lot is a giant hole.
The girl's question?
"Daddy, why are there cars here?"
She was just strolling along, taking in all of the visuals, when she turned to the lot and stopped short. She turned her head at the array of cars, thought to herself and then asked the question.
Her dad didn't miss a beat. He didn't get it. He responded that there were cars here because people parked them there, insulting the girl with his oversimplified explanation that completely missed the point and failed to reward the girl for her insight. Little did this girl know that she knows more about this topic than daddy does. Dissatisfied with the response, you could tell the girl still felt as if she had an open, unresolved question. As her dad prodded her to continue on their walk, you could almost see her give up and then resume walking along with her dad.
When I heard it, I did the same thing. I stopped in my tracks. I've spent tons of time trying to explain why cars don't belong. I try to deal with the balance between the realities of car dependence that conflict with great urban spaces. She didn't have to deal with all of that. She didn't worry about anyone's preconceived notions. She just asked the obvious question.
The little girl hasn't had to deal with driving. Her dad's SUV with its Kansas plates reveal that her reality is the suburbs. To her, this actual neighborhood must feel like a park, with cars being out of place when compared to the sprawling parking lots of suburbia. Her experience of all of the stimuli of a dense, leafy urban street was affronted by these cars. It didn't feel right in her clever little brain.
If only it didn't feel right for everyone else. I'm convinced it doesn't feel quite right, but adults don't know anything else. We're used to it. It is normal. We don't ask for more and we don't really have relationships with our built environments anymore.
I had to resist the urge to answer that question for the girl... or, better yet, sit down and ask her what she meant by the question. We could learn a lot from her. Sadly, by the time people are articulate enough to communicate the feelings that their environment elicits from them. By that time, they are numb.
Hopefully this is changing. If only everyone was as smart as that little girl. I hope she keeps on asking "stupid" and "absurd" questions like that one and the rest of us follow her lead. As part of his response, daddy said "I parked here," which solidified his lack of perspective, as if the correct question would be "why are there not cars here?" I mean, what a killer parking spot! Front row!
Front row parking for a place that is destroyed by front row parking, but it sure is great to find a spot!
We were in a small loop of shops along Pennsylvania St, a street beloved by Kansas City urbanites for its intimacy and pedestrian scale. However, in the section we were standing, the shops are set back from the street to accommodate a small parking lot and a u-shaped drive. This is a lot I've always disliked. When enjoying a meal at a patio table in front of Californos, one has the charming view of a pile of cars in temporary storage. On a street that is so perfectly human scaled, this lot is a giant hole.
The girl's question?
"Daddy, why are there cars here?"
She was just strolling along, taking in all of the visuals, when she turned to the lot and stopped short. She turned her head at the array of cars, thought to herself and then asked the question.
Her dad didn't miss a beat. He didn't get it. He responded that there were cars here because people parked them there, insulting the girl with his oversimplified explanation that completely missed the point and failed to reward the girl for her insight. Little did this girl know that she knows more about this topic than daddy does. Dissatisfied with the response, you could tell the girl still felt as if she had an open, unresolved question. As her dad prodded her to continue on their walk, you could almost see her give up and then resume walking along with her dad.
When I heard it, I did the same thing. I stopped in my tracks. I've spent tons of time trying to explain why cars don't belong. I try to deal with the balance between the realities of car dependence that conflict with great urban spaces. She didn't have to deal with all of that. She didn't worry about anyone's preconceived notions. She just asked the obvious question.
The little girl hasn't had to deal with driving. Her dad's SUV with its Kansas plates reveal that her reality is the suburbs. To her, this actual neighborhood must feel like a park, with cars being out of place when compared to the sprawling parking lots of suburbia. Her experience of all of the stimuli of a dense, leafy urban street was affronted by these cars. It didn't feel right in her clever little brain.
If only it didn't feel right for everyone else. I'm convinced it doesn't feel quite right, but adults don't know anything else. We're used to it. It is normal. We don't ask for more and we don't really have relationships with our built environments anymore.
I had to resist the urge to answer that question for the girl... or, better yet, sit down and ask her what she meant by the question. We could learn a lot from her. Sadly, by the time people are articulate enough to communicate the feelings that their environment elicits from them. By that time, they are numb.
Hopefully this is changing. If only everyone was as smart as that little girl. I hope she keeps on asking "stupid" and "absurd" questions like that one and the rest of us follow her lead. As part of his response, daddy said "I parked here," which solidified his lack of perspective, as if the correct question would be "why are there not cars here?" I mean, what a killer parking spot! Front row!
Front row parking for a place that is destroyed by front row parking, but it sure is great to find a spot!
The times they are a changin'
I was talking with my friend Pete, who has returned to the venerable original Dairy Queen that was my employer on and off for 5 years. He said it "just isn't the same" as it used to be. What he was lamenting is the fact that there is virtually no sense of community or pride among the workforce like there was when I started there in high school. Despite its less-than-glamorous fast food associations, I think a lot of people that I worked with took pride in their job at DQ. I know I did. We were a tight knit group that tried to a do a good job. We wanted to succeed. Being a manager was easy because everyone wanted to do a good job. A good team at DQ was a well oiled machine that worked well together, had a good time and made customers happy. I actually didn't mind going to work. I made lasting friendships with my co-workers and I had a relationship with the store. In fact, on the way back from a recent bike race, I complained about DQ changing the name of the Mr. Misty to some marketing-eze like "Arctic Slushpile" or whatever the crap.
So, to continue my old man "in my day" revelations, I realized that in my day, people just cared more. Especially young people. I think my generation was the last of those that didn't feel as if they were entitled to everything. We had a work ethic and we had social cohesion. Now the job is just the paycheck the person deserves. The co-workers are just people you deal with to earn your money. You put in your time, you don't try to enjoy it nor concern yourself with the quality of your work, and you make sure to complain about it no matter what. In my day, DQ was one of the best places to work. Now, it is just a job.
The relationship goes both ways. I think the existing DQ staff had a cohesion that gracefully brought in newbies. Now, more than ever, everyone is a cog in the wheel. I'm sure the change of ownership that DQ underwent changed the culture, but the generational gap was already apparent with the new employees that started during my summers home from college.
This is just like the corporate world, where a good relationship with your employer often meant a lifetime of employment. At Sprint, name badges at workstations used to be made out of molded plastic. The name was embossed on this, a veritable plaque with all of its connotations of nobility and permanence. If you want to fire somebody, you at least have to eat the $5 sunk costs of the namebadge.
Now, each cubicle has a plastic holder that holds a little slip of paper with a name laser printed on it. They are so easily changed that they are a common tool of the practical joker. The company's investment in your identity is 1/3 of a sheet of paper.
The old guard still hangs onto those plastic name badges from their old locations, though I doubt they give them much comfort. Placing them to display is a subtle form of protest, staking out a little more ownership to your piece of the profit floor than the company would care to give you.
Of course, it will only take an extra 10 seconds to pull down the plastic namebadge and throw it in the trash. Lets hope the slips of paper that replace them don't suffer from the same problems that destroyed what it meant to make Blizzards with pride.
So, to continue my old man "in my day" revelations, I realized that in my day, people just cared more. Especially young people. I think my generation was the last of those that didn't feel as if they were entitled to everything. We had a work ethic and we had social cohesion. Now the job is just the paycheck the person deserves. The co-workers are just people you deal with to earn your money. You put in your time, you don't try to enjoy it nor concern yourself with the quality of your work, and you make sure to complain about it no matter what. In my day, DQ was one of the best places to work. Now, it is just a job.
The relationship goes both ways. I think the existing DQ staff had a cohesion that gracefully brought in newbies. Now, more than ever, everyone is a cog in the wheel. I'm sure the change of ownership that DQ underwent changed the culture, but the generational gap was already apparent with the new employees that started during my summers home from college.
This is just like the corporate world, where a good relationship with your employer often meant a lifetime of employment. At Sprint, name badges at workstations used to be made out of molded plastic. The name was embossed on this, a veritable plaque with all of its connotations of nobility and permanence. If you want to fire somebody, you at least have to eat the $5 sunk costs of the namebadge.
Now, each cubicle has a plastic holder that holds a little slip of paper with a name laser printed on it. They are so easily changed that they are a common tool of the practical joker. The company's investment in your identity is 1/3 of a sheet of paper.
The old guard still hangs onto those plastic name badges from their old locations, though I doubt they give them much comfort. Placing them to display is a subtle form of protest, staking out a little more ownership to your piece of the profit floor than the company would care to give you.
Of course, it will only take an extra 10 seconds to pull down the plastic namebadge and throw it in the trash. Lets hope the slips of paper that replace them don't suffer from the same problems that destroyed what it meant to make Blizzards with pride.
Friday, May 20, 2005
On unbelievable moves, Blunt raises the bar with razing a bridge
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, a guy with virtually no redeeming qualities who called my beloved city and other democratic strongholds places "where nobody wants to live anymore" is now doing his best to dismantle one of Missouri's greatest assets: the Katy trail.
It seems our great governor doesn't want to deal with a historic bridge that is to become part of the Katy trail. Instead, he wants to give it away to a company so they can sell it for scrap. Yup, they'll make money off of it and we'll give it away for free.
"A top official at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has resigned over a move by Gov. Matt Blunt that he says could threaten Katy Trail State Park, one of the country's largest rails-to-trails projects."
One bridge a threat? Well, yes, actually. Giving up this bridge creates a gap in the corridor. The delicate legal framework that allows that state to maintain the corridor would be upset, meaning adjacent property owners could sue for this land and close the trail forever.
Sign the petition to help save this bridge and the Katy trail.
It seems our great governor doesn't want to deal with a historic bridge that is to become part of the Katy trail. Instead, he wants to give it away to a company so they can sell it for scrap. Yup, they'll make money off of it and we'll give it away for free.
"A top official at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has resigned over a move by Gov. Matt Blunt that he says could threaten Katy Trail State Park, one of the country's largest rails-to-trails projects."
One bridge a threat? Well, yes, actually. Giving up this bridge creates a gap in the corridor. The delicate legal framework that allows that state to maintain the corridor would be upset, meaning adjacent property owners could sue for this land and close the trail forever.
Sign the petition to help save this bridge and the Katy trail.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Up or down vote, continued
James Dobson joins the fray with this:
"Americans overwhelmingly (by 81 and 82 percent in two recent polls) agree that even if Senate Democrats disagree with a nominee, they should still allow an up-or-down vote on each one. Can the will of the people be any clearer?"
Yes, it sure can. The American people don't get it, James, and you know it.
..and holy crap, they have a website. Three guesses what the URL is...
http://upordownvote.com/
Up or down vote, up or down vote, up or down vote, up or down vote. Got it?
"Americans overwhelmingly (by 81 and 82 percent in two recent polls) agree that even if Senate Democrats disagree with a nominee, they should still allow an up-or-down vote on each one. Can the will of the people be any clearer?"
Yes, it sure can. The American people don't get it, James, and you know it.
..and holy crap, they have a website. Three guesses what the URL is...
http://upordownvote.com/
Up or down vote, up or down vote, up or down vote, up or down vote. Got it?
"Up-or-down Vote"
If you are exposed to any kind of news media, you've probably heard the phrase "up or down vote" about 10,000 times in the last few days. We Americans don't have the attention span to really know what is going on, so the Republicans have packaged this deceptive "up or down vote" soundbite for us. "Just let us vote," they say. "Those mean democrats are just keeping the Senate from working."
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist shares his wisdom in an editorial to USA Today, again using the "up or down vote" morsel.
Last time I checked, the right to hold open debate is a Senate procedure as well, and one that has been used by both parties. I believe it is Strom Thurmond that holds the record for the longest filibuster speech.
The Republicans are now threatening to kill the filibuster because they are annoyed. They want the American public to think that the meanie Democrats are just being obstructionists. The Republicans just want to talk, you know. They want a good debate and then they'll take the result after that -- a result of good old Senate process!
"Our Constitution grants the Senate the power to confirm or reject the president's judicial nominees. In exercising this duty, the Senate has always followed a careful and deliberate process of examining the nominees through hearings, discussing their merits in committee, debating them in the full Senate and then coming to an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. We investigate, we debate, and then we decide."
Riiiight. What our friend Billy Frist knows is that they'll go through the motions and the conclusion is already determined. The Democrats will probably raise points about controversial decisions and look for examples of judicial activism. The Republicans will then respond with "but she was a Sunday school teacher and did really, really well in law school." They'll repeat that stuff for awhile and then the vote will fall along party lines. So, if "up or down vote" is part of a fair, investigative process, why will the results fall along party lines?
Because "up or down vote" is a smokescreen, folks. They keep saying it as if that is really all they are asking for, but when they get it, they have a confirmation and they've circumvented the minority's only recourse.
Ahh... politics! As long as they keep saying "up or down vote" until they get their way, they shouldn't have any problems with the American public thinking about it.
EDIT: Out of curiousity, I googled for "'up or down vote'" to see just how on message all of the Republicans are. Never missing a beat, it seems, they've got their little soundbite mastered. In the process, I found another blog post that had the same analysis as I did, except they have a lot more spare time on their hands.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist shares his wisdom in an editorial to USA Today, again using the "up or down vote" morsel.
Last time I checked, the right to hold open debate is a Senate procedure as well, and one that has been used by both parties. I believe it is Strom Thurmond that holds the record for the longest filibuster speech.
The Republicans are now threatening to kill the filibuster because they are annoyed. They want the American public to think that the meanie Democrats are just being obstructionists. The Republicans just want to talk, you know. They want a good debate and then they'll take the result after that -- a result of good old Senate process!
"Our Constitution grants the Senate the power to confirm or reject the president's judicial nominees. In exercising this duty, the Senate has always followed a careful and deliberate process of examining the nominees through hearings, discussing their merits in committee, debating them in the full Senate and then coming to an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. We investigate, we debate, and then we decide."
Riiiight. What our friend Billy Frist knows is that they'll go through the motions and the conclusion is already determined. The Democrats will probably raise points about controversial decisions and look for examples of judicial activism. The Republicans will then respond with "but she was a Sunday school teacher and did really, really well in law school." They'll repeat that stuff for awhile and then the vote will fall along party lines. So, if "up or down vote" is part of a fair, investigative process, why will the results fall along party lines?
Because "up or down vote" is a smokescreen, folks. They keep saying it as if that is really all they are asking for, but when they get it, they have a confirmation and they've circumvented the minority's only recourse.
Ahh... politics! As long as they keep saying "up or down vote" until they get their way, they shouldn't have any problems with the American public thinking about it.
EDIT: Out of curiousity, I googled for "'up or down vote'" to see just how on message all of the Republicans are. Never missing a beat, it seems, they've got their little soundbite mastered. In the process, I found another blog post that had the same analysis as I did, except they have a lot more spare time on their hands.
What a joker!
The Star reports about a bank robber who dressed appropriately.
"The man triggered a 46-minute ordeal after he pulled a black hood over his head at 9:07 a.m. and walked into the Capitol Federal Savings branch at 151st Street and Mur-Len Road. He was wearing a black sweatshirt bearing the words 'SHOW ME THE MONEY.'"
So, did he have the shirt before the robbery was envisioned and it inspired him, or did he decide to rob a bank, call his friends and tell them he had to go shopping because he needed a new "robbery outfit".
You know how it is. You have a big robbery planned, you go through your closet and everything is so blah.
I wonder what he'll wear to trial.
"The man triggered a 46-minute ordeal after he pulled a black hood over his head at 9:07 a.m. and walked into the Capitol Federal Savings branch at 151st Street and Mur-Len Road. He was wearing a black sweatshirt bearing the words 'SHOW ME THE MONEY.'"
So, did he have the shirt before the robbery was envisioned and it inspired him, or did he decide to rob a bank, call his friends and tell them he had to go shopping because he needed a new "robbery outfit".
You know how it is. You have a big robbery planned, you go through your closet and everything is so blah.
I wonder what he'll wear to trial.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Voinovich is a pansy
It has been since "Time, Love and Tenderness" that we last dealt with a Bolton this vile. Bush's nomination to serve as ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, is headed to the Senate for a full vote, where even some Republicans think he really, really sucks.
Ohio Senator George Voinovich gets my nomination to be ambassador of the idealistically challenged, though. He calls Bolton "the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be." He got that right.
Does that sound like a guy that would later vote to send this dude on to the full Senate for a vote? Well, you see, he got what I'm sure was a very cordial call from the President, which apparantly made him humble.
"I'm not so arrogant to think that I should impose my judgment on my colleagues. We owe it to the president to give Mr. Bolton an up or down vote on the floor of the United States Senate," Voinovich said.
Hey, Voinavich, imposing your opinion is your job! That is what the committee does.
"I have every faith in my colleagues," Voinovich said. "No one's really excited about him going to the United Nations."
If that is the case, why waste our time with the full vote? You bailed, man. I hope the President sends you a Christmas card this year. You earned it.
Ohio Senator George Voinovich gets my nomination to be ambassador of the idealistically challenged, though. He calls Bolton "the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be." He got that right.
Does that sound like a guy that would later vote to send this dude on to the full Senate for a vote? Well, you see, he got what I'm sure was a very cordial call from the President, which apparantly made him humble.
"I'm not so arrogant to think that I should impose my judgment on my colleagues. We owe it to the president to give Mr. Bolton an up or down vote on the floor of the United States Senate," Voinovich said.
Hey, Voinavich, imposing your opinion is your job! That is what the committee does.
"I have every faith in my colleagues," Voinovich said. "No one's really excited about him going to the United Nations."
If that is the case, why waste our time with the full vote? You bailed, man. I hope the President sends you a Christmas card this year. You earned it.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Anarchist Soccer
Well, I wouldn't call myself an anarchist, but Anarchist Soccer sure sounds like fun. A bunch of radicals get together and play soccer in the park. No touch line, no scorekeeping, goals are made of bikes or bags or something. Sounds like a great way to spend a Sunday evening. I wonder if they'd welcome a poser like me?
831st Annual Tour de Cowtown
Now that was good times.
On Saturday, urban core bicycle shop Acme Bicycle Company hosted the 831st Annual Tour de Cowtown
This bike shop promotes grassroots cycling advocacy, bikes for transportation, vintage bicycles, handbuilt frames, fixies and riding in the city. Basically, everything that is right with the world. Their event was an interesting mix of all types of people and all kinds of bikes, some goofier than others. The scavenger hunt sent us all over town in search of trivia answers, take out menus, hotel matchbooks and road construction cones, among other things.
This shop is the real deal. A little rough around the edges and a bit gritty, yeah, but awesome. Despite feeling slow and under the weather, I had a blast at their event.
For more:
Vlad was there
Travis gives his account and Travis shares his pictures, including this one of me looking like a little child with messy hair excited about a new toy, which, in this case, was Todd Posson's chopper.
On Saturday, urban core bicycle shop Acme Bicycle Company hosted the 831st Annual Tour de Cowtown
This bike shop promotes grassroots cycling advocacy, bikes for transportation, vintage bicycles, handbuilt frames, fixies and riding in the city. Basically, everything that is right with the world. Their event was an interesting mix of all types of people and all kinds of bikes, some goofier than others. The scavenger hunt sent us all over town in search of trivia answers, take out menus, hotel matchbooks and road construction cones, among other things.
This shop is the real deal. A little rough around the edges and a bit gritty, yeah, but awesome. Despite feeling slow and under the weather, I had a blast at their event.
For more:
Vlad was there
Travis gives his account and Travis shares his pictures, including this one of me looking like a little child with messy hair excited about a new toy, which, in this case, was Todd Posson's chopper.
Z is for Lezlie Zavagnin
Well, well. A girl that a good friend of mine once characterized as my soulmate is getting some press for her efforts to support the Wizards and keep them in KC. These are a fun bunch of soccer hooligans and the Wizards are lucky to count them as supporters.
Go Lezlie and Kelsey!
By the way, it turns out she wasn't my soulmate after all.
Go Lezlie and Kelsey!
By the way, it turns out she wasn't my soulmate after all.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
The real deal
For the first time in my life, I have a full cycling team kit. I remember when I first started racing, I didn't even own a jersey. I was awed by all of the strong cyclists with their fancy bikes and their matching attire. I wondered what it would take to be on a team like that. Last year I joined a team, but a real team kit never came to be.
This weekend, I'll be racing while flying my team colors for the first time ever. It is silly, but I'm excited.
This weekend, I'll be racing while flying my team colors for the first time ever. It is silly, but I'm excited.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
CommuterDude rode them Rockies, yo.
Keith Gates, Sprint employee and dedicated bicycle commuter, maintains this site with tons of commuting tips and ultra-mileage stories that will make even the most dedicated cyclist feel like a slacker. While cruising the site today, I found his record of the 2002 Ride the Rockies and it sounds intense. Come June, I'm taking a shot at the 2005 version, which should test my legs, my lungs and my courage.
Maybe it would have been better to take up needlepoint or something.
Maybe it would have been better to take up needlepoint or something.
Legs of buttah
Well, I'm not sure what is up with me, but I'm hurting. My legs just don't want to go. I pushed through my commute this morning having to shake out my legs several times. We're talking 12 measely little miles here. I felt the same way yesterday. Hopefully another day of riding and some soccer tonight will wake them up so they are ready for racing this weekend.
Perhaps it was my weekend off that did them in. It was worth it, though, as my family came to visit and I got to play urban tour guide for my aunt and uncle who have never been here. It is always fun to spend time with family in the city and show off KC. Maybe it didn't help that I loaded up on all kinds of food this weekend without giving any thought to nutrition or actually working for it.
New rule: no matter what the circumstances, I need to ride for at least 45 minutes every day just to keep my legs awake. That shouldn't be too hard.
Okay, time for all-you-can-eat food from around the world at Sprint, in the name of diversity!
Perhaps it was my weekend off that did them in. It was worth it, though, as my family came to visit and I got to play urban tour guide for my aunt and uncle who have never been here. It is always fun to spend time with family in the city and show off KC. Maybe it didn't help that I loaded up on all kinds of food this weekend without giving any thought to nutrition or actually working for it.
New rule: no matter what the circumstances, I need to ride for at least 45 minutes every day just to keep my legs awake. That shouldn't be too hard.
Okay, time for all-you-can-eat food from around the world at Sprint, in the name of diversity!
Friday, May 06, 2005
Litigous Stubpointing?
Woah.
So, a guy goes into a custard shop where a young employee has recently sliced off the end of his finger in the mixing machine. The man buys some custard and discovers said fingertip. Man smells dollar signs and a big money lawsuit. Doctors say they can save the fingertip and reattach it. Man refuses to give it back, obviously because he wants to maintain his priceless evidence. Finger dies, window of opportunity passes, man continues to horde said finger in his freezer.
The human race has reached an all-time low on the same bus as our justice system.
You can read the story here.
From the article, a bit of light-hearted legal analysis: "The man who lost the finger has the superior claim,' said Paul Lombardo, who teaches at the University of Virginia's law school. 'It's his finger and he might be able to use it.'"
So, a guy goes into a custard shop where a young employee has recently sliced off the end of his finger in the mixing machine. The man buys some custard and discovers said fingertip. Man smells dollar signs and a big money lawsuit. Doctors say they can save the fingertip and reattach it. Man refuses to give it back, obviously because he wants to maintain his priceless evidence. Finger dies, window of opportunity passes, man continues to horde said finger in his freezer.
The human race has reached an all-time low on the same bus as our justice system.
You can read the story here.
From the article, a bit of light-hearted legal analysis: "The man who lost the finger has the superior claim,' said Paul Lombardo, who teaches at the University of Virginia's law school. 'It's his finger and he might be able to use it.'"
How about an exciting Wizards game?
This one will be better, I promise.
Dallas is one of the best teams in the MLS this year, with a potent attack featuring US National Team staple Eddie Johnson. Team this up with what has been a stingy defense and a newfound attack of its own in the Wizards and some exciting soccer should be going down at Arrowhead this weekend.
Sadly, I am going to miss it. Well, not sadly. Mommy, Daddy, Auntie and Uncle are visiting me from Nebraska. Auntie and Uncle have never been to KC before, so I get the chance to show off the city I love to more people. We'll be using the time to check out the sites of KC and take in some jazz.
So, everyone go enjoy the game a bit extra for me. It is time for the Wizards to wake up.
Dallas is one of the best teams in the MLS this year, with a potent attack featuring US National Team staple Eddie Johnson. Team this up with what has been a stingy defense and a newfound attack of its own in the Wizards and some exciting soccer should be going down at Arrowhead this weekend.
Sadly, I am going to miss it. Well, not sadly. Mommy, Daddy, Auntie and Uncle are visiting me from Nebraska. Auntie and Uncle have never been to KC before, so I get the chance to show off the city I love to more people. We'll be using the time to check out the sites of KC and take in some jazz.
So, everyone go enjoy the game a bit extra for me. It is time for the Wizards to wake up.
No points for slacking
The points standings have been updated for the Midwest Fat Tire Mountain Bike Series and after skipping out on the race in St. Louis, I'm in 3rd place. It looks like it will come down to Jason Stiger and I if I show up and race consistently. Jason and I have been splitting results and sprinting to the finish against each other since I started as a beginner two years ago. I hope that one of the two of us who developed while racing this series end up winning its most competitive and prestiguous class.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Much Adu about Boozing?
The poster-child of Major League Soccer, Freddy Adu is a 15 year old making a half-million dollar salary with D.C. United and another few million through sponsorship deals. All of this is for a kid that isn't even starting. For that much salary cap room, there is no way DC is getting their money's worth.
Now rumors from several unrelated channels are starting to explain why Freddy might not be getting minutes. Word has it that Freddy spent some quality time double-fisting drinks down the road in Lawrence the night before DC's match-up with the Wizards, which was the most boring soccer game I've ever seen.
Yeah, he is 15.
Poor Freddy. One year of super-stardom and he is already blowing up into scandals. I personally love hating on this over-rated rugrat, so I'll be ready to add some boozer references to our "child labor" chants the next time DC comes to beautiful KC. I hope you had a good time, Freddy! Keep drinking and we'll all have more fun!
Now rumors from several unrelated channels are starting to explain why Freddy might not be getting minutes. Word has it that Freddy spent some quality time double-fisting drinks down the road in Lawrence the night before DC's match-up with the Wizards, which was the most boring soccer game I've ever seen.
Yeah, he is 15.
Poor Freddy. One year of super-stardom and he is already blowing up into scandals. I personally love hating on this over-rated rugrat, so I'll be ready to add some boozer references to our "child labor" chants the next time DC comes to beautiful KC. I hope you had a good time, Freddy! Keep drinking and we'll all have more fun!
Forza Medfords!
News of our latest outing in 3-on-3:
After scrapping out a tie through sloppy play a week ago, the Rock Shocking Medfords showed up with good form to defeat the league favorite Sprint corporate challenge team 8-6. Showing improved team play and strong shooting to compliment their stingy defense, the Medfords could become a force to reckon with in the league.
Playing without substitutes, the Medfords still kept up the pace to utilize their speed and fitness advantage. Showing her aggressive and tenacious defending, Sarah Doyle kept the pressure on KCCC runners all game, often freeing the ball into space and playing it with creativity. One play at right midfield found Doyle forcing the ball past a strong marker. Falling to the pitch after aggressive head-to-head posturing for a 50/50 ball, Doyle recovered to take a solo run to the center and put away the goal. On another strong play, Doyle freed the ball and fed a well-placed through ball toward the feet of an on-running Matthew Staub, who sent a shot just wide of the far post.
Staub roamed the pitch through much of the game, running the distance to chase down and neutralize counterattacks. On one such effort, Staub cleared the ball into space and beat two oncoming defenders to move along the flank. As pressure built from the inside, Staub made a run for the corner and placed a cross to the feet of an in-position Doyle, who was making a perfectly timed run and had made her way behind the defense. Doyle met the ball at her feet and placed an on-target one-time shot to tally for the Medfords.
Standout Jace Hansen helped control the momentum. After a strong scoring run by the KCCC side, Hansen took the midfield pass from Staub and weaved through the defense on a solo run, finished with a strong shot on goal to immediately neutralize the opposing side. Hansen’s footwork has the KCCC side guessing for much of the game as he neutralized his marker on numerous plays. After tallying 3 times for the Medfords, Hansen continued his strong play falling back to defend the lead, keeping the side out of danger by clearing the ball upfield with precision passes to Doyle and Staub, who both tallied goals in the closing minutes.
The KCCC team keyed off of Medford mistakes to net many of their goals. In one instance, Staub came from the central defender position to run up the left flank on a combination from midfielder Hansen. Hansen was dispossessed at midfield and neither player was able to return to the back line to prevent a goal. In another instance, Staub dropped back to clear a KCCC attack out of danger. Stepping back to make a clearance, contact was ruled in the box for an automatic goal. KCCC also benefited from an own goal as Hansen stepped into the path of an opposing shot, which ricocheted and found its way into the goal.
The Rock Shocking Medfords return to action next Tuesday against Tax Attack. Kickoff is at 6:30 at Satchel Paige Field on the Sprint campus.
Rock Shocking Medfords Stats:
Goals/Assists/Fouls
Jace Hansen: 3/2/0
Sarah Doyle: 3/1/1
Matthew Staub: 2/4/0
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Unintended consequences
I'm always harping about how people don't think about the unintended consequences of their actions and how the true cost of our economic choices is not reflected in the prices we pay. Just fill up that tank, I can afford it. Throw out that old junk, they'll take it. Build me that big new house, I deserve it.
Well, I guess I'm not the only one trying to understand the extranalities.
A new site called Wal-Mart Watch is underway. It aims to quantify what Wal-Mart really costs us in terms of healthcare and other assistance for their mostly impoverished employees -- the cogs in their money making machine. I don't even want to think about what they are doing to communities with their sprawling crap-hole stores with massive parking lots.
Speaking of damage to communities, Omaha's iconic Ranch Bowl could be giving way to a Wal-Mart. This venue is well-known in Omaha and has been a part of the city's amazingly rich live music scene. To make it part of the continued destruction of 72nd Street would be a shame.
Well, I guess I'm not the only one trying to understand the extranalities.
A new site called Wal-Mart Watch is underway. It aims to quantify what Wal-Mart really costs us in terms of healthcare and other assistance for their mostly impoverished employees -- the cogs in their money making machine. I don't even want to think about what they are doing to communities with their sprawling crap-hole stores with massive parking lots.
Speaking of damage to communities, Omaha's iconic Ranch Bowl could be giving way to a Wal-Mart. This venue is well-known in Omaha and has been a part of the city's amazingly rich live music scene. To make it part of the continued destruction of 72nd Street would be a shame.
Monday, May 02, 2005
Is it a dream?
Holy crap, I'm in heaven. The good people at Acme Bicycle Company, which has got to be the coolest shop on the planet, are bringing us a festival-like alley kat bike race in the heart of the city. We're talking about an alley race, scavenger hunt and various side shows, like the track stand competition I'm jazzed for. This is going to be fun.
There is a swap meet the next day. There is also a Midwest Fat Tire Series race on Sunday, 275 miles from home. Why do all the cool things happen at the same time? It would have made sense to go early and pre-ride, or stay late and ride more. This is supposed to be an epic trail. Will it be worth it if I only go to race? Will anyone come with me if I stay around for another day or two? Do I want to go alone? Dare I skip yet another series race and jeopordize my point standings?
I ask lots of questions.
I have two goals this season. One is to win Rapture in Misery. The other is to win the series as an expert. Playing around with an alley cat race wasn't one of them, but it sounds far more enjoyable and suited for me than the others.
So, goals or fun like I didn't even know I could have? Oh, the places the bike can go.
There is a swap meet the next day. There is also a Midwest Fat Tire Series race on Sunday, 275 miles from home. Why do all the cool things happen at the same time? It would have made sense to go early and pre-ride, or stay late and ride more. This is supposed to be an epic trail. Will it be worth it if I only go to race? Will anyone come with me if I stay around for another day or two? Do I want to go alone? Dare I skip yet another series race and jeopordize my point standings?
I ask lots of questions.
I have two goals this season. One is to win Rapture in Misery. The other is to win the series as an expert. Playing around with an alley cat race wasn't one of them, but it sounds far more enjoyable and suited for me than the others.
So, goals or fun like I didn't even know I could have? Oh, the places the bike can go.
Got spare time?
See a bunch of mountain bikers get derailed, mostly because of my big mouth. Good times. I laughed, I cried, I wasted time.
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