Wednesday, August 06, 2003
Another Beautiful Day in New Jersey!
Today, finally, I got back on the towpath. Rode as far as Princeton (which wasn't really that far). Beautiful. Saw some turtles, a couple of deer, a few other cyclists, some walkers, runners, boaters... I expected mud after all the recent rain, but the excellent surface was remarkable "clean." Riding on such a wonderful road may ruin all other paths for me. The flatness is especially wonderful.
Now I've done about half the length of the main canal — and I'm eager to do the rest of it! There are also over 20 miles of "feeder canal," as well as a number of side trails and another path on the other side of the Delaware. Wow!
You'd think North Carolina would have something like this, but not really. We have a number of greenway segments, rail-trail segments, and a couple of canal segments. The key word is "segment." A bunch of short things, random and disconnected.
That may change if the East Coast Greenway project is realized. So far the only designated NC segment is Durham's 23 mile American Tobacco Trail. While I understand the role tobacco has played in my state's history, couldn't we have chosen a better name? C'mon folks! Light up and ride the American Tobacco Trail! Eek.
Speaking of Eek...
Arnold Schwarzenegger this evening announced his candidacy for governor of California. Does this really come a shock? Wasn't it obvious when he scheduled an appearance on Jay Leno to "discuss" his possible candidacy? This is not a smart move. Schwarzenegger has a number of skeletons in his closet (womanizing, Nazi Dad...), and I think his bid will fail — it may even cause his career to be terminated. Asta la vista, baby!
Unhappy Anniversary
The U.S. seems to "worship nuclear weapons as God," Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba said Wednesday in a scorching tirade marking the 58th anniversary of his city's destruction by an atomic bomb.
"The world without nuclear weapons and beyond war that our hibakusha have sought for so long appears to be slipping deeper beyond a thick cover of dark clouds that they fear at any minute could become mushroom clouds spilling black rain," Akiba said in the annual Peace Declaration.
During the same ceremony, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reiterated Japan's commitment to the elimination of nuclear arms.
[full story]
Let's all reaffirm our committment to peace, and to a world without nuclear weapons.
Posted by Me at 23:44 link
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Dean Meetup Wednesday
If you're in the U.S., and you're interested in getting together with Howard Dean supporters to see what all the fuss is about, click here to find the nearest Howard Dean meetup. Odds are, there's one pretty close to wherever you are. There's a Meetup less than 15 minutes from here!
Today was another frustrating rain delay. The rains came earlier, and by the time the skies cleared, it was too late to hit the tow path. Oh well, would've been muddy anyway! Tomorrow...
Thursday, we're off to Ian's wedding.
Posted by Me at 22:59 link
Monday, August 04, 2003
Raincheck
I wanted to play on the D & R Canal tow path again today, but the weather didn't cooperate. Usually I'd welcome a day of slack leisure, but I was psyched-up for a little bicycling adventure. Bumming around the apartment, playing on the computer, and watching TV just didn't satisfy me today. Maybe tomorrow, though the forecast is much the same. I'll get an earlier start; the rains came today around 2 pm, about 30 minutes before I was going to head out.
What is it about a long path that's so enticing? Yesterday, I had to force myself to turn back; I just had to see what was beyond the next horizon.
Liberia update
Discussions have started between the United Nations and a number of countries that might contribute troops to the peacekeeping operation in Liberia.
Diplomats say India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa, as well as a number of west African countries, have indicated a willingness to help.
UN troops are due to replace a mainly Nigerian contingent of West African peacekeepers by 1 October.
The talks began as the first wave of 100 Nigerian soldiers arrived in the country to a heroes welcome, at the start of their mission to help end two months of bloody fighting for the capital, Monrovia.
[full story]
Tomorrow. [sigh]
Posted by Me at 20:20 link
Sunday, August 03, 2003
A Beautiful Day
We went for a long bicycle ride today on the tow path of the old Delaware & Raritan Canal, now a state park. Every place in the country needs one of these trails close by! It's over 60 miles long, flat, straight, uncrowded — and beautiful! Someday, I'm going to have to do the whole thing! Actually, I'm thinking seriously of doing some more of it tomorrow...
Howard Dean: radical moderate
This excellent Washington Post article provides a good introduction to Dean. I recommend it whether you're a Democrat or not. His campaign continues to gather momentum, as evidenced by the fact that he's on the covers of the current issues of both Time and Newsweek.
Posted by Me at 22:28 link
