Saturday, September 20, 2003
Back to Basics
I tend to take my car, a humble Ford Taurus, for granted. But on the rare occasions it's not available for use, I feel a sort of emptiness, a powerlessness I'd rather not feel, which reminds me of my car's importance to me. Those of you who live in major cities may not understand, but here in "flyover land," getting from one town to another, and in some cases even from one part of town to another, requires a car. Public transport does not exist here.
Yesterday, my car refused to start, eventually starting only after several bouts of trying and waiting (and, of course, cursing). A few weeks ago, it did the same thing; I replaced the battery (8 years old, rated to live 6) and all seemed well. But now it's playing the same game again, so yesterday, after it finally started, I took it to the shop. They didn't finish with it today, so I'm car-less until at least Monday. They think the problem is the fuel pump, which, oddly enough, was my guess, too.
My plan for today had been to drive over to Winston-Salem, where there's an 11.5 mile network of bike trails. I'd planned to ride about 30 miles in preparation for next weekend's towpath century. Obviously, the plan was now kaput. I debated riding locally, but the roads aren't safe, especially on the weekends.
Instead, I worked around the house, getting ahead in my schoolwork, cleaning house, tuning up the bike — and researching.
I ran across this excellent site, and discovered (among other things) that I had the wrong tools in my touring kit, that I had the wrong seat on the bike, and that I had the seat adjusted two inches too low! I hadn't really thought of myself as a "beginner," but I'm reminded that it's always best to maintain a beginner's attitude. For one thing, I haven't ever ridden 100 miles on a mountain bike before!
Maybe Tuesday, I'll be able to ride in Winston-Salem, or maybe up in Virginia again. Next weekend, I'm going to ride 100 miles on the towpaths of the Delaware Canal (PA) and Delaware and Raritan Canal (NJ). It's still not too late to be part of the madness yourself, but please contact me right away if you're interested.
Here's one more photo from my ride on the New River Trail last Tuesday:
The New River Trail, Southern Virginia
Posted by Me at 20:41 link
Friday, September 19, 2003
Give The People What They Want
Since there's nothing particularly inspiring in the news or in my life today (only possibilities: car's in the shop and I did really well on my Spanish test), I've decided to try a new feature wherein I examine some of the search terms that have (mis)led people here, and try to provide what they were looking for.
Several of you came here looking for the lyrics to Bina Mistry's "Hot Hot Hot" from the Bend it Like Beckham soundtrack. Undoubtedly, this entry is to blame. See, I never claimed to have the lyrics, only to have the song stuck in my head (which was cool). Now that you mention it though, it would be nice to learn the words! Unfortunately, I've just scoured the Web, and I haven't been able to find the lyrics, either! I do have a good friend who speaks Hindi, so maybe if I'm really nice I can convince her to help me figure them out. In the meanwhile, check out the original version by Arrow and the hottest version, by Banda Blanca. ¡Olé!
For those of you seeking information on the UCS Guardian, the safe, fuel-efficient SUV created (theoretically) by Union of Concerned Scientists, I have better news: here is an excellent article on that project, which I wholeheartedly support. Don't feel like clicking? Here's the gist of it:
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16—Citing poor safety and gas mileage records of the average sport utility vehicle (SUV), the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Center for Auto Safety today released a blueprint for the first safe and fuel-efficient SUV. The "Guardian" and "Guardian XSE" use technologies already in some vehicles and have the same size and acceleration as the Ford Explorer, but are both significantly safer and offer better gas mileage.
....
If all SUVs had the Guardian technology (sleek and lower unibody design, stronger materials to reduce vehicle weight and prevent "roof crush," better seat belts and tires, and an efficient six-cylinder engine), fatalities would decline by 2,200 each year and gas mileage would rise from 21 mpg to 27.8. These improvements, which would cost less than $750 per SUV, would pay for themselves in reduced gasoline costs in a little more than two years. By adopting the Guardian XSE technologies (an even more efficient engine and six-speed automatic transmission, an idle-off system, window-curtain air bags, electronic stability control, and more high-strength steel and aluminum), automakers could reduce fatalities by 2,900 each year and achieve 36 mpg for less than $3,000.
The technology in the UCS Guardian would save 800,000 barrels of oil per day in 2015—the equivalent of about half the oil we import from Saudi Arabia—if it were applied to the light truck fleet (SUVs, pickups, and minivans) over the next five years, creating an average light truck fuel economy of 27.5 mpg. And just one Guardian would eliminate more than 27 tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions over its life, about the same as leaving a Ford Explorer in your garage for three years.
[project website: http://www.suvsolutions.org/]
What led you here is no mystery! I have permanent links to UCS and the Guardian newspaper in my sidebar, and have railed against SUVs more times than I'd care to recall. I thank you for giving me a good reason to research this excellent project. Now we just need to convince automakers to start cranking these babies out!
For those of you searching for "Misty Mountain Hop," the most popular search term leading folks here, I hope you've found what you're looking for, or at least that you like what you see!
Posted by Me at 22:28 link
Thursday, September 18, 2003
El Huracan
¡Isabel no es mi amiga! Pero....
Hundreds of miles away, in eastern NC, conditions aren't nearly as bad as originally feared. It hasn't been at all bad here. (As you can tell, it hasn't interfered with my studying for a Spanish test tomorrow).
I heard a huge crash during a brief spell of 15-20 mph winds this afternoon; a large tree limb had fallen from a height of 50 ft onto the driveway — right where I used to park the car! Fortunately, since my car got clobbered there by a larger limb last year, I've been parking on the other side of the driveway. I expected more stormfall, but so far, that's it (and the winds have died down).
Kicking Ass
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has launched a new blog called "Kicking Ass" (for anyone who doesn't know, the Democrat mascot is a donkey). Looks pretty good. Like most good blogs, it enables feedback via comments. Several comments mention how much the site looks like Howard Dean's blog. Dean supporters seem very well-represented at Kicking Ass, not surprising given the effectiveness of Dean's online efforts. Dean's site is by far the most useful and informative of the candidates' websites linked to by the new DNC blog.
I know this is premature and likely overly optimistic, but I think this site could play an important role in reshaping and revitalizing the Democratic Party — if the DNC bigwigs pay attention to what the people say.
Music In My Head
- Evanescence — Bring Me To Life
- Steve Miller Band — Fly Like An Eagle
- Neil Young — Down By The River
- 76 Trombones — Robert Preston (from The Music Man; this just popped into my head during my New River Trail ride Tuesday)
- Paul Oakenfold — Tranceport
I can hardly wait to hear this — but I'll have to wait, at least until November 17.
Posted by Me at 21:59 link
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Internal Dialogue
Wow! Wesley Clark's joined the presidential race!
So?
Well, I think it's pretty cool! He's got a real chance to beat Bush! And he was against the war!
Yeah, but what's he for?
Uh... Well, he was first in his class at West Point! And a Rhodes Scholar!
Oh, come on — you're just dodging the question.
Aw, never mind that! He's got more credibility than Bush does on defense! After all, he fought in Vietnam, and he won a Purple Heart and a Silver Star! What a guy!!!
Yeah, yeah; what a guy. But what about Howard Dean?
Well... Dean's nice and all, but Clark's the New Hotness!
On the other hand, Dean has actually, you know, held office before. And he's made detailed policy statements — in line with our values — on every issue that matters. We endorsed him here on the blog before he even officially entered the race.
Uh....
And Dean's expected to raise $20 million before year's end; how much does Clark have?
Uh....
That's what I thought. Howard Dean's still the man with the plan. He knows what he's doing, he's proven he can do it, and we know what he stands for.
But what if Clark wins the nomination?
Then we'll probably vote for Clark! Hey, that holds true for Kerry, for Kucinich, for Gephardt, for Graham.... After all, we're not married to Howard Dean. The most important thing is to elect someone better than Bush. But Dean is a much better choice for President than Wesley Clark. Dean's the best of all the Democratic candidates. Clark wasn't even a Democrat until this month!
Hey! Check out this fortune cookie! It says, "A modest man never talks to himself"!
Who ever said I was modest?
Posted by Me at 23:14 link
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
New River Trail
Here are a few shots from my bicycle ride today at New River Trail State Park in southern Virginia. What an amazing trail!
The New River — ironically, it's one of the oldest rivers on earth!
Starting near the middle of the trail at Fosters Falls (mp 24), I rode south almost to Buck Dam (mp 34) and back. The weather was gorgeous — around 75° F, dry, no wind, nearly cloudless.
Interstate 77 Bridge
I saw only a few other people. I saw some evidence of horses, but I was glad not to see any actual horses — I realized I didn't know the proper etiquette for passing someone on horseback! (I know now.) I stopped several times along the way to take photos. I did see a few deer, but they were gone before I could take their picture.
One of Several Rockfaces
The trail surface is excellent: firm and smooth, with almost no bumps or puddles. The trail runs along an old railroad grade; the part I rode today is basically flat, with only gentle curves. Mostly it's in the woods. It reminds me a bit of the towpaths in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but the presence of mountains (my beloved Blue Ridge) gives it a different flavor.
Looking South From Shot Tower Historic Site
All in all, a lovely day in some not-very-misty mountains!
Posted by Me at 21:17 link
Monday, September 15, 2003
Recall Now... Or Recall Later?
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15 -- Just three weeks before California's historic recall, a federal appeals court postponed the Oct. 7 election today, ruling that the use of older punch-card ballot machines in urban counties would disenfranchise those voters, especially poor and minority citizens.
The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit agreed unanimously today with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that the use of punch cards in six counties would subject four of 10 California voters to a greater likelihood that their ballots would be misread or discarded -- as happened during Florida's presidential election fiasco in 2000. The three judges were Democratic appointees.
The 9th Circuit, however, said it would give California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley, the top election official here, and anti-tax crusader Ted Costa, an intervener in the case, one week to appeal its order. By day's end, Shelley had not said whether he would present his case to the entire 9th Circuit or to the U.S. Supreme Court, which played a crucial role in halting Florida's recount in 2000.
He did say that he would announce his intentions at a news conference Tuesday. Costa said he wants to take the case to the Supreme Court.
[full story]
I'm not against the concept of a recall. If California voters want to put such a recall on the ballot, then they should be able to do so. California's law makes sense in that it provides a strong check against gubernatorial abuses. Does Davis deserve the blame/credit for California's economy? Probably not to any significant degree — BUT — he's the guy in charge and things are lousy, with 6.6% unemployment and a $38.2 billion deficit. When the team's losing, the fans want a new coach. I wouldn't have signed a recall petition, though, because I don't think Davis has abused his authority.
As to the postponement, on the one hand, my automatic reaction is the same as most Californians', be they for or against recalling Davis: "If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly." Continuing uncertainty isn't going to make the situation any better.
On the other hand, the punch-card ballot issue is a legitimate concern.
Fortunately, I don't live in California, so it doesn't affect me that much! My advice to anyone who does live there is to vote AGAINST the recall, and cast your "insurance" vote for Bustamante. (When the election takes place, of course). The big question now is "What's the U.S. Supreme Court going to do?" (If they get the case, of course).
Meanwhile, on the other side of the North American continent...
Not that much is going on here. We're keeping an eye on Hurricane Isabel. The weather's pretty nice right now! Tomorrow I'm going up to southern Virginia for some bicycling on the locally-famous New River Trail. I've been meaning to try this for weeks; now that I've said I'm going, I'll have to go! Photographic proof of my veracity will be provided...
Sign Up For The Daily Mis-lead
From MoveOn.org: The President says things that are misleading or just plain wrong every day, but most of these statements are never challenged. That's why we're launching Misleader.org, a new website and free daily email service for journalists and the general public to track George Bush's false statements.
You can sign up right now at:
http://www.misleader.org/
The daily dispatches will take a "Just the Facts, Ma'am" approach -- no rhetoric, just a couple of paragraphs we'll email each morning on what the President said and why it was misleading or untrue. It's our hope that by doing some of the research for the press corps, we can ensure better coverage of President Bush's lies. If you know someone who could use this kind of information, please point him or her to the site.
To launch the site, we've taken out a full page ad in the New York Times titled "Mis-State of the Union." The ad reveals how the President mislead the nation in his State of the Union speech -- not just on Iraq, but on the economy, the environment, and other important issues. You can check the ad out at:
http://www.misleader.org/pdf/nyt_ad.pdf
Here are a few juicy tidbits from our New York Times ad:
ON TAX CUTS:
George Bush: "The tax relief is for everyone who pays income taxes...Americans will keep, this year, an average of almost $1,000 more of their own money."
The Truth: Nearly half of all taxpayers get less than $100. And 31% of all taxpayers get nothing at all.
ON JOBS:
George Bush: "Our first goal is...an economy that grows fast enough to employ every man and woman who seeks a job."
The Truth: Bush is the first President since Hoover to preside over an economy that has lost jobs, not created them - more than 2.9 million since 2001.
ON THE ENVIRONMENT:
George Bush: "[My] Clear Skies legislation...mandates a 70% cut in air pollution from power plants over the next 15 years."
The Truth: The Bush plan will allow more than 100,000 additional premature deaths by 2020 than alternative legislation developed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The plan does not regulate carbon emissions and allows far more sulfur and mercury emissions.
ON EDUCATION:
George Bush: "[W]e achieved historic education reform - which must now be carried out in every school and in every classroom."
The Truth: Bush cut $8 billion from the promised funds for education.
If you'd like to receive a daily email with content like this, you can sign up right now at:
http://www.misleader.org
When Bush was running for President, he said, "I believe everyone should be held responsible for their own personal behavior." We agree. The President has repeatedly mislead the country. Now it's time for Americans and the press to hold him responsible.
If you don't feel like signing up, I'll probably post the most interesting bits.
Posted by Me at 21:12 link
Sunday, September 14, 2003
Don't Mess With Soros
Billionaire pro-democracy advocate George Soros has so far contributed about $10 Million of his 5 gigabuck fortune towards "regime change" in the U.S:....Soros is openly backing a non-governmental initiative called 'Americans Coming Together' (ACT) aimed at stopping Bush in his bid for a second term as president of the United States.
ACT is planning to spend about $75 million to mobilize U.S. voters to defeat Bush in the next presidential elections in November 2004.
....
Soros, who is chairman of the Open Society Institute (OSI) which promotes multi-party democracy worldwide, thinks that Bush and his aggressive unilateral foreign policy is doing more harm than good to the United States.
He also believes the president has neither the intellectual capacity nor the political prowess to guide the United States on a sound foreign policy course.
Bush's policies are bound to be wrong ''because they are based on a false ideology'', he told students last month in a commencement address at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies in Washington.
He sees striking similarities between the U.S. president and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, both of whom believe in military power to achieve their political objectives.
The idea that might is right, advocated by both leaders, cannot be reconciled with the idea of an open society, Soros told the students.
A strong advocate of the concept of an ''open society,'' he argues that neo-conservatives in the Bush administration have made a mockery of the values of freedom and democracy--all in the name of fighting terrorism.
[full story]
Other targets of Soros' wrath include Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and Libya's Muammar el-Qaddafi. Ouch! Being lumped in with those guys has to hurt!
Many give credit to Soros for helping to bring down the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia — he's definitely not someone you'd want to piss off.
I haven't been able to find any contact info for ACT yet, but when I do, I'll pass it along. Let me know if you have their Web address, an e-mail contact, or other contact information.
Posted by Me at 21:18 link
