It is what it is.
We are a country that cannot rationally evaluate our military. The result is carnage -- budgetary and (unforgivably) literal.
As long as we repeat, absurdly, how wonderful being a soldier is, we will do ghastly, insane things.
Rocky Hillside
12/14/11
12/07/11
It's All The Republicans' Fault
Image by badjonni. Some rights reserved.
Obama's speech yesterday, though mysteriously at odds with his actions over the last three years, reanimated the "It's all the Republicans' fault" excuse among my pals.
To them I say this.
11/23/11
"Full Responsibility"
That was quick. "I take full responsibility" is now, paraphrasing, "It's not my fault."
11/20/11
Sometimes Ezra Is A Chump
I think he really believed the super committee could do something good:
Right now, every economic forecaster will tell you the same thing: These are dangerous times for the American economy. If Europe doesn’t get its act together — and right now it looks as if it probably won’t — it’s going to be difficult for us to avoid another recession.
The supercommittee was expected to help with that. The expectation was that whatever deal it produced would extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits that were agreed upon in the 2010 tax agreement. Perhaps, if members reached a bigger deal, they would agree to infrastructure investment and further tax cuts. All of that would help the U.S. economy recover, or at least help us absorb any possible shocks from Europe.
How could anyone cut $1.2 trillion, extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits, and fund a meaningful infrastructure program? No fucking idea. Particularly since the whole super-committee was the product of neither party having the guts to raise taxes (or fail to extend tax cuts.) Chump.
Full PR Mode
In her statement on Sunday, Ms. Katehi said: “I am deeply saddened that this happened on our campus, and as chancellor, I take full responsibility for the incident. However, I pledge to take the actions needed to ensure that this does not happen again.”
Something tells me "full responsibility" doesn't mean full responsibility.
They Want It All
these people that they stole from
who's lives they laid to waste
they should have to meet them all face to face
and explain just why their momma
didn't teach 'em not to steal
if you want us to believe in justice
justice better be real
Written before the housing crash and, like much of their music, even more relevant today.
After watching the videos of the police clubbing and pepper spraying peaceful people, I was reflecting on "the banality of evil." Torture has become routine, so routine that the Republican candidates for office can criticize the sole fellow who is against it as unpatriotic.
But the routine practice of evil is not confined to the police or the CIA or the government. At least in part, I trace the acceptability of evil to the substitution of "the market." The market works because of selfishness. As "the market" became and becomes the sole and usually undisputed touchstone for organizing our entire society -- not just the buying and selling of goods -- selfishness has displaced what most of us would think of as normal moral values.
Surely a big question is how can you act like these police officers? But there are many other questions about matters that are typically never questioned. How can you sell mortgages to those who you know can't afford them? Bet against your customers? Sell securities of dubious value? The excuse is, I think, it's the way the market works. Buyers make their own choices. If I profit from screwing them over, that's an expression of the market, in which I am playing a small but laudable part.
11/19/11
If Someone Wants To Be A Police Officer
If someone wants to be a police officer, they probably shouldn't be. At least not until being a police officer stops being a legal way to be a thug.
11/15/11
Rush And Ezra Klein Find Common Ground
Ezra Klein today:
Early on, liberals hoped that the supercommittee would become a vehicle for more jobs spending, either because that’s what was required for Democrats to sign off on a deal or, more optimistically, because representatives from both parties would come to see further stimulus spending as necessary.
The only way that sentence makes sense is if "liberal" means "naive imbecile."
About
Rocky Hillside
In the dark of the moon, in the flying snow, in the dead of winter,
war spreading, families dying, the world in danger,
I walk the rocky hillside, sowing clover.
-- Wendell Berry
Location
Edging away from the edge of American space
Links
Riders & Writers
- Biking Bis
News and comments about tours, touring, & racing. Good things not seen elsewhere.
- Carfree Family
The Journal of One Family's Journey Toward Sustainability Sans Car
- Commute By Bike
Many reviews, a DIY project or two, and some fun posts about biking.
- Cycle-licious
A great, active blog.
- Do Right Fear Not
Some bike stuff. Some other stuff.
- FatBoyBiking
The struggles of a fat guy on his way to middle age and the classic battle of the bulge. Against him, the entire agricultural and food production system, American Midwestern attitudes towards food and eating and a lifetime of sloth and drunkenness. His only weapon, his bike.
- for the love of bikes
Lovely bike things, lovingly discussed and photographed.
- Kent's Bike Blog
Kent Peterson is Commuting Program Director for the Bicycle Alliance of Washington. Useful, interesting, and fun (though his panniers look as if he didn't get enough cut and paste time in kindergarten.)
- Martino's Bike Lane Diary
Sharp-witted cycling advocacy and photos
- NYTimes Spokes
NYC city cycling
- Planetary Gears
Jim, of . . . well some other places, is back.
- Sans Auto
Well-written posts on healthy living, family, and how to live better.
- Today's Sermonette
"I've been riding bikes for over 50 years. By my way of thinking, that makes me an expert on everything relating to bicycles. just ask me." And an expert on everything. I can identify.
- Urban Velo
It's a magazine, newsletter, blog, and the mind boggles to think what else.
- Urban-Crawl
A cyclo-centric exploration of alternatives to American car culture, as well as other musings of a cog in the machine.
- Urbana-Champaign Bicycle Commute
Charming, "fresh" writing about biking in University of Illinois Land.
- Velorution
Great links from a London bike shop specializing in folders and commuters, with an unnecessary Flash heading.
- Yehuda Moon
Rick Smith's bikey comic.
Colorado
- Bicycle Colorado
Wrapped up effort to get a "share the road" vanity automobile license plate. In February 2008, failed to raise the maximum fine for running over a cyclist while the driver was failing to yield. (Bicycle Colorado was pushing for $1,000. Radical.)
- Bike Denver
Positive trajectory in doubt, trending back to ass-kiss mode. Too bad.
- Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac
Published in Ft. Collins. "Your resolve to commute by bike is, indeed, the impetus for [Boneshaker:A Bicycling Almanac.] It is you who deserves weighty attention and significant accolades, not celebrity train wrecks and political hearsay, because you are not daunted easily. No, you keep pedaling quietly without recognition, and if you get recognized, it is most likely via a startling horn or outstretched finger. Imagine if we could harness or otherwise bottle your retenue and distribute it to the world’s leaders and workers and thinkers! Oh, the thought! "
- City of Denver's Bike Program
You'll laugh; you'll cry; you'll use a sidewalk.
- Cycle Analyst
The most experienced mechanics in town and the most complete collection of tools and parts in the West. No place like it.
- Denver Critical Mass - YahooGroups
Last Friday of the month. Meet at Civic Center Park at the Seal Fountain pool between 5:30 and 6:00 pm.
- Denver Cruiser Ride
The Denver Cruisers meet at the The Ginn Mill at 2041 Larimer Street every wednesday at 6:30pm, until September 30th.
- Denver Local
Adventures in Local Living
Biking, Walking, and Public Transit in Denver, Colorado - Derailer Bicycle Collective
A free, non-profit, collectively run community bicycle shop on the west side of Denver.
- Kickstand Magazine
The world's first and only cruiser magazine has it's home right here in Denver. Aren't we the lucky ones!
- The Bike Depot
A east side (Park Hill) non-profit bike place that encourages folks to build and fix their own bikes and gives them the tools and help to actually do it. Nice dedicated folks who seem to know what they are doing. (As befits a foundation-funded operation, the website description is opaque and baffling, but I've been there and it's a good place.)
- Track Shack
Friendly, competent, and cool.
Cycling Advocacy
- Bicycle Fixation
A large collection of articles and links on cycling and sustainability.
- Bike Portland
To inform and inspire. And it does.
- C.I.C.L.E.
(Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange) dynamic site promoting cycling as a viable and sustainable transportation choice.
- Driven To Distraction
The NYTimes series on irresponsible, multitasking drivers.
- StreetsBlog
The blog of the New York Streets Renaissance - advocacy in action - and as everyone knows, it happens in NYC first.
- Time's Up!
grassroots group that uses direct action and education to push for a sustainable NYC.
- WashCycle
Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Writers
- Gezellig Girl
Though it's about cooking and food, I love the writing - snappy and downright . . . rollicking. Read this.
Tourists
- A Bikeable Feast
"I want to learn about sustainable agriculture, as much as I possibly can. . . . I plan to hop on my bike and head north, following the growing season in a giant loop around the country, stopping to learn and work . . . I imagine this will take about a year, maybe longer."
- A Honeymoon to Remember
"[They] built the bikes, sold the house, got married, quit a job," and are cycling around Asia. They finished their tour in May 2010.
- crazyguyonabike
THE place for cycle tourists. If you are planning, dreaming, or riding a tour . . . .
- reCycling the World
David Byrne cycled around in the world in 1975. Now retired, he's doing it again. Why? "I can think of nothing better to do."
- The Touring Store
The best, most knowledgeable, compulsive person to talk to about panniers and racks is Wayne. Has any business, internet or brick and mortar, ever know so much and been so helpful about this stuff? His prices are great, too.
Bike Ogling
- Bikes For The Rest Of Us
- Rides A Bike
Movie stars and their self-propelled vehicles.
Japan
- Finding Fukuoka
Fukuoka, Japan.
- More glimpses of unfamiliar Japan
Interesting photos and descriptions of Japan. No bikes.
- TravelJapanBlog
No cycling here but a collection of glimpses of Asia, mainly Japan -- from baseball beer girls to beaches.
Bike Tech
- Mike Sherman's Gear Calculator
Calculates gearing in several useful ways and provides extra info like required deraileur capacity.
- Zinn's Fit Calculator
Lennard's Zinn's bike fit calculator. The link goes to the Road version.
Gardening
- Front Ranger Gardener
Gardening in Denver from the staff Horticulturist with the Colorado State University Extension office in Denver. Good stuff.
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