Somehow it's Sarah Palin's Fault
I just can’t figure out how. Maybe the increased weight of her new wardrobe shifted the tectonic plates of the area causing this eruption?
Warning Signs
It’s Texas law – obey all warning signs. Time to dust off your Zombie Plans – you do have a Zombie Plan, don’t you?
The Non-Renewal of My USA Cycling License
USA Cycling is the national (non-profit) entity whose purpose is, according to their official Articles of Incorporation, “the preservation, development, and administration of the sport of bicycle racing within the United States of America.”
Well, sort of. Keep in mind that we, as cyclists, pay anywhere from $60-100 a year for a racing licenses, to help facilitate this agencies $13 million budget, their $2.9 million payroll, international racers (like the Olympics) and ostensibly the organization of a grassroots cycling movement in this country.
…finally I was transferred to an entirely helpful gentleman in the “Athletics Department” named Gregory Cross. Mr. Cross confirmed for me that of the 5 Under-23 riders representing the United States at this weekend’s Cyclocross World Championships in Hoogerheide, The Netherlands, only 1 of them was “funded”, i.e. getting their travel and expenses paid for by USA Cycling. The other 4 not only must pay for their own airfare & luggage fees, but they then must pay an $800 “team travel fee” to USA Cycling for hotel, food, and ground transportation during their stay in The Netherlands. And this is how we cultivate the next generation of champions?
I’ve always wondered why Americans riders, with a couple notable exceptions, suckitup when it comes to international cycling competition. This might go a ways to explaining it.
Small Steps
In the preliminary votes, the “strengths and weaknesses” has been removed from the mandatory Biology curriculum. But as you can read on the Texas Freedom Networks Blog – still a long way to go.
Radio London
In 1964, two Texans bought a decommissioned WWII Minesweeper, outfitted it with a 50KW Radio Transmitter and parked it in the English channel in an effort to bust the BBC’s monopoly and bring the British Invasion back to Britain.
For all the noise they made in the U.S. you would never guess that the Rolling Stones and The Beatles had a hard time getting air time in England during the 60’s. In fact it wasn’t until a Texan from Midland started broadcasting from an old Mine Sweeper in the English Channel that the British Invasion came home.
and…
The majority of programs were presented live from a studio in the hold. The ship’s metal bulkheads presented problems with acoustics and soundproofing that were originally solved by lining the walls with mattresses from the crew’s bunk beds, which meant none of them could sleep during the day.
Listen to the superb Teaxs Music Matters piece on Radio London or read more on Wikipedia.
One State Solution
If the present interdependence and the historical fact of Jewish-Palestinian coexistence guide their leaders, and if they can see beyond the horizon of the recent violence and thirst for revenge toward a long-term solution, then these two peoples will come to realize, I hope sooner rather than later, that living under one roof is the only option for a lasting peace.
From and OpEd in the New York Times witten by, of all people, Muammar Qaddafi, the leader of Libya.
IE
It has come to my attention that this site looks like crap in Internet Explorer 6 and 7. It has also come to my attention that alot of people need to change to firefox, but that’s neither her nor there. I’ll get it fixed soon-ish.
Bigpoppa Goes to Washington
As mentioned in the previous post, Brian is one of the fortunate five million or so to be in D.C. for the big party on Tuesday. He keeps sending me photos and updates which I’m going to post up here, like the fantastic shout-out to the website and my mom’s potato salad that you see to the right (sadly, about as close as either of them will get to this inauguration (mom’s potato salad is so good, it’s destabilized nascent democracies in the past)).
Initially, I was pretty skeptical of his plan to go hang out with so many of our country men jammed into one city in such a politically charged time, but apparently it’s pretty awesome. According to him there’s quite the party vibe, with people extremely excited about what’s to come. I still don’t really understand how you can fit 2.5 million people on the mall, but i guess we’ll find out tomorrow.
Anyway, I’m sure you’ll get better coverage of tomorrow’s events by watching CNN or some-such sanctioned, legitimate news agency. But if you want bigpoppa’s…unique…perspective, check back I’ll keep posting whatever he sends me. Photos are here.
Obama Burger
From the intrepid Brian J. Pinero, esquire – currently on the ground in D.C. Apparently the entire place cheers every time one is ordered.
Bike Ads
I’ll take the fact that a very vocal Prop 8 Proponent turned them down as too racy as solid proof that Titus has the best ads in the industry.