An update to the post below

from the same WPD officer.


I have spoken with the investigating officer and found that the cyclist is going to survive. There was a time yesterday when the doctors were not sure how bad the head injury was and felt it was life threatening. His name is Scott 39 years old, did not recognize the last name and can't remember it. The officers who responded to the scene, immediately called myself and [another officer] because they described him as an obvious serious cyclist. They are saying he will be in the hospital for at least a few days but I do not know the long term diagnosis.
This is an opportunity to talk out about the law that some states have passed requiring motorists to pass at least 5 feet over from a cyclist. The reason I bring this up is because the officer who took the report has over 10 years experience on the Department and only works crash investigation. When he talked to me he said he was having a hard time deciding what to charge the driver with. Is it "illegal passing", which the way our law is written, does not really apply (believe it or not) or is it "failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision"? Essentially that charge is when a driver runs into the back of another driver and does not stop in time. The point I am getting at is that our State laws do not neccesarily address this type of accident where a cyclists is in the right with a vehicle travelling in the same direction. Other vehicle laws would apply for other types of crashes such as failure to yield when a car turns in front of a cyclist.
Anyway that is my two cents worth.


I still haven't seen any news on the local media about this, but there is a story about a church selling pumpkins! And thank goodness for that!

This is an email

from the Cape Fear Cyclists listserv. Dated: 1/29/08. A cyclist and Wilmington Police Officer wrote it:

"I don't know what kind of news coverage there will be on this but a cyclist was hit on Market Street this afternoon. It took place in the 6700 block of Market Street. The officer who responded says that he was wearing a helmet and was on the right side of the road just inside the white line. A large box truck came by and struck him in the head, knocking him off his bike. He was rushed to New Hanover [Hospital] with a head injury. The officer told me it was pretty serious.

He was doing what so many of us do on a daily basis. Riding the right way and obeying the traffic laws. The other driver is being charged in the accident but that does not make the injuries any better. Be safe out there."


There hasn't been a word from the local media about this and, to me, that speaks volumes about what people think about alternative modes of transportation and more specifically, about how people think about cyclists.

Sleeveface

How clever.





Click here. Hundreds more.

House of Blues - Myrtle Beach, SC

Saturday Feb. 9th @ 10pm, I'll be playing with the band. Be there. Or don't.




Here's a short, poor quality video of us opening for Sister Hazel @ the House of Blues that someone took from the side stage. That's me at stage left

For the overly paranoid

about terrorism and suspicious activity around the globe, here is a wonderful website that pin points events using google maps and actual news outlets.

Click here to raise your personal terror level to "Holy shit, we're all going to die!"

The map refreshes itself every 5 minutes. A few examples of the terrorism and suspicious activity as I type this:

1. ARKANSAS - Bomb threat made at Toys R Us; officials evacuate building
2. SERBIA - Kosovo terror group issues fresh threats
3. NEW YORK - Bomb-making factory found in Brooklyn apartment of Columbia professor
5. AUSTRALIA - Passenger jets targetted by laser gang
6. THAILAND - Bomb blast injures 8 soldiers in Thai South

Kanasta and her creative process

The artist hard at work:


The artist pushing the limits:



The masterpiece:
A portrait of me.



A perfect likeness:

Undecided about who to vote for?

Click here to take a quiz and see which candidates are most aligned with your views and opinions.
My candidates, according to the quiz:
1. Giuliani
2. Kucinich
3. Obama

Not sure if this is the way I'd vote, but just as I thought, Giuliani is more of a Democrat than a Republican.

House For Sale

The sooner I sell it, the sooner I can start my trip.

Asking price $169,500

Year Built - 1992
Lot Size - .1435 AC
Floors – 2
Sq. Footage – 1,400 +/- (upstairs is unfinished 400+/- SF)
Bedrooms – 2
Bathrooms – 2 full
Parking – Off street concrete driveway/2+ car
Lot Size - .1435 AC
Fenced backyard – Yes
Flooring – Ceramic Tile
Vinyl Siding – Yes

Other:
Central A/C
Central heat
Family room
Dining room attached to the kitchen
Dishwasher
Refrigerator
Stove/Oven
Microwave
Attic (unfinished room)
Washer/Dyer
Deck/Patio


View Larger Map

Coastal NC

Mangos, 100 miles and Rich & Shawna Might be Pirates

I hit the 100-mile mark on my way into work. 11 days into 2008. Actually, once I got to work it turned out to be 103.47 miles.

*The numbers as it stands:
Distance: 103.47 or the approximate distance from Portland, OR to Olympia, WA
Average Speed: 13.83 or the average speed of an Alaskan Salmon
Calories: 4,870 or 37 mangos

*Not including the ride home from work today.

As far as the declaration of dropping some pounds I made sometime around Thanksgiving, I haven’t weighed myself in a few weeks, but from looking in the mirror and judging from the way my clothes fit, I have lost a few lbs. I'm still going to the gym a couple times a week and biking to work. Seems to be paying off.

I also want to point people in the direction of my friends, Rich & Shawna’s, blog: Veganic Verses

We don't eat meat, and in certain company that freaks people out...or makes them curious. Even after 20 years of eating this way, we still get the occasional question: "What do you guys eat?!" The Veganic Verses is our answer. This is a mere sampling of the scrumptious bounty we enjoy, and could also serve as a resource for anyone interested in trying vegan cuisine themselves.

Using language like 'bounty', they might be pirates too. So, even if you eat meat, check out their recipes, it's a great way to switch up your dinner routine. And if your resolution was to start eating less meat or no meat, click on over.

's up, lil' man?

Yesterday, at the community college where I teach part-time, I was looking for a particular person to get some information. I went to her office and was told that she was helping with registration in the cafeteria. Yes, registration is still held on campus, not online and in a cafeteria. I go to the cafeteria. I had never met the woman I was looking for, so I walk up to the registration window and before I could get a word out, a guy sitting in a chair, on the other side looked up at me and says, ’s up, lil’ man? I was so taken by the greeting, it didn’t really click what he had said, so I asked for the woman that I had mentioned before without responding to him.

’s up, lil man? He said. ‘s up. Lil’ man.

1. I’m in my mid-30s--ok, late 30s. Little man is something you call a six year old on the basketball court after he heaves the ball in the air and it hits the bottom of the net. Nice try, lil’ man.

2. I’m an instructor. I tell my students to call me Eric or Mr. Vithalani or Mr. V but not to call me “hey you” or “hey asshole” and now I have to include “lil’ man.”

3. If I were a student, it seems unprofessional to call me “lil’ man.” “s up,little man? You be wantin’ some classes up in this bitch. I can turn you on, yo. I gots some Englishes. You wants some Maths, I gots some o’ dat too. You let me know. You my Lil’ man.

4. Maybe hitting the gym and the 22 mile round trip bike commute to my other job is paying off. ‘s up, lil’ man?

From last night's gig

Sai Collins - guitar and singing
Me - Cajon (the box)
Sonny - Flute (slightly not in key) and djembe
Random guy leaning against the wall - djembe

I about threw up

when I saw this picture:


And then I got mad as hell. And then I debated whether or nor to post it. And then I figured people should see it. I saw it on cyclist Tony Ashworth's world tour journal. Tony is in China right now and that is where the photo was taken. Does it really surprise me that it's from China?!!?!?!
The specific entry is here.

There is so much wrong with China that I'd need to make up an entire new internet to list everything. How about we all STOP buying crap Made in China to start with....

Keen's Commuter Cycling Sandal

May 10, 2008 Edit: Since posting this I have picked up a pair of Keen's cycling sandal. I love them. They are comfortable, light weight, walkable and by far my favorite cycling shoe I've owned to date. Feel free to ask me questions about them. A couple of pics:







Keen, the outdoor/trail shoe company, has made a cycling/trail sandal that is now available at REI. The shoe retails for $115 and is SPD compatible. Seems like it could be a good touring shoe with all of the vents and coverage over the toes. I doubt the price will drop anytime soon because the cycling season starts in the spring. Another good feature, according to Keen’s website, is that they are “treated with ÆGIS Microbe Shield®, antimicrobial technology that helps prevent odor.” This is a good thing because I can’t wear Teva type sandals because the sweat from my feet make them stink really, really bad. I might have to get a pair once it warms up around here.

Huckabee is a Scab

So last night, Letterman and Leno were back on the air after two months of no shows because of the writer’s strike. I watched Letterman. He was on point. Funny as ever and sporting a beard that Robin Williams likened to Civil War reenactment. I say keep the beard, Dave. Apparently, Letterman’s production company, World Wide Pants, made a deal with the Writer’s Union. No problem there. He’s able to have writers working for him and guests that support the writer’s without having worry of being know as an asshole Scab. Leno on the other hand, did not. Leno is not allowed to have union writers working for him and is not allowed to have Hollywood type guests. Anyway, my point: Presidential candidate Mike “I kill tiny birds with guns” Huckabee was Leno’s guest last night. So, at some point during the strike Huckabee said, "I support the writers, by the way, unequivocally, absolutely. They’re dead right on this one. And they ought to get royalties off the residuals and the long-term contracts." In typical political fashion, he goes back on his word to gain some political stride as the Iowa caucus in upon us. From what I heard on NPR this morning, as Huckabee crossed the picket line striking writers held signs reading, "Huckabee is a Scab."

It just occured to me

that I haven't put up pictures of my latest bike, the Surly Cross Check. A very windy 10.35 miles on it today to see a movie with H and the kids. Umm...my guess is that The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep will not be getting any Oscars. And Happy New Year!