The Impossible Journey

This is an interesting 8 minute clip, and it correlates with my previous post. It’s a short story of an artist named John Bonner who is attempting to commute from the North Shore (a Boston suburb) into Boston. The author does this with a sort of dry, tongue-in-cheek sort of way…it’s rather entertaining. I originally found this clip at Commute By Bike; here’s a link to John Bonner’s Site.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7121760&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

The Impossible Journey from John Bonner on Vimeo.

>The Impossible Journey

>This is an interesting 8 minute clip, and it correlates with my previous post. It’s a short story of an artist named John Bonner who is attempting to commute from the North Shore (a Boston suburb) into Boston. The author does this with a sort of dry, tongue-in-cheek sort of way…it’s rather entertaining. I originally found this clip at Commute By Bike; here’s a link to John Bonner’s Site.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7121760&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

The Impossible Journey from John Bonner on Vimeo.

(sub) Urban (non) Simplicity

A couple things. Firstly, I have no idea where this photo is from, but it could be a shot of any suburban street in America (I found the photo and the below cartoon here). And secondly, if you are a suburbanite reading this I mean you no disrespect (I spent my teen years in the suburbs), I just think that urban living makes a lot more sense (and I am more comfortable there). If you like suburban living that’s your choice, I am not trying to tell you otherwise. But from a biker/walker/car-lite person, this is how I see it.

For whatever reason I’ve found myself in the suburbs for the past three days (and yes, I drove there. It’s interesting how I found myself getting tense in traffic situations…on a bike this probably would not have happened. But alas, the suburbs are not conducive to biking…even if I was someone who rode distances (which I’m not) the suburbs are really anti-biking…pictures like the one above are all too common…it is a veritable death game to ride a bike in those conditions. To be a suburbanite is to be car-dependent (please, correct me if I’m wrong). This is the reason I found the below cartoon so interesting (and humorous).

And lastly, on one of my recent trips to the suburbs I was in a neighborhood that resembled the one below (that is actually a suburb of Toronto; the image was found here). As I was getting back in my vehicle I stood for a minute or two and looked around. I feel like such an alien in that environment…it doesn’t seem real to me. As I stood there something felt really odd and I couldn’t figure it out. All the pristine McMansions with their perfectly manicured lawns (click here), but something seemed a little off to me…then I got it: where were all the people? All those big prefab houses and all I saw were cars in the driveways, but no people. It was, quite frankly, a little creepy.

>(sub) Urban (non) Simplicity

>A couple things. Firstly, I have no idea where this photo is from, but it could be a shot of any suburban street in America (I found the photo and the below cartoon here). And secondly, if you are a suburbanite reading this I mean you no disrespect (I spent my teen years in the suburbs), I just think that urban living makes a lot more sense (and I am more comfortable there). If you like suburban living that’s your choice, I am not trying to tell you otherwise. But from a biker/walker/car-lite person, this is how I see it.

For whatever reason I’ve found myself in the suburbs for the past three days (and yes, I drove there. It’s interesting how I found myself getting tense in traffic situations…on a bike this probably would not have happened. But alas, the suburbs are not conducive to biking…even if I was someone who rode distances (which I’m not) the suburbs are really anti-biking…pictures like the one above are all too common…it is a veritable death game to ride a bike in those conditions. To be a suburbanite is to be car-dependent (please, correct me if I’m wrong). This is the reason I found the below cartoon so interesting (and humorous).

And lastly, on one of my recent trips to the suburbs I was in a neighborhood that resembled the one below (that is actually a suburb of Toronto; the image was found here). As I was getting back in my vehicle I stood for a minute or two and looked around. I feel like such an alien in that environment…it doesn’t seem real to me. As I stood there something felt really odd and I couldn’t figure it out. All the pristine McMansions with their perfectly manicured lawns (click here), but something seemed a little off to me…then I got it: where were all the people? All those big prefab houses and all I saw were cars in the driveways, but no people. It was, quite frankly, a little creepy.

Codfish "Meatballs" in Tomato Sauce

If you are a regular reader of this blog you know that my diet is the opposite of a low carb diet…my diet contains a lot of bread, rice, pizza, and pasta (whole or multi-grains, mostly). At any rate I had pasta for dinner tonight (again!), and topped it with codfish “meatballs.” I know this may sound a little odd at first, but they are really delicious (and healthy)…and I love the flavor of fish in tomato sauce. These can also be served over rice instead of pasta, and the flavors can be altered as well…they would, for example, be delicious with the addition of a little ginger and curry (in the meatballs and the sauce) and served over basmati rice. But tonight I had them with a traditional Italian-style tomato sauce over whole wheat rigatoni.

If you have a food processor these are so easy to make…the entire process took maybe five minutes (cleanup too longer than preparation), and cooking time was about twenty minutes…but that’s the fun part. Anyhow here’s how I made them:

Combine all of the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. I used two cod fillets, a clove of garlic, a couple eggs, some hot pepper and basil, a handful of breadcrumbs, and a few fennel seeds. Then run the food processor for a minute or two, or until it has a somewhat smooth consistency. Let the mixture rest for a couple minutes (while you wash the food processor) to allow the breadcrumbs to absorb moisture).

Then shape the meatballs and brown them in hot olive oil. Add your favorite tomato sauce (yes, tonight, believe-it-or-not I used a jarred sauce…I also added onion, garlic, peppers, fennel, and a little wine…and the flavor of the fish really really enhances it). Simmer them for a few minutes while you cook your pasta or rice…delicious!

>Codfish "Meatballs" in Tomato Sauce

>If you are a regular reader of this blog you know that my diet is the opposite of a low carb diet…my diet contains a lot of bread, rice, pizza, and pasta (whole or multi-grains, mostly). At any rate I had pasta for dinner tonight (again!), and topped it with codfish “meatballs.” I know this may sound a little odd at first, but they are really delicious (and healthy)…and I love the flavor of fish in tomato sauce. These can also be served over rice instead of pasta, and the flavors can be altered as well…they would, for example, be delicious with the addition of a little ginger and curry (in the meatballs and the sauce) and served over basmati rice. But tonight I had them with a traditional Italian-style tomato sauce over whole wheat rigatoni.

If you have a food processor these are so easy to make…the entire process took maybe five minutes (cleanup too longer than preparation), and cooking time was about twenty minutes…but that’s the fun part. Anyhow here’s how I made them:

Combine all of the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. I used two cod fillets, a clove of garlic, a couple eggs, some hot pepper and basil, a handful of breadcrumbs, and a few fennel seeds. Then run the food processor for a minute or two, or until it has a somewhat smooth consistency. Let the mixture rest for a couple minutes (while you wash the food processor) to allow the breadcrumbs to absorb moisture).

Then shape the meatballs and brown them in hot olive oil. Add your favorite tomato sauce (yes, tonight, believe-it-or-not I used a jarred sauce…I also added onion, garlic, peppers, fennel, and a little wine…and the flavor of the fish really really enhances it). Simmer them for a few minutes while you cook your pasta or rice…delicious!

NYS DMV (part two)

Well, there it is…the Yuba locked to a tree in front of the offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles. There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of brand new bike racks throughout the city (click here to see them), yet none in front of the DMV…I’d like to think that I am not the only person who uses a human powered vehicle to renew their license to drive a motorized one…thankfully there was a tree.

On the bright side…The person who took care of me was extremely pleasant and personable (not to mention efficient)…the entire interaction (including an eye exam and new photo) took no more than five minutes.

>NYS DMV (part two)

>Well, there it is…the Yuba locked to a tree in front of the offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles. There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of brand new bike racks throughout the city (click here to see them), yet none in front of the DMV…I’d like to think that I am not the only person who uses a human powered vehicle to renew their license to drive a motorized one…thankfully there was a tree.

On the bright side…The person who took care of me was extremely pleasant and personable (not to mention efficient)…the entire interaction (including an eye exam and new photo) took no more than five minutes.

NYS DMV


I was at the website of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles today looking for a current city location (I have to renew my driver’s license…what a racket that is…almost seventy bucks, more if you request an “enhanced” license). Anyhow, I spotted a section on bicycles and thought I’d check out what they had to say, below is part of a section cut-and-paste directly from their site (I added the italics to the second sentence to highlight it).

I found this interesting for a few reasons. Firstly that they list info for skaters and bikers together (I guess that’s not that bad…I’m just being nit-picky). Also, I wish there were billboards of this sentence all over the city (with grammar corrected) so I could point at one every time a motorist tells me to get off the road (or honks continually or gives me the finger). What I found most interesting, though (and here I’m being nit-picky again) is the grammatical content of the sentence…does anyone else see what I see in the second sentence. This is the website that represents our state, do they not have editors? Anyhow, sorry about the rant…I know there are errors on this blog–probably this very page–all the time, but this is a state site. On the flip side, after reading this I’m going to try to follow all vehicular laws to see how it affects my ride (no more jumping red lights or coasting through stop signs); I’ll let you know how it goes. Anyhow, to see the actual site, click here.

Are there special traffic laws for bicyclists and in-line skaters?

Bicyclists, in-line skaters, and motor vehicle drivers must all use and obey the same traffic laws. A motorist must recognize that a bicyclist or in-line skater has the same rights as any another motor vehicle driver. Bicyclists and skaters must obey all traffic signals, signs and pavement markings. The bicyclists must use a signal to turn on a roadway, a bike lane or bike path. The bicyclists and skaters who break the law are subject to traffic tickets. Parents are responsible for the violations committed by their children who less than the age of 18.

>NYS DMV

>
I was at the website of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles today looking for a current city location (I have to renew my driver’s license…what a racket that is…almost seventy bucks, more if you request an “enhanced” license). Anyhow, I spotted a section on bicycles and thought I’d check out what they had to say, below is part of a section cut-and-paste directly from their site (I added the italics to the second sentence to highlight it).

I found this interesting for a few reasons. Firstly that they list info for skaters and bikers together (I guess that’s not that bad…I’m just being nit-picky). Also, I wish there were billboards of this sentence all over the city (with grammar corrected) so I could point at one every time a motorist tells me to get off the road (or honks continually or gives me the finger). What I found most interesting, though (and here I’m being nit-picky again) is the grammatical content of the sentence…does anyone else see what I see in the second sentence. This is the website that represents our state, do they not have editors? Anyhow, sorry about the rant…I know there are errors on this blog–probably this very page–all the time, but this is a state site. On the flip side, after reading this I’m going to try to follow all vehicular laws to see how it affects my ride (no more jumping red lights or coasting through stop signs); I’ll let you know how it goes. Anyhow, to see the actual site, click here.

Are there special traffic laws for bicyclists and in-line skaters?

Bicyclists, in-line skaters, and motor vehicle drivers must all use and obey the same traffic laws. A motorist must recognize that a bicyclist or in-line skater has the same rights as any another motor vehicle driver. Bicyclists and skaters must obey all traffic signals, signs and pavement markings. The bicyclists must use a signal to turn on a roadway, a bike lane or bike path. The bicyclists and skaters who break the law are subject to traffic tickets. Parents are responsible for the violations committed by their children who less than the age of 18.

A New Poll (on Meditation / Contemplative Prayer)

I’ve had a personal on-again and off-again relationship with meditation for the last five years or so. Everyone who meditates or prays contemplatively has their own personal reasons and results, and when I meditate regularly I know the benefits first hand (click here for 100 examples) . As of late (the past few months) my on-again off-again practice has been mostly off-again. Simply said, I have trouble sitting for 20 or 30 minutes. I have the desire to sit…I just can’t. I’m wondering if there are others out there in the blogesphere with this same issue. Anyhow, if you feel like it click the poll to the left…if you think it’s a load of crap that’s cool too….see you on the Astral Plane.

>A New Poll (on Meditation / Contemplative Prayer)

>I’ve had a personal on-again and off-again relationship with meditation for the last five years or so. Everyone who meditates or prays contemplatively has their own personal reasons and results, and when I meditate regularly I know the benefits first hand (click here for 100 examples) . As of late (the past few months) my on-again off-again practice has been mostly off-again. Simply said, I have trouble sitting for 20 or 30 minutes. I have the desire to sit…I just can’t. I’m wondering if there are others out there in the blogesphere with this same issue. Anyhow, if you feel like it click the poll to the left…if you think it’s a load of crap that’s cool too….see you on the Astral Plane.

Practical Pedal in Buffalo

In the event that you haven’t come across it yet, there’s an interesting and quirky little quarterly paper called The Practical Pedal, which as you may have guessed is about practical bicycling (Click here for their website). There’s another paper devoted to urban cycling called Momentum (which is a little larger and has more content, click here for their website). I’ve often thought how great it would be to have print editions of either of these magazines in Western New York (the closest place I’ve been able to get Momentum is Toronto, and The Practical Pedal is nowhere near this area). At any rate I emailed both magazines (separately) suggesting they send me some and I would deliver and distribute them for free (by bike, of course). I’ve emailed back and forth with an editor from Momentum a few times…seems I need a commitment from the local community before they can send them (i.e. advertisement). Then I emailed Wiley over at The Practical Pedal…he emailed me back the next day saying, “sure, sounds great.” He had a bundle (100 copies, I believe) sent via ground freight….that’s them sitting on the Yuba. (If you’re reading this Wiley you can see that the Yuba can handle many more bundles than one.) I’m planning on dropping them around town this weekend. My plan is to take them to places in Allentown and the Elmwood Village. If you’re a Buffalonian reading this and have a specific drop off suggestion let me know.