>It’s Beyond Me.

>Tonight I did a few errands on the Yuba Mundo (had it mildly loaded…see previous post) and was on my way home cruising at a somewhat slow speed. As I crossed this intersection I glanced at the traffic light and the sun was in my eyes. The light apparently had just changed and I put myself in extreme peril (of getting hit by a vehicle and also verbal abuse). As I crossed the intersection cars began to move, then stopped to let me pass. Then someone laid on their horn and and poked their fist out the window (I thought that only happened in cartoons) and yelled, “Get outta the way, loser.” Loser, I don’t think so…I’m not the one all bitter and angry over a four-second wait. It really bothered me at first, then I felt the sun on my face again, and the wind in my (ever thinning) hair…and I rolled home a content man. I just don’t understand how someone can yell out the window at another person…it’s beyond me. I just don’t get it.

We’re Finally Getting It.

Last winter newly designed bike racks for the city of Buffalo were unveiled…I posted on it at the time (to read that post, click here). There are a few different designs and two of them are attached to auto parking meters…does anyone besides me see the irony in this? The other is a sort of inverted “U.” All of them have a Buffalo logo on them. At any rate in the last couple days I have seen multitudes of newly installed bike racks all over the city…thank You Byron Brown. We’re finally becoming ever so slightly biking friendly in this city; we’re finally getting it.

To read more of the Mayor’s proclamation click here; if you are a business in the City of Buffalo and would like a free bicycle rack in front of your building, click here.


>We’re Finally Getting It.

>Last winter newly designed bike racks for the city of Buffalo were unveiled…I posted on it at the time (to read that post, click here). There are a few different designs and two of them are attached to auto parking meters…does anyone besides me see the irony in this? The other is a sort of inverted “U.” All of them have a Buffalo logo on them. At any rate in the last couple days I have seen multitudes of newly installed bike racks all over the city…thank You Byron Brown. We’re finally becoming ever so slightly biking friendly in this city; we’re finally getting it.

To read more of the Mayor’s proclamation click here; if you are a business in the City of Buffalo and would like a free bicycle rack in front of your building, click here.


Advice From Julia: Don’t Fear Failure

If you’re a fan of Julia Child (as I am) you’ll find these two videos inspiring. Not only was she full of knowledge, she was also inspiring and encouraged people to simply cook…even if you thought you couldn’t. If you have a few minutes watch both these clips. The first one (a mere 45 seconds) is a younger Julia telling her viewers not to fear failure. The second (about six minutes) is an older Julia (75 yrs at the time) putting her advice to the test. She’s on live television (the David Letterman Show) making hamburgers and the cooking equipment fails…but she doesn’t. She never misses a beat…the hamburger quickly becomes a bizarre sort of steak tartare…I’m not sure who is funnier, her or Letterman.

To read a short bio of Julia, click here.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6202899&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1


>Advice From Julia: Don’t Fear Failure

>If you’re a fan of Julia Child (as I am) you’ll find these two videos inspiring. Not only was she full of knowledge, she was also inspiring and encouraged people to simply cook…even if you thought you couldn’t. If you have a few minutes watch both these clips. The first one (a mere 45 seconds) is a younger Julia telling her viewers not to fear failure. The second (about six minutes) is an older Julia (75 yrs at the time) putting her advice to the test. She’s on live television (the David Letterman Show) making hamburgers and the cooking equipment fails…but she doesn’t. She never misses a beat…the hamburger quickly becomes a bizarre sort of steak tartare…I’m not sure who is funnier, her or Letterman.

To read a short bio of Julia, click here.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6202899&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1


Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#86)

A cardboard box containing homemade Indian food:

Saag Paneer, Chicken Makhani, Basmati Rice with Dried Cranberries and Pecans, Roast Pork with Dried Fruit Chutney, Samosas with Green and Tamarind Chutneys, Naan and Kulcha Breads.

A cable lock.

Experiments In Fermentation

I’ve been experimenting with fermentation for years…it never ceases to amaze me…put the ingredients together and provide the correct conditions (temperature and no oxygen) and it basically creates (grows) itself . Bread, yogurt, pickled vegetables and sauerkraut…all forms of fermentation. Anyhow, my latest experiment is two-fold. I’m making a form of kim chi using whole cayenne chilies (just picked…aren’t they beautiful). Then after the cabbage ferments I’ll (theoretically) remove the chilies, puree them to make hot sauce. I chopped cabbage, tossed it with the chilies and salt yesterday…today it’s already bubbling. To quote a Tom Petty song…The Waiting Is The Hardest Part. (I’ve posted on fermentation in the past, to learn about its health benefits and for recipes click here.)

>Experiments In Fermentation

>I’ve been experimenting with fermentation for years…it never ceases to amaze me…put the ingredients together and provide the correct conditions (temperature and no oxygen) and it basically creates (grows) itself . Bread, yogurt, pickled vegetables and sauerkraut…all forms of fermentation. Anyhow, my latest experiment is two-fold. I’m making a form of kim chi using whole cayenne chilies (just picked…aren’t they beautiful). Then after the cabbage ferments I’ll (theoretically) remove the chilies, puree them to make hot sauce. I chopped cabbage, tossed it with the chilies and salt yesterday…today it’s already bubbling. To quote a Tom Petty song…The Waiting Is The Hardest Part. (I’ve posted on fermentation in the past, to learn about its health benefits and for recipes click here.)

Car-Free Condo


I’ve posted about the excellent bike culture in Toronto a few times in the past (click here to read one)…and the city still impresses me (on many levels). Anyhow, a reader from Toronto sent me a link to an interesting story. It’s regarding the building of a new high-rise condo in the city. It will replace the century old building that currently houses the Royal Canadian Military Institute (pictured above). What is really interesting about the future condo is that the building plans call for no spaces for parked cars…let me say that again only a little differently: a 42 story residential condo and there will be no parking, at least not for cars. What it will have is parking spaces for at least 350 bicycles….there is hope! Click here to read the story. (Thanks Sally.)