Posted On Friday, March 18th, 2011 By David Veatch
That’s how many times I was nearly hit by a driver not paying attention. I don’t know that there’s any way to compare that to the average ride for the average rider, but for me, it’s twice the number of near misses I’ve had for the last three four years. My own memory is very likely faulty, but I only remember one other instance. Yesterday morning, I was heading south on Lowell and turning left onto 91st when a woman heading east on 91st Terrace went straight through the intersection towards 91st St after I was already well into my turn. She, in effect, wanted to share precious intersection space with me. I saw it happening, easily adjusted my course and we pulled into the eastbound lane side by side with me in the middle and her next to the curb. She sped ahead with a look of shock (reproach? distaste?) on her face and I moved to the right behind her. I tried to catch her at Foster – you know, for a friendly reminder about paying attention – but the light turned before I got there and she was gone. Oh well. This morning, I was much closer more »
Posted On Monday, December 6th, 2010 By David Veatch
I’ve mentioned before that riding my bike to work every day for a year taught me more about driving than driving for 20 years did. I may have even mentioned that I’ve mentioned it before, though I can’t find where now. I recently read a post by Dave wherein he basically says he’s going to drive the speed limit and if you don’t like it, then that’s just tough. I read another post by rainycamp over at Bike Noob wherein he marvels at the general looniness of drivers. I’m right there on board with Dave. I drive the speed limit, give (or even take) a couple mph. Sometimes, when I’m passing I even drive the speed limit in the passing lane (note it’s called the “passing lane” and not the “speeding lane”). Yes. I’m that guy. *gasp* The horror! The aggravation obvious in the wild gesticulations, disgusted shaking of heads and clearly mouthed epithets of those behind me wishing to push the limits of officer tolerance do nothing to sway me. Believe me, you’ll get where you’re going, and not only will you do it with less risk of catastrophe, but you’re likely shaving more seconds off the end of more »
Posted On Friday, October 8th, 2010 By David Veatch
I’m giving the Octoginta another go on Sunday. It’ll be an 80 mile challenge. Here’s why: I’ve not ridden more than 40 miles in a single ride since the Triple Bypass last July. Pssst. Here’s a little secret about that ride… Even though that ride is 120 miles, it’s really only 60, because for the other 60, all you do is hold on for dear life while you, screaming like a school girl, pass cars at 45-50mph going downhill. I’m about 15lbs fatter than I was then. Not merely heavier. No. It’s all fat. No muscle here. I have, for better or worse, reclaimed a liking for chicken patties and frozen pizza. Also, I’m married now, which apparently necessarily means I’m fat and happy. It’s amazing how suddenly the former arrived after the latter. As I wasn’t very strong then, I can’t be very strong now. That means I’m pretty weak. Please see my previous post, 100 Whatnots, for details. As of this writing, I’m halfway through Week One. I’ll take my camera with me on Sunday to document my suffering. Did I mention early registration starts at 7, and that it’s 45 minutes away? Feel free to laugh at more »
Posted On Friday, August 20th, 2010 By David Veatch
is an ex-con recently released is looking for casual sex is looking for casual sex with a male is looking for casual sex with a male at 5:30pm this evening does not feel it is necessary to shower prior to this encounter is in construction feels he is able to “open up” with his conversation partner because they have “formed a bond” has never met his conversation partner face-to-face enjoys the effects of alcohol on casual sex with a male enjoys the effects of alcohol on casual sex with a male when he is in the “giving position” enjoys the effects of alcohol on casual sex with a male when he is in the “receiving position” favors tequila does not go “ass-to-mouth” does not mix marijuana and alcohol prefers bowls to pipes or cigarettes is in need of a haircut is unwilling to pay for said haircut believes “friends with benefits” is the most beneficial of all possible relationship scenarios has endured scrotal beatings while incarcerated did not particularly enjoy said scrotal beatings finds watching others involved in group encounters “hysterical” is completely unaware that I can hear every foul word he utters probably wouldn’t care if he knew
Posted On Thursday, October 29th, 2009 By David Veatch
I meant to post about this yesterday, but I got busy right when I got home, and then when the busy wore off, I got relaxed on the couch in front of the television. To set the scene, as I was riding home yesterday, around the corner of 91st and Lamar, I was part of a long line of traffic caught behind a school bus that had stopped to let off some kiddos. The woman in the car in front of me was reading what looked like business documents. The papers were propped up on her steering wheel, and she was reading them the entire time I was behind her. Granted, it was very slow moving traffic, and it was stop-and-go while we approached the stop sign, but she was reading while she was driving. She was reading. While she was driving. Nothing is so important that it couldn’t wait until she got to where she was going. I don’t care what it was. Nope. Not even that. It could have waited. Remember the school bus? There were children all around. They were running this way and that on either side of the street. How many of you haven’t seen more »
Posted On Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 By David Veatch
Last night, I checked the mail and had three Netflix movies waiting for me! Excellent! Except for one small thing… I don’t have a Netflix account. Huh. Immediately suspicious, I decided to dig in and see what I could find out. My first step, having opened the movies to see what they were (nothing worth watching, and no… no pr0n), I sat down at the laptop and brought up netflix.com. I’m not a member… well… I’m not a knowing member, so I had no idea what my username would be, much less my password. Normally, you can have instructions sent to the e’mail address on file, but I was confident that in my case, my own e’mail address wouldn’t be on file. However, they have a method of logging in if you don’t remember, or have access to the e’mail address you signed up with. It asks for the first name, last name and card number used to sign up with. Using my real first and last name, I started going through my credit cards to see which one had fallen into the wrong hands. I didn’t have far to go… I got a hit on the first try. I more »
Posted On Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 By David Veatch
WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa – A man faces up to [a mere] 60 days in jail in connection with a November 2007 accident that killed a West Burlington man who was riding a bicycle. A judge found Marvin Oberly guilty last week of driving on the wrong side of a two-way highway and passing a vehicle on the wrong side. Douglas Kenney died of [the tragic and needless] injuries he suffered in the accident on Nov. 9, 2007 [due to Oberly’s utterly irresponsible and reckless actions]. Oberly is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30. He faces [a paltry] 30 days in jail for each of the counts and up to a year suspension [rather than the far more just complete and permanent revocation] of his drivers license. [It is left as an exercise for the reader to rationalize how 60 days in jail and a year's suspension balances out the irresponsibility and recklessness that resulted in Kenney's death.] Prosecutors argued that Oberly drove up behind Kenney in his pickup and collided with the bicycle Kenney, who was riding his bicycle in a manner consistent with safety and law. Oberly testified provided the lame and weak excuse during his trial that more »
Posted On Thursday, January 15th, 2009 By David Veatch
Slightly off-topic post today, but this is, or could be, a rather pressing matter, and I’d like both to record the timing of it, and submit a request for thoughts and ideas. I took The Squanto to the vet yesterday, and found out that he’s 20lbs. On a 16lbs dog frame, that’s a lot of extra weight. It’ll dramatically increase his chances of having all manner of internal organ problems, including his heart and lungs, increase his risk of cancer, and very likely give him premature joint issues, such as arthritis, and could be the cause of his coughing as the extra weight compresses his trachea. I’d like to keep him around for a while, and given Schipperke’s lifetimes, that could be another 8 years or so. That means he has to lose that weight I’ve been aware of this for some time, and to maintain his weight at the healthy 15-17lbs, I’ve had him on a pretty strict diet of 1/2 cup dry dog food, given to him twice daily. In spite of that, he’s still been gaining. There is only one possible reason: The neighbors. I knew the neighbors fed him treats every now and again, but didn’t more »
Posted On Friday, January 9th, 2009 By David Veatch
I rarely disagree with Bruce Schneier, and I’m not entirely sure I do in this case, but I’m certainly not convinced that this is a good use of technology, especially when “security” can be so completely irrational… Reporting Unruly Football Fans via Text Message Fans still are urged to complain to an usher or call a security hotline in the stadium to report unruly behavior. But text-messaging lines — typically advertised on stadium scoreboards and on signs where fans gather — are aimed at allowing tipsters to surreptitiously alert security personnel via cellphone without getting involved with rowdies or missing part of a game. As of this week, 29 of the NFL’s 32 teams had installed a text-message line or telephone hotline. Three clubs have neither: the New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans. Ahlerich says he will “strongly urge” all clubs to have text lines in place for the 2009 season. A text line will be available at the Super Bowl for the first time when this season’s championship game is played at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1. “If there’s someone around you that’s just really ruining your day, now you don’t have to sit more »
Posted On Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 By David Veatch
I’m on a conference call with my headphones on. It’s the kind of one-ear headphone set with a microphone that curves around in front of the mouth. I have a bag of peanuts. I have a handful of peanuts. I swing hand with peanuts up towards face to place peanuts in mouth. Peanuts hit microphone. I have a lap full of peanuts.