Dave's Good Stuff

I’ve known I’ve had poison ivy in my yard for a couple years, but I get hit by it rarely enough that I didn’t do anything more than a cursory examination with little in the way of actual familiarity with the vile plant. I got it again a few weeks ago, though, and decided I’d had enough. Today I did some serious research over lunch, and my suspicions grew as to the location…

I just checked, and I definitely found it. It climbs up the tree in my front yard pretty far, as you can see to the right, and judging by the size of the leaves, is a relatively old vine. At *least* a few years… more than I’ve been here, anyway. There is more at the base of that same tree growing from the root system that spawned that filthy, horrific vine.

An yet it looks so peaceful and serene in that image to the left, doesn’t it? Don’t be fooled. It’s of the Devil.

If you look closely, you can see the telltale hairy root feelers that keep the vine attached the the tree. Nasty things. They just look evil. I hates them. I truly do.

I pulled quite a bit off that tree out front, and I think my next step is to wash the gloves I was wearing very very very well. If they’re not machine washable (I’ll be *very* careful when I check), I’ll just throw them away. It’s not worth it.

I found more along the west side of the house, and more yet on the east side in the wood pile. Three little patches, and one hefty vine. I couldn’t find any in the back yard, which would explain why I’ve never gotten any from Squanto. You’d think, if there were any back there, he’d have gotten it on his fur, and transferred it to me. That hasn’t to the best of my knowledge, ever happened. I’m going to count that as a positively Good Thing. I’ve only ever gotten it from when I, myself, was outside working.

More images in the online album…

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 glare from the sun prevented him from seeing Kenney[, which would have been inconsequential had be been driving on the correct side of the road and not passed another vehicle on the shoulder].

Original here.

Story.

Witnesses to the crash have told smh.com.au the group of about up to 60 professional cyclists were riding south on Southern Cross Drive, just south of Dacey Avenue, Mascot about 6.30am when a driver, agitated with being held up, accelerated in front of the pack and then slammed on his brakes, giving the riders no time to stop.

This has to be one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. It’s right up there with a college girl thinking the 1st Amendment gives her the right to steal (link unavailable – you’ll have to trust me on that)… except, that didn’t involve a sickening level of pain and tragedy.

Speeding Motorist Kills Teen Cyclist and Sues Parents for Damages to Car

An Independence teen was killed last night (2007.11.08) around 10:30 in a hit-and-run by two men fleeing from the police. Near 39th and Lee’s Summit Road, the men struck him and fled the scene, to be apprehended later having abandoned their car in a wooded field.

All my talk of driver and cyclist responsibility lately amounts to nothing in the face of something like this.

My heart goes out to his family, and the family of the two brothers that killed him. All are in dreadful pain right now.