Hans Art

A buddy of mine from college has always been a little odd. I think he'd admit to that. Now, he wasn't odd in the insane-but-facinating way an ornithologist friend of his was (who kept a couple of terrariums full of roaches in his room), but more of a "how does come up with these ideas" kind of odd. That, and he seemed to know nearly everyone in College, which was impressive given that 12,000 undergraduates went there.

He was a good friend, and distance has but softened the friendship a tad.

Anyway, once in a while I'd get a wonderful card from him. Usually very random, but very interesting and unique. This past holiday Mary and I got one that kept us entertained for a good 15 minutes.

Why would you care about such cards? Well, if I'd saved all of them (sorry Hans), I could now sell them for a bundle b/c he's famous! He's got his own store in this thing called the "World Wide Web" selling his one-of-a-kind cards (blank no less, mine came with personalized writing). Check out his shop.

Seriously, if you're tired of the Hallmark cards from the mall, or the "artsy" ones they sell at "antique" shops, or the hippie-cards found at organic produce shops, check out Hans'. They are truly unique and the recipient will never forget the card.

How FAIR is that?

I recently heard FAIR's counterspin on the radio. The show really intrigued me as they pointed out informative biases/misreportings/outright lies in the news stories of the week.

I have to laugh every time they refer to the NY Times because they label it as a "Right Wing" establishment.

I happen to agree with FAIR's viewpoint (it's mine as well) that media has gotten way too cozy with big business (it is big business) and politics, and it's reporting is very slanted. While I enjoy listening to OPB and NPR, I do often find them leaving out a lot of questions I would have asked. Those organizations just aren't the bastion of left-wing reporting that folks make them out to be. As I wrote two and a half years ago, I just don't see all that many folks in politics representing my view. FAIR does a nice job of poking at the issues I want investigated.


Anyway, it's worth a read/listen. You can listen to the podcasts of counterspin through this feed.

Building Stonehenge

This is simply amazing. Hard to argue with a man who shows you how to make Stonehenge:

iBike WW08 (2)

This is the second make-up ride for missing the WW07 ride. I just criss-crossed Witham hill twice (er... crossed it twice, criscrossed once?).

Stats: 43 min, 13.4 mph, 9.67 miles.

iBike WW08 (1)

Well, we went to Hawii. What does that have to do with biking? I didn't.

I could have biked, but it would have been a little lame. I couldn't ike with Simone (no Burley) or Mary (no Burley). The roads have nearly no shoulders, and the bike lanes inexplicably start and stop semi-randomly. I could have gone on one of a small handful of mountain bike trails - but that would have been an entire day away from Mary and Simone. So, I didn't ride.

What's that mean? I've got to ride twice this week to make up for the missed ride.

Today is the first make-up ride. Just a little trip out toward oak creek and back, just missing the rain (whew). It is a pretty flat ride and I pushed pretty hard - thus the higher than average average speed.

Stats: 35 min, 14.7 mph, 8.78 miles.

Pshaw, when I fold paper

it can actually fly.

Shopping

Simone and I went shopping the other day, so she got to ride in a shoppin cart for the second time (she did once earlier with Mary, but it was new to me).

Here she is in all her cuteness:

iBike WW06 (1)

Today was yet beautiful day, especially for an Oregon winter.

Mary was running some errands, so I tossed Simone in the Burley trailer and we went on a ride around town. Let's just say Simone is very forgiving. She can't quite sit up on her own in the Burley with all the bouncing around. I had pillows there, but she basically just laid on her side during the ride. But she seemed happy - she only told me she was unhappy when I tried to "fix" it.

The ride was just out to 53rd, out the Midge Cramer path, up 53rd to Walnut, and back over the top of Witham hill.

Ride stats: 45 min, 12.6 mph, 9.67 miles, and a max of 27 (the fastest I've gone with Simone yet).