Recently in outdoors Category
"I didn’t see him there," says syndicated columnist and all-around asshole Robert Novak, after a pedestrian he hit in DC was splayed across his windshield.
In 2001, Novak screamed at a pedestrian in DC. After the incident he was quoted as saying:
"He was crossing on the red light. I really hate jaywalkers. I despise them. Since I don't run the country, all I can do is yell at 'em. The other option is to run 'em over, but as a compassionate conservative, I would never do that."
I had a car once. A really nice Mazda Tribute with lots of room, a moon roof and primo air conditioning. But I had to get rid of it, fortunately before the gas prices started rising. I really liked it a lot, but my friends were all very thankful because apparently I'm a bit of an aggressive driver, much like Novak. So I have some insight into Novak's angry mindset towards the lower-caste carless. Pedestrians in DC can be an infuriating bunch - from self-absorbed cell phone conversationalists wandering their way across the street, herds of Jennifers walking 4 abreast in a classic Roman phalanx (OMG just like Sex and the City!!!), or people just taking their time jaywalking where they will go.
DC bicyclists have a bad reputation too, mostly due to the road habits of those cool bike messengers you can find any weekday afternoon at the Big Hunt happy hour. They are as arrogant and condescending as Novak, as they are the hippest of the hip and usually in a great amount of agony from being so painfully subversive all the time. It hurts to be so cool, and that's why they're grumpy all the time. This anger from being so hip clouds their judgement and causes them to be reckless bicyclists on both road and sidewalk.
Another reason bicyclists can be so grumpy is that by the time you see their grumpy selves on the street, they've probably almost died several times that day. I come close to death every time I ride my bike to the gym. As bad as the shots have been around my 'hood, I'm still more likely to die from an auto collision than a gunshot wound. A lot of DC motorists are talking on their cell phone (illegal), smoking pot (more common than you'd think), are generally aggressive, or just don't see bicyclists at all when driving. It's that or they don't think bicyclists are valid or worthy of any respect on the road. And red lights seem to be just as optional to motorists as they are for bicyclists.
When you're on a bike and you nearly die, it makes you kind of grumpy. It makes you want to avoid drivers any way you can, and if that means running a red light if it's clear on your left and right, especially if it gets you that much further away from the pot smoking driver that you are afraid of.
And don't get me started on pedestrian and motorist use of designated bike lanes. Those are the narrow aisles on the right side of some streets that have the bicycle symbol. In case you didn't know, they're for bicyclists, not for double parking, hailing a cab, or for you to use when you need to pass someone on the right. That's my lane, not yours. You get 95% of the rest of the paved world, so let me use what little is allowed for me.
So the debate between motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists continues. Bicyclist and writer Andrew Sullivan has covered the conflict for some time.
Thanks to M.V. Jantzen for the photo of the bike lane.
My garden's first sunflower bloomed over the weekend, celebrating the hottest days of summer so far:
The corn is as high as an elephant's eye, or in this case sorghum. Rather than forming cobs on the side, the seeds will develop on the tassel, and hopefully provide food for wandering flocks of goldfinches:
A brugansia sits among some echinacea:
No angel's trumpet blossoms have developed yet, perhaps next summer. Thanks Luther for the brugs!
I called mom this evening to catch up, and mentioned I was going to Fire Island with some friends in August, to which she knowingly replied, "Oh!"
"You've heard about it?" I asked.
"That's where all the gays go! I saw it on TV once."
I think she watches too much Bravo. I'll have to get her a CD of The Pines' greatest hits of 2008 for Christmas. I won't tell her about the Meat Rack...
In other news back home, a semi carrying cheese burst into flames. Luckily, the refrigerated trailer was unharmed, and the precious cargo was intact.
Sean takes a ride on the Island Girl on the Mississippi near LaCrosse, Wisconsin. As a wee lad I used to jump off the bridge shown in the 4th photo down on that entry.
Tonight I went to a neighborhood 'SMD' (don't know what that means) meeting at Kennedy Rec Center featuring Kevin Chapple with a word from MPD 3rd District Commander George Kucik . Let me warn you that you should eat a big meal before one of these meetings and make sure you pick a comfy chair if you can find one. Anyway, it was good to hear about increased police efforts in Shaw and plans for more farmer's markets. I hadn't heard that the Giant was closing though. DC Chief of Police Cathy Lanier showed up too, which was promising.
Marc Fisher writes about the dumb idea to make all the bargain buses to NYC drop off and pick up passengers at L'Enfant Plaza. I'm glad that idea was scrapped. I love the prices and convenient locations of the various competing (and super-cheap!) buses that can whisk you off to the Big Apple.
Yesterday I trimmed some overhanging branches from the front garden area and sidewalk. Several of the boys from down the block gave me sincere and honest thank you's as they walked by, having never said a peep to me in the year I've been here. I guess that's how you get on their good side.
Bear rescues bear from drowning. Scroll down and click on the video for woofy footage of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologist Adam Warwick after the word from the sponsors. Note to urban Bears: do not try this at home just because you think you look like that biologist. And you are not one with another species by virtue of title nor are you a strong black woman. Or Suzanne Sugarbaker.
(Photo provided to FWC courtesy of Becky Bickerstaff)
Deliberate hookworm infestation study may one day lead to allergy relief.
Furry varmint causes levee break in Missouri.
Bio-inspired sensor based on mayfly nymph gill plates to one day replace the proverbial canary in a coal mine. University of Maryland research, fyi.
The avian evolutionary tree has just been shook up: mitochondrial DNA research discovers much of how we classify birds is wrong. Parrots share a more common ancestor with songbirds; as do falcons, no longer putting them together with hawks. And hummingbirds are more closely related to nighthawks than previously thought.
All the Joss Whedon cultists are in a tizzy, as there is a new show coming out on FOX in January entitled "Dollhouse" featuring Eliza Dushku and Battlestar Galactica's Tahmoh Penikett.
Kylie Minogue knighted with Order of the British Empire (OBE) honor from Prince Charles.
Bulletproof couture for the fall 2008 DC runway and shooting range.
Me and Aaron at Blowoff in NYC, June 28, 2008. Photo by JoeMyGod_NYC.
And those are real rosy cheeks, not botox, you wretched bitches...
Congrats to MetroWeekly's woofy co-founder and contributor Seann Bugg for being a Capital Pride Hero.
The pic at left was taken this Tuesday, by then I was all beat up and sunburnt from the tournament. I was led to believe that Ireland was all cloudy and gloomy, but that was not the case. My tours of the countryside before and after the tournament were relatively free of rain, and I was told by the locals that I totally lucked out on the weather.
Here's a wee Leprechaun I met on the trip who took me on a tour of the lakes and highlands just outside of Dublin:
When I arrived in Ireland I immediately travelled to the Aran Isles to take in the sights. Some of the team had arrived at the tournament site by then as well, and some people wondered where I was: "Where's Jimbo?" To which some sharp-tounged queen responded, "Oh, he's in The Shire practicing his Elvish."
It was indeed like The Shire over in the western half of the island. Did you know they even surf there? Who knew? After meeting some locals and asking about visiting other places steeped in ancient history, I was told I'd already been to the right places, including seeing the ruins of Castle O'Brien and an ancient stone age fort on the edge of spectacular 300' cliffs. I have seen a lot, but Ireland offers so much more. I spent most of my economic stimulus check in Ireland, not exactly what our President had in mind for the money.
Here's St. Kevin's Church in Glendalough. These days you don't need a catapult to storm the castle tower:
The level of play of gay rugby teams from around the world has improved considerably since the first international gay rugby tournament was held in DC. Sydney's play was spectacular, and they won the tournament. My B-side also played Seattle, Chicago and Phoenix. All of us played several matches each day, and it was a test of endurance and constitution by the end of it. Luckily I emerged only with scrapes and bruises. By Sunday the San Francisco Fog B-side needed some extra players, and I was fortunate to play with them as flanker for half of a match.
On Monday I went out on the town with some of the Dublin Emerald Warriors and we danced until 3am. Best. Monday. Night. In. Dublin. Ever. It didn't hurt that the DJ played almost half a dozen Kylie Minogue songs, and I even met the pocket Bear from Bear Force One, who were in Dublin for a performance.
It was a great vacation and I highly recommend a visit. I didn't take any photos during the rugby matches, but I hope to get some from the tournament soon from friends who did take pictures. A full set of the rest of the photos can be viewed here.
A quick greeting from Ireland. We're on day 1 of the tournament and I've already been attacked by a Bear, and it was nice. Ginger everywhere . Some photos of my quick trip to the Aran Isles is here.
