Mooseknuckler Cycling Alliance

Para esos conductores nerviosos y estresados, los ciclistas queremos decirles:
-Despacio mi cuate; el derecho es un carril de baja velocidad
-Voy en mi carril, en medio del carril, mi carril, tengo derecho a circular por la calle, que es de todos.
-Si intentaras rebasarme, tendría que ser a una distancia mínima de 1.5m o lo que es lo mismo, no invadas mi carril.
-Si me “echas las luces” ¿qué esperas que haga? ¿qué te ponga un
espejo? No puedo cambiarme al carril central pues los carros ahí irán más rápido. No puedo subirme a la banqueta pues puede ser peligroso para mi y para los peatones. No puedo acelerar instantaneamente para igualar tu velocidad. Y lo que te gustaría que hiciera: NO VOY A DESAPARECER DE REPENTE, así es que aguántame tantito, gracias.
- Si me echas las luces intentando fastidiarme, no creo que lo logres, pues no traigo espejos retrovisores y tu luz no me lastima, sólo hace brillar mas la calcomanía reflejante de mi bici.
-Si levanto mi mano izquierda al acercarme a una intersección, significa que voy a seguir derecho, es mi forma de indicártelo,pues no tengo direccionales y no debería ir en el carril central.
-En caso de que no pueda indicarte mi vuelta o que seguiré derecho, te estaré mirando con el rabillo del ojo en repetidas ocasiones, y espero que anuncies tu vuelta con tu direccional.
Lamento que estés desesperado, que tengas prisa y que me consideres un estorbo: yo soy un ciudadano en un vehículo, con tanto derecho como tú a circular por la calle; pero además estoy contribuyendo a mejorar la calidad de tu aire, ahorrando espacio y mejorando el tránsito de la ciudad.

Saludos

Angel García Fernández
Translation to be posted shortly.

Well, the Alliance got out recently, as in last night. Kevin, who has recently changed his name to Golden Knuckler, Speedy Seth and myself went up the ever so popular Green Canyon trail. Nothing exciting happened. There was a nice, light snow falling from the beginning until the end which evoked that ever present during night riding feeling of peace. I know I’ve already said this a million and one times but the night time is the right time.

Anyways…

You should all take note of the banter going on in the comment section of my post “Education Vouchers” pipe in and let us all know what you think, because it is important.

Also, check this out. It’s just good clean fun.

Peace. Love. and Revolution.

Sometimes I really hate Pandora. All I wanted was to listen to a little bit of the sappy Phantom of the Opera soundtrack. After about ten songs it still hadn’t played anything from the Broadway musical. I heard Donny Osmond who as you should all know I think is the biggest dumb ass that ever walked the face of this planet. When I was in high school we went, mostly to get out of class, to see Joseph and the Amazing Tecnocolor Dreamcoat in which he starred. It was a matinee but the place was pretty full. He screwed up a song and stopped the entire show to do it again. I was pissed. Plus I thought he was a dumb ass before that so it just solidified what I already knew.

It also play Reo Speedwagon, that’s when I turned it off. This doesn’t have any pull on my sexuality, like I said before, just cause I like knickers doesn’t mean I’m gay.

The weather, I’ve decided, has a significant influence on my sleep patterns. The closer we get to entering winter and the more leaves fall the more I sleep. I clocked out around 9:30 and didn’t clock back in til 9 this morning. For those of you who can’t add or substract or whatever that’s 11 1/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I’m feeling pretty damn good today. And to top it all off, it was supposed to rain and I woke up to a beautiful autumn day in the polar north. Brilliant!

Peace. Love. and Revolution.

These are hot off the pixel press from Mr. Gurr. Not sure if he took them or stole them from somebody else but here they are for your viewing pleasure.

It’s been a while since anything has torked me enough for me to take the time and write up my thoughts on the matter. Dammit they torked me.

I recieved in the mail Saturday a mailing encouraging people to vote in favor of school vouchers. The logic behind their claims was that parents should be given the opportunity to decide where their children attend schools. From my understading there is nothing currently legislated that restricts parents from matriculating their children in private schools. Parents already can choose as to where their kids go, they just don’t recieve governmental help to do it.

I guess the other argument in favor of vouchers is that somehow by allowing parents to use taxpayers dollars to pay for private eduacation schools will be forced to compete with each other for funding and therefore all schools will get better. Unfortunately, that is not how it works. I can speak from experience. As you all know I lived in Chile for an extended bit. There school system is almost entirely privatized. And yes, schools compete to get students to enroll. What this really does is allow those who can pay to give their children a superior education while the regular Jose who tries to make a living struggles to get his children into school. Then when kids graduate and head off to Universities or work, they are followed by where they went to school. Those who had money and were able to attend better schools are guaranteed the places in the best Universities and are always hired in front of the others keeping the poor, well poor.

Privatizing the education system in any way is a bad idea. It is a step towards concreting the class struggle that had disappeared but is slowly reappearing since the Reagan years. If we want to keep the American dream of being able to improve one’s social and economic status we cannot allow the wealthy to take money away from children who would be stuck in the same schools with less money.

And that is all there is to it.

Peace. Love. and Revolution.

No riding for Knuckler this weekend. No I spent Sunday completely locked up in my apartment feeling sad for myself and watching movies. It was wonderful. I have no complaints at all. Needless to say my apartment is spotless and I am well rested. I guess I just couldn’t get going, plus everyone sallied on me so I had no one to force me to go. Bloody Sallies.

Anyways…

Just a public announcement and “felicitaciones” to Fast Eddie.

I got a ring from him, first time in months, yesterday afternoon. He was calling to let me know that Barbara was pregnant, two months along actually. So, I hope you all know what this means. There will be two little Chilean dudes to kick our asses on the trails.

FELICITACIONES LALITO.

Yada Yada Yada fricking do da day.

Kevin and I did Jardine Juniper last night in the dark, cold, silent, fall air. I think that is why I love riding at night so much. It’s bloody peaceful. No one is out, there is no noise, it’s just you and the trail. I felt good last night which is strange seeing that I hate Jardine. I know I adopted this trail but it wasn’t my choice and next year it will be something different, at least that is what I ask God for every night. I am hoping to be able to do work on White Pine because I actually like that trail.

When we ride more than once a week it becomes apparent how few trails there are here that I enjoy or have any desire to ride. I guess I should explore more of the Right Hand Fork area but it seems to take a long time to ride any of these trails so they always get put off.

Anyways, I’m just rambling so I’ll sign off.

Peace.

Anyone who has or is married will enjoy this, it’s just good clean fun. 

Another night of meetings.

Anyone who has been to a city council or planning and zoning meeting knows that they are the least fun things to attend. I get to get to one of the two every Wednesday. And to top it off with a cherry, the meetings are in Wellsville, Utah population just over 3,000. The only thing entertaining about said gatherings it the people who serve on the council. They keep me rolling the entire time with their banter and comments. Once councilwoman even said, and I quote, “That’s Communism.” And she was very serious. Of course, what she was talking about had absolutely nothing to do with communism vs. capitalism or with economic systems in general. But anyways….

They also opening their meetings with a prayer. I’m not sure if the other little cities in the area do the same but it really surprised me the first time. It’s an opening ceremony according to their jargon which I guess keeps them from getting in trouble. I guess in a town of this size in podunk Utah not too many people are going to complain.

If you care to see what has happened you can check it out here.