Actually, I'm just trying not to indulge in it for Lent.
I get mad. Angry at new stuff or angry at stuff from 15 years ago. Whatever, it's all pointless.
So, I'm trying to give it up for Lent.
I'll let you know how that goes.
- Steve
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Irony
I find it ironic that, when our one car breaks down, we suddenly have two.
The Neon needs a new head gasket and is in the shop. I borrowed my mom's car and Mary Ellen left us her car for the weekend, so -1 = 2!
Steve
The Neon needs a new head gasket and is in the shop. I borrowed my mom's car and Mary Ellen left us her car for the weekend, so -1 = 2!
Steve
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Paper scissors rock
Microwave distorts cordless phone and both of these two trounce my wifi connection.
Is everything 2.4 ghz? Anyone have a phone that's not? I need one!
Steve
Is everything 2.4 ghz? Anyone have a phone that's not? I need one!
Steve
Sweetness and light
I called Uly that today and then was pleasantly surprised when I looked it up --
sweetness and light
A phrase popularized by the nineteenth-century English author Matthew Arnold; it had been used earlier by Jonathan Swift. According to Arnold, sweetness and light are two things that a culture should strive for. “Sweetness” is moral righteousness, and “light” is intellectual power and truth. He states that someone “who works for sweetness and light united, works to make reason and the will of God prevail.”
- Steve
sweetness and light
A phrase popularized by the nineteenth-century English author Matthew Arnold; it had been used earlier by Jonathan Swift. According to Arnold, sweetness and light are two things that a culture should strive for. “Sweetness” is moral righteousness, and “light” is intellectual power and truth. He states that someone “who works for sweetness and light united, works to make reason and the will of God prevail.”
- Steve
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
A lot of work today
I have a lot of stuff to do today - CityBeat work, bills, service work planning and care of Uly.
I'm trying to get it all done. (caught up.)
Anyway, not much to say. I feel like I have to do a lot more with less time and make better choices in that time.
- Steve
I'm trying to get it all done. (caught up.)
Anyway, not much to say. I feel like I have to do a lot more with less time and make better choices in that time.
- Steve
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Reform conference examines media's responsibility
My coverage of the National Conference for Media Reform:
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now interviews D'Army Bailey, founder of the National Civil Rights Museum at the site of Martin Luther King's assassination.
Memphis -- As the media reform movement, now about five years old, picks up speed, its scope is tightly focused on what the Rev. Martin Luther King called "the madness of militarism."
At its core, the movement calls for inclusive, truthful coverage, a democratic press that refuses to be President Bush's lapdog and new legislation to break up media monopolies. It's been galvanized by the Iraq War, but stopping that war isn't at the forefront of the movement anymore.
Last weekend the National Conference for Media Reform was buzzing with the question, "How do we stop the American invasion of Iran?"
One possible answer is impeachment. In the next couple of months the New Mexico State Legislature will likely ask Congress to begin impeachment proceedings against President Bush and Vice President Cheney, according to David Swanson, director of Democrats.com. He said that it's imperative this happen lest future presidents operate as mavericks using the Bush precedent.
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now and journalist Larry Everest discussed concerns that Bush might be planning to attack Iran. Goodman said Bush is acting in the interests of preserving a 21st century American empire.
U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Cleveland) worried that the start of impeachment proceedings could accelerate a war but said, "If Bush attacks Iran, all bets are off."
Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said the current wars stand out in American history as ones that are sanitized by the media.
"This is really a war of disconnect," he said. "You really don't see the depth of sacrifice. You never see a dead American soldier on the news. You never see it."
Rieckhoff said mainstream coverage ignores the stories of the Iraqi people. He condemned the use of embedded journalists. Embedding endangers other journalists because insurgents see reporters as just an arm of the military, he said. Embedded reporters are too close to U.S. troops to be effective, he said.
"You can't criticize me if I'm covering covering your ass," Rieckhoff said.
A large number of the 3,500 journalists and activists at the conference here were women and people of color. A handful from other countries attended, too. Media reform as a civil rights issue was a recurring theme.
The discussion of free speech and indecency is upside down, according to Lisa Fager, an activist from Washington, D.C. Corporate interests have dumbed down radio for black audiences, she said. Dialogue or even music that criticizes the government is missing, replaced by gossip, she said. When the First Amendment is cited, it's to defend lyrics that talk about "bitches, pimps and hoes."
"Nobody wants to fight for my freedom of speech when I actually want to talk about something," Fager said.
Likewise, indecency fines are levied against people like Howard Stern, who plays to an audience of thirtysomething white men. A fight against indecency is supposed to be protecting children, yet urban stations that cater to teens play music rife with sexual themes and the degradation of women, Fager said.
"There's a right wing agenda behind indecency, and there's also a progressive use," she said.
Several sessions dealt with the marginalization of whole populations. The consensus was, if you're a person of color, a woman, poor or not American, you just aren't being heard.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) addressed the conference. If you're concerned about health care, global warming, the war or almost any other major issue, he said, "You are kidding yourself if you are not concerned with corporate control of the media."
Sanders decried the press coverage of opposition to the Iraq invasion in 2003.
"Day after day those of us who opposed the war were holding press conferences that you never saw," Sanders said. "In terms of the war in Iraq, the American media failed and failed grotesquely. They are as responsible as President Bush for the disaster that now befalls us."
Sanders said it's no accident that we don't hear stories about common people, the labor movement or the nation's health care crisis.
"Somebody is supplying us with a mirror, and we want that mirror to reflect the lives of ordinary people," he said.
Sanders said it's the time to reopen discussion about the Fairness Doctrine, which required equal time for issues debated on broadcast channels. Congressmen Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) said revision of the 1996 Telecommunications Act is being discussed in Congress.
Hinchey said the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine in the 1980s caused the rise of right-wing radio.
"The question is: Is it going to move back now that we're in charge?" Hinchey said. "The country today is at one of the most critical moments in its history." ©
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now interviews D'Army Bailey, founder of the National Civil Rights Museum at the site of Martin Luther King's assassination.
Memphis -- As the media reform movement, now about five years old, picks up speed, its scope is tightly focused on what the Rev. Martin Luther King called "the madness of militarism."
At its core, the movement calls for inclusive, truthful coverage, a democratic press that refuses to be President Bush's lapdog and new legislation to break up media monopolies. It's been galvanized by the Iraq War, but stopping that war isn't at the forefront of the movement anymore.
Last weekend the National Conference for Media Reform was buzzing with the question, "How do we stop the American invasion of Iran?"
One possible answer is impeachment. In the next couple of months the New Mexico State Legislature will likely ask Congress to begin impeachment proceedings against President Bush and Vice President Cheney, according to David Swanson, director of Democrats.com. He said that it's imperative this happen lest future presidents operate as mavericks using the Bush precedent.
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now and journalist Larry Everest discussed concerns that Bush might be planning to attack Iran. Goodman said Bush is acting in the interests of preserving a 21st century American empire.
U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Cleveland) worried that the start of impeachment proceedings could accelerate a war but said, "If Bush attacks Iran, all bets are off."
Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said the current wars stand out in American history as ones that are sanitized by the media.
"This is really a war of disconnect," he said. "You really don't see the depth of sacrifice. You never see a dead American soldier on the news. You never see it."
Rieckhoff said mainstream coverage ignores the stories of the Iraqi people. He condemned the use of embedded journalists. Embedding endangers other journalists because insurgents see reporters as just an arm of the military, he said. Embedded reporters are too close to U.S. troops to be effective, he said.
"You can't criticize me if I'm covering covering your ass," Rieckhoff said.
A large number of the 3,500 journalists and activists at the conference here were women and people of color. A handful from other countries attended, too. Media reform as a civil rights issue was a recurring theme.
The discussion of free speech and indecency is upside down, according to Lisa Fager, an activist from Washington, D.C. Corporate interests have dumbed down radio for black audiences, she said. Dialogue or even music that criticizes the government is missing, replaced by gossip, she said. When the First Amendment is cited, it's to defend lyrics that talk about "bitches, pimps and hoes."
"Nobody wants to fight for my freedom of speech when I actually want to talk about something," Fager said.
Likewise, indecency fines are levied against people like Howard Stern, who plays to an audience of thirtysomething white men. A fight against indecency is supposed to be protecting children, yet urban stations that cater to teens play music rife with sexual themes and the degradation of women, Fager said.
"There's a right wing agenda behind indecency, and there's also a progressive use," she said.
Several sessions dealt with the marginalization of whole populations. The consensus was, if you're a person of color, a woman, poor or not American, you just aren't being heard.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) addressed the conference. If you're concerned about health care, global warming, the war or almost any other major issue, he said, "You are kidding yourself if you are not concerned with corporate control of the media."
Sanders decried the press coverage of opposition to the Iraq invasion in 2003.
"Day after day those of us who opposed the war were holding press conferences that you never saw," Sanders said. "In terms of the war in Iraq, the American media failed and failed grotesquely. They are as responsible as President Bush for the disaster that now befalls us."
Sanders said it's no accident that we don't hear stories about common people, the labor movement or the nation's health care crisis.
"Somebody is supplying us with a mirror, and we want that mirror to reflect the lives of ordinary people," he said.
Sanders said it's the time to reopen discussion about the Fairness Doctrine, which required equal time for issues debated on broadcast channels. Congressmen Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) said revision of the 1996 Telecommunications Act is being discussed in Congress.
Hinchey said the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine in the 1980s caused the rise of right-wing radio.
"The question is: Is it going to move back now that we're in charge?" Hinchey said. "The country today is at one of the most critical moments in its history." ©
This Is What War Looks Like
“… a burned infant trying to nurse from its dead mother’s breast …”
When we think of war, I think a lot of us imagine U.S. soldiers in khaki uniforms advancing upon enemy troops on a battlefield or moving like cats among shattered urban buildings. But it’s important to recall the true wages of war, that it falls most heavily on women and children.
The Memory Hole, operated by journalist Russ Kick presents, “This is War,” a horrific look into how bad it really is. This line from reporter Richard Boyle in Vietnam, haunts me: “I could watch a burned infant trying to nurse from its dead mother’s breast, see young men with their faces blown away, witness a boy deliberately gutted … and never protest.”
I’m shocked at what we’re capable of doing. Do we blame the imperialist war machine? The government? Ourselves? Are we complicit by virtue of being U.S. citizens for war crimes committed by our troops? What can be done to evolve beyond this brutality?
A prayer for mercy is all I can offer.
— Stephen Carter-Novotni
When we think of war, I think a lot of us imagine U.S. soldiers in khaki uniforms advancing upon enemy troops on a battlefield or moving like cats among shattered urban buildings. But it’s important to recall the true wages of war, that it falls most heavily on women and children.
The Memory Hole, operated by journalist Russ Kick presents, “This is War,” a horrific look into how bad it really is. This line from reporter Richard Boyle in Vietnam, haunts me: “I could watch a burned infant trying to nurse from its dead mother’s breast, see young men with their faces blown away, witness a boy deliberately gutted … and never protest.”
I’m shocked at what we’re capable of doing. Do we blame the imperialist war machine? The government? Ourselves? Are we complicit by virtue of being U.S. citizens for war crimes committed by our troops? What can be done to evolve beyond this brutality?
A prayer for mercy is all I can offer.
— Stephen Carter-Novotni
Thursday, January 18, 2007
The road to the National Civil Rights Museum
I'd never even heard of the National Civil Rights Museum before, but it made sense. Memphis was the city where Martin Luther King was assassinated. It was also the host city for the National Conference for Media Reform which drew upwards of 3,500 journalists and activists to one of America's poorest cities January 12-14.
Memphis is so poor, in fact, that their bus service stops running at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday nights. (even though, strangely, their trolleys run until 1 a.m.) The homeless shelters also charge admission - a minimum of $7 a night.
So on Saturday, after running around Behle Street with Justin Jeffre - of the band 98 Degrees and now a media activist - I decided the easiest way to return to the Emmanuel Catholic Worker House in Midtown, where I was staying, was to hitch a ride.
My ride turned out to be Memphis Circuit Court Judge D'Army Bailey, who was also attending the conference and described himself as "having done some activist work in the '60s." The judge dropped me off and I didn't figure on seeing him again.
I only found out about the museum the next day, on my way back to the airport. The Seattle-based artist I was hitching with wanted to see it before his flight. We drove through miles of urban blight trying to find it and, when we finally got to the address, we came to a run down hotel, painted hospital-scrub green, that looked like it was from the 1960's. Which, of course, it was.
"Holy God," I exclaimed. "This is where King was shot. They kept the whole thing intact."
And there, on the balcony, standing over a blood stain almost four decades old, in front of room 306, behind the wreath marking King's last place on earth, was Judge Bailey being interviewed by Democracy Now's Amy Goodman.
Anyway, that's how I got that photo that went with my story.
- Stephen Carter-Novotni
Memphis is so poor, in fact, that their bus service stops running at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday nights. (even though, strangely, their trolleys run until 1 a.m.) The homeless shelters also charge admission - a minimum of $7 a night.
So on Saturday, after running around Behle Street with Justin Jeffre - of the band 98 Degrees and now a media activist - I decided the easiest way to return to the Emmanuel Catholic Worker House in Midtown, where I was staying, was to hitch a ride.
My ride turned out to be Memphis Circuit Court Judge D'Army Bailey, who was also attending the conference and described himself as "having done some activist work in the '60s." The judge dropped me off and I didn't figure on seeing him again.
I only found out about the museum the next day, on my way back to the airport. The Seattle-based artist I was hitching with wanted to see it before his flight. We drove through miles of urban blight trying to find it and, when we finally got to the address, we came to a run down hotel, painted hospital-scrub green, that looked like it was from the 1960's. Which, of course, it was.
"Holy God," I exclaimed. "This is where King was shot. They kept the whole thing intact."
And there, on the balcony, standing over a blood stain almost four decades old, in front of room 306, behind the wreath marking King's last place on earth, was Judge Bailey being interviewed by Democracy Now's Amy Goodman.
Anyway, that's how I got that photo that went with my story.
- Stephen Carter-Novotni
Saturday, January 13, 2007
In Memphis
This will likely be a short, non-poetic post since I'me quite tired and it's about 4 in the morning here.
Before you ask, no, I didn't tie one on - I crashed - hard - at about 4pm yesterday after arriving in Memphis Airport at 10am, stopping at Emmanuel House (a Catholic Worker house where I'm staying), dropping my stuff and heading to the Media Reform Conference.
I attended like two sessions - sorta - too tired and the speakers too boring. One woman read nervously some speech she'd prepared. That's just not a real speaker panel and not why I'm here. I used to stay out of courtesy for speakers and now I just leave. I'm here for the business of news and have limited time, so if they're boring, well, screw it.
Em House folks have been very kind and I feel a bit bad that I wasn't able to socialize, but I had three hours sleep yesterday, so my tank is empty or was,anyway.
Maybe we can hang on Sunday after the Con closes.
I need to email folks and schedule interviews for this evening.
I miss Beck and Uly very much. Thank you, all who are helping them out this weekend.
More later.
- Steve
Before you ask, no, I didn't tie one on - I crashed - hard - at about 4pm yesterday after arriving in Memphis Airport at 10am, stopping at Emmanuel House (a Catholic Worker house where I'm staying), dropping my stuff and heading to the Media Reform Conference.
I attended like two sessions - sorta - too tired and the speakers too boring. One woman read nervously some speech she'd prepared. That's just not a real speaker panel and not why I'm here. I used to stay out of courtesy for speakers and now I just leave. I'm here for the business of news and have limited time, so if they're boring, well, screw it.
Em House folks have been very kind and I feel a bit bad that I wasn't able to socialize, but I had three hours sleep yesterday, so my tank is empty or was,anyway.
Maybe we can hang on Sunday after the Con closes.
I need to email folks and schedule interviews for this evening.
I miss Beck and Uly very much. Thank you, all who are helping them out this weekend.
More later.
- Steve
Friday, January 12, 2007
In Chicago, on my way to Memphis
I feel okay about flying half the time.
The rest of the time I imagine what will happen in a crash.
I'm not sure whether my glasses would melt to my face first or if I'd be crushed first.
Am I scared of flying, pain, death or being roasted at 500mph?
Steve
The rest of the time I imagine what will happen in a crash.
I'm not sure whether my glasses would melt to my face first or if I'd be crushed first.
Am I scared of flying, pain, death or being roasted at 500mph?
Steve
Friday, December 29, 2006
Is a blessing that's withdrawn a curse? - An imperfect day
I have to say that I'm pretty bummed today and strangely, it was a really good day at the start.
Beautiful weather, a nice bike ride, found a couple of free bike seats for the baby on the road and then a guy called and said he wanted to take Ghost.
We met. It seemed perfect - lots of land, another Shepherd on the farm, a really nice family.
But it was, I'm convinced, too quick. After we left Ghost bit their dog and has been aggressive with him. So, it's off and this blessing is withdrawn. I pick up Ghost tom orrow morning. He's a sweet dog and I think he got scared after we left. Lonely for us and in a new environment. Nothing smelled like home.
More on this later.
Beautiful weather, a nice bike ride, found a couple of free bike seats for the baby on the road and then a guy called and said he wanted to take Ghost.
We met. It seemed perfect - lots of land, another Shepherd on the farm, a really nice family.
But it was, I'm convinced, too quick. After we left Ghost bit their dog and has been aggressive with him. So, it's off and this blessing is withdrawn. I pick up Ghost tom orrow morning. He's a sweet dog and I think he got scared after we left. Lonely for us and in a new environment. Nothing smelled like home.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
The big Free sale!
Becky and I are giving away all sorts of free gifts. We're cleaning out our home of stuff we don't use. Want something, check out this link to Craigslist Free Stuff and email us.
It's all going, going gone!
Ho Ho Ho.
Let us do the shopping for you. Ill conceived gifts from the land of misfit toys.
Friday, December 08, 2006
The Last Ride
I’m on I-71 and I see a sign saying, “THE LAST RIDE.” Passing the grated trailer, I see it’s a semi full of pigs on their way to slaughter.
It’s too dark and I can’t see their faces. These are anonymous animals with nothing to do but die.
An NPR talk show plays on my car radio, and people discuss whether Bush could be swayed that we’re losing the Iraq war or what would need to happen for us to win. I think of the anonymous soldiers — too many have died for us to remember their names — and I recall what the first woman elected to Congress, Jeanette Rankin, said back in the first half of the 20th century: “You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.”
That’s what all the pundits and politicians aren’t getting. It’s not just this war, it’s any war. It’s not winning or losing, but at best mitigating the bloodshed. It’s all slaughter; and if we’re to survive, as a species, we need to learn how to do something else. Otherwise we’re all just anonymous, in the dark and on our last ride.
— Stephen Carter-Novotni
It’s too dark and I can’t see their faces. These are anonymous animals with nothing to do but die.
An NPR talk show plays on my car radio, and people discuss whether Bush could be swayed that we’re losing the Iraq war or what would need to happen for us to win. I think of the anonymous soldiers — too many have died for us to remember their names — and I recall what the first woman elected to Congress, Jeanette Rankin, said back in the first half of the 20th century: “You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.”
That’s what all the pundits and politicians aren’t getting. It’s not just this war, it’s any war. It’s not winning or losing, but at best mitigating the bloodshed. It’s all slaughter; and if we’re to survive, as a species, we need to learn how to do something else. Otherwise we’re all just anonymous, in the dark and on our last ride.
— Stephen Carter-Novotni
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Out of the tunnel and in the can
I've arrived from the tunnel vision of my illness.
The flu is largely behind me, though I carry a nagging cough as a souvenir. Uly has a cough, too, but, like mine, it's almost past.
The illness was like a slow motion bullet, passing through my wife, my son and then me. My consolation in getting sick was that it was through with them, at least.
I purchased a DVD RW drive and can finally do all that serious film editing that I wanted to do. The Oster wedding video was first and I'll post a link to the Youtube vid when it's up.
- Steve
The flu is largely behind me, though I carry a nagging cough as a souvenir. Uly has a cough, too, but, like mine, it's almost past.
The illness was like a slow motion bullet, passing through my wife, my son and then me. My consolation in getting sick was that it was through with them, at least.
I purchased a DVD RW drive and can finally do all that serious film editing that I wanted to do. The Oster wedding video was first and I'll post a link to the Youtube vid when it's up.
- Steve
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Seeking a home for Ghost
Becky and I are looking for a home for Ghost.
Ghost, if you haven't met him, is a 3-year-old White German Shepherd (or mix, favoring this breed) that we found in 2004.
Ups: Ghost is lovable and very gentle, good with children. He's the most beautiful dog I've ever seen. Wants to play and will let you hold him like a baby, if you can. Very intelligent and loyal. He looks intimidating and would defend you. He plays well with other dogs.
Downs: He sheds white hair, he is a bit of a Marmaduke type and gets excited. He jumps up on people sometimes, though he is easily controlled with the threat of a spray bottle. He can jump a chain link fence, so a privacy fence or leashed walks are needed.
Also: Ghost is 70 lbs and a big dog. He needs daily exercise and companionship. He's a good dog for someone active and who has experience with dogs. He is not a good choice for a first dog.
Please tell us a bit about yourself and why you could give him a good home.
Why: We love him, but with the new baby, he hasn't had much attention and it doesn't look like that will change. We're seeking a home with a loving family that will give Ghost a lifetime home. He'll return the favor with love and kisses and friendship.
Steve and Becky Novotni
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Landing Place: Arrival
So we swung into LP community at about10pm and stayed up talking 'til midnight.
It feels a lot like home - the Brownhouse - the same way Sojourners does in SF. Three adults and a little boy, Micah, live in this home. There are three more community houses that make up LP and a number of folks who have their own apartments, too.
We're staying in Patience's room. She's from Boston, originally. I think she speaks French - there's an Amelie poster on the wall and (more compelling evidence towards this theory) there's a phrase glued to her laptop:
douce comme un ange respondant le bonheur et un sourire partout oi elle va
Babel fish translates this to:
soft like an angel respondant happiness and a smile everywhere oi it goes
What a relief it is to be away from home, even if it's only a hundred miles.
It feels a lot like home - the Brownhouse - the same way Sojourners does in SF. Three adults and a little boy, Micah, live in this home. There are three more community houses that make up LP and a number of folks who have their own apartments, too.
We're staying in Patience's room. She's from Boston, originally. I think she speaks French - there's an Amelie poster on the wall and (more compelling evidence towards this theory) there's a phrase glued to her laptop:
douce comme un ange respondant le bonheur et un sourire partout oi elle va
Babel fish translates this to:
soft like an angel respondant happiness and a smile everywhere oi it goes
What a relief it is to be away from home, even if it's only a hundred miles.
We spoke about power at church a couple of weeks ago...
...and it's been on my mind since.
I thought, during this discussion, that the role of an anarchist is to destabalize power when we see it in others and surrender it when we see it in ourselves.
As a journalist, my role is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. I really enjoy that affliction part.
Here's some awsome lyrics from Bikini Kill's song, Rebel Girl. Uly likes to doze to this:
That girl thinks she's the queen of the neighborhood
She's got the hottest trike in town
That girl she holds her head up so high
I think I wanna be her best friend
Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl
Rebel Girl you are the queen of my world
Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl
I think I wanna take you home
I wanna try on your clothes
When she walks, the revolution's coming
In her hips, there's revolution
When she talks, I hear the revolution
In her kiss, I taste the revolution
Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl
Rebel Girl you are the queen of my world
Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl
I think I wanna take you home
I wanna try on your clothes
That girl thinks she's the queen of the neighborhood
I got news for you -- she is!
They say she's a slut, but I know
She is my best friend
Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl...
I really like you, I really love you
I really wanna be your best friend
Love you like a sister always
Soul sister, blood sister
Please be my rebel girl
I thought, during this discussion, that the role of an anarchist is to destabalize power when we see it in others and surrender it when we see it in ourselves.
As a journalist, my role is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. I really enjoy that affliction part.
Here's some awsome lyrics from Bikini Kill's song, Rebel Girl. Uly likes to doze to this:
That girl thinks she's the queen of the neighborhood
She's got the hottest trike in town
That girl she holds her head up so high
I think I wanna be her best friend
Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl
Rebel Girl you are the queen of my world
Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl
I think I wanna take you home
I wanna try on your clothes
When she walks, the revolution's coming
In her hips, there's revolution
When she talks, I hear the revolution
In her kiss, I taste the revolution
Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl
Rebel Girl you are the queen of my world
Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl
I think I wanna take you home
I wanna try on your clothes
That girl thinks she's the queen of the neighborhood
I got news for you -- she is!
They say she's a slut, but I know
She is my best friend
Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl...
I really like you, I really love you
I really wanna be your best friend
Love you like a sister always
Soul sister, blood sister
Please be my rebel girl
Monday, October 30, 2006
The Ohio to Erie Trail: the road from Columbus to London
This is a brief description of the bicycle ride I took with my buddy Sam a couple of weeks back. I didn't find a lot online describing this leg of the Ohio to Erie bike trail, so I wanted to make some notes for my future use and that of other riders.
Equipment: We rode mountain bikes with chromoly frames and aluminum rims. Mine is a 5-year-old Diamondback with front shocks. Sam’s was a 20-year-old Ross, stiff frame.
The Ohio to Erie Trail
The first thing you should know is that the Ohio to Erie trail, which stretches from the Ohio River to Lake Erie (hence the name), is a 325 mile, limited access, paved trail for bikes, skaters, equestrians and peds that is supposed to be about 70 percent complete.
Much of the trail is built on train tracks. Other parts run the path of the old Erie Canal. (I believe this is called the Towpath trail, stretching north of Columbus, though I haven't ridden this section yet. You may recall that donkeys and horses towed boats along the canal, hence this name.
Context
As I understand it, there are trails like this webbing the whole US. I would like very much to ride cross country with my son, Ulysses, one day.
Starting at 64 King
64 King is the address and home to our friends, the Landing Place community. LP is an intentional Christian community like the one in which my wife Becky and I live - Vineyard Central.
Sam and I left at about 7 a.m. on a cold Saturday morning. Heading west from the intersection of High Street and King, near Ohio State University Campus, we rode about a mile to the Olentangy River. A bike path, with several dead ends, eventually leads to the Scioto river. From there, we opted to take 40 West - West Broad Street from Downtown. The trail may continue a bit here, but we were not certain how far. Part of it, a bridge, was being torn down. I'd be very interested in any info anyone has on this leg of the trail. Earlier we ran into a section that was closed by barbed wire and chain link fence. Why is this? Strange. At the Scioto River we encountered a full scale replica (surprisingly small) of the Santa Maria. Many homeless sleeping at the riverbank, too.
We travelled 40 West for about 8 miles to the intersection of I-270, the city's beltway. This part was a lot of sidewalk riding. Pretty flat. Lots of places to eat or use the bathroom.
Just before I-270, we dropped south on Georgesville Road - highway riding, limited berm. Drivers were reasonable and got over for us, but I don't like narrow, 1 foot shoulders. It gets rural at this point. We took Georgesville Road to Aikire Road and headed Southwest to Georgesville.
***If you break down – On Georgesville Road, just south of 40W, there's a Meijer. We picked up a tire there when Sam’s innertube began to bulge through the sidewall. From now on we’ll carry spares, but Meijer is a godsend. Next closest places for civilization and bike parts are London and Columbus.
**Bring extra water – even on a cold day (50 degrees) we drank a lot and could have had more if we had been carrying it.
Georgesville was unremarkable. We hitched a ride for part of this because the road was a two lane highway. We came this route, btw, because we were searching for the trail between downtown Columbus and Lily Chapel. It doesn't exist here yet, as far as I can tell.
Aikire Road leads to Lily Chapel. It becomes Lily Chapel-Georgesville Road. Train tracks run parallel to this road. Will that be the trail one day? Any readers with advice on this, please comment.
In the town of Lily Chapel, which looks very small and quiet to me - lots of farms, not much industry - we proceeded towards the large grain silo (some sort of tall, cyclidrical structure, anyway) that marks the center of town. We headed straight past the cross road that leads to the towers and on to CR-103/Wilson Road. We made a right on Wilson and headed toward and then past a radio tower. Just past the tower is the trailhead of the Lily Chapel trail.
The Lily Chapel to London Trail
This is a very difficult stretch. I'd guess it's 12 miles long. All of it is gravel, which makes any sort of travel very difficult. We spent a lot of energy grinding rocks and moving very slowly. There are no amenities except beautiful scenery and peace. Bring extra water for this stretch. Private residences don't appear until you're a couple of miles from London.
We arrived in London at 5 p.m. It's a quick left off the trail and then the first right on 665 (the Lily Chapel trail runs roughly parallel to 665) We were dazed from the long ride and took a left at first. Our minds played tricks on us. There's plenty of good food and stops in this town, when you take the right turn. We ate at Ronetti's, a fine little Italian place with big pizzas and reasonably priced beer.
45-50 Miles at 10 hours. Slow going. We slept really well at the end of the day.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Just a short poem
I see now
My soul
As a city
Thick with change
And every old quarter
In her first trappings
Of spring
Remains in the fullness
And still of the new day
And the shadows of my new life
Are cast upon the grain of the old
It’s all there
And will be
I’m all that I’ve ever been
And am
(Some thoughts on all the previous selves I've ever been...)
Steve
My soul
As a city
Thick with change
And every old quarter
In her first trappings
Of spring
Remains in the fullness
And still of the new day
And the shadows of my new life
Are cast upon the grain of the old
It’s all there
And will be
I’m all that I’ve ever been
And am
(Some thoughts on all the previous selves I've ever been...)
Steve
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