06.28.08
Added a New Route
This one goes from my house to ALLTEL, then does the River Trail. That doesn’t sound so hard, does it. Try riding it. Here’s a link to mapmyride.com:
And They Say Little Rock Isn’t Bike Friendly…
I was riding today. Noodling along, just trying to enjoy the ride. When I came upon this. Now, I’ve been here a few times before, but I never noticed the conflicting signs. What’s a conscientious bike rider and law abiding citizen (I don’t run stop lights either) to do?
Just thought I’d share. I was like, “Aw hells nah” when I saw this… Funny, man! Yeah, Yeah, I know the “Do not Enter” is for automobile traffic, but it struck me kind of funny anyway.
06.16.08
Reading List
Living Buddha, Living Christ
I don’t know where to start with this one. It makes so much sense, I’m amazed that it ever got published. Thich Nhat Hanh really understands the concept of religious diversity, which means the path to God just might not be as narrow as we’ve been led to believe. Acceptance of others and their religious views can lead to peaceful dialogue, if both parties can only shed or shelve their insecurities in their own beliefs (which is arguably the main taproot of fanaticism to begin with).
Let’s just say it’s quite a different view than, “If you’re not with us, you’re against us.”
Light on Life
I’m kind of a yoga nut. This is a really good book, that I think Iyengar meant for the mainstream, but most people aren’t going to get it. Yoga philosophy is beyond most Americans. If you’re wondering, “How do compassion, selflessness and discipline help me get a bigger house/SUV/job/etc.?” then you’re probably in the wrong place (try google:foxnews.com), but thanks for making my point. If not, check it out. But I’ll warn you, it’s pretty dense. Iyengar has nicely simlified the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, but it’s still pretty chewy. But, come on, you can make a diamond only so small before it loses its luster.
06.14.08
Planes, Trains and Dodge Trucks
I’ve been wanting to buy a new truck for some time now, and figured out a few months ago what I wanted: a new Dodge Ram 2500 Quad-Cab with the Cummins Diesel engine. Do I need one? No. I just want it because, well, I want it.
But, I just never could feel good about it. I haven’t bought a new truck, and continue to offer up many different excuses as to why not. “It’s not the right time.” or “With gas prices the way they are, it doesn’t make sense.” The bottom line is, it just seems wasteful. But, hey, I’m an American. We’re good at being wasteful.
Then I saw a movie called Crude Impact. I’m not much of a joiner, and definitely not an activist, but this movie really struck a chord with me. While the world’s thirst for oil continues to grow, our supplies continue to dwindle. It doesn’t take a scientist to see this is not a sustainable climate (ah, hell, pun intended). The producers have put together a web site that outlines what we can do. Unless we can decrease our dependence on fossil fuels, we are in serious trouble. Not only is an untenable economic situation in our future, but a resulting man-induced global climate change could seriously diminish the Earth’s capacity to sustain human life (though the Earth will be just fine, and it cracks me up to hear how we are “destroying the Earth,” which will be here long after we are gone).
So what do we do? Well, for starters, I’m going to stop and start. Stop wasting and start conserving. Stop using my recycle bin as a backyard trash bin and start taking it out to the curb every week. Stop wanting for things I don’t need and start being more thankful for what I have.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get in my SUV and go get some more fluorescent bulbs. Yeah, I know
06.03.08
Burns Park Trail Maps
Picked these up today at the Burns Park Visitor’s Center.
I was told at the Visitor’s Center that the Equestrian and Boy Scout trails, which used to be off limits to Mountain Bikes, are now “multi-use” trails. So if anybody gives you s— for riding your MTB up in there, tell ‘em the rules have changed, yo.
Baby Deer
A friend of mine, Ralph, sent me these pictures. Are these not the cutest? Yeah, yeah, baby deer, cute, etc. But these really are cool. Ralph said he took these just moments after Bambi and another twin (Bambi 2?) were born, and momma deer was not too happy. When I think about it, I don’t know that I would have hung around to take these with Angry Momma Deer close by. But ole Ralph is a pretty tough guy.
What’s up?
You looking at me?
I gotta motor!
01.23.08
12 key Matrix-Enabled Keypad Project
– Update –
It only took two years (I’ve been a little busy) but I got this working on my Javelin stamp. The code is ugly. I have to refactor it to make it generic. But it works. Here’s the setup, and me pushing the 7 key (the keypad I got from All Electronics doesn’t have the numbers, so imagine this keypad looks like a telephone touch tone keypad):
01.07.08
Not a Bad 200 Yard Group
Shot this one Saturday (1-5-08) in pretty windy conditions. This is the same load as I used to shoot the group I posted earlier on this site. 77 grain Sierra match King .223 bullet, 24.0 grains of Hodgdon Varget powder in a Lapua case with Federal Gold Match primer. Here it is:
That’s a nickel. I think I may have found my load. At least I’ve found my bullet. Sierra Match King 77g.
And just for clarification… I was thinking that I could just shoot a bazillion shots at a piece of paper, pick five that are close together, and show those here. I don’t do that. Groups are shot 5 at a time. Any 5 shot group I show was shot as a group (i.e., consecutively). Of course, I could cheat. But I don’t.
12.03.07
U.S. Government to Outsource NASA to China
In a surprising move to people with a clue, the United States government announced today that it will outsource functions currently performed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to China. At a joint U.S./Chinese press conference in Beijing, a Chinese government spokesman was quoted as saying, “Is historic for U.S. and China and be huge step for relation. Our two country share lot and can say in same thing way too.” President Bush, on hand for the announcement replied, “I’m here today to talk about China.”
The Chinese space program has shown progress lately, launching an unmanned probe to orbit and study the moon. Early this century, the Chinese have made enormous advances in space technology, launching a man into orbit and bringing him safely to Earth, as shown in this 2005 photograph.
Seriously, I’m not making this part up…Read the article here
When asked for comment, a U.S. government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the current trend in IT outsourcing was used as a model, and that the “purely boneheaded reasoning to base such critical business function purely on the basis of cost as is done in IT did not play a factor here.” When reminded that the U.S. put a man in orbit more than 45 years ago, and that outsourcing America’s space agenda to a country that is just now doing that might be viewed as some as a step backwards the official said, “What do you know about science? There you liberal media people go again. I’m mean, no comment.”
A phone call to NASA headquarters was not immediately returned.
10.18.07
Say, Dolly, did you know your last name is an animal (hee hee hee)?
Our president, ladies and gentlemen with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama…