Today’s monster for Friday Fiesta.
The Washington Monument has two warning beacons at the top. I think it makes the monument look like some type of Star Wars creation with two eyes looking out over the trees to see you.
Check these pics from The Tour de France out.
I think the one with the woman riding a horse is pretty neat.
Many of you have already had to suffer through the presidential campaign ads this year.
I watch very little TV and can’t recall having seen any. That was until now. McCain has now started a TV campaign spot in my viewing area.
I used to have a fair amount of respect for John McCain. I should say, I had at least as much respect for him as I can have for a politician. I even voted for him in 2000.
There is one quote from the ad I find particularly interesting. I believe it goes like this, ”John McCain believes the economy is in shambles”.
I could ask a lot of questions in regards to that statement. I will only submit two questions here.
1-Who has been in charge for the last eight years?
2-How do McCain’s policies for the economy differ from those of the current administration?
Didn’t somebody once say that insanity is doing the same thing and getting the same result and doing it anyway?
Yesterday I had a doctor appointment. It was raining so I decided to drive Elle. That is a really good way to increase my blood pressure. I was driving and stopped in traffic and wondering why people drive in conditions like that every day.
Many people say they don’t have a choice. In reality they do, they just don’t think outside the box. The problem I believe is two fold. The first is attitude. We have an attitude in American that just automatically thinks car when you need to go from point A to point B.
Three years ago I lived in Utah and attended a church where every person that attended that particular church lived less than a mile away. Yet I am sure that the number who walked to church each Sunday was much less than 50 percent. It was also interesting to note some of the walkers and non-walkers. One woman who lived about two houses from me walked each Sunday. She was in her eighties. Another couple lived across the street from her. They were empty nesters. Not only did they not walk, they took two cars.
The other problem that makes getting around without a car is how we have developed.
I read recently that prior to WWII, the United States had one of the best public transportation systems in the world. After WWII, we chose a path of abandoning cities and public transportation and instead subsidized suburban sprawl. We are now paying the consequences.
Countries such as Denmark and The Netherlands emphasized public transportation and a bicycle culture. So now while Americans hop in a car for a mile trip to run an errand, a substantial number of trips in The Netherlands are done by bicycle.
Unfortunately, the American culture seems to be prevailing in many developing countries and as they get more affluent they pattern their transportation system after the U.S.
It was 7.7 miles to my doc. It took thirty plus minutes yesterday. On the days I have ridden my bike there it has taken about twenty more minutes and it is along a much more scenic and pleasant route.
Recently I stopped along the 14th street bridge and took this picture.
Where would you prefer to be, in a automobile or on the bike path to the right?
Foot problems can be a common ailment when bicycling. This is especially true when using clipless pedal systems. About a year ago, I developed a numbness and tingling sensation in the bottom of my foot. It appeared that I was possibly developing a bone spur in the ball of my right foot. My self diagnosis was that the problem was my clipless pedals.
The clipless pedals put constant pressure on one small part of the foot. I was using a mountain bike type clipless pedal. A road type system doesn’t concentrate the power quite as much on one spot but it still does to a certain extent.
After discussing it with my doctor, I decided to try a different pedal. I put power grip pedals on my bike.
Yep these are real old school baby! But they did the trick. I really liked them also. My foot improved so I went back to my clipless pedals. I rode for about a week and decided that I liked the old school pedals better so I switched back.
I have them on my day to day/commuting bike. They are great for that. It also makes it much easier if one wants to just jump on the bike to run an errand or go to the gym.
It is unlikely that you will find these stocked in your LBS. This is just too retro. It’s too bad because I think many people would find that they also like them. They are much easier to get out of than either toe clip/cages or clipless pedals.
Another thing I have found is that it is easier to keep my feet warm in the winter with this type of system.
If you want some you will probably have to order from the Internet.
So if you have the self confidence, give them a try.
