Now this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkwh4ZaxHIA&feature=player_embedded

- is one helluva commitment move.

Fall is in the air, the heat and humidity have abated. This is the week on the other end of Summer where things are disturbingly perfect weather wise. And so, a camping one must go. No reservations, just roll up and take potluck. Hurray for chance.

Douchebag of the Universe Winners are in.........

Congratulations to Josh Bentzen and Marissa Overby for winning the intergalactic "Douchebag of the Universe (of the Year {Planetary Earth Solar}) Awards. They qualified for the award by stealing bicycles from their "friends", Josh and Paul from Bikes Limited. A special second award goes to Josh, for spraypainting an expensive custom frame with a rattle can, deluxe appliance white. As their reward, they will receive free lodging and three meals a day provided by the La Crosse Sheriff"s Hotel.

Why did the raccoon cross the road?

He didn't. Place rimshot here. But seriously folks, how about technology these days? Something I realized today on my ride to work is that just because a person is standing on the sidewalk, waving their arms and having an animated conversation with nothing does not necessarily infer that their ballon has come untetherd. As I rode closer, the person continued their bizare behaviour, right close to where I must pass. What's the first rule we all ignore about crazy street people? Yep, "Don't make eye contact!". Well, I had to at least look. Relief ran through me like a warm emetic. Bluetooth headset, safe. Zip, and I was past. Event for the day I suppose.

The grass is always greener, the snow whiter, the....

What is it about the heat and humidity of August that makes one yearn for the tranquility of December? What is it about the last week of February that makes May seem so sweet it must be ephemeral?The human condition of wanting more, never satisfied, wishing.

Along these lines, how about memories of the past? The mind tries to clean things up a bit, to heal wounds, to leave only the pleasant. Lest we fling ourselves collectively over a cliff. A girlfriend from the past contacted me and wanted to "catch up" on life since last we saw each other. I was sorely tempted, and thought initially about the good. Then I remembered the emotional pain, confusion, and self doubt she caused in me as she flew from boyfriend to boyfriend, coming back to me to roost awhile before her next flight. On reflection, the memories of that time were of a cheating, cruel girl that kept me down to keep me. Screw the past, Joan Cusack nailed it when she said "Reunions are just like High School, only everyone is older and fatter". Move forward.

Could we be a hateful, war mongering, rascist nation?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUdZnxtKR2A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc

At 47 minutes, it is a stretch for attention spans, but it is a powerful message. Don't get me wrong, we enjoy more freedoms and privileges in this country than most. I want to keep it that way, and maybe even improve on it. Fear the extreme on either side of the balance beam.

Way to go WIDOT!

Well will wonders never cease? Looky what the DOT did just for us lil ol' pedestrians and bicyclists. This is without a doubt the most forward thinking action I have ever seen on the part of either the local city builders, or the state. A special double thick "atta boy" to whoever is responsible. Thank you.

In other news, a cool car was seen, captured, photographed and released by me this morning. I roped it by the front wheels and tied it off to my bike. It was very docile, smelled clean, was not aggressive. Possibly a new adaptation by nature to changing environmental conditions. The ever present parasitic being was not present in the front area, but I'm sure a change to symbiosis is in the works. Compare and contrast to the normal vehicles seen in this area.

The face of La Crosse

has broken out in a rash of orange pimples. They appear in the road every Spring and Summer. Busy little city engineers scrape and cut and redo, and reredo, and undo the roadways until they clear up the little orange cone pimples that corral, and herd, and clog the flow of traffic. Oh, and let me just add 90 degree weather, humidity, and thunderstorms to the situation.

And here is the payoff for the biking community, pissed off drivers looking for a target for their vengeance. I got flipped off today while commuting in the bike lane on Hwy 16 by a driver stopped dead in a jam. Hardy hardy frickin har on you in your insular, air conditioned, stereo playing pod of security. Funnier still, the road crew apparently thinks the bike lane is a great storage area for their orange pimple cones at the day's end.

It's a small town, with a lot of charm. Sometimes though, the lack of a more urban mentality can really wear me down. Madison, progressive, bike friendly, great infrastructure. La Crosse, angry redneck peckerwoods that love their beer, NASCAR and TV. So I leave you with this La Crosse car folks: