Phase Two

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Where's The Debate About Health Care?

I just can't help myself from commenting on the so-called health care "debate" going on. My idea of a debate is where two reasonable, articulate people present compelling arguments on two sides of a question. From my perspective, there's little debate on the health care issue - it seems more like a partisan slug-feast where the only criteria for getting into the discussion is to be wackier than your opponent.

I confess that it seems to me the real crazy suggestions seem to be coming from the conservative side of the discussion, but read more like a dysutopian nightmare than actual potential concerns that need to be addressed as we make changes to our broken health care system. I can't imagine that these kind of bizarre suggestions are actually helpful in advancing the discussion, and the headlines do little to show any Republican leadership on the issue.

Country, Religion and Freedom

The Iranians are in a pitch battle for the soul of their nation. Their desire for "freedom" - to choose how to live collectively as a nation - is deep, but is different than the western concept of freedom. Now with the media spotlight off the struggle comes the dark, difficult time for Iranians. The easy euphoria of mass demonstrations has come and gone, and now the passion, commitment and sheer force of will to make a change has to take hold - if it does take hold. The powerful will not easily release their grip on what they control. It must be pried out of their hands. That is something we in the US only have a distant memory of - hundreds of years ago.

There is little the west can do to "help" - this is not about us, it's about the Iranians and only they can resolve it. What we can do is watch, respect their work and sacrifice, and pray.

You Own the Future

If you believe things are broken today, change it. We all own the future - please don't complain to me if it doesn't turn out for you:

Goose & Gander

I was honestly stunned today: Listening to President Obama say that he's now arranged things so that "What's good for GM is good for the country". OK, that's nice - but why do I and my children (and their children from the looks of things) have to afford this little piece of circular history?

The mind boggles. I'm going to concentrate on my own stimulus package and no, I'm not going to share any details on that (but it's not what you're thinking, trust me).

Riding Around

On Monday, I had one of my best rides ever (so far). My dearest was up and out early, and I decided to get an extended ride in quickly. The sun was up and it was about 45 degrees, perfect riding weather. I was on the road by 7:15 AM, and since it was Memorial Day, there was practically no one on the rode. I had Rt. 15 almost all to myself and rode out to Brown's Trace, back through Richmond, then Jonesville, Faye's Corner and back though Williston and home. Just 35 miles but fantastic. I rode the route again yesterday (this time anti-clockwise) and wile it was fun, the traffic was bothersome and my lower back was complaining. No matter - a bad ride is better than almost anything else...

Lilacs, Google Earth and Food

A few random notes: The Lilacs are in full bloom along our local roads, and it's making my (almost) daily rides very pleasant. Surprisingly so - I was actually looking forward to my ride yesterday just so I could have that marvelous experience of being focused even more on the present moment by the pleasant smell of lilacs. Just a couple more weeks of this, but I'm going to enjoy it.

Another riding related item - I recently rode a route that I hadn't traveled by car or bike in many years. I passed a particularly mysterious looking side road I had always wanted to explore. In years past I would have carved out some time to drive down this road and see what there was to see. Instead, I just used Google Earth. I think the internet has made life more interesting and creative, but maybe a little too antiseptic.

The Sunday NY Times has an interesting article on college kids going to the farm for the summer. I'm really excited by the new food movement. It seems like there's a second wave of people who want to get "back to the earth" rather than just piling up larger amounts of money. Maybe there's hope for the world yet...

Eating the Future

You probably know that I'm a bit fussy about food. Certainly doing a lot of cooking has lead me to be a student of good eating, and beyond that I've had plenty of quality time over the years to think about what I'm preparing. But I thought I had a handle on our food chain in the US and my place in it. I was wrong.

Two things made a huge difference for me: 1) Reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan and 2) An article in "Bicycling" magazine titled "Big Fat Lies". Omnivore's Dilemma opened my eyes to the dysfunctional food chain we've built in the US, and the article in Bicycling started me thinking about what my body really needs given my activities, and how my body reacts to different types and quantities of foods. Because of those ideas, I've made some significant change in the way I cook and eat, and I'm feeling a lot better because of it.

So it was with a lot of pleasure that I just watched the trailer for a new documentary, "Food, Inc." to be released in June. From what I've read of the press releases and the movie reviews, I'm very excited - this could be a very important movie and hopefully, and agent of change. Be forewarned - I'll be asking everyone I know when they plan to see the movie...

One for the Road

The O-ster did some yeoman work this weekend. He won the Dartmouth Road Race for the UVM team. Way to go Owen!

Car & Cow Report

As noted before, there is nothing more satisfying for me than being outside. We've finally hit a stretch of reasonable weather, and here's the results: quite a few cows, way more cars than needed, plenty of wind (that's good and bad) and a reasonable amount of sun.

With the weather cooperating for a change, now my biggest problem is finding suitable gaps in my schedule to get out there and ride. The good news is that I've ridden almost 80 miles this week, and the week's not over!

I've got a filthy bike, a pile of stinky bike clothes and my legs hurt. Life doesn't get much better...

Lookin Good

For those keeping score:

Fix-ated

There's a lot of bikes out there, and far be it from me to judge anyone on two wheels (or any other wheel count for that matter). But the whole fixie thing has me a little frustrated. Sure - it's cool in a minimalistic way, but there are some disadvantages like starting and stopping (meaning it's a lot of extra work). And in a city, starting and stopping is pretty much a way of life. So if you live in a city, and aren't very happy about starting and stopping in the first place, why ride a fixie?

I know there are plenty of responsible riders out there, and some of them ride fixed gear bikes. But one irresponsible rider makes the rest of use look bad.

Running Back

I know I've said this before, but I miss running. I've been doing a lot more riding in the last few weeks, and that's been great, but it doesn't replace running. So this morning due to a couple of circumstances, I decided to go for a run. And it was not just a good run, but a great run.

As Bob Dylan sings "You can go back, but not very far", returning to something lost or given up is an old-new experience. What I missed in my running was still there to a large degree, but there are new perspectives on what I remembered, and also new things - some you might call loss, and some real gain.

It's odd, but I almost am glad that I had to largely give up running. I've gained a far deeper appreciation of the sport, I understand my body and myself better, and I've been reunited with my other outdoor passion, cycling. Mind you, I still have pangs of envy when I see other long distance runners out on a Sunday morning. Better to have loved and lost, than never loved at all.

Rider Beware

I've ridden extensively in both California and Vermont. I had far more problems in California than I've every had in Vermont - both of the times I was involved in bike-car contact was in California. Nice to know that the media is starting to pay attention...

From the "Why Bother" Department

It never ceases to amaze me what people find to do with their time. Apparently the Performing Right Society (PRS for Music) has zeroed in on Rosemary Greenway, owner and operator of a private stable in Bushton, Wilts, England. She has the radio tuned to a station that plays music all day (for her four-footed guests) and because Ms. Greenway happens to employ two people who also enjoy the benefit of listening to the radio as well, the PRS insists that she pay a annual license fee of £99 since this is a performance (of sorts).

The mind boggles. Imagine if all stables were to flaunt the law and play music non-stop (without a license) for everyone to hear - the loss to the music industry would be hard to imagine. All those roving bands of musicians who, here to fore had been playing lucrative gigs at horse stables for non-stop music would be suddenly put out of work by callus and scofflaw stable owners. Oh the humanity...