Danger, Will Robinson!

This last week of bike commuting presented a new dangerous scenario for me to watch for. I was going east on Buckeye and crossing Division. I was right wheel tracking in the right lane behind several cars. There were no cars behind me. A tow truck dragging a car was the last vehicle in the left lane and slightly ahead of me. A van facing west was in the left turn lane waiting for us to pass so he could go south on Division. I got to the intersection just after the tow truck. As the tow truck got through the intersection I was about halfway across. With split-second timing the van, waiting for the tow truck to pass, stomped on the gas and turned left--right into me. Fortunately, the driver was quick enough to swerve behind me. All I had time to do was think, "Oh, shit!" It's like the reason for wearing a bright yellow jacket and brightly colored jerseys is so they can be displayed at the driver's trial. I'm sure everyone in the jury box would say, "How could you not see that?" Keep your eyes and ears open out there. Um, you drivers too.

Bill Moyers at the National Conference for Media Reform

Forty minutes in length, but well worth a listen.
And it's captioned.

The New Phone Book's Here!

So Josh used the old one to demonstrate that a 118 pound 16-year-old can tear a phone book in half. One of the football coaches teaches the Marketing class Josh took last semester. The subject of tearing a phone book in half came up and the teacher claimed that there's no technique, it just takes a lot of strength. Josh offered to prove him wrong and rendered him speechless when he did so.

Weren't We Paying Attention?

The Senate Intelligence Committee released it's report showing that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and the rest knew they were using false statements to support invading Iraq. It takes my breath away. I mean, I had absolutely no idea. I think my faith in my government is shaken to the--hey, Britney forgot to wear panties again.

Excellent Reading

These books should be read together. Wolf describes the effect of the erosion of civil liberties, a corporate-owned press, the methodical gelding of the rule of law, and the loss of the people's power in America. A bit alarmist for me, but possibly not alarmist enough. She lists ten steps used by practically every dictatorial regime to take power and lists parallels for each step currently used in America today. The examples for a couple of the steps are a bit weak to me, but overall she has an argument convincing enough to make you think. To me, under the right circumstances, much of what she points out could happen and we could end up with an America at the polar opposite of its founding. At the very least we are already on our way--we admit to using torture and justify it because of the extremes we focus on.
Moyers' books is a compilation of past speeches he's given addressing many of the same topics but on a higher plain. Moyers eloquently describes the many storms that have buffeted our imperfect experiment in democracy known as America. How in spite of its imperfections it has been saved again and again by citizens recognizing the need to be right and just. And how threatened that democracy is again today by those who would subvert it for power and money.

So, applying my imagination, I offer a conspiracy theory for the future. After the election the president-elect will die, perhaps by accident but more than likely assassinated. The assassination will be called a "response" to our attack on Iran. Anyone following the "proof" will quickly learn not to travel down that road. Bush will use his new powers granted by the 2007 Defense Authorization Bill to declare a state of emergency. People will understandably be upset and take to the streets and the administration responds by declaring martial law. There aren't enough troops in country so Blackwater mercenaries are used. All hell breaks loose. Pretty crazy, eh? I can't believe how easy it was to come up with that.

Been There. Done That. Got the T-shirt.

Kathy and I got home from Sunday's San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon late last night. I can honestly say that was the hardest thing I've ever done.

We arrived at the starting line around 6:10 am. The 16,000-plus runners were divided into corrals based on their estimated finish times. Geoff was in corral 3. Kathy and I in 7. While walking to our corral we passed by an elderly gentleman wearing a Superman outfit. The "S" on his chest was replaced with a "26.2". He informed us that anyone else we saw in a Superman costume was a phony. "I am the real Superman," he said with his thumb pointing at his chest.

Everywhere runners were wearing belts with energy gel packs inserted into loops. Bandoliers of ammunition came to mind. Those empty packs would litter the entire route, spent casings expended in thousands of personal battles. The reasons for running were many. Raise money to fight a disease. For the challenge. In memoriam of a passed loved one. For fun. I just wanted to do it one time.

We were off and a polite and considerate crowd gently fell into the run. Earlier I had decided on a 9-minute mile pace hoping to finish within four hours. I would walk only to eat and drink. Within the first mile I was soaked in sweat. It was 60 degrees and slightly humid, perfect weather for the elite runners who would finish two hours ahead of me. Not so good for someone who's used to low humidity and low temperature. I knew I would have to drink at every water station and I did.

The first 13.1 miles went great. I was 3-1/2 minutes under the two-hour mark and I felt very comfortable. But that time in the bank wasn't accruing any interest. I not only had some late fees coming, but the repo man was to show up as well.

Along the way I saw or met some interesting people. One young man was wearing pink bikini briefs with the words "Awesome Dude" in black letters on his butt. That had lost bet written all over it. His friend was going to try running 200 miles in one week. Mr Pink bet him he couldn't do it. The loser had to wear the "Awesome Dude" pink bottoms in the marathon. There were also the Running Elvi. One hundred and forty-eight men and women were dressed as Elvis, setting a new race record. The wig alone would've killed me.

The third hour of running got tough. The rising temperature combined with the humidity began sucking the life out of me. It didn't take long for me to give back my savings of three and one-half minutes. The fourth hour turned into four and one-quarter hours. I kept running and walked only to drink, but each mile was more and more difficult. By mile 24 I was ready to be done. An encouraging group at the water station read my name on my race bib and yelled, "Come on, Hank! Be strong. You can do this!" Not that I wasn't going to. I just didn't want to at the moment. But I slogged on. I knew I wasn't going to finish in four hours. On a loop-back after the 25-mile mark I saw the 4:15 pace group was catching up to me. That didn't seem so bad to me and I pressed on hoping I'd stay even slightly ahead of them. At the 26-mile mark I was looking at the longest stretch of 200 meters I have ever seen. I finally got to the finish just after the 4:15 pace group passed me by. I finished about 30 seconds after them happy to be done with it.

Geoff came in almost an hour ahead of me at 3:18. Kathy wasn't far behind me at 4:37. My wife and my running friends tell me I will do this again. That now that I know what it's like, I 'll want to improve my time and possibly prove something to myself. They are wrong. Once is enough for me. That last hour was pure agony and I don't feel a compelling need to suffer like that again. Awesome Dude finished 30 minutes ahead of me. For me the bets are off. Looking through the standings I saw that the winner of the men's 70-74 age group finished 16 minutes ahead of me, right around my target time. Most certainly he was the real Superman.