A Clean Elephant

I've been commuting on my Elephant NFE all winter. Actually since August. I find it funny and surprising that the Schwalbe Thunder Burt tires did so well on the snow and ice. I kept them at around 25psi. I still had some "Whoa!" moments but I never went down. Yesterday I gave it a good scrubbing and got all the winter grime off. I'm going to give it a break and ride my commuter to work for a while.  Next up for the NFE is a thorough exam and tune up. I have the Oregon Outback ride coming up at the end of April with my brother John and son Geoff.

Because History Has Shown That Banning Books Works So Well

An Arkansas legislator has submitted a bill to ban books and works written by Howard Zinn from the public schools. The Zinn Education Project has responded.

Yesterday's Morning Commute

I rode alongside the Spokane River. Both it and Latah Creek and running fast and high. Me? Not so much.

Gotta Get Ready

I have a ride on the Oregon Outback route coming up in two months and I've had enough of the snow and ice keeping me from getting some good rides in. Today I made sure my commutes were over ten miles each and included some climbing.

My ride home after work.

The beginning of the descent down Houston Road.

Asking Questions With Loaded Answers

State Representative Matt Shea, District 4-R, is asking anyone on his mailing list to take his online survey.  I don't think he would care if anyone pointed out to him that his answers could influence how people answered. But I find this sort of thing interesting. 

Here's one example:

Hmm, I'm 100% sure that prosecutors do not determine sentences. Regardless, I came up with another set of answers to this question that may or may not serve his survey well.

Yes - I believe in the sanctity of live.

No - The people should be able to have a choice in meting out punishment.

Yakima Visit

Work took me to Yakima this last week. I decided to take my camera with me. It's a creative outlet that I've been lacking at this past year or so. I was finishing my lunch at Essencia, a cozy sandwich and chocolaterie place, when a crowd of people carrying signs marched by. Darned if it wasn't some of Congressman Dan Newhouse's constituents doing what many have been doing across the country. They were civil and adamant. I gave them bonus points for no misspelled words for not dragging the American flag on the ground.

Downtown Yakima is trying to revitalize itself. Or Dowtown.

A monument erected for Colonel Cock.

(Yes, you can still find juvenile humor here.)

Across the street from Colonel Cock's monument there's a 115-year-old marker commemorating the men who lost their lives in a war that seems so meaningless now. The monument is weathered and decayed.