April 30, 2007
Back to Work
Today marked the end of vacation and my return to work. It actually would have been the perfect bike commute day if I didn't have multiple errands to run at lunchtime (insurance agency, registry of motor vehicles, and an oil change at Mobil). The insurance agency didn't have my paperwork ready (they only had the entire morning), so by the time I got to the RMV there was no way I could wait for the 15 people who were there ahead of me... my lunch is only one half hour. I forgot that today was the last day of the month- NOT the day to go to the RMV. So, I accomplished two out of three errands: insurance paperwork and oil change.
Despite a busy day, I still caught up on a little job-related reading during breaks in the action today. Specifically, I was browsing a trade magazine that I subscribe to. I mention it, because a year or so ago I wrote an article about poor customer service which I considered submitting to them for publication. This month's issue featured a new column and writer who wrote an article very similar (it even had the same title I had chosen for it). My point being that perhaps I should follow through on more of these ideas. I might be surprised at the results.
Tomorrow, it is back to the bicycle commute. I do still have that RMV errand to run, but I will have to do it by bicycle. There is no way I am letting any more of these gorgeous days pass me by.
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April 19, 2007
This Week on Mello Street
- Lincoln and I graduated from our advanced obedience class at Joseph's Obedience Training School in Bourne. We accomplished just about everything advanced training had to offer, except the "long down, stay" and the "long sit, stay." A few minutes into a long down or a long sit, and Lincoln decides that he would prefer to come closer to me to continue his down. Either that, or his attention deficit rears its ugly head, and he starts doing the belly crawl toward some tempting smell or bit of treat that some less food-obsessed dog has left behind. I highly recommend taking a class. It is great for the dog's to get socialized, and a learning experience even for someone who has lived with a few dogs over the years.
- The new car stereo I ordered last weekend arrived this week, and it was missing a key feature that the seller listed on their website. It had no IP-Bus Control (CD Changer Control). The company I ordered it from, The TwisterGroup.com, originally apologized for the error and offered to send me return instructions... "within a week." When I argued (via PayPal Dispute Resolution) that I didn't think that I should have to wait a week for return instructions on an item that they had listed incorrectly, their tune suddenly changed. They edited the item's description (I do have a saved copy of their page from before the change), claimed that I was at fault for not investigating the product more thoroughly, told me that I would have to pay freight on the return, and that there would be a 20% restocking fee. Dirty rotten scoundrels!
Lesson learned: Don't purchase high ticket items online that don't have verifiable features on the product manufacturer's website. Lesson number two: NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH THE TWISTERGROUP.COM!
- Are their any professional companies out there anymore? I have interviewed with two different companies in the past month (neither one of which amounted to anything promising). Most people expect a little discretion when it comes to matters of career and their livelihood. However, both of these companies managed to spill the beans about these private meetings. One of the interviews (with a company that begins with an N and ends with an A) was even being spoken about down in Orleans... nearly an hour away. While it is flattering that I am so popular, I would really appreciate a company that has some sort of people skills. Some day...
It's almost time for a vacation!
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Life, The TwisterGroup.com, Bad Business
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April 16, 2007
Weathered the Storm
How did everyone weather last night's storm? Aside from a few branches in the yard- including a very large one that bounced off of our picture window in the early morning hours, we rode out the storm without any serious effects. The weather station here in East Falmouth registered a maximum gust of 62.4 m.p.h.... probably the one that launched that big branch I mentioned. So far, April has been the month that came in like a lion. Here is to hoping it goes out like a lamb.
It could have been snow! NOAA forecasts that our vacation destination is still getting snow. We can only hope that the majority of it has melted before we get there. We're doing our sun dance!
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Posted by capecodcyclist at 07:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 14, 2007
Toyota Tundra Blues
It is unfortunate that my first blog post in such a long time has to be about something negative, but I am at a loss as to what more I can do other than vent at this point. Two months ago, we decided to trade in both of our little Scions and upgrade to a safer, more long-distance travel friendly, full-size vehicle. At the end of January, after doing some research and taking it for a test drive, we settled on purchasing a left-over 2006 Toyota Tundra. The financing was sweet, the crash test ratings don't get much better, and how many complaints have you ever heard from a Toyota owner? We couldn't have been happier, until...
At approximately 750 miles, Jesse left work at lunchtime to run a few errands. When she turned the ignition key, the starter began cranking, and cranking, and cranking for what seemed an uncomfortable eternity... as though she were holding the key forward. When it finally stopped cranking, she tried to start it again- not even a click. A couple of minutes later, she got the truck to start, but it ran as though it were running on 7 of 8 cylinders. After lunch, she called me at work to tell me what had happened. I told her that I would call the Toyota dealership to have it towed. The truck was towed in, and we drove there after work in our other transportation (a used, 1997 S10 p-up that I had just purchased for our second vehicle). We were told they hadn't had a chance to diagnose the problem yet, and we were given a Toyota Highlander as a loaner.
The next day, they diagnosed the problem as "an internal short in the starter motor," and they began the process of trying to find us a starter. We were going away for the weekend, so the loaner would remain ours for the next several days. To make a long story short, we received the "repaired" Tundra back 5 days later. This repair visit converts into 4 dealership days if you are counting- which we weren't... yet.
All seemed ducky with our Tundra until a month (approximately 700 miles) later. The whole situation repeated itself. Everything reoccurred, right down to the truck being parked in precisely the same parking space at Jesse's work. This time, when the truck finally started, there was a strong fuel odor and the truck again ran horribly. The dealership service advisor's answer to this repeat event was to give advice on not trying to start the truck right away when this no-start situation occurs. Needless to say, this was not the answer I was looking for! As far as I was concerned (as any new vehicle owner should), we should not have a brand new $30,000+ truck repeatedly exhibiting a no-start condition... PERIOD! I scheduled another appointment for the truck to be checked out.
To make a long story endless, this trip to the dealership lasted far longer than the first. We were given a very tired Rav4 as a loaner (the brakes were grinding and the starter was making noise). During the first week the Tundra was in the garage, I received daily updates from a service advisor. They were unable to duplicate the condition and they could not find anything wrong. However, he did mention that there were some "unexplained body codes," that pointed to "some sort of communication problem involving the computer." So, I was elated... Now we were getting somewhere! Perhaps we were closer to a fix? I shouldn't have gotten so excited...
The daily updates stopped the day after I was told that they were waiting for a Toyota field representative to come look at the truck. A few days later, I was called at work and I was asked in a conference call to outline exactly what the factors had been leading up to this situation occurring both times: temperature, drive time, idle time, mileage, etc. They were going to make one final attempt at duplicating the conditions of both failures, because they had yet to pinpoint the problem. I should mention that it was 20 degrees warmer, and above freezing when the Toyota representative finally arrived. Two days later I was called, and told to come pick up the truck. They said that they could find nothing wrong with it. The trouble codes? They said that it was the computer searching for a keyless entry system that the truck was not equipped with. Why wouldn't they have known this when they first told me of the trouble codes?
I mailed a letter claiming my rights to a refund or a replacement vehicle under the Massachusetts Lemon Law on the morning of the day that they called to tell us to come pick up the truck (what a coincidence!).
The truck ended up being at the dealership a total of 13 days this time around (that converts to 11 open dealership days). If you combine these with the duration of the first repair attempt, we did not have our new vehicle for 18 days before even having made our second payment on the truck (the first failure occurred before having made one payment). The Massachusetts Lemon Law gives the dealership 15 days, before the consumer can pursue their rights to a refund or a new vehicle, giving the manufacturer one final repair attempt of 7 days. In other words, the dealership contacted us to pick up the truck on the 15th day. Do you think they were counting? We were by that point!
Toyota received our Lemon Law complaint and scheduled the truck to be dropped off and be checked out again on the Friday of the week that we had picked the truck back up. It was obvious that they were just going through the motions of performing their end of the final repair attempt. My wife was given the royal welcome and given a 2007 Toyota Avalon to drive for the day. They called us back later that afternoon to inform us that the vehicle had checked out fine, and that they were unable to duplicate the condition.
At risk of rambling and beating a dead horse, I will only point out my amazement at our treatment during this whole fiasco. Before becoming a Toyota owner, I had never heard anything but good things about Toyota and their local facilities here on Cape Cod. Since purchasing the Tundra, I have not witnessed the Toyota excellence that everyone raves about. To add insult to injury, after the Toyota representative saw the vehicle for its "final repair attempt," we received it back with shoe prints and scratches on the front bumper!
Keep in mind, this is a truck with 1400 miles on it. What responsible, trained technician does that?
We bought Toyota due to its reputation for reliability. We have yet to experience it. We can only hope that this was some freak happening that will never revisit us. If you have experienced a similar situation with your 4.7L Toyota Tundra, I would love to hear from you. Toyota claims that the situation can not be duplicated and, as such, no defect exists. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has documentation or the fix to a similar problem.
Please contact me at: d r e w w b at g m a i l dot com
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Posted by capecodcyclist at 11:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 28, 2006
It's a Girl!!!
But we knew that... Jesse and I are now an aunt and uncle. A beautiful and healthy baby Jordan was born this morning at 12:16 a.m. She weighed in at 9 lbs. 2 oz., and she measured 21" tall. I could hear Jordan crying in the background when my mother called with the news at 1:00 a.m. I have a vague recollection of hearing her mother's cries (screams) from outside the same hospital after her birth 35 years ago (it was summer time and all of the windows were open).
Alison was exhausted after a long day of labor, but she and the baby are recovering nicely. I can't wait to get out of work today so we can go see them!
* Other historically significant events and births for June 28th
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 15, 2006
Weekend Plans
A busy Easter weekend:
- Web surf, email, blog
- Finish assembly of new grill
- Bachelor party (just dinner with Jesse, my sister and my brother-in-law, but Bachelor party sounds better)
- To Truro for a visit and some wedding preparations (only a week away!)
- Easter Dinner out with Prissy
- Rest up for the coming week, which I have the feeling is just going to fly by
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April 07, 2006
Drew & Jesse's Wedding
This is probably a little too much self-disclosure, but I wanted to see how it looked...
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 16, 2006
SLACKER!
"'Wherever I go, there's my bicycle.' The bicycle obsessed pursuits of a Cape Cod cyclist."If anyone (anyone?) was wondering where I have vanished to, and why the lack of blog posts, I have a couple of excuses:
- I have been doing some renovations over at Cape Cod Cyclists' Escape... sprucing things up a bit after a couple of years collecting dust.
- I have been playing with a few of my online addictions:
and a few others I won't bore you with.
With the wedding only a month away, there is obviously much happening on that front as well. Tomorrow we go to the town hall for the marriage license, and Sunday Morning Blog (Dead Bloggers Society, Commute-a-Blog, etc.) will soon be joined forever with Jesse Loves Brady. Amazing!
I'll do my best to keep up with the posts, but at least now you all know what I am up to with my disappearing act.
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newsvine, Otavo, flickr, flock
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 02, 2006
The Deep, Perplexing Question
Question of the day...- How can people survive in New England without learning how to drive in the snow?
Technorati Tags: travel, transportation
Add to Del.icio.us | Add to Technorati Favorites! | Blogroll Me!Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:50 PM
March 01, 2006
Man sentenced for ride-by bottom slap...
BOGOTA, Colombia, Feb 24
Man sentenced for ride-by bottom slap - Yahoo! News:
"A Colombian man has been sentenced to four years' house arrest for slapping a woman's bottom as he rode by her on his bicycle, sparking debate on whether the punishment fit the crime."
What if Columbian justice were to come to Provincetown, MA.? I have been the unfortunate witness to a few ride-by spankings there over the years...
A tip of the hat to Yahoo! News for this story.
People are Talking: cycling, bicycle, bike, etiquette, cyclist
Add to Del.icio.us | Add to Technorati Favorites! | Blogroll Me!Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:55 AM | Comments (0)
February 26, 2006
Thinking in Web 2.0: Sixteen Ways
"Thinking in Web 2.0"I highly recommend the above post for an excellent read regarding present and future online technologies. It is a great read for developers and users alike.
To summarize Dion Hinchcliffe's points:
1. Before you even begin, understand your goal simply.
2. The link is the fundamental unit of thought.
2a. Everything on the Web is linkable with a URI or URL (and if isn't, it should be!)2b. Saving any link lets you get back to what the link originally referenced, and it lets you share it with anyone, anywhere, at any time.
2c. The anytime piece in #2 is crucial and means the link is really a permalink that won't change or go away without good reason and prior warning.
2d. Links should be human readable, consistent, and their purpose self-evident.
3. Data belongs to those that create it.
4. It's about data first, experiences and functionality second.
5. Be prepared to share everything with enthusiasm.
6. The Web is the platform; make it grow.
7. Understand and embrace the "capability gradient".
8. Everything is editable. Or it should darn well be.
9. Identity on the Web is sacrosanct.
10. Know thy popular standards and use them.
11. Obey the law of unintended uses.
12. Granulate your data and services.
13. Provide data and services that are for user's individual benefit.
14. User-driven organization and filtering are not just nice to have. Not critical, but very important.
15. Offer/use rich user experiences.
16. Embrace and enable rapid change and feedback.
Read his entire post:Thinking in Web 2.0: Sixteen Ways
Technorati Tags: Computer, Web 2.0, online, cyber life
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Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:16 PM | Comments (0)
February 20, 2006
culiblog: Google Recipe Finder
culiblog: Google Recipe Finder:
This is the stuff computers are made for. After reading the blog post at the above link, I combined a Butler hotkey combination of "Control+R" with the Google Recipe Finder. I press two keys, a search bar pops up in the middle of my screen, I enter any ingredients from my refrigerator (ie chicken+carrots+ mustard, etc.) and I am instantly presented with the google recipe search results for my ingredients. Does this mean I will be cooking more?
A tip of the hat to culiblog for this trick.
People are Talking: Apple, Mac, Computer, Butler, Google, Recipe, Cooking, Food
Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:06 PM | Comments (1)
February 19, 2006
Apple Store: Derby Street
Jesse and I took a road trip to Hingham for the grand opening of the new Apple store at Derby Street yesterday. The line and the wait to get in was surprisingly long, especially considering temps were in the 20's and the wind was howling. They would have done well to get more unconverted Apple fans out. Most of the participants already seemed to be dedicated Apple users. Who else would stand around in the freezing cold for so long?
We did have a good time despite the cold and the wait. We scored new T-Shirts, hit some of the other stores (REI was the highlight for me), and did lunch at Rustic Kitchen... a nice weekend date.
Other people are talking about the grand opening at: The Unofficial Apple Weblog
*Peter and Rebecca Wood's photo gallery of the event
*Another photo gallery at V1beta.com
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February 17, 2006
The Snoozing Affair
You know you are due for a weekend off when:
You awaken to find yourself fondling the snooze button... trying to milk out that last bit of slumber.
Is the weekend here yet?
People are Talking:
sleep
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:45 AM | Comments (0)
February 13, 2006
Cyber-crime on the rise: Tallahassee Democrat, Tallahassee, FL.
Tallahassee Democrat - www.tallahassee.com - Tallahassee, FL.:
"Billions of dollars are lost each year in communities such as Tallahassee to cybercrimes, Tallahassee Police Department Chief Walter McNeil said Wednesday. To combat that problem, the department has created a cybercrimes unit to work on these cases.Sgt. Bill Bierbaum, supervisor of the financial-crimes unit, will oversee the cybercrimes unit. He said 40 to 50 percent of crimes reported are computer-related."
Sgt. Bierbaum further explains the need for this move: "Sophisticated criminals are trading in the pry bar and gloves for a computer."
If forty to fifty percent of reported crimes in Tallahassee are cyber-crimes, it seems that more of our communities will eventually be forced to assign officers to this growing problem. If our law enforcement agencies were not already so strapped, this might not be such a big deal.
I don't think we are talking about criminals "trading in their pry bars and gloves" either. I think we are just witnessing the birth of a new breed of criminal. Is the guy with the pry bar and gloves in it for the challenge? They may be similar in that they view other people's property as easy money I suppose...
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Posted by capecodcyclist at 05:43 PM | Comments (0)
February 09, 2006
Blog Recall: Remember When...
Blog rerun (February 2005):
"It will feel good to stretch these blog muscles. Yes, I have been continuing my low-blog diet.House update: the waiting game on the house continues. The mortgage process and planning of the post-tenant restoration are taking center stage. Anyone who has never purchased a house should be warned: the process is terribly aggravating! In a country where virtually everything is about instant gratification, the home purchase and mortgage process is like having the carrot dangled in your face for weeks on end. The end result will be well worth it, however, as housing options on Cape Cod are becoming limited to say the least.
On the relationship front: Jesse and I just celebrated our first Valentine's Day together and a four month anniversary. Hard to believe that four months into the relationship we are so sure about our future together. The prospect of starting a home means so much more knowing we will have one another's company.
It seems like such a short time ago that I moved into my current $500 a month rental in an effort to save money to buy a house. I did not expect to be in this position so soon, especially in the position to buy on Cape Cod. Amazing how quickly things change."
Here we are a year later. Personally, I think I am still suffering burnout from all the work we did to make this our home, but the end result is just what we had hoped for. A second Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and now the wedding day draws closer. Amazing...
Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:24 PM | Comments (0)
January 20, 2006
Konica Minolta Quits Cameras
RED HERRING | Konica Minolta Quits Cameras:
"Digital cameras make for razor-thin margins, unlike printing and imaging products for the enterprise. Konica Minolta, which merged two years ago, had been a late entrant into the digital market, and major players like Canon left it in the dust."
My first 35mm camera was a Minolta. I loved that camera. I wish I had never let it out of my sight.
Konica Minolta follows in the footsteps of Nikon (see: End of an Era) and is abandoning its traditional camera offerings. Konica Minolta is doing so in favor of its high end copier and optical devices. Nikon just did the same in response to the market's desire for digital cameras.
Are new digital technologies really that much better that we should be abandoning film cameras? I suppose the same can be said for any digital technology that is replacing traditional methods. Is online news really that much better than the local newspaper, or should they supplement each other and both continue in their own roles for example? Will we be losing something by not having those boxes full of photos that we had developed (that we did not select or delete)? Only time will tell.
(Via Red Herring.)
Posted by capecodcyclist at 05:48 AM | Comments (1)
January 19, 2006
New Species Discovered in California Caves
ENN: Environmental News Network [[Today's News Full Story ]]:
"Twenty-seven previously unknown species of spiders, centipedes, scorpion-like creatures and other animals have been discovered in the dark, damp caves beneath two national parks in the Sierra Nevada, biologists say."
Discovering new species is fantastic, just so long as EVERYONE and their brother does not come along to get their own specimen. It is great that measures are being taken to protect the caves, but ONE or TWO specimens of each species should be enough for proper research.
(Via ENN: Environmental News Network.)
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:59 PM | Comments (0)
January 16, 2006
Northern Canadian Tribe On Thin Ice
The next time you think you have it bad at the supermarket remember this story:ENN: Environmental News Network [[Science & Technology Full Story ]]: "a four-litre jug of milk that currently costs around C$16.40 ($14.14) will soon soar to C$20 ($17.24) because of the increased cost of flying goods in throughout the winter. Fuel supplies are also dwindling and may be rationed, the chiefs said. "
In the warmer months these tribes are accustomed to flying in their supplies. However, during the winter months in northern Canada, the aboriginal natives can usually drive their goods in over roads built on top of the thick ice (a far less costly means of transport). This winter has been unusually mild, and the road construction has been delayed.
And we complain about getting gouged on this side of the bridges...
Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:29 PM | Comments (0)
November 21, 2005
When Will the Mass Media Entertainment Bubble Burst?
Has the recent uproar over copy-protected CDs and digital rights media software (or DRM) awakened the entertainment industry? The entertainment industry has an increasingly unhappy audience, yet they continue to show their disrespect for their consumers. It is frightening how out of touch they have become with their audience. Perhaps they just don't care. In an age when entertainment should be as simple and seamless as ever, consumers are faced with more difficulty than ever. Have digital audio/video and the Napster debacle forever changed the landscape of mass media entertainment for the consumer, the artist and the industry itself?
Consumers just want to be able to copy and share music as they always have (at least in all of my 36 years). That the medium for the sharing of music and video has changed should not alter that most basic practice between friends and family, or the act of making music mixes for personal use. Yet, we find this an increasingly difficult, annoying and, in some cases, an impossible process. The industry justifiably looks to increase and maintain profits, and the musicians themselves seem to vary greatly in their opinions. On one side, we have artists who simply want people to hear their music, and on the other, musicians and bands who view their craft as a commercial enterprise and want to protect their revenue at all cost. The consumer just wants their music back.
The music industry is not the only offender; the movie industry is far from immune to growing consumer wrath. Many DVDs are restricted to playback only in certain media players, and they have also grown increasingly annoying in their protections, previews and add ons. The days of popping a movie in the VCR and settling in for a movie are gone. Remember when you could put a movie in for the kids and walk away? It is the rare movie in which this is the case anymore. Not only are you forced to endure previews (fast forward is a thing of the past), but once you finally get to the menu screen, every movie seems to come up with new bells and whistles to get you to its main menu. Many are also designing tricks you must learn to enter the movie or different features different features. The movie watcher ends up like the puppy who has retrieved its first ball each time one succeeds in starting a movie or discovering a feature. Good boy Drew, good boy! There are even DVDs that have hidden eggs (hidden features) that can only be accessed by keying in special codes from secret screens. Anyone remember the old Dire Straits tune, Money for Nothing, and its lyric, “I want my MTV.” Well, here we are twenty years later and we just want our TV... forget the M and everything else you people are trying to force on us! We want control of our TVs back! Don't force us to watch your previews, and don't play games with your menu. If you want to play games with a menu, include it as one of your add ons, so some fool who doesn't care to get to the movie can select your flashy games from the menu. Maybe we'll even go back and watch your inventions afterward.
Okay, I feel better now to have vented a bit. I hope the entertainment industry gets the message. I know some of my favorite living artists are on the side of consumers in this. Perhaps it will take more loss of revenue for the industry to realize that their attempts at self preservation are coming at the expense of simple respect for their audience. I hope someday the DVDs or CDs we purchase will bear labels that declare them “consumer friendly.” How about this for a label?: “This CD/DVD has been formatted to play in any player you choose, has no built in protections, and defaults to good old, user friendly behaviors when placed in your player. Enjoy!” Show me a company that really makes an effort to show it cares about the consumer's enjoyment, and you will witness a company that rises above all others in mass media entertainment. There are very few left out there that grasp this concept and it shows. Horace said, “He who is greedy is always in want.” Such is the case for the entertainment industry, and until it wakes up, their want will only increase.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 12, 2005
November's Folly
A leaf
Blown from tree
The untouched rake
Cursed
Hefty bags
Tarps to drag
Barrels full
Led to the conquering
From branches above
The yard is barren.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 13, 2005
WalMart Uses Katrina Response to Sway Public Opinion
Did anyone catch the article in the Boston Herald chastising U.S. Rep. Mike Capuano (D-Somerville) for urging parents not to do their back-to-school shopping at WalMart? It seems the article's author was swept away by WalMart's generosity in the wake of hurricane Katrina.
I will not argue that WalMart hasn't been helpful after this hurricane, but was it just a public relations move in an attempt to mop up from the storm of controversy over their treatment of employees? Regardless of WalMart's response, you can't ignore the way they mistreat people. There is fair and there is unfair, and I feel the way WalMart plays its suppliers, its employees and us, the taxpayers, is flagrantly abusive. I have never been a fan of the big box stores; I prefer giving the small, local guy my business when possible, but that is my choice. As long as they don't abuse their power, I have no beef with their business. When they start taking advantage of people and my tax dollars, I draw the line.
Feel free to check out the pdf report on WalMart prepared by the staff of Rep. George Miller (Calif.), the House Education and Workforce Committee's senior Democrat.
http://edworkforce.house.gov/democrats/WALMARTREPORT.pdf
Posted by capecodcyclist at 10:47 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 12, 2005
Faith and Hope
This is copied from my response to this posting on Boston Cod: An Open Letter To The President
Several times in comments to your posts, I have made clear that I feel our priorities as a country are totally out of whack. Were our focus where it should be: protecting our citizens from danger (foreign, domestic and natural), teaching our less fortunate to help themselves (rather than perpetuating the reliance on welfare), reducing our dependence on foreign oil (this starts at the local and individual level), fighting crime, reducing big government, and curbing the erosion of family values, we would be forging a good beginning. These are all constructive suggestions, and I question where those who are blaming government in this would stand. I question where monies in the state of Louisiana were being put to good use in any of these areas over the years... and that is no fault of the current administration, nor is it a political issue. Our priorities are completely messed and have been for some time!
Those leading the charge in making this tragedy a political issue, are those whose dream is a socialist Utopia - they are hellbent to see that capitalism fails. These are the same people who would have us believe that America and all it represents has been flawed back to Washington and Jefferson. They are convinced that capitalism is unfair and that somehow equality will be had when it has been destroyed. I disagree. The alternatives to democracy and capitalism are not the cure to our ills.
Some of us feel that the current administration was, and is, our best hope toward protecting our freedoms and our system of government. We are opposed to people who equate faith with the dark side, and a strong military with evil. Should we allow the blame-government-first crowd to forward their anti-America policies, the storm we would experience would be no natural disaster. God help us all.
The words faith, God and America are words that these people would prefer we eliminate from our vocabulary. Some of us still have some amount of faith and hope in democracy - and the courage to protect the American way of life. Courage is something these people would know nothing about. I am not saying you are one of these people, but in echoing their arguments you are playing right into their hands.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 09, 2005
No Accountability for Alt-News Weeklies
I once had hopes that alt-news weeklies would be the wave of the future for news on the internet. The perspectives you find outside mainstream media are sometimes more revealing and fresh. However, recent events have proven that this alternative view may come at a price. While mainstream media outlets are held somewhat accountable for their reporting, alt-weeklies seem to feel they have free license to embellish the truth. Plagiarism, distortion of facts and outright story telling seem to be standard fair for hurricane Katrina articles. Stories about President Bush's supposed ethnic cleansing policy and nasty diatribes against faith-based charities are just a few of the themes being spewed in some of the most irresponsible journalism I have ever read. Take, for example, this piece in the Boston Phoenix:
...when the White House initially posted a list of relief charities for a public frantic to help, its first instinct was to prioritize faith-based programs. Bush’s ghastly insensitivity — flying out to San Diego to compare himself with FDR and yukking it up with reporters about looking forward to sitting on Trent Lott’s reconstructed porch as poor black people were dying in the watery hell of New Orleans — combined with his transparently forced show of compassion were truly villainous.
When did it become okay to ridicule faith or religion in America? Is there something wrong with faith-based programs? Am I missing something here? Without faith, I don't think many would have made it through this catastrophe. The vilification of these charities and faith-based ideals seems to play a large role in this “alt-subculture.” They are anti-religion even to the point of using “G*d” instead of the word “God” in their articles and posts. The answers to what is wrong in America today may be easily found in a culture that equates faith with the dark side. These fear mongers seem intent on seeing Bush from office, as his openly expressed faith in God offends them, and they still feel his elections were "stolen."
Much of what these fools are spouting off about could not possibly be blamed on any one human being, political party, or even several terms as President, yet they seem to be of the conviction that this storm has miraculously exposed conservative prejudices, injustice, and evil, corporate greed. The socialist Utopians among them have even pointed to this storm's aftermath as glaring evidence of a growing lower class in this country. Had they any sense of their own, and were they not so intent on forwarding their blame-government-first, anti-America agenda, they might recognize just how preposterous these claims are. The destitute of the world would do anything to come to America, where even many of our poor are obese! This may seem callous, but it is true. The poorest among us have more wealth and opportunity than those in some countries will ever see in a lifetime. I am not saying there are not those among us who need our help and support, but this is not third world poverty. Lack of transportation was definitely a major factor in this tragedy, but does this mean every citizen should have a vehicle? Is this the answer, or was poor evacuation planning by local authorities to blame?
It may seem harsh to the feel-gooders out there, but the reality of poverty is that many of these people are simply incapable of living up to the same responsibilities that the average citizen meets each day. Mental illness, poor health habits, the resulting physical ailments, along with addiction and habitual laziness make some of the most poor among us their own worst enemies. We can do so much to help them, but they must be responsible for themselves and be willing to change first. There are simply people out there that have no wish to change, and these individuals are the authors of their own problems. This is hard for some to accept, but seeing the truth in this is the first step toward being able to honestly help. The only help we can offer many of these people is to teach them to help themselves.
In this atmosphere, it is difficult to avoid falling into the trap of politics. At a time when we should be most concerned with the rescue efforts in progress, we are sucked into an empty debate. Yet, defending America and our ideals seems worthy enough cause for me. Once people have time to put energy back into politics, the perpetrators of this attack on our government will soon realize the results of their lack of judgement in this. The backlash against these haters of America will soon show them that their misplaced anger was not shared by many of those they claim to be championing. Trying to incite a race war, when prejudice had nothing whatsoever to do with this, is the most irresponsible abuse of journalism I have witnessed in my lifetime.
I will say it again... we just don't get it! Turning tragedy into politics and sowing confrontation when we most need cooperation is both unpatriotic and disgusting.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:49 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 08, 2005
Only in America
You people just don't get it
Of that, there is no doubt
So many dead and dying
Entire cities just wiped out.
This storm wrought devastation
And chaos in its wake
As heroes rushed in silently
With courage not to shake.
So write your spiteful satire
Analyze the aftermath like a game
Spinning tragedy into politics
Pointing fingers, laying blame.
There is no political party
That would not turn back time
To suggest otherwise is merely evidence
Of your cruel, uncaring crime.
So remember at the next election
When you are shaking your heads in doubt
We will not forget that you blamed America
And what this country is all about.
America is the land of opportunity
The pursuit of happiness for all
We protect and value our freedom
And help neighbors when they call.
A patriot is man or woman
Who waves their flag with pride
Defending our American way of life
Casting differences aside.
Storms may shake our foundations
Yet they will all hold strong
For the underpinnings of our society
Have been true so long.
There is no point to this debate
The damage has been done
What people need is a helping hand
With kindness in each one.
So forget the words of wisdom
They do no justice to the pain
The only voices that should be heard
From victims of this hurricane.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 07, 2005
Questioning the Intentions
I am happy that we have found housing for 2,500 guests from the gulf coast, but I am concerned that some seem to be thinking this will be a permanent move for them. Who would choose Cape Cod as a place to start a new life? Were I not already established here, I certainly wouldn't. Lets take these people to one of the most expensive, traffic congested, air-polluted places to live in the United States! This is not a condemnation of these people or this move, it is an indictment of the place I call home. Our most educated young people escape over the bridges at their earliest opportunity, and this reveals their true intelligence. Suggesting that these people should make a go of it here, in this economic climate, going into the off-season, just makes no sense.
Was this move lobbied for by someone interested in keeping the base open? One has to wonder. Don't get me wrong, I grew up with Otis in my back yard and felt safe knowing our military was being housed and trained here. I have been a dedicated supporter of the base being used for the betterment of our military. The not-in-my-back-yard crowd has gotten their wish with the base being slated for closure. What use is a base to the military when it is surrounded by folks that have made it impossible for them to even train there properly? Personally, I will miss the military presence here. If housing these people on the base will give cause to keep our military active here, then maybe the move is worth it - just not for the people being used as pawns in this game.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:59 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 06, 2005
Using Tragedy for Politics
These comments were made in response to the following article: An Open Letter From Cape Cod to the President
Your post would have been more appropriately titled, “Ignorant of the Real Problems, a Letter From Left Field.” I think you will be surprised at the backlash that will result from the politicizing of this catastrophe. Untold in your Presidential popularity polls is the anger many of us harbor toward the “blame America and the government first” crowd. These are the same people who blamed September eleventh on America and our government. Now, they have jumped on this tragedy in another attempt to encourage confrontation at a time when we should most be focused on cooperation.
This storm's destruction is unlike any we have ever seen. What purpose is there in laying blame or pointing fingers? Would the response have been different under a different administration at a different time? I think not! There was nothing political about this storm or its results. Disasters like this must be reacted to on a situational basis, and one would have to agree this is an extreme situation. Have there been errors and oversights? There certainly have, but the lack of preparedness and levy improvement monies are a matter of our priorities being screwed up as a country, not a reflection on our current administration.
You people say that you just want the President held accountable. Unfortunately, your anger is misdirected. The only indictment here should be on you and I. We have allowed our representatives (on both sides of the aisle) to become so embroiled in this petty partisan cold war, that little of importance to the American people can be accomplished. We have elected officials so concerned about special interests, bringing home the bacon in pork barrel spending, and how to finance their next campaign, that we have all been “thrown under the bus.” Priority number one should be protecting the American public from disaster, disease, crime and terrorism (foreign and domestic). Where have our priorities been? At least Bush has stayed true in the war on terrorism, but what of the other issues I mentioned and additional crises of important to us? Much of the monies that might be put to use in the remainder of these is squandered away on feel-good programs that accomplish little but creating more dependence on a government monster grown too big to handle. Pork barrel spending and a bureaucracy run-wild suck the coffers dry. The two sides are too divided and self-serving to work together at much of anything... unless it benefits them.
I have yet to see another party take up the challenge and unify behind a true message of progress. Were there some party of compromise, willing to tackle the issues based on public desire rather than their own personal crusades, they would garner my support. For now, however, my lifelong status as an Independent remains, and my support goes to the party that seems most concerned with protecting our lives and liberties. All of my concerns are secondary to the belief that America is great and should be protected at all cost.
We are all horrified at this disaster and its aftermath, but this does not blind us from the disgust that we feel toward people spinning this into a political attack. An honest analysis would tell us that the President is doing everything in his power to help the people affected by this storm. To suggest otherwise reeks of the worst kind of muck raking. Your popularity polls will not be with us in the voting booth when we are remembering this disgusting use of peoples' trauma as political ammunition.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 04, 2005
Why Do Americans Hate Politics?
"No wonder Americans hate politics when, year in and year out, they hear politicians make promises that won't come true because they don't even mean them - campaign fantasies that win elections but don't get nations moving again."Bill Clinton, Detroit Economic Club, August 21, 1992
42nd president of the United States (1946 - )
This week's events are a perfect example of why Americans have come to hate politics. When the nation should be unified and focused on the task at hand, our attention is diverted by those who seek to use this tragedy as political ammunition. We are hearing a lot of negativity from the Bush and America haters out there... a whole lot of mean-spirited talk that won't help to get the nation moving again. After September eleventh, everyone was focused on rescue, helping the families of those who lost loved ones and celebrating the heroes who sacrificed their lives in their efforts to rescue those in harms way. Where are the stories of the heroes after hurricane Katrina? There are hundreds, if not thousands. Their stories will be told in time. Unfortunately, today we must endure the politics, muck raking and blame game that has ensued since this catastrophe. Who wants to be part of a process that has become so self-serving that something so terrible is spun into a political debate?
Do you know me? Do you think you know my political affiliations? Yes, many of my views are conservative, but I have many concerns considered liberal. I have been registered Independent (and have voted that way) for all of my eighteen voting years. Just because I think anger at this disaster is being misdirected, does not mean I don't share many views with you. If I didn't attend your church, would that mean I was going to hell? That is the attitude, venomously spit out by some of those who have convicted our President in all of this. Expressing the contrary opinion that our President is not to blame, but our priorities as a country are at fault, I have been called a "scumbag" and an "ass ****." It is no wonder that many people hate politics.
Too many of us are more focused on confrontation and blame placing than we are on contributing to the solution. Anyone touched by this situation is going to be left feeling that the response has been inadequate. However, had the entire country been lined up at these state's borders, waiting for the storm to pass, we would have been left with the same scenario. This storm was devastating, and those closest to it are understandably emotionally spent and looking for answers. We all are. We must move on from this and focus on being part of the positive force that holds us together as a nation.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 03, 2005
Playing the Blame Game
We should all take a lesson from the situation down south, but the conclusions being drawn by some are way out in left field. Had there been a category five hurricane barreling toward Cape Cod last Thursday, would there have been a different response because of our population's ethnic make up or economic status? The simple and honest answer is no! To twist this into a political, racial or social issue is just plain ignorant.
The reality is that these states were just slammed full-force by a nightmare storm. The humanitarian efforts afterward have not come close to meeting the needs of the victims or this situation. Do you honestly think that President Bush and everyone concerned is not trying there damnedest to remedy this? To suggest otherwise reeks of nothing but politics.
Now is a time for coming together to do whatever we can to help those in need. We must get our priorities straight! It is unfortunate that it takes these disastrous wake up calls to bring us together. The irresponsible finger pointing and politicizing of this tragedy shows that the concept of unity and support during these difficulties has been lost on some.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 04:02 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 01, 2005
Update: my Sister Polly
Like many looking for answers about loved ones, I became the victim of misinformation regarding my sister's escape from New Orleans after the horrors of the disaster down south. A family member incorrectly told me that Polly was already back in D.C. and interviewing to get her old job back, when in reality she was still trying to get away from it all. The good news is, she finished a fifteen hour trip to South Carolina today and is safe at a friend's house. Apparently, extended gas station visits slowed the trip tremendously. I can't imagine facing such a mess. Thank goodness she got out when she did.
To show how people come together at times like this, the guys at work started collecting money to send her. I was touched, and I am sure she will appreciate it as well... whatever the amount.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 09:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Insurgents Become Target in New Orleans
While the news and government officials keep referring to the mobs in New Orleans as "looters," I think labeling them insurgents would be better suited. Insurgents are defined as loose groups of people who take part in armed rebellion against a constituted authority. The description fits much of what is going on in New Orleans. At this point, we are not talking about the have-nots trying to take advantage of the haves (not that this would be an excuse). These are criminally minded people that are taking advantage of what they see as opportunity. They would be happy to be stealing any day of the week were nobody watching. It is the welfare mentality; the world owes these people something. With no fear of punishment, violence is an acceptable means of carrying out these raids on the property of others. I say, unless they are in a quick mart or super market, shoot on sight. Disaster or no, these people are animals... only they deserve less respect. Our military should break this insurgency now.
On the flip side of this coin, there is another type of person remaining in New Orleans - the caring individuals that have come from near and far to help in search and rescue efforts. These people are heroes, and every effort should be made to recognize them as such afterward. These people are wonderful examples of humanity. Without them, hundreds more would have been lost.
On a personal note: my sister had recently relocated from D.C. back to the hometown of her alma mater, Tulane. She escaped New Orleans with some clothes and her puppy and is back in D.C. making an attempt to start over. Her home, like that of thousands is under 12 feet of water. We are just happy she is safe. Thank god for the early warnings given by weather forecasters and government officials. It is hard to imagine the death toll had there not been warning.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 31, 2005
Horrors of Natural Disasters
I am not sure that those who have viewed television coverage of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina have noticed, but the media coverage of this tragedy has been terrible. I have been limited to online stories and streaming media, so perhaps I was missing something in coverage elsewhere. Maybe I should clarify my perception of the coverage as terrible. I found the news reporting disrespectful of this storm's victims and downright cold in its focus. Yesterday, I watched an NBC interview with the governor of Mississippi and the line of questioning turned quickly from destruction updates and details of the rescue and cleanup efforts to the state's economic losses from the casinos. Am I missing something here? This disaster has killed many; it has destroyed countless people's homes, businesses and lives. We are more worried about casino incomes? Give me a break! The same goes for the concentration on oil refineries and the oil rigs in the gulf. There are more important things to be worrying about than prices at the gas pumps right now. Yes, this is an impact of the storm, but the real story with the oil should follow months down the road - after people have roofs back over their heads and the clean up has begun. The accurate and intelligent story about oil in the gulf should then be focused on our insane dependence on it. Were our national head where it belonged this problem would be addressed prior to natural disasters and fluctuations in foreign oil production.
Maybe I am overreacting, but the human and animal losses should be the story - not the economic impact and insurance risk analysis. We seem to measure everything today by economic losses. We should concentrate more on the natural world, our effect on it, and the human toll resulting each day from our ignorance. Money makes the world go round, but it is not what this story should be about.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 07:04 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 28, 2005
Only the Facts
Have you noticed that people spewing anti-Iraq-war rhetoric often trumpet their own "intelligent research of the issue" as justification for being unquestionably correct? Are you one of these people? I try not to claim my views as gospel, more intelligently thought out, or better researched than other's. I welcome a good healthy debate. I often find those on the far right and the far left of the issues equally pompous and rude.
If you are one of those who has researched the war in Iraq and concluded it is unjust, would you consider a look back at the world before Saddam Hussein's removal? Would you agree to check out the evidence that drove us to this undertaking? Here you will find an analysis of Saddam's ties to terrorism, with commentary by Iraqi defectors, international weapons experts, former white house advisers, and others. This research was done prior to the war in Iraq and, consequently, lacks the liberal bias that likes to paint this as President Bush's personal, unsupported, and unjustified war. I apologize if this evidence does not support the popular President bashing that is now so prevalent. These are the facts that the world and President Bush were confronted with shortly after September eleventh.
PBS Frontline: Gunning for Saddam, 2001 November
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 19, 2005
Criminal Justice in America
Criminal justice? Each day we read the headlines and the conclusions are obvious. Our system is in need of a serious overhaul. We have the likes of Martha Stewart under house arrest, while repeat offenders of every variety - capable of all types of heinous crimes, are free to darken our doorsteps. Don't get me wrong, the Martha Stewarts, Enron executives and inside traders of the world should get their due, but we need to do be more concerned about the dangerous criminals on our streets. In the ranks of these criminals (who warrant monitoring more than a Martha Stewart), I would include repeat drunk drivers, sex offenders and any criminal with a history of violence. The three strikes law should apply to any offense. At the very least, these criminals should lose the right to travel freely and should be monitored via ankle bracelet. I envision a systems that people could purchase and install that would alert them when a repeat offender walked into their home or business. A screen would allow us to view a public record of their criminal history when they come within our boundaries. Liquor stores and bars would be legally bound to deny service to repeat drunk drivers for example. At home, the system would alarm you if an offender came within a preset radius. I hate to admit defeat and allow these animals to alter our lives like this, but something needs to change. Our friends, families, homes and businesses deserve more protection than they are getting.
... and once these criminals are put in jail, don't get me started! They shouldn't even be allowed to communicate with each other while in prison without punishment. We need to make our prisons places you never want to return.
Off to work!
Posted by capecodcyclist at 07:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 18, 2005
Candlelight Vigils Support Sheehan
I have a difficult time swallowing the current Bush bashing related to the war in Iraq. I can understand strong feelings from those who have lost loved ones. In September of 2003, I attended the wake of a coworker who died in this war and mourned his loss with family and friends. This war was not undertaken without much intelligent debate beforehand. We all wish that we never came to this last resort in our efforts toward containing terrorism. However, it is all so very important to the safety and security of the world that these battles be waged. We can not sit back waiting for the next September 11th.
It is easy to forget that Saddam Hussein, by his own words, considered himself at war with the United States since before the Gulf War and thereafter. At every turn, Saddam Hussein gave cause for this war by his blatant disregard for all of the conditions set at the end of the Gulf War. His attacks on neighboring countries, ties to terrorism, repeated demonstrations of his willingness and ability to kill those in his inner circle that crossed him, to use chemical weapons on his own people - innocent men, women and children, etc. all reveal the loose canon this dictator was. It would be (and was) impossible for us to proactively fight terrorism and protect ourselves from the likes of the September 11th attacks, with someone of his ilk holding power in this volatile region of the world. In this case, offense was (and still is) our best defense.
Protesting this war totally disrespects those that have so gallantly given up their lives in their dedication to serve our country and protect our freedom. The animals we are fighting in Iraq have no regard for life. They continue to exhibit their cowardly ways in their attacks on innocent civilians throughout the middle east. There are those that argue we have forced them into these terrorist tactics by our own might and prowess. How ridiculous! These tactics and their complete disregard for human life is what brought us there - not the other way around. The ready willingness and determination of these terrorists to shed the blood of innocent men, women and children is not the result of our being in Iraq. This maniacal behavior is what we are up against with these religious extremists. They believe they have god on their side and that it is their duty to kill "the infidels." It is unfortunate, but our only answer is war.
As Americans who remain on the home front during this war on terrorism, our duty is to support our President, the troops that have been sent to fight these battles and the families they have left behind. We should be mourning the lives lost in this war, but we should never lose sight of their sacrifice and its purpose.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:26 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 15, 2005
Zempt
[mood| 
elated]
I am giving the blogging software client Zempt a try. So far, it seems easy to use, but this is my first post and I have just downloaded it. We shall see.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 08:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 11, 2005
Being Accountable for One's Views
[current state| 
sweaty]
The editor of the Cape Cod Times editorial page was kind enough to respond to my inquiry, so I felt I should share it here:
Thank you for your message. I think you may be referring to our editorials, as opposed to our columns. Editorials are unsigned because they represent the opinion of the newspaper and its editorial board. The names of the editorial board members are listed at the top of the editorial page. Currently, the editorial board consists of Peter Meyer, the publisher; William Mills, the editorial page editor; and Tim DeMarce, the assistant editorial page editor. If you would like to respond to an editorial, please send a letter to the editor at letters@capecodonline.com. Hope this helps.Bill Mills
Editorial Page Editor
Well, I guess that answers my question - it could be any of three individuals spewing their stuff in the online editorial section of the Cape Cod Times. I appreciate the explanation, but I still think individuals' names should be attached to their writing and their views. Especially when "facts" are being used in these editorials that may or may not be accurate. Someone should be accountable for the views expressed.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Cape Cod Times Should Show Authors of Online Editorials
[mood| 
jittery]
I fired off a quick note to the editor of the Cape Cod Times editorial page today. On several occasions I have read articles via their online editorial page and found that linked items do not reference their authors. It is frustrating to get fired up about someone's misinformed opinion and not know who you are responding to. I requested that this oversight be remedied. We shall see if they wish to lay claim to their works or not.
Thanks Rebecca for noticing this, as I had, with the recent editorial regarding town bans of the "pit bull" breed.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 07, 2005
Driver Courtesy on Cape Cod's Roadways
A couple of recent editorial page letters to the Cape Cod Times have me a tad riled. In question, is whether or not “driver courtesy” does more harm on our local roadways than good. Granted, there are instances where waving a person out into traffic is inadvisable (when blind to oncoming traffic, or in multi-lane roadways). However, a little courtesy would not kill you people.
The anti-courtesy letter writer complained of nearly plowing into the rear of people stopping to let others out of side streets and parking lots. If you are nearly rear ending people you are either: (a.) following too closely, (b.) driving too fast for surrounding conditions, (c.) not paying attention to the conditions ahead of you, or (d.) all of the above. Put down your cell phone and pay attention.
A year and a half ago, I took a trip to Oregon. When I returned, I spoke of my amazement at the west coast drivers' courtesy toward pedestrians, cyclists and fellow drivers. In Oregon, as a pedestrian, you always have the right of way. Here on Cape Cod, the pedestrian only has the right of way if there is law enforcement present. I have had difficulty walking (or running) across Route 6A on numerous occasions. This is a forty-five mile an hour roadway at its safest, yet people speed up to fifty when they see that you may attempt to cross their paths. Cape Cod drivers are just plain self-centered and rude.
Speed limits are just as much for traffic flow as they are for safety. Here on the Cape, we habitually speed along in places that we have deemed safe straightaways. We fail to aknowledge that we are the first to complain when trying to pull out onto that same roadway from a parking lot or side street and the traffic is flying at us too quickly to safely enter. In the summer, in-town traffic is regularly moving along at stop and go pace, yet nobody wants to let anyone out. Drivers act as though that one car length will be the difference in their days. It is painfully obvious that nobody wants to give an inch. Patient and kind drivers are definitely in the minority here. What we need is a lot more courtesy and a little more enforcement of our safety laws. Unfortunately, it will take more than a few small voices to make this happen.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 03:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 03, 2005
Research Shows We Need Less Research
[mood| 
confused]
How many health researchers does it take to screw in a light bulb? Hundreds of thousands apparently, and they are using our tax dollars to do it. I am amazed at some of the articles I read on a weekly basis that reveal to us these alarming research results regarding our health and well-being. Yesterday, it was research results regarding cigarette smoke and its link to metabolic syndrome in teenagers. The researchers claim to have found a link between cigarette smoke and “mid-section” obesity in teens. Umm... hello people! I can think of a thousand things these same teens have been exposed to that we can draw the same results from. How about young people who imbibe soft drinks, or watch hours of television, or play hours of video games? Or how about teens who eat Burger King and drink sweet drinks in a smoke den while playing video games for hours on end? A teen that has not been exposed to cigarette smoke has probably adopted better lifestyle choices, and is thus, not as likely to be overweight. There is research for you! I just came up with that too, and I spent none of your tax dollars coming up with it. Lets eliminate some research and get some common sense.
My own research tells me, that without all of the research results telling us how to live healthy lifestyles we would not be any worse off than we already are. A healthy lifestyle is a choice, and no amount of research is going to force people to change their poor habits. Unless we are willing to ban substances that harm people (i.e. - alcohol, cigarettes, fast food) there really is no point to sounding the alarms about their effects. Unless our heads have been in the sand, we know they are all bad for us. All we can do is try to live our own lives the best we can, and hope that example is good enough that others want to follow and that our kids will want to adopt similar lifestyles for themselves.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 20, 2005
If You Can't Stand the Heat
[mood? | 
sweaty]
It has been a while since I had to work without air conditioning (yes, I work in the only store in the company lacking a.c.). By yesterday afternoon I was propped up on the sales counter by my elbows with cramps that may have signified the beginnings of dehydration. With sales skyrocketing since my arrival, perhaps a little air conditioned comfort is in order? I can assure you that I won't be present next summer if it isn't. Spoiled?.... nah!
I spent the pre-work hours this morning reading the heat wave warnings (trying to justify my pissiness) and came across this entertaining story in the A&E section of Boston dot com. I particularly enjoyed watching the google ads change at the bottom of each new page. Funny stuff.
Well, I must go brew my dehydration juice. Yes, it may be brutally hot at my sweat box, but I'm not giving up the coffee.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:40 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 18, 2005
The "M" Word
[mood |
elated]
A year ago, I was the type of guy who was so set in his routine that a relationship would have been difficult to fit in. However, I was starting to recognize that I was not growing any younger. I knew that special someone was out there, but I wasn't sure how or where to find her. My bar scene days long behind (I never really did the bar scene), I actually placed an ad on a singles' dating site. I had a few responses and a casual date or two (more like informal get-to-know you type meetings). I even met up with a woman who I hadn't seen in eleven or twelve years – someone who I had dated for a couple of weeks “back in the day.” At about this time, through a friend and fellow blogger who I had happily made the acquaintance of, I met Jesse. Jesse and I were miles and years apart. We read each other's blogs. We shared a few emails. We sent a few instant messages back and forth – nothing serious. I went away on a camping/hiking trip last September and when I returned, something was different. Jesse welcomed me back and we started chatting. One of our first extended conversations (via IM) was a joking one about getting married and furnishing a house together. If we had only known...
Flash forward a year. Since that time, we have been together for nine months. This past weekend was our nine month anniversary as a matter of fact. In celebration of this milestone, we went out to dinner and drove to the beach to do some sand and rock hunting for a decorative-vase-beach-scape deal that Jesse was putting together. It was at the beach this weekend – on one knee in the sand, that the four words that I never thought would pass my lips were sincerely uttered... “Will you marry me?” There were tears, hugs and kisses (adding up to a long, unspoken “yes”).
Since we met via blog, I thought it appropriate to announce our intentions to wed here. Jesse has agreed to marry Drew. There will be more formal announcements made. There are those who may read this to whom we would prefer a face to face announcement be made. If you have read it here first, we hope you understand. It is not that we did not care enough about you to tell in person. It is that I could not hold back what I feel the most important personal news since I started this blog. I am still jello legged when I think of it. We will be married and share the rest of our lives together. Awesome! Unbelievable! Amazing!
This all thanks to friends made here in the Blogosphere. We will be forever grateful... Thank You!
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:12 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 14, 2005
Disjointed Ramblings
[mood| 
calm, cool & collected]
I have been in retail for quite some time. I am good at what I do, and I usually enjoy it. I have noticed, however, that in every location I have worked there is always that one customer who repeatedly acts like an A@@ H@le (no matter how well you treat them). I am not sure how these micro encephalitic cretins manage to stay in business. In this day and age, most people know enough about political correctness and harassment to realize that there is no reason to take that kind of crap from people. So, last week, I told the most recent thorn in my side to call somewhere else. Of course, he called right back and got the manager on the phone and read him the riot act: “Tell your boy that I don't take that crap from nobody.” Well, the manager backed me up in this and so did the regional manager. They have had more than enough dealings with this moron.
The point of this story? I'm not really sure. Maybe I am just trying to say that when someone treats you like garbage, there is no reason to sit back and take it (unless, of course, you are willing to take it for financial reasons). I personally don't feel that any amount of money is worth dealing with someone who can't respect you or your employees.
On another note: I have not gotten a chance to blog in a few days, because I have been wrestling with some Firefox issues. I believe that the bug was caused by a recent extension install. Maybe the extension file was corrupt. Whatever the case, I could not get my browser to start up (except in safe mode). I finally had to copy my favorites file, delete my profile, uninstall and reinstall from scratch. Today we appear to be up and running fine, and since the power cord to Jesse's laptop has gone the way of my last Firefox install, we will both be happier for it. It takes at least one happy computer to maintain a happy relationship... sad isn't it? Without the computer we would never have met, so you will never hear me complain of online addictions.
Two days ago: I went to bring my vehicle in for an oil change and its Mass. Inspection, and upon digging the registration out of the glove box, found that it had expired the last day of June. After fuming about not having received a renewal reminder, I went online and found the RMV had changed my home address but never my mailing address. A few minutes online and the address was changed, my registration was renewed, and a letter was emailed to me stating that I could legally drive my vehicle as long as I had this emailed receipt of renewal payment in my vehicle. I think I was bitching a few months back about Massachusetts not doing enough of their business electronically. Here is a fine example of the benefits to the taxpayer and the state of online transactions. Very simple and convenient.
I must remove myself and ready for work. Have a great day!
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:55 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 08, 2005
Thoughts About London
London experienced its own September eleventh yesterday. My two word commentary: horrible and disgusting. This should remind us all of the ever present dangers that remain around us. My thoughts are brought to our present war in Iraq.
Yes, Iraq has turned into a quagmire that it is difficult to escape. However, this isn't a Vietnam... not even close! Islamic extremists (who we are battling daily in Iraq) are at work all over the world using innocent people as targets of their insane, twisted methods. This is a battle that we must face as a neccessity. There is no simple drop the bomb and its over solution.
As Americans, concerned for ourselves and other peace loving people around the world, we must support whatever it takes to weed these animals out and exterminate them. Unfortunately, they will stop for nothing less than this.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of our troops abroad, and the men, women and children victimized by these terrorists daily.
Posted by capecodcyclist at 06:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack