cruelty to animals, part 2

funny, but mean
what kind of cat would stand for this?
my dogs like to play.
hmmm. i rarely feel sorry for these dogs, but now i do.
i always felt sorry for the wolfman in the original movie, too.

cruelty to animals, part 3

this guy looks even sadder than usual.
no wonder we have fat dogs in this country.
so MANY things wrong here.
eight puppies, zero wagging puppy tails
this really offends me. even now, this grey maintains her dignity.

i hope it pisses on her owner's bed tonight.

"GIVE ME A P!"

cruelty to animals, part 4

just because a sighthound is docile doesn't mean it doesn't have feelings.

this is worse than racing them.

possibly unretouched.
this poor thing is trying to ignore her abuser.
exactly.
i don't even know what this is.

PLEASE don't do this to your animals.

just take them trick or treating with you and your kids. it's your KIDS who enjoy costumes. don't pass your bizarre predelictions onto your kids and your pets.

thank you.

pssst: they're NOT as hyper as people think

THIS is what sighthounds-

-these are greyhounds, but my borzoi/greyhounds and dmitri, my staghound are the same-

-THIS is what they actually--and PREFER to--do.

they're actually quite a bit like bike racers.

by the way, this is called "roaching."

this is an example of double roaching.

photo of the day

share your gravel with friends

as we do from time to time, johnny adamson and i were exchanging emails about rides. they usually consist of me telling him to get his ass down here to ride, and he'll reply that i need to get my ass up there. "my ride's better than your ride" kind of stuff.

well, after tuesday night's wonderful ride [check the g-spot for departure details] i wrote to john after he said "bring on the gravel." i told him all about the wonderful roads, the killer hills that magellan, our navigator claims meet and exceed 9% [and we haven't hit the steep one yet!], and that we all talked about food the last 20 miles. i made a bee-line to aguilara real afterward for chips, salsa and a giant marguerita.

.....

he wrote back:

We do Friday Night Lights - - come on up.

No salsa, but we usually stop for Little Debbie somewhere along the line.

and sent these photos.

full moon gravel--it really doesn't get better than that!

but this looks pretty cool, too, doesn't it?

so here's the deal: send me details and photos about YOUR nighttime gravel rides. i'll post them, and maybe we can get some gravel ride sharing going on. tuesday night, we started with eight riders, and only lost lippold. the week before, we started with about 20 riders, and had about half turn off early. the threat of rain must have frightened most of the regulars away. rumor has it that some, like pete, were indecisive about which bike to ride. HINT: two wheels; fenders optional but nice.

send your photos and text to the reverend at eeastonwest@aol.com

and ride those back roads.

mmm . . .THAT smells like PROFIT!

It looks like excessive war profiteering in Iraq extends far beyond

the usual defense contractor suspects:
Investigators from the Justice Department and the Defense Department are looking into deals that Perdue Farms Inc., Sara Lee Corp., ConAgra Foods Inc. and other U.S. companies made to supply the military, according to people involved in the inquiry. The companies made the deals with the help of former U.S. military procurement officials

they hired as consultants or executives.
The inquiry is focused on whether the food companies set excessively high prices when they sold their goods to the Army's primary food contractor for the war zone, a Kuwaiti firm called Public Warehousing Co. A related question is whether Public Warehousing improperly pocketed for itself refunds it received from these suppliers. Public Warehousing bought vast amounts of meat, vegetables and bakery items from the food companies,

and delivered them to U.S. troops.
How is contracting supposed to work?
In general, many military contracts pay suppliers the cost of the goods they distribute plus a profit margin. In such cases, it is a challenge to ensure that the supplier seeks the lowest price from the maker of the goods.

Unless adequate safeguards are in place, the supplier and the maker have

an incentive to inflate the cost and share the extra profits among themselves.
Federal law prohibits government contractors from obtaining money

through false or fraudulent pretenses.
Within the U.S., the investigation is focused on an Army agency in Virginia known as Army Center for Excellence, Subsistence. It plays a key role in determining the Army's favored suppliers. Mr. Staples, a senior official at the center, works closely with sales agents for a handful of U.S. firms including Sara Lee, ConAgra and Quantum Foods Inc.,

according to emails and people involved in the investigation.
Since 2003, the Army agency has issued guidelines directing that chicken breast, turkey breast, ham and sausage consumed by U.S. forces in Iraq and Kuwait be supplied by Sara Lee.
Would it further not-surprise you that "friendlies" benefit and "non-friendlies" do not?
In one of the most striking examples of the agency's selectivity, Tyson Foods Inc., one of the world's largest chicken producers, has been virtually shut out in the competition to supply the troops for the Iraq conflict. Much of the chicken supplies for Iraq and Kuwait are provided by Perdue and a ConAgra unit called Pilgrim's Pride Inc. That is in line with a recommended menu on a spreadsheet issued by Mr. Staples's agency.

The spreadsheet lists foods and recommended suppliers such as

"turkey thigh roast, raw, netted, 8-10 lb avg" next to "Sara Lee."
In an April 3, 2007, letter to the Pentagon, a lawyer for Tyson complained that

"elements within the military" were providing sole-source contracts

"to certain companies employing former military personnel."
There's a whole lot more you're likely to be unsurprised about, so read the whole thing.
.....
i'm hungry...let's EAT!!

giuliani mum about alien invasion plans

EXETER, N.H. --Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani on Sunday said

preparedness will be key for all crises,

even an attack from outer space.
During a town hall meeting in Exeter, a young questioner asked

the former New York mayor about his plan to protect Earth.
"If (there's) something living on another planet

and it's bad and it comes over here,

what would you do?" the boy asked.
Giuliani, a nervous grin on his face, said

it was the first time he's been asked about an intergalactic attack.

"Well, what about them?" he asked,

a worried look creeping over his young face.
"Of all the things that can happen in this world,

we'll be prepared for that, yes we will.

We'll be prepared for anything that happens," said Giuliani,

who spent the day campaigning in key early voting state.
Being prepared is a theme that runs through the campaign of Giuliani,

the mayor during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York.
The boy's question risked exposing a major flaw in Giuliani's claim to be

the candidate best prepared to defend america against alien attack.

The question came as Giuliani wrapped up an address

on emergency preparedness.

"This could be the new Steven Spielberg," he nervously ad-libbed,

his lisp more prominent, quickly trying to change subjects.

"You want to be a science fiction writer or a scientist?"
The boy replied he wants to be a sculptor,

"But what about the aliens?" he persisted.
Then a nervous Giuliani scanned the audience for another question:

"Shall we take one question about this planet?"

jason mccartney news

Jason McCartney Signs with Team CSC

American rider Jason McCartney will be joining Team CSC from next season. The 34-year-old rider has signed a two-year contract with the team. McCartney has been with Discovery Channel for the last three seasons and this year he has won a stage in Vuelta a España as well as an overall third place in Amgen Tour of California. ”I've always been drawn to Team CSC's way of doing things and everyone in the peloton is aware that it's an extremely well organized team. I'm very much a team player myself and look forward to becoming a part of Team CSC. It's a very international team and I think I'll fit in well with my future colleagues. As far as my role on the team goes I first of all see myself as being able to help in the stage races and at the same time maybe make some results of my own if the opportunity should come along,” comments Jason McCartney.”Jason's profile fits perfectly with the team. He has a lot of experience as a rider and he'll be a major asset to us in the big stage races. He's already impressed with his results this year and it's no big secret that we've had our eye on him for quite some time now. Apart from being an all-round rider he also has a personality, which would fit in really well with the rest of the team. We consider a number of different factors when recruiting and in Jason's case I think it's safe to say we've made the right decision on all levels,” says Bjarne Riis.

why crashing is critical

sometimes it's not enough simply to laugh and marvel.

often one can learn from the experiences of others.

thanks to r.p., a contributing editor.

[let's get more helmet cams in the pack.]

things i shouldn't do

alright, make that thing.

. . . . .

okay, so i "survived" another season of racing without too many broken bones, the weather is turning cooler, it's getting dark earlier, i've got three dogs demanding my time, my daughter has provided me with yet another diversion, um, grandchild, and it's time to hit the weightroom hard again.

.....

let's see...how does that leave the "time available" category?

well, given all my mis-steps this last year, i missed nearly 100 days of riding and training from october through september, and yet i was still pretty happy with my riding, when it was going well.

the resolutions for next year include racing more at the cat 1/2 level, and less at the 30+ level, so that means i'm going to try to spend fewer days in the hospital, and less time "on the mend."

that's a good idea, right?

i want to increase the number of days i spend training.

that's good, right?

the dogs are getting a little older,

the puppy won't be so much a puppy soon,

and that's good, right?

so basically, let me see now, i want to spend less time screwing around,

try to waste fewer hours and spend more time

really training with greater focus.

i want to do leadville next year, and i really would like to join the team at one or two longer stage races, maybe south of the border, for example.

so the trick is this:

how can i sabotage this? dating! of course!

why hadn't i thought of that years ago?

.....

my divorce was final in march, 1981.

i've dated many women born after that.

i haven't been in a serious relationship in over four years.

and what's my problem?

maybe i've taken too many conks to the noggin,

because i sometimes think i need to change this situation.

i should recognize this when women ask me "how i feel about change."

when i was asked this question a week ago, i said "i keep it in a jar."

maybe i need to write "i need a girlfriend" on a slip of paper,

and put it in a jar -- with a lid.

.....

there might be a couple women around the midwest

who feel a bit like the second mrs. rudy guilliani right about now.

sorry about that.

but let me pose this question:

now, i haven't bought a car--new or used--from a dealer since, well, 1978.

little fiat 128 rally. got it instead of a volvo wagen.

fiat lasted less that a year. [know what i'm driving now?]

but do car dealers still employ high-pressure sales tactics?

i kind of felt a little bit of pressure from these women.

they're very nice women, actually.

but, man, i am just not accustomed to such high-pressure treatment.

my instincts are to walk out of the showroom.

and i think i just did.

from the edinbrugh evening news, today

issues facing cyclists not in iowa

Bumpy road for the city's cyclists
ANDREW PICKEN (apicken@edinburghnews.com)
CONGESTION on the Capital's roads can garner opinions in much the same way rock star Pete Doherty attracts sniffer dogs.
Everyone has got something to say and, given the botched congestion charging and traffic management schemes in recent years, they have had no shortage of talking points. But a perennial favourite for all ranting road users is when two wheels come up against four.
Cyclists and motorists have traditionally enjoyed a love/hate relationship and, with a foot in both camps, I fully understand the frustrations.
The view from the steering-wheel side of the windscreen

is often not too favourable: cyclists are the pavement riding idiots

who laugh in the face of the highway code.
While perceptions from the lycra-clad side of the fence

are often not much better. Parking in cycle lanes,

not looking before pulling out of junctions

and riding so close to the back tyre

they could count the spokes are all common complaints.
Shoddy behaviour from both groups,

and let's not leave bus and lorry drivers out of the equation,

has created age-old frustrations that have been compounded

by the way our city's ancient streets creek under growing levels of traffic.
But is it not entirely the fault of drivers or cyclists;

Edinburgh's layout thrusts them into conflict.
The design of the city's roads, often little changed from the days of

the penny-farthing, means cyclists are continually forced

to rub elbows with wing mirrors.
Moving away from this situation,

giving proper segregated lanes for cyclists and motorists,

is the direction that we have and should be moving in.
In London segregated cycling lanes were introduced

as part of the congestion charge scheme and have proved very popular.

Keeping the on-road tribes apart, where space permits obviously,

would speed up journeys and cut down

on accidents and frustrations for both parties.
But plans revealed last week mean we may be turning the clock back.
Cycling lobby groups were left disappointed on Saturday

when it emerged the £545 million tram project could lose them

their segregated lanes on two of the city's busiest streets.
TIE - the council-backed firm building the tram line - is proposing

to keep a one metre-wide lane for bikes on

Leith Walk but has still to make its mind up

in terms of what to do for Princes Street.
The Leith Walk plans are better than nothing

but leave the door wide open,

well, for a door being opened and knocking a cyclist over.

While on Princes Street, one of the widest spaces in the city centre,

we could see dedicated cycle lanes disappear altogether.

Where Edinburgh has made great strides is

in its off-road cycle path network,

particularly the former railway lines in the north of the city

which were converted to cycling in the 1980s.
Elsewhere the Innocent Path follows a scenic route between St Leonard's

and Portobello again on a former railway line but it's the connections

beyond these off-road links where conflict with motorists is found.
In all, Edinburgh has 46 miles of on-road cycle paths, which include

Princes Street and The Mound and around the same in off-road paths.
This is something that needs to be built on,

with a greater network of paths.
There is also still scope for opening up some

of the city's abandoned tunnels for cycling use.

An obvious choice would be the mile-long Scotland Street tunnel.
Though they would have to make a better job of any work here

than the stalled efforts to put a new cycle path and walkway

in the Rodney Street tunnel in Canonmills.

The route, being re-opened after 40 years to let cyclists and walkers

avoid a busy road on their way between

the city centre and the city's foreshore,

has hit the buffers because of the council's cash crisis.
It is a classic example of the sort of 'missing link' that would make people

think twice about whether they could in fact cycle to work

while moving cyclists away from what is a busy junction.
Further consideration also needs to be given

so that the city's cycle network grows in the same places

where we expect major development in Edinburgh.
This includes the Waterfront but also out to the south-east of Edinburgh.
Plans for up to seven bike lanes to improve access to

the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and

the neighbouring new biomedical research park were announced

by the council early last year but there has been little movement since.
Edinburgh is a fairly compact city, which, despite a few steep hills,

does lend itself to being relatively cyclist-friendly.
It is, of course, ridiculous to think you can keep cyclists and drivers

entirely separated from each other but overall there are

clear hotspots and key routes

- such as the wide-open boulevard that is Princes Street -

where segregated routes would benefit all road users.
A balance has to be struck of course, for example cyclists now make up

a fifth of all rush-hour traffic on Lothian Road.
This is high but still clearly a minority

but it does need to be reflected in the make-up of our city's roads.

...

just an interesting perspective, eh? --the reverend

enough, already

sick of wet

contemplating today's race

thinking about cyclocrossing this morning...

and now, for something completely different

friday is friday, even for dogs,

only seven times better.

. . . . .

here's proof:

they dance for the sheer joy of it

. . . . .

they smile [it's real--i took this photo. he's one crazy, happy dog.]

. . . . .

i found this in the alley behind zanzibar's.

what kind of spider IS this?

. . . . .

why? just to show i CAN do non-controversy.

cracks--where would we be without them?

dedicated to an ass, man

.....

road cracks on ragbrai, 2005

. calling attention to a dangerous crack in the road

.

repairing a dangerous crack in the road

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

cracks, a haiku

we ride bikes for fun;

cars kill us: doesn't matter.

one sues? game over!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[we'll see you in denison in may, and carroll in july!]

cool old bike for sale

[sorry for the crass commercialism,

but the orphans wanted to give it a try ]

how it measures up: ~21" seat tube, standover height ~30"

...

this is a very sweet, old "statesman" single speed, with a coaster brake. complete with fenders, chainguard, handlebars and grips. what's the significance of this? NO cable guides. very clean frame, long rear dropouts, this is a perfect city cruiser, with wonderful potential for a fixed gear conversion. comes with 26" wheels, with plenty of room for 700c wheels, or even cross/knobbies. has a removable kickstand, but i kind of like it.

$25.00, and no one gets hurt.

county leaders go shopping

supplies in western iowa are drying up!

nervous boards of supervisors are doing more than biting their nails.

perhaps a leisurely bike ride would help them relax...

FLASH!!

WE'RE NOT THE PEOPLE RUINING RAGBRAI!!

thanks to a sharp-eyed contributing editor,

the orphans have been vindicated,

after all these years!

just wait until NEXT year!

thought for the day

if a mime is arrested,

does it have 'the right to remain silent'?

sorry

flash: eroica results

[you remember, that euro-gravel road race?

check out the photos!]

i'm too busy working to post today.

when that is finished, go here.

then take the day off.

exciting developments

local racer claims he'll kick ass NEXT year.

in the meantime, watch this.

sterrati fever hits italy!!

duh. it took them long enough to learn what

some of us have known for decades:

. . .

First Monte Paschi Eroica presented
70 kilometres of le strade bianche

click here for map
Le strade bianche of Siena that have become popular amongst cycling enthusiasts will now play host to the top pros. The Monte Paschi Eroica, presented yesterday in Milano by RCS Sport, will be the first time for professionals to race over the white gravel roads. The 180 kilometre race it is held on October 9.
The race, starting in Gaiole in Chianti and ending in Siena, will include seven sectors, 70 kilometres of 'sterrati' ('gravel roads') inspired by races like

Paris-Roubaix and the Ronde van Vlaanderen.
"Cycling needed something new and the riders need a motivation," explained Angelo Zomegnan, to La Gazzetta dello Sport during the presentation.

"This race is unique, and is special."
There will be an expected 2000 cycling enthusiasts to take part in the eleventh edition of the amateur event two days prior to the professional race. "In the amateur event there exists a spirit, a brotherhood, that modern cycling is losing. The Monte Paschi Eroica [pro race] will be a way to refind the rays of the past..."
RCS Sport has already confirmed modern champions like Danilo Di Luca, Het Volk winner Filippo Pozzato, Daniele Bennati, Flanders champion Alessandro Ballan and 2006 Roubaix king Fabian Cancellara. The organizers hope to secure the participation of World Champion Paolo Bettini and

two-time Flanders winner Tom Boonen in the coming weeks.

. . .
The 180 km of the First Monte Paschi Eroica. see profile map.
. . .
Bennati was invited to take part in a special reconnaissance. "When they invited me to take part in this inspection I replied with enthusiasm," said Bennati, who lives in nearby Arezzo. "These roads are used often when I train,

even if I don't cover le strade bianche.
"It was a sensation of turning back in time. I did not think that there still existed paths like these, where you only see a tractor every now and then," Bennati continued after his reconnaissance. "During the test I covered all seven sectors, and I can say that the last one contains points of 18%. You have to use a 39x25,

and you can't rise out of the saddle."
The race will finish in the medieval Piazza del Campo, home of the famous horse races. "It will be an important race that could become an important Classic. ...

I can already imagine the atmosphere of the arrival in the Piazza del Palio."

on this day, october 4, 1957

the launch that would forever change my life:

trying to decide what to watch.

okay, smart aleck readers

oct 20 is mensa testing day.

find a testing location at: http://us.mensa.org/mtd2008

take a practice test here.

i don't wanna hear any bitchin' if you don't make it.

and let me know if you do.

gravel tuesdays have begun!!

well, it has begun!!

tuesday nights are fun again.

finally, no more of the same old crap, week after week,

do the same ride, attack at the same place.

nope, now until we stop this next spring,

we stop for stop signs,

we re-group,

we ride different routes almost every night.

530 pm,

waterworks park, the bridge by frisbeeville.

bring lights, dress appropriately,

no one gets dropped.

we'll do these every tuesday, and at least once on weekends.

all information will be found on the g-spot.

see ya there!!

hmmm...what to read this morning...

let's see...concussions. that rings familiar.

and, oh, that west des moines ump worked this game.

oh, and i saw that weasel clarence thomas on 60 minutes.

i thought anita might have a response.

this should be good. i don't like that guy.

. .

. . . .

thought for the day, from an email:

When you die you go alone,

and the only light to accompany you derives from

the spiritual practice or positive acts you have done.

-The Dalai Lama

[thanks for visiting, dolly!]

afternoon fright

what's the edjewkashun prezeedent up to now?

u23 worlds report

EXCLUSIVE!!

Hey Kim! I just got in last night after one of the most amazing trips I have ever taken!!! The legs were not good, definitely didn't taper correctly or plan the end of the season well . . . but live and learn, right?
I am going to do some serious blog posts today, so check it out!

Pictures will be included!
Tell everyone who cares that I thank them for caring,

and I am looking forward to some awesome rides during Christmas break

in our wonderfully shitty Iowa weather!
____________________
Nick Frey
my blog

sundays

i went to the circus yesterday,

and discovered how they generate revenue.

. . . . .

speaking of the grandkid, i was just introduced to this singer this morning, and after watching her perform, and reading about her, i found this clip of her doing one of my--and my granddaughter's--favorite songs. nyla learned it from a book i gave her, which she learned to read by singing the song. it always brings a tear to my heart to hear nyla sing it, and now, i get the same response from eva.

enjoy the song, and do read about her.

[i may not be the only person in the world who doesn't watch figure skating.]

this is BIG NEWS!!!

it scares the hell out of me.
it should frighten you, too.
it's the beginning of squirrel awareness week
in elmhurst, illinois.
locals get all dressed up for this week.

for more information, check here.

let me know how it goes.

sadly, even this event is not without controversy.

some folks say the event runs the entire month

[they need to get a life, i suspect],

while some embrace that it actually begins october 7.

a mind as great as dave barry says it begins today;

who am i to argue with such authority?

i just ask that you all be careful.

remember what a single raccoon can do.