Crushing a Man

How might one go about such a thing?  Stick him at home with two baby girls.  Lately, I've just felt less human, in general, as I do my best to minimize the crying and maximize the giggling, without much success.  They're doing great, for the most part, but they're getting closer to that point at which they'll not need two naps, anymore, and at which I'll have to drop even more of the few things I manage to get done around here while the wife's at work, earning the bread.  As well, they're getting more and more mobile, and that, inherently, means more "no!" from me, with expected results in their demeanors.  I'm trying not to limit them too much on the exploration, but there's a fine line between this and letting them break a limb or otherwise hurt themselves.  Delia is going to be walking within a month or two, probably, and Tillie is more likely to take another month or two beyond that.  I can't wait until we can all go explore the back yard, let alone all the hiking trails in the region.

I just looked over the Kulture Klash website ( http://www.kultureklashartsfestival.com/ )and briefly checked out the Charleston Cycle Chic stuff, too ( http://charlestoncyclechic.com/) and I'm left feeling kind of sad about the state of bicycling in this town.  Bicycles are cool, don't get me wrong, but to ride because it's cool?!?  It used to be cool to drive cars that got 10mpg.  It used to be cool to snort cocaine.  It used to be cool to wear leg warmers and parachute pants, too.  We all learn and we all grow.  I do appreciate what people do to make bicycling more fun, but, contrary to a little video linked into the Cycle Chic site, fun is not the best reason to ride a bicycle.  I think the best reasons are that a) it's easy and convenient and b) it gets one from point A to point B in a manner that asserts our independence from industry that hinges on oppression and ecological destruction.  Again, I think it is fun to ride, but if I'm to be honest, I think some of the worst bicycling conditions produce some of the best rides that others would consider very little fun.  Fun is a relative term, I guess, and, for me, that fun does not require other people, alcohol, or a bicycle that looks like a float from Mardi Gras.  

Granted, I'm probably just touchy because I won't be able to attend the "Klash" on account of it being on the same day I'm teaching the class and because the girls wouldn't be able to stand that amount of time away from home without a nap.  Nevertheless, I remain convinced that selling bicycling as something that is fun is not the best way to get the majority of citizens out of their cars.  There will be head winds, rain days, flat tires, collisions and confrontations with motorists, and other adversity.  These things don't add up to fun for most, and they tend to steer people away from staying on the bicycle.  However, if one considers that what one is doing on a bicycle is a form of spiritual and ecological redemption, it is easier to roll with said adversity, I think.  Just look at what recycling has done for our collective consciousness. "Recycling rewards consumption," is what Brother Adam would say, here, and he's right.  Though, I would have to argue that this reward has leaned people in a better direction.  One DOES make this world a better place if one rides a bicycle for transportation, and I think that resonates with most humans, since most of us are in a fog when it comes to prioritizing our altruism (there are so many worthy causes that it sends us into a stasis...at least it does me, with the exception of Doctors Without Borders, Democracy Now!, and the ACLU).  

All of this relates to a conversation I had with a buddy from Asheville last night.  He's working for the YMCA up there, now, and he attended a staff retreat the other day.  He was a little concerned about the Christian portion of the proceedings, and I related that I've always had that sort of hesitation about such compromises (working for a group that doesn't necessarily reflect one's philosophy).  My lack of conviction in just about anything (other than my marriage and our decision to have children) stems from only having confidence in speaking on my own behalf.  I got outside of this a little with Dennis Kucinich's campaign, but I still preferred people listen/read him themselves, rather than taking my word for it.  I'm afraid that this is why the pushover got elected and why he won't be followed by anybody with more independence and integrity.  We just like things to be given to us, I guess.  It's no wonder Christmas is such a hit in this country.  

Sorry to end on a down note, but we're currently watching "W." and we just watched the Frost/Nixon movie that Richie Cunningham directed.  The latter was very well done, though I think it had more to do with the play writer's ability than that of The Fonz's boy.  The former is Brolin at his best.  That guy is a good actor.  Also, great casting in this one, Mr. Stone.  Dreyfus (two s's?) as Cheney was brilliant.

Not much in the realm of multi-media this time around, but after seeing this thing spoofed on the Cleveland Show (I am NOT a regular consumer of this product), I had to include this link.  I'm sure this is quite old, but, damn it, this is one of those reasons why I miss the Gulf Coast so much, dahlin!  I love how mad he looks at around :44.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKK-WWwcQME