Now I'm a flat liar. I just heard this group "tUnE-yArDs". Literally, right now people, stop what you're doing and listen. Low-fi and beautiful and I can NOT say enough how uterally undercutting your soul the music is.

Just sayin.

UC Davis is offering an overseas class, "Sustainable Cities of Northern Europe", to all UC students this summer.

Gosh, I wish I was back at college!

Sustainable Cities of Northern Europe
Stockholm, Malmo, Copenhagen, Odense, Freiburg, Strasbourg, and Zurich, Europe - Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France and Switzerland
Arrive Date: 7/1/2010 End Date: 7/31/2010
Program Overview

This course examines principles of sustainability as they apply to urban areas. We will explore 9 cities in 5 European countries: Stockholm and Malmo, in Sweden; Copenhagen, Aero, and Odense in Denmark; Hannover and Freiburg, in Germany; Strasbourg in France; and Zurich in Switzerland. Each is widely recognized for their efforts to become more sustainable.

We will explore innovations such as: compact, mixed use, transit-(and pedestrian) oriented planning; high quality urban design for walkable cities, car-free developments, urban waterfront and brownfield development, bicycle friendly urbanism, alternative housing models, renewable energy sources solar, wind, bio-fuels) and energy efficiency, recycling, reuse and reduction in solid waste, innovations in heating and cooling at the district scale, storm water management, natural areas restoration and preservation as part of the urban fabric, and similar topics that require a policy, planning and urban design response. Students will learn sustainable measures; to quickly “read” cities and recognize how they function; gain insights into how European communities have embraced sustainable concepts; and gain insights into how to translate these lessons to U.S. cities.

In each community, we will: (1) take a walking (and biking) tour of key parts of the city; (2) take specialized tours of innovative places, neighborhoods, and facilities often by testing local public transit or energy facilities; (3) learn from local officials and scholars about the country, region or community’s efforts; and (4) complete a series of hands on field exercises in urban design and sustainable planning. Students will keep a journal, do a series of visual and mapping exercises, and develop a substantial paper on a sustainability topic of the student’s choice.

Went and saw the Tara Donovan exhibit at MCASD downtown. It blew my tiny little mind in the very best way possible. I strongly recommend it. Like, a LOT.

1 of 3 rain storms passed by swiftly!

We drove along PCH in Carlsbad and Oceanside. Winds howling and blowing. Saw broken branches and flash flooding.

What a great treat to see a DOUBLE RAINBOWS to the east ad the sun peaked through he clouds from the west. It appeared only for a few seconds.

two years ago there was a great double rainbow that touched ground at both ends at Burning Man. it stopped all 35 thousand people dead in their tracks with amazement.

Cistern's should be standard equipment on all homes.

Doing the math, that one barrel filled from a spout that covers only 1/5th of my roof. I were to catch, say 3/5ths, that'd be about 150 gallons. We get, what 4 good rains here in San Diego a year? 600 gallons. I could water all green stuff around the house and fill a fountain all year long with out worry.

I was reading in that in Colorado, it's illegal to collect rain water. Like, whoa.

damn roof is leaking again.
last winter we noticed a leak so we got a big tarp and covered the leak with it.
over the summer we didn't have the cash to fix the roof so this year we covered the roof with a tarp again.
well today it leaked, as soon as the rain stopped i jumped on the roof to find out why it's leaking and there is no reason i can find that rain can be leaking through the tarp.
i thought there might be a rip in the tarp, but no.
at least it's not a huge leak in the house, but still gotta make sure it dries out properly.
pita, can't wait to sell this place and move into an apt.

Welcome to the club, Mike. Our roof is leaking too.

Fortunately I know where it is and it is not too bad. Only comes through when it rains really hard.
But I lack the knowhow to fix it myself. Will wait out the storm before I call a roofer, though. I bet right now their rates are extra high.

But unlike you we hope we will never have to go back to living in an apartment.

Beautiful photo!

At the Anaheim Stadium show in '77 PF played "Animals" al the way through, then "Wish You Were Here" from cover to cover, followed by one encore from DSOTM: "Money." It had been raining all day, everyone was soaked. Just before the band hit the stage the rain stopped, the sun came out, and the double rainbow appeared to be a scripted part of the show.

During "Animals" they unleashed the giant inflatable pig with glowing red eyes. As it rose above the crowd, Roger Waters said, "Do you like our pig? (cheers) It's not a very nice pig, BUT IT'S A BIG PIG!" (more cheers). What a memory!

Saw them again in '80 at the LA Sports Arena for a reading of "The Wall." That ended up being Waters's last tour with the band.

Interesting website idea ... worldwide bike and part registration:

http://www.mybikenumber.com/

bikingbill:Interesting website idea ... worldwide bike and part registration:

Clever idea. Two questions:

How does the finder decode the bar code so as to identify the rightful owner?
What kind of self-print sticker is durable enough to survive intact exposed to the elements on a bike frame?

I am sure there are good answers to my questions - just wondering!

Just commenting on HOW MANY road cyclists I've seen just yesterday & today out by the barn (Lake Jennings/El Monte River Valley). Total about 60. Not all together. Small groups of 5 or 6 here, larger groups of 15-20 there. All in their lycra, but seemed to be of all different fitness levels. Several groups even had some tandem riders riding with them. But really, they were everywhere heading in every direction. I've not seen anything like it out there before.

But out in these neck of the woods you don't normally see sooooo many cyclists (a couple quite big hills, maybe that's why). They were riding wide (into the lane) on a couple busy bits when they could have narrowed down to 2 x 2 and still stayed in the bike lane, but whatever. They were polite and waved thank you's when I let then go straight even though it was my right of way to turn right, so that was nice of them.

So many of them, from all directions. Wow.

Serge:

Best T-Shirt motif ever!

<blockquote><cite> Bev:</cite>I don't know. It was super dangerous for THEM. It was coming around a bend going down a steep hill where the cars always cut the corner due to oncoming traffic cutting its corner. One poor guy got missed by inches. Their bike lane is really wide there, no ditches, debris, doors, etc. They were just chatting away 4 x 4 when the poor guy almost got sideswiped. It's one thing to be a vocal bike advocate, but I would think that it was another to protect your safety in reasonable circumstances. Unless you wanted to spout off with two broken legs, a broken pelvis, and traumatic brain injury.

Edit: Forgot to mention they types of vehicles travelling along here are large pickups, cattle trucks, truck & horse trailer rigs, people hauling their water craft. You may not think that this matters, but it makes for near zero handling; fishtailing of hauled item which could therorhetically whip into a cyclist. Should they be going as fast as they are? No. Are they? Yes. All making for a very bad scenario, vehicle code or no vehicle code.</blockquote>
I'm curious now about where exactly this was... on what street going which way near what intersection?

Just sayin' this song makes me warm and happy like soup on a cold day.

Much to the not so much delight, I'm whistlin the thing all over the place today. Not since Switchyards "When space creatures rape your face" have I hummed this much.

<blockquote><cite> Bev:</cite>Lake Jennings exit heading towards the El Monte Rd, coming down the backside fo the grade.</blockquote> Do you mean north on Lake Jennings Park Rd approaching El Monte Rd? Here? <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lake+jennings&sll=32.84426,-116.912556&sspn=0.050261,0.09407&ie=UTF8&radius=2.73&rq=1&ev=p&hq=lake+jennings&hnear=&ll=32.858537,-116.899509&spn=0,359.90593&z=14&layer=c&cbll=32.858598,-116.899639&panoid=H4BhCSKNaCSy3N0vxJkaDw&cbp=12,335.12,,0,19.31">Lake Jennings Rd</a> <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lake+jennings&sll=32.84426,-116.912556&sspn=0.050261,0.09407&ie=UTF8&radius=2.73&rq=1&ev=p&hq=lake+jennings&hnear=&ll=32.858537,-116.899509&spn=0,359.90593&z=14&layer=c&cbll=32.858598,-116.899639&panoid=H4BhCSKNaCSy3N0vxJkaDw&cbp=12,125.8,,0,-0.97">Here</a> is the view to the rear, which is very revealing. If you're in the so-called "bike lane" (which looks more like a shoulder with bike lane markings, and is probably not up to standard and so not a legal bike lane), drivers approaching from behind are likely to ignore you and zoom by you at full speed. I would much prefer to be out in the lane where they could see me (or us, riding 4x4, even better), from a long ways back, and will slow down and carefully adjust to pass. <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lake+jennings&sll=32.84426,-116.912556&sspn=0.050261,0.09407&ie=UTF8&radius=2.73&rq=1&ev=p&hq=lake+jennings&hnear=&ll=32.857527,-116.896591&spn=0,359.90593&z=14&layer=c&cbll=32.855346,-116.893337&panoid=clG4FqiLV_3USW6w4geZrQ&cbp=12,173.76,,0,26.01">Here</a> is another shot a bit further back showing how wide the lane is there. I've never ridden there, but it looks like you can get going pretty fast down that grade. 30 mph? 40+? Would you ride a motorcycle so close to the edge of the pavement at that speed? Bike lanes aren't really designed for speeds above 15 mph or so. Just sayin'...

I looove bike lanes and other bike-centric infrastructure. Don't have enough of it. Need more of it.

Just sayin'.

Makes me happy:

Someone telling me that not only are they psyched about bike polo but that it has made them more excited about cycling in general and they are going to gradually start commuting to work/school.

Today marks 90 days without driving. I will celebrate by riding CM tonight and picking up my '71 Polara wagon tomorrow.

Slant-6?

383 4bbl (Magnum) It may be more of a museum piece for a while as I have completely fallen out of love with internal combustion.

Oi, Serge!

I get busy with life and lose track of this thread and look what happens. I am only going to make one more statement about this. It is not a shoulder, it is a proper bike lane. I can't see the links you put up, but the area I drive down 6 days a week has a very wide bike lane. And the exact section I was speaking of was on a BLIND bend so that cars DO in fact come haring down, cutting the corner. They can't see you from "a long way back" as it is on a bend, going down hill. If you want to be the one taking that lane to be make some point - go ahead.

Done.

Not everyone likes the google privacy-invader-mobile.

Just a note for those of you who live in the North Park area, friends of mine were mugged at gun & knife point last night (near University & Texas). They were 15 feet from their front door just stepping out to pick up somthing from the shop when a car pulled up beside them, 2 people jumped out (one with knife, one with gun), yelled "get on the ground, give my your purse", and got away with everything (wallets with addresses, house keys, car keys, Iphones, etc...) I know it probably happens fairly frequently, but it is much more a reality when it's people you know. I am very loosey goosey, lacksadazacle, never thinking that something like that would happen but it does. Stay sharp, stay aware!