Blacknell.net

Politics, open government, and safe streets. And the constant incursion of cycling.

Month: August 2008

Weekend Music: Critical Mass Edition

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On August 1, 2008

In Cycling, DC, Music, Ride Report

Just back from my semi-annual check-up on the DC Critical Mass crowd.  Unsuprisingly, DC did not live up/down to the examples recently set in Seattle or NYC.  It was a mostly positive affair that I’ll write more about later.  I’ll say now, tho’, that the hipster simply didn’t represent like I expected them to (in fact, the only clearly ID’able one I saw didn’t take part in the ride at all – he was busy loading his Pista into the back of his . . . SUV! at 14th & R St.).  Anyway, in honor of the evening –

We start with the setting – Dupont Circle at 6pm.  Lily Allen’s LDN is apropos, no?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORosVxIg8Tg[/youtube]

As we get rolling on the ride, I look around to see who’s with us.  All sorts, really, but one stands out.  She may well be proof of time travel, looking like she’d been snatched out of Ready for the World’s Oh Sheila video:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SX-vZk5DUY[/youtube]

Props to her, though – could you pedal with 4 inch heels?  No, you could not.  So up and around Thomas Circle, swing across U, and back down to the Capitol.  We crash the party that the local DC skate/rollerblade club had going on.  Much fun, sometimes towing the skaters, sometimes getting pushed.  The guys on the tall bikes (triple stacked!) wanted to try something with the tour buses, but they ran away.  So we were left to:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQVM7jsUlJc[/youtube]

Shortly after, I and a couple of other guys parted ways with the pack, and headed home.  An excellent start to the evening.

Obama Went to Berlin, So McCain Went to . . .

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On August 1, 2008

In Politics

Paris?

I have never ever written here about Paris Hilton, and I was pretty sure I was going to be able to die with that claim intact.  But John McCain has decided that if he’s going to win the Presidency of the United States, he needs to do it with Paris Hilton.  So sad it’s funny, no?  And really, those of you who think it’s reasonable to vote for John McCain, please forgive me in advance if I can’t stifle the laugh next time we talk politics.

This Is Where We Part Ways, US Airways

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On August 1, 2008

In Travel

I think I’ve got a pretty high tolerance for airline ridiculousness, but this?  This will make me pick another carrier over US Airways, on general principle:

Charging for checked luggage and legroom isn’t enough for some carriers — starting today, coach passengers flying aboard US Airways Inc. must pay for a drink of water.

This morning, US Airways began charging fliers $2 for bottled water and sodas and $1 for teas and coffees.

If you seriously need to charge $2 for a 30 cent bottle of water, raise your fares.  Or get out of the ()@*#@ing business all together.  And just to show you what brilliant people they’ve got working there, lets add in this quote:

If a desperately thirsty passenger does forget a few extra dollars, US Airways spokesman Morgan Durrant says flight attendants will likely “err on the side of the customer” and give him or her water. After all, the airline wouldn’t want its customers drinking tap water from the aircraft bathroom. That water is safe to drink, just not very palatable, according to Durrant.

“Frankly, that’s just not classy,” he says.

Seriously.  Just pack it in and send everyone home US Airways.

DHS: We’ll Be Keeping Your Laptop, Thanks

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On August 1, 2008

In Law, Policy, Travel

It’s been well-understood for some time (in the legal community, at least) that the border is some sort of no-man’s land, where Constitutional protections really don’t apply.  In practice, however, it hasn’t really been an issue, and the public is generally unaware of just how much power border agents can exercise over them when crossing.  Well, I think that’s been changing, especially in light of the ridiculous practices of the Department of Homeland Security.  The Congressional hearings earlier this month finally wrangled the DHS policy guidelines out of DHS, and, well, look what we have here:

Federal agents may take a traveler’s laptop or other electronic device to an off-site location for an unspecified period of time without any suspicion of wrongdoing, as part of border search policies the Department of Homeland Security recently disclosed.

Also, officials may share copies of the laptop’s contents with other agencies and private entities for language translation, data decryption or other reasons, according to the policies, dated July 16 and issued by two DHS agencies, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Anything, anytime, for as long as they feel like it.

You trust them, don’t you?

Death of Remaining Suspect in Anthrax Terrorism Labeled Suicide

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On August 1, 2008

In DC, Society

Let’s just file this under There’s Much Much More to the Story, I Bet.

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