Almost Summer Velo News
Saturday's ride was my first this year to begin with me wearing a t-shirt. I've ended up in a t-shirt on on one or two rides this year but on Saturday the weather made the choice easy. Olympia's had...
View ArticleI Didn't Fucking Lose Iraq
The Unholy Trio--John McCain, Lindsay Graham and Kelly Ayotte--is demanding that President Obama let loose with American weaponry in Iraq to stave off the the onrushing Islamic State of Iraq and Syria...
View ArticleArticle 22
Political events in Virginia caught my attention this week. Most of the nation already knows everything there is to know about Eric Cantor. For me this was a moment of high schadenfreude. I've never...
View ArticleEarly Summer Velo News
...begins last week in Danville, Virginia where I spent my childhood and teenage years before leaving for college in 1966. I went back in late June to join my brother bicycling the town. He rode...
View ArticleNot Too Hot August Velo News
Western Washington has had the longest run of sunny, warm and occasionally hot (over 90) weather this summer. Today is predicted to be one of the cooler days (84) but mid-day temperatures and high UV...
View ArticlePreparing for War
Anne Applebaum assesses Russian actions and intent and asks if the west and its preminent superpower shouldn't be preparing for an all-out war. The question is sobering Too much fighting, destruction...
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Hoh River, Olympic National Park
Spent four days in the Hoh Rainforest of Olympic National Park week before last under clear, sunny skies. Maggie and I camped at the campground adjacent to the visitor center and the Hoh River. We...
View ArticleVA Lies and Helpful Agents
This morning I called the VA 800-827-1000 number to check on the status of client clalims. Since this is the same number individual veterans call for that same purpose, the menu options don't work for...
View ArticleWhat Veterans For Peace Said
A draft of my thoughts on Obama's war against ISIL was rendered moot when I read the statement issued by Veterans For Peace. So I will simply quote my brother veterans who say it well.Veterans For...
View ArticleAlmost Fall Velo News
The big velo news is that I turned 9000 miles on my bike computer during last week's ride, ending at a nice, symmetrical 9009 before going in for hip replacement surgery two days ago. Nine thousand...
View ArticleThis Is The Next War That I'm Already Against
I've been pretty quiet about America's latest military adventure in the Middle East but my silence should in no way be interpreted as support for the bombing campaign against ISIS. As an infantryman...
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Geroge Shuba, 1924-2014
George Shuba, a team mate of Jackie Robinson in the AAA Montreal Royals and the Brooklyn Dodgers, has died at age 89. Mr. Shuba was the first white baseball player to display interracial solidarity...
View ArticleThe Nitty Gritty
Fom a Washington Postarticle on Qatar: “Washington may not like everything we do, but we have been there to help again and again,” the well-connected Qatari analyst said. “You need a friend who is...
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Still Paying the Pottery Barn
According to the Washington Post, ISIL fighters are about to overrun Anbar Province in Iraq, putting themselves within artillery range of Baghdad. This would give them effective control of western...
View ArticleA Woman of Many Talents
Came across a nice article about Leslie Barton, one of the artists I knew in Phoenix. Leslie was part of my Long Story About a Grand Adventure in Phoenix, Arizona. As a performance artist she was...
View ArticleNo Thank You for My Service
Our local military base held a Welcome Home ceremony for Vietnam veterans the other day. I did not attend. No doubt the ceremony was meaningful for those who went but for not for me. When I came...
View ArticleThat Happened Fast
As of today gay and lesbian couples can legally marry in every state that I have ever called home: Arizona, New Mexico (however briefly) , Virginia, and Washington. Of the four, only my current home...
View ArticleOh Wow. Look at the Moon.
Stepping on to my balcony to scan the pre-dawn sky I catch the fleeting image of a waning crescent moon as it disappears behind some fast-moving clouds. What I saw was pretty--early morning crescent...
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