It only took me a bit under 2 years to finish off this quart of farm-fresh maple syrup. This is the one I bought through my office. It was great mapley syrup, for sure.

America Bikes?

From America Bikes:
> Bicycling and walking make up 10% of all trips made in the U.S., but receive less than 2% of federal transportation funding.
> Bicyclists and pedestrians account for 13% of traffic fatalities, but receive less than 1% of federal safety funding.40% of all trips in America are two miles or less, 74% of which are traveled by car.
> Americans spend, on average, 18% of their annual income for transportation. The average annual operating cost of a bicycle is 3.75% ($308) of an average car ($8,220).
> A small reduction in driving causes a large drop in traffic. In 2008, the number of vehicle miles traveled dropped 3%, translating to a nearly 30% reduction in peak hour congestion.
> Transportation sources account for 70% of our nation's oil consumption and for 30% of total U.S. GHC emissions.
> Simply increasing bicycling and walking from 10% of trips to 13% could lead to fuel savings of around 3.8 billion gallons a year. This is equivalent to having 19 million more hybrid cars on the road.
> 89% of Americans believe that transportation investments should support the goals of reducing energy use. > 71% of Americans report that they would like to bicycle more.
> 53% favor increasing federal spending on bicycle lanes and paths.
> For the price of one mile of four-lane urban highway, around $50 million, hundreds of miles of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure can be built, an investment that could complete an entire network of active transportation facilities for a mid-sized city.
View the source document with citations →
America Bikes →

Climate Change and You.

Looking Back at 2010: Are Accelerating Weather Extremes A Symptom Of Climate Change? Gary Betts, climate scientist and commentator, had a few thoughts for Vermont Public Radio which I thought were worthy of sharing: "The Earth's climate system, which is rather unstable, is being driven by the increase in greenhouse gases and the warming of the Arctic into new patterns, and these are giving us new extremes of weather. Climate change is forcing us to face something that nobody wants to face. It is now widely acknowledged that our industrialized world, created by science and technology and a market economy, is polluting the atmosphere and oceans; and driving rapid climate change. We now face the paradox that although humanity is responsible for this; the longer we delay in changing direction as a society, the more the Earth system is slipping beyond our control. Climate scientists have been issuing warnings for twenty years, and every year our understanding of the Earth improves; so we can better estimate the climate risks we face.  But there is a naïve assumption that our politicians will use this valuable information to redirect the economy away from fossil fuels, and so steer us away from the looming precipice of irreversible climate change. But in fact, politicians will say and do almost anything to avoid responsibility for difficult and painful decisions. So at the national level our paralysis has deepened." Image courtesy of Stu Ostro, forecaster at the Weather Channel.

 

Taken from this area-weather blog: http://www.startribune.com/blogs/114448069.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBDEaLDyUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUebcOQ_17cQ_eciaU

 

I scream...

... no, not because it's below zero out, but because I figure if hot foods and drinks can keep you cool in the summer, ice cream will keep me warmer in the dead of winter - right? I'm willing to test the theory with MN's Sebastian Joe's premium Hazelnut and Chocolate English Toffee flavor choices tonight... and they have a cold weather discount (20%) in January and February - hot (pun intended) diggity!

More radiator cleaning.

Got out my vacuum's tech attachment kit (really tiny parts/hose) to take care of lingering hair issues in my rads (that's Canadian for radiator). I can't believe how much more came out. I'm scared to do the other ones.

I thought this was pretty cool.

Goto: http://antbikemike.wordpress.com/2010/12/13/x-mas-favor/

You can also see more recent updates to the story by looking at the Blog section.

 

NEw Plate.

Coming to you from the rolling hills of Omaha.

"Drunk on Christmas" from Jimmy Fallon's show with John Rich

Right from the show's website:

Jimmy Reprises "Drunk on Christmas" with John Rich - Christmas - Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

If you have not seen this already - you have to watch and listen!!!
Merry Christmas, Everyone.

Who's on your roof?!

Does it look something like this?

Find the angel.

Can you see the angel? This was of my own making, the first one in many many years. Luckily, we are not for want of snow in MN.

Quotes for the day.

We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.
  - Anais Nin

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.
  - W. Somerset Maugham

The secret of eternal youth is arrested development.
  - Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Cyclist vs. Goliath?

I thought it was pretty funny to see a typical professional cyclist next to an American professional football player. This is Tom Danielson (on Garmin-Transitions, I believe) and former pro tightend Shannon Sharpe (Denver Broncos). They happen to be at an announcement event for The Quiznos Pro Tour, a new American professional bike race that will take place this summer, all in the state of Colorado. Both the guys happen to live there now... well, at least Danielson's official residence is there. Shannon looks like he could still play too.

Midnight Project

So this is what I came upon after a LOOOOONNNNG evening for work in Milwaukee. I was driving back to the hotel (not realy near downtown) and I had to navigate through this to get back. I thought I would be on a shortcut, but this turned out to be much more interesting and perhaps only a bit longer.

They were moving that huge hunk of metal into the roadway, with giant lights blazing and about 50 people standing around watching - and not just the workers (hardy har). Cripes, having to sleep through this nearby would have been a lesson in patience... long live progress?

Interesting Cycling Video, TEDxCopenhagen, Cycling Chic Blogger

I think many of you may find this interesting. It's from a blogger I really enjoy (he posts his photos of regular everyday cyclists in Copenhagen). This is a video from a conference in which he discusses "The Good Life" and how it seems as though most people are conditioned to do what their told to fear.   [I believe the higlighted links will work...] http://video.tedxcopenhagen.dk/video/911034/mikael-colville-andersen TEDx Copenhagen http://video.tedxcopenhagen.dk