Armstrongs in the news during my travels

One of the conversations I remember having with a classmate around the time of the first moon landing was the classmate telling me how guilty he would feel if he were a pallbearer for Neal Armstrong's casket (as famous as Armstrong is) and he dropped the casket. Noting that Neal Armstrong has passed away I'm remembering that 8th grade conversation.

Looking down to cemetery from road up Pilot Butte in Bend, Oregon.

See more pictures from Pilot Butte.

Also relating this to the trip I am on, I saw one of only 3 caskets I've ever seen in my life on this trip. I've been pretty sheltered from death, but riding to the top of a cinder cone called Pilot Butte in the middle of the city of Bend, Oregon, I looked down on a spectacular view. The whole city spread out before me including a cemetery with a burial taking place. There were the mourners, the hearse and scanning a bit, my eye picked out the coffin looking very tiny from way up on Pilot Butte. Bend is now around 80,000 population, a bustling retirement and recreation center. The other 2 caskets I've seen were from walking past a funeral home and walking past a church at just the right, or wrong time. All the services I've been to for people I have known have been memorial services without the casket.

Also on this trip, I noted another American hero named Armstrong in the news. Lance Armstrong who had the records of his seven wins of Tour de France taken away due to illegal use of enhancing drugs. I speculate that there will be a lot of new winners named for those past races. Radio says the race authorities will have trouble finding new winners as most of the top finishers were also using the illegal drugs. They may have to dig beneath the top ten, for some years, to find legitimate winners who were drug free. I've never been into racing, myself, anyway. Following the science from the moon landing, and current science from the Mars rover is more my speed.

Now back to the hot spring to explore more conversation with the many folks who pass through. Then tomorrow (Tuesday) ride down to Eugene.

This posted from a cafe in Rainbow, Oregon, up in the beautiful McKenzie River Valley.

Back on west side of Oregon Cascades

Bicycled back across McKenzie Pass. Plan to spend a few more days in the area around Rainbow, Oregon and my favorite hot spring. Saw a friend from Bellingham near the pass.

In money we trust

In the 1950s they added the phrase, "in God we trust" on our money. Before long, especially if Romney wins, they'll add the phrase "money is God."

Interesting day in Bend, OR.

Lots of bike lanes around the city. Air is clearer than yesterday. I went to top of Pilot Butte. Quite a view. Then explored Old Mill District. Tall smoke stacks lead one to old powerhouse. It's now an REI store. Explored along Deschutes River paths. Starting back toward western Oregon tomorrow.

Tuned to radio desert for a while

Now I'm in Bend, Oregon. There is public radio here and some other community stations, but I still can't believe I was actually listening to Rush Limbaugh instead.

Then, after Rush, along came a talk host warning about the evils of "sustainable development." It's big government telling people to walk, bike or take the bus, forcing mixed income housing on neighborhoods, telling people they shouldn't live in big houses on several acre lots. Sustainable development; the next boogieman.

After that, another host was mad at the Republican party for abandoning the congressman who said that controversial stuff about women. Since that congressman did retract his comment, the host says the Republican party should not abandoned him.

Interesting to hear thinking from the "other" side. Now I should tune back to my NPR bubble as I ride through the dry smoky (from forest fires) country around Bend.

Fire near Madras, Oregon filled the air today as I headed toward Bend. Sisters mountains barely visible in the haze.

Scene along the road. Next day, the air was much clearer as a wind picked up.

Like it our not, this economy seems to be dependent on government spending

Radio news says Congressional Budget Office warns of possible double dip recession if automatic spending cuts and tax hikes, called "the sequester," go into effect at end of year. Looks like the economy is, to a large extent, dependent on government spending.

Maybe private enterprise should be allowed to build all those fossil fuel pipelines and coal ports? More drought in Midwest for sure.

We need some better thinking than the old Republican playbooks.

I'm in Rainbow

I'm in Rainbow, Oregon enjoying a nearby "clothing optional" hot spring. Actually, sending this from a cafe about 10 miles from the spring, but about to sign off and head back up there.

Looking out window to outdoor patio of Takodas Restaurant in Rainbow.

That was yesterday. Now headed over old Mckenzie Highway toward Sisters, Oregon and a few days in the geologically interesting Bend area. Next week, back over here to the hot spring again and then back down the McKenzie Valley to Eugene for a train ride back to Seattle and something called Longhouse Gathering. That's if all goes to plan.

My variation on the God search for a cat in a dark room

The scientist brings a real flashlight and doesn't claim, yet at least, to have found any evidence of the cat. The scientist admits that the dark room is very large and the search isn't exhaustive. Also the scientist finds many very useful things besides the cat, such as electricity, for instance.

The conservative Christian refuses to bring a light to the dark room, proclaims he found the cat and if anyone questions the conservative, he slaps them around.

The liberal Christian often forgets to bring a light, but does bring it on occasion. He gives validity to many different modes of search for the cat and spends most of his time exclaiming how wonderful the cat is and how everyone should have a right to the cat.

Republicans back off from cut, cut, cut Medicare

Now the Republican spin doctors are saying they wouldn't cut the 700 billion dollars that supposedly Obama would cut. Are Republicans saying they would spend more on Medicare? More on the military, but not raise taxes? So much for reducing the deficit.

My head spins with all the numbers being thrown around anyway. Like get this. Republicans say they wouldn't change Medicare for folks over 55. Well, nobody knows who is going to be over 55 when changes get implemented anyway. It can take years to get stuff through the process so today's college students may be over 55 before long. It's all a moving target.

Still there is the problem of making Medicare sustainable. It is hard to beat Medicare for efficiency of insurance paper shuffle. Medicare has a higher percent of dollars actually going to health care rather than administrative overhead. Higher than private insurers, so I hear.

Where there really needs to be change is where few politicians like to look; in the lifestyles of the American people. Reducing overall medical costs with better lifestyles and less obesity. Also less obesity in doctor and and insurance company executive pay.

Obesity and demographics, that's what's challenging the sustainability of our Medicare program. Things that just reorganizing the plan doesn't really address.

Weighed myself at the truck scale

My bike, trailer and supplies weighs 80 pounds. I add another 180 pounds. I've lost a bit of weight. Weighted around 185 when I left Bellingham, but not being a weight watcher, I don't weigh myself often. What's amazing to me is how sensitive a truck scale can be. Designed to weigh tractor trailers in the tons it can also weigh someone with as light of a footprint as me. Amazing how technology keeps advancing.

Weather has cooled off as I head east from Eugene Cloudy with scattered thundershowers.

Non government rest stops offer sugar

Headed out of Albany for Eugene and the McKenzie Valley. There is a heat wave and it's 100 degrees. Feels okay. I'm drinking lots of water. On other trips, I'd beat the heat with fruit juice and soda pop, but finding out that my blood sugar is a bit high has convinced me to try and use the water bottle more.

Tap water is often the best.

Sometimes it is hard to find parks where one can fill the water bottle. There sure are a lot of stores selling pop and so forth. Tempting and some of the stores might not want you to go in just to fill a water bottle for free. I don't buy bottled water that is available from a tap for free. So I still buy something, snack food, peanuts, an apple, an occasional chocolate milk and I'm drinking more regular milk now; without the added sugar of the chocolate. Then I'm making sure I fill my water bottle at each stop. No one complains that I'm freeloading on their water faucet. One place I passed had Orange Juliouses. It was tempting so I ordered a small, then also filled my water bottle. 100 degree heat and I'm feeling fine. Consuming less sugar and I feel a lot cleaner on the inside.

A trip with no destination can be less troublesome

My trip doesn't have a definent destination. Some may wonder, or at least I wonder on rare occasion if I'm ggoing anywhere or accomplishing anything. Years ago when I crossed USA there was a goal even though I told people I was going toward rather than to the east coast. Now I'm just riding around in Washington and Oregon. Mostly areas I've already been.

When I took train from Seattle to Albany, Oregon they told me that one couldn't check my stuff to Albany because that station isn't staffed when the train arrives so there is no baggage service. I thought about cancelling going to Oregon and just staying in the Puget Sound region. A friend of mine is housesitting in Seattle so it's an opportunity to have a free headquarters in that expensive city. Then the baggage person said I could check my bags for next day's train which would arrive when the Albany station was attended. Means a delay and staying around albany an extra day, but with no hard and fast plan, it worked. Another friend lives in Albany so I decided to spend some time with him. Trip out of Albany delayed, but where am I going anyway?

Canadians at Bellingham Costco? Anyone can be a monster when reduced to the level of consumer

I avoid shopping environments where people can be reduced to consuming pigs, but I'm glad for the sales tax revenue these places provide to help pay for our parks and bike paths. Something is wrong with society where shopping is such a major pass time. In a better context, like a more relaxed setting in the park, I enjoy meeting Canadians and other folks. They are really nice people, or basically not that much different than Americans. Where there is time to enjoy good conversation, I enjoy the people I meet. Parks, bike paths and discussion groups. That's where I hang out. I only shop when necessary.

The controversy over that guy's Facebook page about Canadians crowding our Costco has heated up in the national media, both sides of the border. Now I read that he has taken the page down and doesn't want to stir up too much.

I enjoy Canadians a lot. Biking up to Canada a few weekends ago, I connected with some groups around the Gay Pride Parade. Good conversations. I wasn't shopping. I went to something called Faerie Coffee, for instance. I don't drink coffee, but do enjoy savoring a chocolate milk. Enjoying people in a relaxed context.

Back in Bellingham, I've never had occasion to set foot in Costco. Being single and not "family oriented" there is little advantage for me to shop in bulk. I don't consume that much. Also Costco shoppers are members of Costco. No point in me getting a membership since I don't buy in bulk. Also it's located in the part of town I seldom venture into. The sprawl and traffic of Cordata and Meridian north of I 5.

Seattle seems too busy today

After some time in Bellingham, I start heading south. First night out at a friend's farm near Lake Samish to watch meteor showers, then an 80 mile day to Everett. A lovely day. Then on south of Seattle.

Now having rode well south of Seattle to Tukwila just because every hotel I checked on-line was full. I checked 3. Then decided to make reservation at closest Extended Stay, since I was at one in Everett. Best one for cost and not being booked was Tukwila. Tomorrow, I ride back up into Seattle to catch the afternoon train out. Seems like a waste, but I did want to go on a bike trip.

It's mid week. Why are things so full in Seattle? Lots of construction for one reason. Things torn up. Obstacle course to get through. A "blue state" economic engine. Seattle seems to be doing business. Blue state innovation. Home for many information age corporations like Microsoft and Amazon, but the downside is, it's busy.

Mount Rainier looms over South Center Mall in Tuckwilla.

I stepped inside South Center for the first time. Have heard about it for years, but never had occasion to go there.

Most of Seattle area is quite bicycle friendly, but near this motel is South Center Mall. It was king of Washington State malls even back in the 1970s. It's huge, but now has a somewhat less happy reputation. Still basically a big mall. Remembered more recently for the rare occasion when a gang shooting, or something, happened there. I decided to take a look since I've never been there. Hard to find how to get to it by bike or walking. Few crosswalks. I finally made it, stepped inside and then left. Now I can say I've been there. It's kind of like a big monster.

Paul Ryan VP fanfare, but governor of Virginia gave most substantive speech

I listened to the fanfare when Paul Ryan was announced as GOP vice presidential candidate for 2012. Most substantive speech, at the occasion, was given by the governor of Virginia, who also spoke, but his speech will most likely be forgotten as a side note. He offered some specific Republican style proposals about getting America working again. Mining coal, fracking for natural gas. Basically, pumping up our old fossil fuel economy.

No mention of global warming, of course. Will this be the economy of the future?

Romney and Ryan also gave rousing speeches, but mostly empty rhetoric about getting America prosperous again. No specific mention of coal and no mention of the Ryan budget proposal, of a year or so back, which did offer some specifics, but, like coal gives people pause. Basically, the Ryan budget called for ending Medicare as we know it among other things.

I plan to vote for Obama.

Transportation benefit district at work

Benefits of Bellingham's special tax district for transportation improvements. Transportation Benefit District Number 1. Some paving for all vehicles, a bit more bus service, like on Sunday and special emphasis on alternative transportation like pedestrian and bicycle. Slight increase in sales tax. Passed by voters in 2010 against the Tea Party tide during the election of 2010 within Bellingham city limits. Elm and Dupont are nice and smooth. Looks good.

My blood sugar was testing a bit high

Still not bad compared to the average American. I've been drinking a quart of chocolate milk per day. Some days another quart in evening. Usually I chug a lug a whole quart in one sitting. Now I'm cutting back to 1% milk with a small amount of cocoa powder in it.

Twin Brooks Dairy, which produces the milk in reusable glass bottles, makes only one brand of chocolate milk that I am aware of. Whole milk sweet and rich. It's so good, they don't want compromise, like a low fat chocolate milk.

I remember meeting one of the farmers at the Food Co-op and we discussed the milk. It's like; "talk to your local farmer day." I don't blame them for making their chocolate so rich creamy. They do have low fat regular milk. I can use their 1% and add my own amount of cocoa powder to give it a bit more zest than regular milk. Every once in a while, I'll still drink the full version chocolate milk; like after long bike rides, or dancing.

Except for the chocolate milk, I don't consume that much sugar. My blood sugar tested better this year than last as I've cut out most of the sweetened ice tea from the vending machine at work and replaced it with the mostly unsweetened Honest Tea products from the Food Co-op. Some have berry flavors. Not quite as sweet, but still pretty good.

So far, I've felt few symptoms from slightly high blood sugar. On some days, I must admit I feel so good it's hard to imagine how I'd feel better, but there is room for improvement; especially on some of the other days. Also looking ahead it's a prevention thing.

The rich are investing in our debt

Hoarding money usually means a lot of cash goes to so called "safe haven" investments. These are investments like US Treasury Bonds. This contributes to an economic environment of low interest rates. Low interest rates combined with low taxes encourages "borrow and spend" rather than "tax and spend" public policy. Easy to borrow with low interest rates, but hard to tax in today's political climate.

Eventually, it seems likely that government debt will becomes unsustainable. Safe haven investments aren't necessarily that safe in the future.

Even the rich, according to this article, are not real comfortable with the precarious situation that all these tax cuts have created. Much of the tax cut mantra comes from political consultants, politicians and handlers, rather than the rich themselves.

When the rich hoard their money in things like US Treasuries, rather than invest it in private business opportunities, private sector jobs are not created. Money put into savings ends up funding government debt which is used by government to create jobs and spending.

Conservatives often call for cutting back government spending, but this just tends to eliminate the government jobs and put many folks, such as Medicare recipients, out in the cold. Maybe the rich should invest more of their money into job creating business ventures if they want private sector job creation, but they are too chicken for these risky investments. Also there are many environmental issues and restrictions related to business growth. Red tape and so forth. I don't mean to let the rich off too easy, but these are factors as well.

We need to find some new ways out of this precarious situation.

Another bike trip to Vancouver, BC and celebrate gay rights with 600,000 people

Canada really supports gay rights. I hear 1 million show up for the gay pride parade in Toronto. An estimated 600,000 here in Vancouver, just 50 miles north of Bellingham, WA. where I live. Within bicycling distance so I bicycled up, like I did last year.

I attended the parade and also explored some Vancouver bike paths and neighborhoods. Even took a trip out to the mountain area called Pitt River and Golden Ears. Friday to Monday adventure. See my pictures on Flickr, but here are some appetizers.

Treasures one finds when traveling slow, like these sunflowers painted on a garage door.

Dancing at Celebrities was quite a trip after the pride parade. The floor was undulating to the music. Crowds, lasers, strippers, music; it all comes at the senses. My ears were ringing for several hours after venturing in there, but it was quite exciting.

Parade ended at English Bay where one can see festival grounds dwarfed by nearby buildings and mountains. Vancouver has a dramatic setting, also a fairly strong economy due (I'd say) to "blue state style" economics. Innovation and responsible banking. Also good balance between public sector and private sector, rather than the two always fighting like they seem to do in the US. Canadians don't tend to view their public sector as evil. It also helps to have a lot of natural resources that haven't yet been depleted. Oil, gas, coal, timber, hydro power. Housing is expensive, but the economy is fairly strong and Canada has fairly good social safety net.

We feel some of Vancouver's economic strength with cross border retail traffic in Bellingham. Some conservatives say that's because Canadians are shopping south of the border to avoid taxes, but Washington State has pretty high sales tax also. Some of it is that, but also we feel the strength of living near the powerhouse that is Vancouver Metro.

Traffic at Bellingham International Airport has nearly doubled recently as our airport is kind of becoming Vancouver's second airport.

In contrast to the atmosphere at Celebrities, a quiet ride along Pitt River bike paths near the Golden Ears mountain area. I like contrasts. Keeps life varied.

Rainbow shopping carts from Canada Safeway supermarkets in the parade. Festival enjoys sponsorship from many large corporations like Safeway and Toronto Dominion Bank.

Riding through Whatcom County and into BC, the air was delicious. Mount Baker was out in full as viewed from Slater Road.

Very happy that the curiosity spacecraft has landed successfully on Mars

Looking forward to learning more about the planet Mars in coming months and years.

I'm not real bitter over the opinions of top folks at Chick-Fil-A on gay marriage

I'm not real bitter about the boss, or what ever, of Chick-Fil-A being against gay marriage. It's a free country and people have many points of view. Boycott is okay and I'd never heard of Chick-Fil-A before this controversy. We may not have any in the part of USA I live in. As out of the closet gays, our best strategy, in my opinion, is to be open and basically out. Amtrak, for instance, is starting to cater promotions our way. I'm sure they will get flack as Chick-Fil-A gets flack from us, but we can do our thing and occasionally shout from the mountain top. Gay is good and gay is a big part of the future.

In spite of recession, dance energy still flows

Putting my feet in the air. I enjoy doing shoulder stands at some of the dances I go to.

Folks have been dancing up a storm this summer in a few Bellingham parks. The parks department sponsors concerts in the parks and other groups rent the parks for events also. This picture happens to be the Bellingham Food Co-op annual party which took place in Boulevard Park. Dancing to the tunes of Yogaman Burning Band.

In spite of the down economy, the energy keeps flowing. There's a lot of dancing in Bellingham which I'm sure helps improve public health. Some dancing is at places like Presence 5 Rhythms Studio and a place called Purple Church. Others is just out in the park free to the public.

There is even a new concert series being initiated at a park I never heard of; Woodstock Farm. Who said there was a recession? Some towns are closing parks. We've got a new one I haven't even heard of. Woodstock Farm was purchased before the 2008 bust, but few have known of it's existence. The new concert series might increase public awareness. The park is an old gentleman farm off Chuckanut Drive in the south part of our city. Buildings are fixer uppers even though there was a grand piano in the deal. Park is set aside as open space. I took a tour several weeks back. Never knew there was a Woodstock Farm.

I'm dancing. Also walked down to Fairhaven District's Village Green where there was a Balkan band. Some of the concerts are sit down and listen while others are get up and dance.

There's also dancing in bars, but I prefer the alcohol free dancing in the city parks and the fitness style dancing in places like Presence 5 Rythms studio. One of the dances at the studio is called Sweat Your Prayers.

Soon to start another bike tour

Stay tuned for more details. Most likely, the trip will be here in the Pacific Northwest.

Earlier this season.

Memorial Day weekend was fun. Attended Radical Faerie Gathering at Longhouse for the first time. Swimming, hot tub, conversation and a talent show. Longhouse gathering is just east of Redmond, WA. I also got some pictures, mostly of the bike trails I explored around Redmond; a multipurpose trip.

Whoretense, one of my Faerie Friends who is also from Bellingham area took this image of me.

The Servant Economy

I heard a very interesting interview on the Diane Rehm show about future job trends in our economy. Jeff Faux, author of a book titled The Servant Economy was interviewed.

The book talks about a trend toward low wage, low skill jobs in the future. Job growth projections from US Department of Labor seem to show the majority of job growth in occupations that do not require college education from now till 2020. Jobs like janitor, sales clerk and motel maid, for instance.

Much of this is described by the author as being the result of that growing gap between the very rich and the rest of the population. Wealth concentrating at the top. This relates a lot to political choices that voters made when President Reagan was swept into office. Also more recent elections, such as the T-party sweep of 2010.

In liberal media (as opposed to conservative media), much is written about the demise of the American middle class and the future it portends. This book fits right in.

I agree with a lot of what the author says, but have some of my own thoughts to add.

The growing wealth gap is a really big problem, but there are some other factors leading to our economic condition as well. Restrictions on the old paradigm of economic growth due to environmental concern is a big factor. The old American middle class, with it's cars and big houses is problematic to the environment.

Also to the distribution wealth around the world. Global wealth is now tending to become more even. Look at the rise of China. As other countries rise out of poverty, American appears to be sinking from it's former height.

Transition to what another author named Alvin Toffler describes as the Third Wave, or The Information Economy also brings it's dislocation in today's economy. Dawning of an information age can bring new joys, but it also brings stresses to old economic paradigms.

I'd say that the servant economy doesn't have to be all bad. One of the callers to that Diane Rehms show said she had a master's degree in education and was now cleaning houses. She and a partner run their own house cleaning business and they seemed to enjoy it. The author responded by saying there was nothing wrong with good honest work. His own mother was a waitress. It can be a good life, but one does not need to have $40,000 of student loan debt to clean houses.

Part of the problem, as I see it, is that we are not preparing for the servant economy, if in fact this is what the future brings. Young people don't need to be burdened with huge student loan debt to work as waiters. Housing and healthcare needs to be more affordable if we are to live in the servant economy.

To some extent, it seems like Americans are living in a fantasy world. A world where high profile jobs are always promised, but rarely materialize. Of course there will always be a percentage of the population that does the high tech / high end jobs. There will always be the folks like Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook). Small groups of employees, like the Facebook team will create interesting things in the economy that the rest of us can benefit from, often free of charge.

Life in the future, even in the servant economy, can be rich and varied. Not necessarily the dismal future that many fear. There has never before been such opportunities in personal networking, for instance. The volunteer sector continues to flourish enhanced by new networking technologies. Cellphones, Facebook and whatever; we are not just poor servants.

If we face up to a future of low end and hopefully low stress jobs, we can still flourish. Smaller families and more single people can help. Less materialism and more voluntary simplicity. Less consumption and more social life.

This may not be the world that some of the wealthy and their right wing think tanks expect to come out of where our economy is going, for the most part, under their watch. Much to their chagrin it might turn into a world of what some folks might call "hippie life."

On the other hand, human civilization might still figure out a way to get the economic juggernaut going again, but it will have to be bringing prosperity to the majority of ordinary people again.

Interesting to note; the front cover of that book shows a gold dust pan.

Bellingham Alternative Library Dance July 21 2012

People from Bellingham Alternative Library remembered that I have a blog so they ask if I would post this. I'm planning to go. Should be a fun time for dancing and so forth. Event at Make.Shift Gallery, 305 Flora in downtown Bellingham. More info on Alternative Library.

One type of family that gay marriage could harm

In a family where one of the spouses is a closeted gay person, the advent of gay marriage and more lifestyle choices in society could be a threat.

Back in the so called "good old days" lots of gay people stayed in the closet and got married into heterosexual relationships. They often raised families. This is still going on today, but it was very common in the past. In many cases, those families stayed together as people just toughed it out. It wasn't ideal, but in some cases, they stayed together for the sake of the kids. They "grinned and bared it," so to speak.

Now days, expectations are higher. Gay marriage has been legal in Canada and a few other nations for several years. Here in the US, it's making progress in a lot of states. I'm in favor of gay marriage, of course, but I got to thinking that more choices and freedoms in society bring higher expectations. Folks that have been closeted in earlier times are apt to expect more out of life than in the past. Many of these closet cases have been married. Often it's said that these people are living a lie. Living the heterosexual family life when they weren't really all that heterosexual. Folks often marry without fully knowing who they are or where the entire mix of their feelings are at the time. Marriage is never perfect, of course, but in the past, people often forced it together with duct tape and bailing wire, so to speak. They did it for the sake of the kids, because churches and parents expected it, because other choices were just not thought about.

Now days, bailing wire and duct tape might be used as props for a Leatherman fetish party, but that's a different story.

I'm remembering an old TV show called "All In The Family," with the husband Archy Bunker. I'm not thinking he was closeted gay, necessarily, but he didn't seem very happy. Life wasn't always a piece of cake. It was a bit dysfunctional and not often that fulfilling, but they grit their teeth and made it work. The old lunch bucket blue collar days.

These days, people are expecting more. More honesty, more transparency, more choice. "Find your true bliss path," so they say. Don't just do heterosexual marriage because it's the only accepted option. Now there is more freedom in our society so marriages that have never been based on totally ideal reasons are splitting apart. People seeing better options out in society so they are striving for more. People may be getting more restless, in some ways. Marriages where one spouse is gay, but in the closet while the other is be heterosexual have been common and they often don't last the onslaught of other choices portrayed in the media, from neighbors and on the internet.

The cat has been let out of the bag.

Come to think about it, there are societies where marriage isn't about love anyway. It's an arranged affair. Set up by in laws, parents, churches and so forth. Arranged marriage. Not choosing who you want, but fulfilling your assignment to society.

Now that we are getting more honesty and choice in society, I don't think people will want to go back to the past. Expectations are higher, but with higher expectations can also come the reality of more disappointment.

I'm for going forward towards more lifestyle choices and out of the closet honesty, but I also realize that there is a problem when expectations are high. Are we a spoiled bunch? Just look at American society. Yes there is a lot of turmoil, these days in all kind of situations. Marriage's braking apart, gay relationships not being what people have expected, in some cases at least. Folks not keeping up with the "Joneses." The grass is always greener on the other side.

Striving for something better means progress, but it also means stresses and strains in the process.

Pictures of me on front pages of The Betty Pages

I made it to front page of Betty Pages again as part of a gathering holding the rainbow flag for a photo shoot. I'm with a bicycle helmet on the left.

Picture makes Bellingham look quite green. Above the grass of Point Zuanich Park is Sehome Hill with 2 dorms of Western Washington University at center. Nash and Mathes dorms. It wouldn't look quite this green if picture was taken in Walmart parking lot.

Haggrid hatched a good idea for the front page of Betty Desire's local tabloid. Why don't we pose with Betty under the sign that flashes "Pansies" at Garden Spot Nursery on Alabama Street?

The Betty Pages is this region's most inclusive alternative-lifestyle and entertainment tabloid. It's published by a drag queen named Betty Desire who almost always poses as part of her front cover. On Betty's left, this month, is Haggrid who came up with the idea for the shot while I'm on her right with my rainbow hat. Betty's in the middle.

The shot also promotes Bellingham's Radical Faerie organization that meets for coffee and conversation each Saturday at noon. I don't drink coffee, but there's plenty of chocolate milk for me. It meets at Public Market, a reinvented Safeway store near downtown Bellingham. Now that building is full of alternative businesses. Faerie Coffee meets near the Trapeze Kiosk which serves coffee, hot chocolate and other things. Trapeze Kiosk is run by Bellingham Circus Guild.

It's spring and time to reinvent a lot of things.

Bicycling in the Higgs field

When bicycling up hill, one experiences the field of gravity. Pedal harder or else the bike tries to roll back down hill toward the center of the earth.

What about the Higgs field, does that effect bicycling as well? They say this field is responsible for inertia. Inertia means it takes effort to get something rolling from a resting position. It takes a push to get rolling and then one must put on the brakes to stop. This is the property of inertia.

I assume this property of inertia is related to the Higgs field the way weight is related to the field of gravity. Seems to be the case, from everything I can gather reading about Higgs particle and field.

They say they are pretty sure they've found the Higgs Boson at the LHC. It's a particle that implies there is a Higgs field permeating the entire universe. Higgs bosons are rare, indeed, at least in our earthly experience. To find it, one must rattle part of the Higgs field with intense energy, such as during proton proton collisions at Hadron, for the particle to appear.

While the particle is hard to find, the field influences our everyday experience. Like gravity that is felt when one travels up or down, the Higgs field creates the effect of inertia.

Gravity is less evident on a flat road, but the effect of inertia is still prevalent. One still has to pedal the bike to get it rolling. If there were bicycle tours in outer space, inertia and the Higgs field would be easier to deal with than gravity. Just give the bike a push and it can coast indefinitely, unless something makes it stop. A spacecraft can coast after one engine burn gets it going. With no air resistance in space, coasting can go on indefinitely.

On earth, this kind of coasting is not allowed. Wind resistance takes away energy. One especially notices wind resistance on a bicycle. It's the difference between a headwind and a tailwind. Another factor effecting travel, here on Earth, is friction from wheels rolling on pavement and other moving parts. The occasional hill brings gravity which works against you going up, but gives you a boost coming down.

I've noticed that cars often have trouble starting on a steep hill. There are many hills in downtown Seattle with stoplights at the top. To get started again, one must overcome both the force of gravity and the effect of inertia to start rolling again from a dead stop. Is this having to deal with both the Higgs and the gravitational fields simultaneously?

What about when something is in orbit, like for instance the moon orbiting the earth. Inertia says that an object will continue traveling in a straight line until something stops it. In the case of being in orbit, gravity keeps the object from traveling in a straight line. Without gravity, the moon would fly off in a straight line away from earth. The gravity keeps it going around earth, like it's tied to a string. Being in orbit means the moon's inertia and the force of gravity are in equilibrium. Does that mean that the effect of the Higgs field and the field of gravity are in equilibrium in regards to the moon so it remains in orbit?

Assuming that there is a connection between Newton's laws of motion and all this talk about the Higgs particle and field. I wish I could sit down and have coffee with a physicist someday, but I don't like coffee. How about they have coffee while I drink my chocolate milk?

Photo from North Idaho to Spokane Centennial Trail near Post Falls Idaho.

"Age diversified" is more inclusive than "all ages" dance

All ages dances tend to not really be all ages. They are usually mostly teenagers and folks under 21. All ages must mean inclusive of folks who are under the legal drinking age of 21 as well as others who are over 21, but the emphasis is that folks under 21 can go.

We need a new phrase which is inclusive of all the ages from childhood to senior citizen. How about "age diversified?"

Back when I was a teenager, I didn't dance very much. The music wasn't that great. Not easy to dance to heavy metal. Pullman, where I grew up, there was a youth center in the city hall building. I missed most of the dances, but remember standing in the parking lot showing off my multi-band radio to folks heading into the dance. I didn't go inside, myself, but thought the folks headed to the dance would be a good audience for taking a tour of my radio before they headed into the dance.

Then along came disco when I was in college, but I didn't appreciate it at the time. There were a few dances, but they weren't very well attended. There was one that I described as a waste of disco power. The music blasted into a mostly empty room. Even at it's height, the death of disco was being pronounced. "Disco sucks" was a popular phrase, but so many of the old favorites are disco tunes. It just wasn't appreciated in it's time. Disco favorites sure have a lot of energy. Often played, these days, on oldies stations. It is heard in supermarkets as background music, but no one is dancing. Unfortunately dance bars seem to avoid disco, these days. They seem to prefer some kind of "house formula" that sounds like music fragments remixed and then extruded from a machine. I've never been much of a bar person anyway.

In the 1970s, the gay club at Western Washington University had a few dances, but even then disco was usually avoided. They had garage rock bands, a few times, that were basically too loud. At one dance, a straight person walked in not knowing it was a gay dance. He sat there for a few minutes and then, realizing what it was, he bolted for the door. On his way out, he started grumbling about wasting his money, so to amend the situation, he decided to steal one of the potted palms out in the main foyer of the Viking Union. The night clerk at what I then called the "candy counter" chased him down the street demanding he bring back the stolen property. He came back looking like a Santa Clause delivering the Christmas tree only it was returning the potted palm. Then he fled down the street.

Those were the days? Actually, the best dancing is really today for me. Bicycling and dancing has kept me limber in recent years, yet most of my earliest dancing memories are more dis functional.

It wasn't till the early 1980s that I started realizing how fun free form dance could be. Maybe the earlier dances were more of a couple's thing and if you didn't have a mate, you felt left out. In the early 80s there was something called the Fairhaven Undisco. No offense to disco, but that was a catchy name. People dancing mostly by themselves and the whole room kind of dancing together. It was attended by many ages, including a few seniors.

Later, that dance migrated to a place that is now called The Purple Church. It's a bit confusing since Bellingham has 2 places called The Purple Church. One has Zomba classes while the other houses free form dance. The Purple Church I dance at is on Franklin and Gladstone Streets while the other one is over on Ellis. My "Purple Church" is really more blue than purple. Their dances are during the colder months of the year, usually starting in October.

Speaking of Zumba, aerobics was big in the 1980s. It's still done today, but not as big as it was in the 80s. Bellingham YMCA used to have big aerobics classes in it's old gymnasium. Around 75 folks in a big circle around the instructors. People would sometimes even come in costume. Now it's in a smaller room, but similar idea. Somewhat of a shadow of it's former gymnasium self, aerobics and Zumba music still energizes upstairs classes at the Y.

Possibly my favorite movement experience now is the 5 Rythems Dance offered at Jenny Macky's Presence Studio in downtown Bellingham. Age diversified and as full of energy as one wants. Happens all year round on both Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings.

Bellingham is also lucky to have dances in the parks sponsored by the parks department. Bands come to the band shelter at Boulevard Park every other week in the summer months. There are concerts in other parks as well; like Thursdays in Elizabeth Park. Big crowds often come and dance to these free concerts. Very age diversified and a good way to promote public health.

Concert brochure from Parks Department.

Recycling awning cover isn't always a good idea

As paint over wears thin, the former identity starts to break through. Was once the Newsstand International. Now is a smoke shop. I would have not noticed, walking past frequently, but a friend was visiting town and saw it right away. Looks a bit cheap. Smoking is kind of a tacky habit anyway.