I kind of hope the guy was deliberately making trouble, rather than being such a nitwit that he thought his suggestion was a good idea.
There has to be a name for the kind of charitable thinking which people engage in because the obvious-seeming truth is too horrible to contemplate. Garbled, I know. But basically, what I'm saying is that it's too awful to think that an UMC guy in Manhattan could be that clueless, so instead we attribute better motives to him, i.e. he's not really being serious.
For another, lecturing a broad group of people about how they're all so rich that they need to be giving more to charity all of their discussions are irretrievably drenched in privilege, without knowledge of their circumstances?
Well I guess we partially fixed that.
Sounds like standard liberal oneupmanship to me. The fact that a proposed course of action is inconvenient, irrational and pointless is a feature not a bug since the point is to show you care more than other people (and hence are a better person) not to actually accomplish anything.
How is proving that you're better than other people not accomplishing something?
Present company exlcuded, isn't everybody in New York an asshole? That's what the TV said.
Darn! I wish his idea had gone through. I really wanted to bid a hundred dollars on a onesie that his baby spat up on ever day for a month.
4
Ok, make that accomplish anything regarding the ostensible problem.
If that listserv is like every other listserv since the beginning of time, maybe he was just bored out of his mind with the same old fights and decided to start a new one.
Probably just clumsy lifemanship, though. I would have gone with something along the lines of "I don't need your industrialized hand-me-down distribution system, man; I am close friends with several disadvantaged families in [poor country] and bring them all our used baby clothes with my monthly deliveries of medicine and food."
charitable thinking which people engage in because the obvious-seeming truth is too horrible to contemplate
"giving the benefit of the doubt"?
My gosh, somebody said something stupid on a listserv! Call the New York Times!
I think the rule is that if a reporter is on a listserv, then anything that happens on that listserv can be the subject of a story.
Unless it's a listserv of nothing but reporters! Then only people NOT on the listserv can turn its activities into news.
If the Internet has taught me one thing, it's this: Don't get involved in a parenting listserv in New York City.
14: Hey, at least we vaccinate, CaliBoy.
The topic of vaccines has caused much debate and discussion on the [Park Slope Parents] Yahoo Group
In further birthday news, I was having a really good ride in on my bike, and thought I had a shot of making the commute in under an hour for the first time. Nope. 1:01:04.
Feh.
16: Sure, but do we all have whooping cough?
17: A new best isn't something to dismiss.
19: And you still have a goal to shoot for!
Happy Birthday LB! Still getting faster and hotter!
A new best isn't something to dismiss.
It is if it ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
I would blame everyone who got in my way and slowed me down, but there was actually less of that than usual.
22: Choice of appropriate role models is one of the key factors in living a positive and fulfilling life.
25: You need to find one of those buff young athletic riders and draft behind them.
27: Bad plan. All the frog dodging really slows you down.
I was actually going to do a big "my year in biking wrap-up" post tonight, mentioning the fact that I've got no idea how drafting works. How close behind someone do you have to be before you're getting help? Because staying a yard or two back, it doesn't feel like I'm getting anything.
28: Nah. Pick some glutes, put your head down and follow, that's how the Tour de France guys do it. Perv like the wind, LB!
29: the closer the better, but from a yard back you should get some benefit if you're keeping your head down.
It is if it ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
The archer is the target, nosflow.
29: Yes, I think a yard or so should give some effect. Looking at some bike time trial and triathlon rules, it seems that you need to stay two or three bike lengths back to avoid getting drafting penalties. At lower speeds, the zone of influence is presumably smaller, but a a yard or two should be within it--probably hard to notice at the time (maybe more noticeable going into a headwind), but I still suspect you could maintain whatever pace over a longer distance with less effort with that kind of gap.
I can't see myself staying that close to someone for a long time, anyway -- traffic is erratic enough that I like giving other bikers plenty of room.
Present company exlcuded, isn't everybody in New York an asshole?
I think it would be more fair to say we are all salty, street-smart types with a streak of kindness that doesn't come out until the last episode of the season.
The archer is the target, nosflow.
Sounds topologically complex.
34: You could always go the grab-the-back-of-a-truck route.
Sounds topologically complex.
Take two beers and call me in the morning.
It's not altogether wise to draft someone you don't know.
The main risk is that the rider you're drafting will brake suddenly and you'll run into them. The other risk is that they will dodge an obstacle or pothole without warning and you'll run into it because you couldn't see it coming.
Which isn't to say that you shouldn't do it, just to be aware of the dangers.
And if someone you don't know starts drafting you, then you need to start signalling before you brake, pointing out potholes and so on. (Or, I suppose, ask them to stop wheelsucking, but that's a bit rude.)
39: That's pretty much my thinking -- any potential benefit from drafting off strangers is offset by the chance of wiping out because I'm too close when they do something unexpected.
The main risk is that the rider you're drafting will brake suddenly and you'll run into them. The other risk is that they will dodge an obstacle or pothole without warning and you'll run into it because you couldn't see it coming.
The third risk is that they'll be training for a triathlon and will be all sullen and whiny about you drafting because they don't ever get to draft and don't understand how physics works.
But the first two risks are probably more important.
Gosh, Sifu bashing triathlons! Who'd a thunk it?
Just reporting my experience, is all.
Actually I considered doing a triathlon this summer, but it conflicted with my goal of eating a ton of fried food and then sitting in one place.
My sister has taken up doing triathlons in between having children. I'm intimidated.
They have these extra-wussy ones, now, it turns out. I thought it was all Ironman-this and Extreme-that, but nono. Welcome to the Junior Bacon Triathlon For Quitters, friend!
my goal of eating a ton of fried food and then sitting in one place.
The biathalon?
44: Does giving birth replace the running, biking or swimming? If it's in addition to, shouldn't that be called a quadathalon?
47: Must be running or biking. Leaving floaters is deprecated on the swimming segment.
It's basically, triathlon, triathlon, kid, triathlon, triathlon, 5k, triathlon, kid, etc.
And if someone you don't know starts drafting you, then you need to start signalling before you brake, pointing out potholes and so on.
This seems counterproductive to me. If you warn them about potholes, how are you going to shake them?
52: Yeah, I'm still a little boggled at the idea that it would be rude to ask someone to get off your wheel. Not everyone on a bike is of the culture in which drafting is normal and expected. I haven't been on a bike much in years, but when I'm running I really don't want someone gluing themself to my shoulder, and I'd probably feel the same way on a bike.
I'm still a little boggled at the idea that it would be rude to ask someone to get off your wheel
Yeah, I don't think it is, is it?
Telling someone not to do something is rude, pretty much whatever it is. But only a bit rude, like I said. Probably about as rude as drafting a stranger without asking permission.
I dunno, I can think of lots of times when telling somebody not to do something wouldn't be rude. "Don't step in that open manhole!" "Please stop punching me!" "Don't eat that, it's made of fire!" "Don't slam the door of that overhead compartment on my head, ma'am." etc.
"Don't eat that, it's made of fire!"
DON'T YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO!
"Don't walk about the cabin or open the overhead luggage bins until the captain signals it's okay to do so."
"Don't hit me in the head with your f&*king luggage."
For the integrity of the blog, I feel compelled to note that I did not write comment 57.
I feel compelled to note that I am not Spartacus.
59: No, no, OPINIONATED BROCK LANDERS is an entirely distinct commenter.
61: right. I just wanted to make sure that was clear. I've posted under that pseud before, so it seemed at least potentially confusing.
Kids these days. Back in my day he'd be sitting on a couch playing videogames like a normal person!
I guess it doesn't involve much couch-sitting, but he bought Wii Sports Resort yesterday and has spent several hours out of the last two days playing that.
44: My sister has taken up doing triathlons in between having children
I did a triathlon (my last) about a week after my wife had our first son. It did not go that well. And my bike was still salt-encrusted and benumbered months later when we moved to Pittsburgh--because I was a freaking idiot nurturing father and helpmate.
I just did a bit over 2 miles jogging. Only took me 24 minutes.
Dude! I find around two miles is a tipping point, where suddenly it's much easier to add distance. Going from zero to one, or one to two miles is hard. Two to three or four is much easier.
Two to zero is the easiest of all, of course. But don't let that happen.
I swam today for the first time since I was previously this protruding. Now my eyes are burning because I forgot my goggles. Also I had that surreal "I think gravity tripled" sensation upon getting out of the pool: muscles unexpectedly tired, body unexpectedly massive, pool deceptively helpful.
Sunday is the first time I have tried to run in three or four years and I'm up about 4/10ths of a mile on this second outing. Back when I used to run, I had a regular lap of 1.75 miles, which I am starting again. I couldn't make it up the big hill on the second pass with even my best motivational technique*, so I stopped. My old run was two of those laps.
*Pretending I'm chasing the orcs that took Merry and Pippin.
I've been an off-again, on-again runner for so long that distance really isn't an issue, at least up to 6-8 miles or so, but those miles can get awfully damn slow.
I should go gambling again. Nothing much is happening.
I started couch to 5k yesterday, and got to the Week 5 exhaustion test on 100 pushups today. (50 even.)
Also my band has a show, I'm playing accordion in another band, I just bought a stack of books and took another out from the library, and I promised myself I'd try standup.
Kinda looks like I'm avoiding something, doesn't it?
Kinda looks like I'm avoiding something, doesn't it?
Love? Responsibility? Writing?
The house is quiet because the family is with the inlaws. The imaginary internet people are nearly quiet. And I've found both a cleanish shirt and cash money. Time to go.
Am I the only one to whom 77 suggests the commencement of an interstate killing spree?
Kinda looks like I'm avoiding something, doesn't it?
I've been running for six weeks. This week I finally went to a local running store and had gait analysis done (mild overpronation) and bought some running shoes. I also went on pre-order for a fancy internet phone (Sprint HTC Evo 4G—that's a whole extra G). I'm totally avoiding something.
Speaking of running, when is this thing gonna be release, dammit? It looks so rad!
Before nosflow shows back up, I should revise and extend 81 to explain that I started running as an exercise activity six weeks ago, and I remain engaged in that activity on a nearly daily basis for limited periods of time.
82: How is it different from the Nike thingy?
83.2: well, it uses the ANT standard, which is open, and it works with the iPhone (and accordingly, the iPhone's gps!) as opposed to just working wth the iPod Nano, like the Nike thingy does.
There's another thing which I don't have the link for handy which does approximately the same thing, but which requires a subscription to use the related iPhone app, to which I say fuck that noise.
I'm playing accordion in another band
Cool! What kind of accordion?
I've been riding my bike more, but I really need to start doing the push up thing again.* I just loathe being quite sore for a whole week (as I am when I first start), and if I'm moving in three weeks or less I don't really want to be sore, and....Oh, look, I'm avoiding something too.
*I had visible muscle definition in my arms! It was amazing!
K-Sky and Paren, you should totally sign up for crossfit. Check out what I did today:
3 Rounds
1 min Hit Tire with Sledge Hammer on right side
1 min flip tire
1 min Hit Tire with Sledge Hammer on left side
1min Tire Jumps
1 min rest
How can you beat that?
My friend goes to the Crossfit in our town. There is no, no, no, no way that I will ever go - based on how much she loves it, I would find it absolutely miserable. (Plus, I find it terribly annoying that they take pictures of you while you're there and then post them on Facebook. I'm sure that's just a perk of our particular one but the last thing I want is to feel even MORE self-conscious while working out.)
Right, but you'd probably look pretty good hitting a tire with a big fucking sledgehammer. Who doesn't look good doing that?
What one CrossFit is like tells you nothing about what any other CrossFit is like, no?
It tells you something -- the exercises are pretty standard. There's not a uniform standard for the competence of the trainers or the assholishness/non-assholishness of the participants, although I think they generally make a strong effort to be inclusive.
I've been running for six weeks
What a coincidence - I've been not running for about the same time.
Did that last sentence even make sense? Who knows! I'm just giving up on the whole communicate effectively through the English language project.
87: that sounds awesome.
85: Like this one, but white.
I lost. I came home without shooting anybody.
96: I wanted to check in so k-sky would stop refreshing cnn.com every 15 seconds.
Sounds topologically complex.
Sometimes ostentatiously missing the point for comic effect is the same as missing the point.
Like this one, but white.
Racist.
Nice, although I'm an "all-buttons" kind of guy myself.
OT: Speaking of rich white people in that area, what's the deal with Ned Lamont and the not voting for him? I never even heard of the guy who beat him.
103: Obama supported the opponent, right? I hadn't heard anything about it until the NYT put something in my otherwise tidy e-mail inbox.
put something in my otherwise tidy e-mail inbox.
IYKWIM.
105: That stuff all goes right into my junk folder.
84: the nike widget works with the iphone, too.