A great copper

In our recent weekend fling with the Seattle area, Vixen and I were delighted to meet Gordon. Now the story is longer than it should be, but I'm going to tell it anyway.

We went to see Grace in Gig Harbor (Vixen's Momma) - Grace is not at all a beer drinker - how she spawned Vixen I have no idea. This being the third time I'd been to visit, Grace has learned that I enjoy a few tall cold ones on occasion. As we arrive at her home and she begins to cook dinner she offers us a beer. I was flattered that she had purchased beer for us. Then she explained how she had choose said beer:

She went to the beer aisle and stared blankly at the varieties before her. She has no clue even what the difference between ale and stout are. She knows Guinness because she cooks with it, but has never seen us drinking it. She looks at the labels with gargoyles on it (Stone IPA), decides no to violent. She finds another beer, but it was incredible expensive. She looks around in hopes that someone will realize she is in desperate need of help. She decides on a case of beer on the top shelf (Grace is a smidgen smaller than Vixen) as she tip toes the case off of the shelf she looks at the top and there are dead horse flies on the case. Horse flies don't live in the Seattle area - it is too wet. She abandons the case immediately, looks again at the beers with despair. In front of the Gordon Beer is a sign that resembles the wine rating signs. She knows wine and if this has a rating well it must be good. She grabbed the four cans and proceeded to the check out, not realizing they were more expensive that the 6pack she was looking at earlier - oh well she at least had found something.

Grace did a wonderful job! This copper was super smooth and a little sweet. I had never heard of the Oskar Blues having a third beer (Dan and Chub being the others) - and this was great! I sent Lemon Pepper a text - she was in Colorado - "get this beer if you can it's great" She was too busy at an Avalanche Game - Geez.

Here's what Oskar says about the brew:

We brew Gordon in tribute to the late Gordon Knight. In addition to opening some of Colorado’s first microbreweries, Knight was a Vietnam vet, grade-A citizen, and huge promoter of craft beer. He lost his life in 2002 while fighting a wild fire outside of Lyons, Colorado.

Originally our winter seasonal beer, it has become a cult favorite of extreme-beer lovers, so we now brew occasional batches of Gordon throughout the year. Released in bottles in 2003 and 2004, Gordon is now sold in four packs of hand-labeled cans and on draft in select markets.

I have yet to see if the beer is available around here - but if I do find it I will relay the local for all of you! Thanks Grace for introducing us!

Well I'll be,

One for the good guys. Seems like BPD actually is on the tails of those out there snagging our bikes. As of 10am this morning they contacted Aqua Boy with conformation that they had found his lost Paddy Wagon. According to the Detective they have been doing an ongoing investigation on a bike stealing crime ring. When the Jack Ass tried to pawn the Wagon - they got him. Thank goodness Aqua Boy filled that report with his serial number! This is a good reminder for all of us to go turn our bikes upside down and record our own numbers! Thanks BPD for being on the trail!

Lowering your ears

As most of you know I sport some type of cap or do rag on my cranium almost always. This is for many justifiable reasons (at least in my head it's justified) When I am at work I cannot have my hair dangling in my face while trying to swing a hammer - not safe. Two: when riding I cannot have my hair poking me in the eyes - again, not safe. Three: my lazy ass just can't get up early enough to "do" my hair. Besides all of these really good reasons, my hair is a poof ball of curls in the morning! Vixen calls me her fraggle. And it is even worse when it is washed and left to it's own demise.

But alas, when Blackbird and Vixen are noticing the poof creeping out of my do rag and giving me crap about being a hippie, I break down and get a haircut. I only do it every six months or so. Mostly because I'm lazy. But that is a shame because when I do finally decide to cut it - I love my hair styles and what she does with my poof.

I go to E77 - Erin Sweeny at Cardinale's Hair Design -
208-342-5801

435 W Main St Boise, ID 83702

She's wicked sweet, has great skills AND is a fellow rider!!!
But the best thing is Erin knows I like to where my do rag, so she cuts my hair to accommodate - meaning she makes it easy for me to "do" my hair if I want to, or I can still throw on this old blue rag. I love it. And on top of that it is nice to have someone scrub your head and pamper you. So last Thursday before Vixen and I ran away to Seattle - I went and saw Erin. And I only wore my do rag once in Seattle!

So if you need a hairstylist that works wonders on your poof call and get in with Erin!! - AND she works evenings and weekends!

Hears what people who don't wear do rags all the time say about her:

Kathie O. at InsiderPages

I agree with the 1st review about Erin Sweeney. By far she is the BEST stylist I've come across. Not only is she talented, thoughtful & educated about hair... she indulges in the experience. I have never been so addicted to a stylist. I've been going to see her for 3 years & I recommend her every chance I get. Cardinale's has it all, location, character & TALENT!

where were we

As most of you all know the last month has been none stop for Vixen and I. For two weeks I was working 16 - 18 hours a day. With two or three shows going on at the same time. In the meantime Vixen was in and out of town like Hotti Regotti! I think I saw her twice in three weeks. Although the money was great with all of the gigs - the whole thing took a toll on me mentally and physically.
You know it's a bad sign when your debt card receipts are all from either Liquid or Solid, and even worse when there are some from the same day. There was only one way to survive - drink a lot of beer and coffee! Unfortunately bar food and Alia's bagels do not make a healthy diet.
On top of that with Vixen gone, I stayed out too late drinking, slept like crap, and would wake up and rinse and repeat. As Blackbird said - "I looked like shit."
Well, Vixen is home! Yeah! I am sleeping better and eating food cooked at home -there is a roast on as I am typing! Not only that I have had the time to get on my bike! I had forgotten how therapeutic riding is.

So - I promise to blog more and I hope to see you all out riding, not so much the drinking part until my liver forgives me. Later

Something to do this weekend!

Swimba is going to kick off the season proper!
Time to get out and ride!

Rumors are flying that a local bike group is having a May 1st ride. Well just in case - let's all get educated...

May Day - the Real Labor Day

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May 1st, International Workers' Day, commemorates the historic struggle of working people throughout the world, and is recognized in every country except the United States, Canada, and South Africa. This despite the fact that the holiday began in the 1880s in the United States, with the fight for an eight-hour work day.

In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions passed a resolution stating that eight hours would constitute a legal day's work from and after May 1, 1886. The resolution called for a general strike to achieve the goal, since legislative methods had already failed. With workers being forced to work ten, twelve, and fourteen hours a day, rank-and-file support for the eight-hour movement grew rapidly, despite the indifference and hostility of many union leaders. By April 1886, 250,000 workers were involved in the May Day movement.

The heart of the movement was in Chicago, organized primarily by the anarchist International Working People's Association. Businesses and the state were terrified by the increasingly revolutionary character of the movement and prepared accordingly. The police and militia were increased in size and received new and powerful weapons financed by local business leaders. Chicago's Commercial Club purchased a $2000 machine gun for the Illinois National Guard to be used against strikers. Nevertheless, by May 1st, the movement had already won gains for many Chicago clothing cutters, shoemakers, and packing-house workers. But on May 3, 1886, police fired into a crowd of strikers at the McCormick Reaper Works Factory, killing four and wounding many. Anarchists called for a mass meeting the next day in Haymarket Square to protest the brutality.

The meeting proceeded without incident, and by the time the last speaker was on the platform, the rainy gathering was already breaking up, with only a few hundred people remaining. It was then that 180 cops marched into the square and ordered the meeting to disperse. As the speakers climbed down from the platform, a bomb was thrown at the police, killing one and injuring seventy. Police responded by firing into the crowd, killing one worker and injuring many others.

Although it was never determined who threw the bomb, the incident was used as an excuse to attack the entire Left and labor movement. Police ransacked the homes and offices of suspected radicals, and hundreds were arrested without charge. Anarchists in particular were harassed, and eight of Chicago's most active were charged with conspiracy to murder in connection with the Haymarket bombing. A kangaroo court found all eight guilty, despite a lack of evidence connecting any of them to the bomb-thrower (only one was even present at the meeting, and he was on the speakers' platform), and they were sentenced to die. Albert Parsons, August Spies, Adolf Fischer, and George Engel were hanged on November 11, 1887. Louis Lingg committed suicide in prison, The remaining three were finally pardoned in 1893.

It is not surprising that the state, business leaders, mainstream union officials, and the media would want to hide the true history of May Day, portraying it as a holiday celebrated only in Moscow's Red Square. In its attempt to erase the history and significance of May Day, the United States government declared May 1st to be "Law Day", and gave us instead Labor Day - a holiday devoid of any historical significance other than its importance as a day to swill beer and sit in traffic jams.

Nevertheless, rather than suppressing labor and radical movements, the events of 1886 and the execution of the Chicago anarchists actually mobilized many generations of radicals. Emma Goldman, a young immigrant at the time, later pointed to the Haymarket affair as her political birth. Lucy Parsons, widow of Albert Parsons, called upon the poor to direct their anger toward those responsible - the rich. Instead of disappearing, the anarchist movement only grew in the wake of Haymarket, spawning other radical movements and organizations, including the Industrial Workers of the World.

By covering up the history of May Day, the state, business, mainstream unions and the media have covered up an entire legacy of dissent in this country. They are terrified of what a similarly militant and organized movement could accomplish today, and they suppress the seeds of such organization whenever and wherever they can. As workers, we must recognize and commemorate May Day not only for it's historical significance, but also as a time to organize around issues of vital importance to working-class people today.

front page of the statesman this morning

Almost a year after one of the most high-profile fatal traffic crashes in the Treasure Valley, the boy who struck and killed a cyclist on Hill Road learned his punishment - and so did the family and friends of Kevin Pavlis, though most may never know the name of the teen driver.

Eric Pavlis, the older brother of the well-known cyclist, said Wednesday he thought the sentence was "mostly fair."

"I thought the (teen) displayed real, heartfelt remorse for what happened," Eric Pavlis said.

The crash was the third to kill a cyclist in Boise in less than a month last spring, and sparked an outcry for the boy to be punished that only grew in intensity over the five months the prosecutors took to contemplate the charges.

Fourth District Juvenile Judge William Harrigfeld has decided not to identify the teen publicly - an option since the boy was charged as a juvenile - but Harrigfeld did release the sentence.

Along with jail time and community service, the boy must serve probation for three years and have all driving privileges suspended for at least one year.

He must undergo counseling, attend safe driving class and pay an undisclosed amount of restitution to Pavlis' family.

The boy pleaded guilty last month to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.

The maximum punishment was up to 90 days in a detention center, three years of probation, and loss of driving privileges for up to three years.

Prosecutors did not disclose whether any recommendations for community service were made, but did say such decisions are usually made by the probation officer handling the case.

The teen will serve his 10 days in a juvenile facility when school is out and can ask to be released from probation after 18 months - if he has complied with all terms of his probation.

Kevin Pavlis, 37, of Boise died after being hit on his bike June 11 on Hill Road in Boise's North End.

Boise police reports indicate Pavlis was riding legally in the eastbound bike lane on Hill Road when the boy turned his Jeep Wrangler into the cyclist, who was ahead of a group of other riders.

Another motorist on Hill Road at the time told police she saw the teen signal "a left turn and make a left quickly as if to beat (the group of cyclists) to the intersection," according to the Idaho Vehicle Collision report on the crash.

Pavlis was thrown from his bike to the ground, and though he was wearing a helmet, he sustained a head injury and died a short time later.

The teen admitted in March that he failed to yield the right of way to Pavlis when he made the left turn onto Smith Road, according to a press release issued Wednesday from Ada County Prosecutor Greg Bower.

Eric Pavlis said he remains "heartbroken" over losing his brother and said he really hopes that the death works as a powerful reminder for both cyclists and drivers to pay close attention and look out for each other.

"If anything good could come out of this, that would be it," Eric Pavlis said.

Bower said Wednesday he hoped providing information about the boy's sentence "will remind teen drivers and their parents of a driver's responsibility to be vigilant for, and attentive to, cyclists who use our community roadways."

Pavlis helped manage Boise's Idaho Mountain Touring outdoor-recreation store. He spent a lot of his free time with local cycling groups like the Lactic Acid Cycling Race Team.

A "ghost bike" tribute created by a cyclist who knew Pavlis - a bike painted white and chained to a fence - still sits near the intersection at Hill and Smith roads.

Survivors include his wife, Elise, and their daughter, Sarma, who is named after Pavlis' mother. She was 2 when her father died.

Get Organized - Get Active!

Interested in promoting walking, bicycling, and other forms of human-powered transportation as healthy, sustainable, reliable and viable options for all Idahoans? Join the Idaho Pedestrian and Bicycle Alliance

They just received a national grant to hire a part-time executive director to put their goals into action. We are excited to finally see a group gather together to advocate for bicycle and pedestrian safety, push legislation that financially supports active transportation (beyond the car), and enhances the effectiveness of local pedestrian and bicycle advocates and groups statewide.

Check it out and join today!

VELO PARK RACING!!!

Here is some info on the Velopark Grand Prix (). The first race is April 17.

The purpose of the series is to draw enthusiasm back in mountain bike racing and renew interest in the velodrome project. At no fault of the current promoters (Wildrockies & Knobby Tire), participant numbers at local mountain biking events continue to decrease while the average age continues to increase - a troubling trend. The venues provided by those promoters are not always suited for recreational riders that might be interested in trying a race.

The summer series at the velopark is inexpensive, the course will be a spectator friendly 4-mile loop, each category has the course to itself, and the venue is in town. With the local venue and friendly terrain, this event is well suited for first time racers.

Entry fee includes the cost of online registration. Online registration will close 48 hrs prior to the event. On-site registration is available from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Velopark the evening before each race and on race day. Race day registration closes one hour before race start. The distances listed and times expected are approximations and have yet to be determined. The start times listed are for the April 17th race and subsequent races may vary.

You can find more information at veloparkgrandprix.com. You can register on that site or go directly to spondoro.com.

The April 17 event will go as follows:
Beginners 9:30 AM (2 laps)
Sport 11:00 AM (4 laps)
Pro/Expert 12:30 (6 laps)

Thanks Burley for the heads up! This looks like fun!