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Main
Date: 21 Oct 2007 16:18:52
From: Mike Kruger
Subject: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
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http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/travel/14Journeys.html?ei=5087&en=a06dc28897b8e4d8&ex=1208145600&adxnnl=1&mkt=travelphoto&adxnnlx=1192982431-MnPlkkHWtqmfIz9SisrR3A
Notable is this: " installed around the city by J. C. Decaux, an outdoor
advertising company". Chicago is awash in bus shelters controlled by
Decaux. Mayor Daley is impressed with the program and has indicated interest
in exploring it here. Would this take newspaper writers attention off the
gigantic tax increases being proposed in Chicago and Cook County currently?
The desire to have front page stories on something else other than these
huge tax increases might be one of the main reasons this program gets off
the ground in Chicago.
Also notable is this view by the skeptics: "I asked an American friend
living in Paris about the bareheaded cyclists. "Just wait," he said, "until
the first reports of accidents come out. In the fall when it's cold and
slippery and business traffic really picks up, it's going to be a disaster.
It will be the Waterloo of the Vélibs." "
Yes, winter will be a good testing ground for this social experiment. I
wouldn't phrase it in terms of helmet use, but rather bike use. Will the
bikes get heavy use in the Parisian winter?
--
Mike Kruger
Give no quarter to the paradigm people.
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Date: 26 Oct 2007 06:48:23
From: Artemisia
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
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On 22 oct, 08:37, tkeats2...@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
> Would Paris welcome me if I'd just shuddup, be amicably
> appreciative, and not leave a mess behind me?
Sounds like the perfect guest. Stop by if you visit. I have
comfortable sofa-beds, live at the end of the Coul=E9e Verte by which
one can cycle straight into Central Paris, go to dancing classes on
Saturday, and can make stir-fried caramelized beef with spring onions
and ginger.
EFR
Ile de France
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Date: 25 Oct 2007 17:49:26
From:
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 24, 11:23 am, Andrew Price <ajpr...@free.fr > wrote:
> As to the motocrottes, well yes, their effect was probably more
> psychological than real. It seemed to take considerable effort and a
> great deal of noisy engine revving to remove what the caniche had
> deposited in no time at all ...
I always thought the motocrottes were iconic and deserved a spot right
next to the 2CV and DS in the pantheon of weird but ingenious
motorized vehicles. Some guys must've been sitting around a table and
one wondered aloud, "Ah, if only we could devise some system that
could pick up dog shit twice as fast!" Then another guy says, "Wait!
I'm getting an idea..."
Speaking of odd green things, the brooms used by the street sweepers
have plastic bristles shaped to mimic plant fronds.
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Date: 24 Oct 2007 08:59:21
From: Bob
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
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On Oct 22, 10:43 pm, "Mike Kruger" <Mik...@mouse-potato.com > wrote:
> Thanks, Bob. Yes, my tax reference was purely local. I'm letting you and
> B.S. deal with national politics.
I really do try to not become involved in political debates here
because there's simply no talking sensibly to some of the more
idealogical types. Unfortunately, the spirit is willing but sometimes
the flesh is weak. <g > Did you do the L.A.T.E. Ride this year? I had
to take a pass as family commitments required me elsewhere.
Regards,
Bob Hunt
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Date: 25 Oct 2007 05:02:48
From: Mike Kruger
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
Bob wrote:
> On Oct 22, 10:43 pm, "Mike Kruger" <Mik...@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
>
>> Thanks, Bob. Yes, my tax reference was purely local. I'm letting you
>> and B.S. deal with national politics.
Bad antecedent on my part. I meant Jobst and Bill S.
> I really do try to not become involved in political debates here
> because there's simply no talking sensibly to some of the more
> idealogical types. Unfortunately, the spirit is willing but sometimes
> the flesh is weak. <g> Did you do the L.A.T.E. Ride this year? I had
> to take a pass as family commitments required me elsewhere.
Did I do the L.A.T.E. ride? Good question. We had a group of 10 going from
the neighborhood. I'd arranged to loan Kendra's boyfriend a bike. But, when
I counted up bodies and space, I didn't have enough space. So, I rode two
bikes down to my office and locked them in the company's executive parking
lot, which is lit and has several security cameras.
When I got down there Saturday night, both bikes had been stolen. This
didn't bother Kendra's boyfriend (who, as it turned out, had a relatively
new Trek 1000), but left me out. I went up to the office about 1 a.m. and
worked until they finished at 6 a.m. The security people reviewed the
camera tapes, but said they didn't see anything. These were older road
bikes, so I didn't lose a great deal.
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Date: 24 Oct 2007 04:01:30
From: joseph.santaniello@gmail.com
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 23, 11:07 pm, rechungREMOVET...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Oct 22, 2:08 pm, "joseph.santanie...@gmail.com"
>
> <joseph.santanie...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > It doesn't matter because there is enough dog-do to slip on anyway.
> > PS: I'm just kidding.
>
> A few years ago, you'd've been right. Andrew Price can probably verify
> that although Paris is really quite a beautiful city, a few years ago
> it was impossible to walk and gaze at the skyline at the same time.
> One walked with one's head down; then, if you wanted to look up for
> some reason, you stopped. Then you'd put your head down again. Every
> once in a while you'd see someone ahead of you do a funny little hop,
> then scrape his shoe along the sidewalk for a few steps.
>
> But things are much better now. The city has been running a campaign
> directed at dog owners and it seems to have worked. I'd like to think
> that I did my part in advance of that campaign. We used to live along
> a street that only had buildings on one side -- the other side was a
> retaining wall with a little footpath. Neighborhood owners would bring
> their dogs over to our street to "walk" them. One day I bought a can
> of creme chantilly (think Reddi-Wip) and a bunch of little French
> flags on toothpicks used for decorating cakes. Late that night after
> the evening "walks" were finished, I went out and sprayed whipped
> cream on each dog turd and stuck a flag in it. After that, owners
> either took the hint and picked up their turds or else took them
> somewhere else.
>
> Still, I sort of miss seeing the moto-crottes.
Talk about slippery!
Joseph
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Date: 23 Oct 2007 15:56:53
From: landotter
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
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On Oct 23, 4:07 pm, rechungREMOVET...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Oct 22, 2:08 pm, "joseph.santanie...@gmail.com"
>
> <joseph.santanie...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > It doesn't matter because there is enough dog-do to slip on anyway.
> > PS: I'm just kidding.
>
> A few years ago, you'd've been right. Andrew Price can probably verify
> that although Paris is really quite a beautiful city, a few years ago
> it was impossible to walk and gaze at the skyline at the same time.
> One walked with one's head down; then, if you wanted to look up for
> some reason, you stopped. Then you'd put your head down again. Every
> once in a while you'd see someone ahead of you do a funny little hop,
> then scrape his shoe along the sidewalk for a few steps.
>
> But things are much better now. The city has been running a campaign
> directed at dog owners and it seems to have worked. I'd like to think
> that I did my part in advance of that campaign. We used to live along
> a street that only had buildings on one side -- the other side was a
> retaining wall with a little footpath. Neighborhood owners would bring
> their dogs over to our street to "walk" them. One day I bought a can
> of creme chantilly (think Reddi-Wip) and a bunch of little French
> flags on toothpicks used for decorating cakes. Late that night after
> the evening "walks" were finished, I went out and sprayed whipped
> cream on each dog turd and stuck a flag in it. After that, owners
> either took the hint and picked up their turds or else took them
> somewhere else.
>
> Still, I sort of miss seeing the moto-crottes.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2005/03/21/17287171.php
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Date: 23 Oct 2007 14:07:52
From:
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 22, 2:08 pm, "joseph.santanie...@gmail.com"
<joseph.santanie...@gmail.com > wrote:
> It doesn't matter because there is enough dog-do to slip on anyway.
> PS: I'm just kidding.
A few years ago, you'd've been right. Andrew Price can probably verify
that although Paris is really quite a beautiful city, a few years ago
it was impossible to walk and gaze at the skyline at the same time.
One walked with one's head down; then, if you wanted to look up for
some reason, you stopped. Then you'd put your head down again. Every
once in a while you'd see someone ahead of you do a funny little hop,
then scrape his shoe along the sidewalk for a few steps.
But things are much better now. The city has been running a campaign
directed at dog owners and it seems to have worked. I'd like to think
that I did my part in advance of that campaign. We used to live along
a street that only had buildings on one side -- the other side was a
retaining wall with a little footpath. Neighborhood owners would bring
their dogs over to our street to "walk" them. One day I bought a can
of creme chantilly (think Reddi-Wip) and a bunch of little French
flags on toothpicks used for decorating cakes. Late that night after
the evening "walks" were finished, I went out and sprayed whipped
cream on each dog turd and stuck a flag in it. After that, owners
either took the hint and picked up their turds or else took them
somewhere else.
Still, I sort of miss seeing the moto-crottes.
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Date: 24 Oct 2007 20:23:19
From: Andrew Price
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:07:52 -0700, rechungREMOVETHIS@gmail.com wrote:
>> PS: I'm just kidding.
>
>A few years ago, you'd've been right. Andrew Price can probably verify
>that although Paris is really quite a beautiful city, a few years ago
>it was impossible to walk and gaze at the skyline at the same time.
Indeed I can. And it always seemed the worst to me in the 16th
arrondissement, perhaps because the population of vicious poodles is
highest there...
>One walked with one's head down; then, if you wanted to look up for
>some reason, you stopped. Then you'd put your head down again. Every
>once in a while you'd see someone ahead of you do a funny little hop,
>then scrape his shoe along the sidewalk for a few steps.
>
>But things are much better now.
Also confirmed. In my own area (10th arrondissement) it was never
much of a problem anyway, but globally the whole situation is much
better than it was 20 years ago - whether the credit for that goes
more to Chirac or to Delanoë, I don't know.
As to the motocrottes, well yes, their effect was probably more
psychological than real. It seemed to take considerable effort and a
great deal of noisy engine revving to remove what the caniche had
deposited in no time at all ...
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Date: 24 Oct 2007 06:42:19
From: Ryan Cousineau
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
In article <1193173672.486238.81390@i13g2000prf.googlegroups.com >,
rechungREMOVETHIS@gmail.com wrote:
> On Oct 22, 2:08 pm, "joseph.santanie...@gmail.com"
> <joseph.santanie...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > It doesn't matter because there is enough dog-do to slip on anyway.
> > PS: I'm just kidding.
>
> A few years ago, you'd've been right. Andrew Price can probably verify
> that although Paris is really quite a beautiful city, a few years ago
> it was impossible to walk and gaze at the skyline at the same time.
> One walked with one's head down; then, if you wanted to look up for
> some reason, you stopped. Then you'd put your head down again. Every
> once in a while you'd see someone ahead of you do a funny little hop,
> then scrape his shoe along the sidewalk for a few steps.
>
> But things are much better now. The city has been running a campaign
> directed at dog owners and it seems to have worked. I'd like to think
> that I did my part in advance of that campaign. We used to live along
> a street that only had buildings on one side -- the other side was a
> retaining wall with a little footpath. Neighborhood owners would bring
> their dogs over to our street to "walk" them. One day I bought a can
> of creme chantilly (think Reddi-Wip) and a bunch of little French
> flags on toothpicks used for decorating cakes. Late that night after
> the evening "walks" were finished, I went out and sprayed whipped
> cream on each dog turd and stuck a flag in it. After that, owners
> either took the hint and picked up their turds or else took them
> somewhere else.
>
> Still, I sort of miss seeing the moto-crottes.
Oh yes! Yes! Yes! The thought of little whipped-cream-topped dog turds
with tiny French flags in them brings a warmth to my heart that mere
words cannot express.
--
Ryan Cousineau rcousine@sfu.ca http://www.wiredcola.com/
"My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook.
Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing
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Date: 22 Oct 2007 19:24:29
From: Jym Dyer
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/travel/14Journeys.html?ei=5087&e...
> Notable is this: "installed around the city by J.C. Decaux,
> an outdoor advertising company". Chicago is awash in bus
> shelters controlled by Decaux. Mayor Daley is impressed with
> the program and has indicated interest in exploring it here.
=v= You have to keep an eye on them, though. San Francisco was
impressed by the Decaux's coin-operated toilets in Paris and
contracted for a similar system. Decaux blanketed the city in
ads, destroyed newsstands and such, and eventually fulfilled a
bit of their toilet contract, nearly as an afterthought.
<_Jym_ >
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Date: 22 Oct 2007 19:12:41
From: Bob
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 21, 10:00 pm, jobst.bra...@stanfordalumni.org wrote:
> Mike Kruger <Mik...@mouse-potato.com> writes:
>
> http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/travel/14Journeys.html?ei=5087&e...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Notable is this: " installed around the city by J. C. Decaux, an
> > outdoor advertising company". Chicago is awash in bus shelters
> > controlled by Decaux. Mayor Daley is impressed with the program and
> > has indicated interest in exploring it here. Would this take
> > newspaper writers attention off the gigantic tax increases being
> > proposed in Chicago and Cook County currently? The desire to have
> > front page stories on something else other than these huge tax
> > increases might be one of the main reasons this program gets off the
> > ground in Chicago.
> > Also notable is this view by the skeptics: "I asked an American
> > friend living in Paris about the bareheaded cyclists. "Just wait,"
> > he said, "until the first reports of accidents come out. In the fall
> > when it's cold and slippery and business traffic really picks up,
> > it's going to be a disaster. It will be the Waterloo of the
> > V?libs." "
> > Yes, winter will be a good testing ground for this social
> > experiment. I wouldn't phrase it in terms of helmet use, but rather
> > bike use. Will the bikes get heavy use in the Parisian winter?
>
> Nice dodge! Introducing a helmet thread and conservative "tax" agenda
> in a rent-a-bike subject. How about the republican roads we ride on
> and ding our rims on holes in the road, not to mention the pinch
> flats, while riding on federal and state roads? Let's cut taxes some
> more and go to war somewhere in addition to Iraq.
>
> Jobst Brandt- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Jobst, take a deep breath. If you were a Chicago area resident you
would have understood that Mike's post wasn't about conservative vs
liberal politics and certainly not about any tax cut agenda or going
to war anywhere. The same week Mike wrote his post the mayor of
Chicago, Richard Daley, had just proposed a double digit property tax
increase along with several other very substantial increases in other
taxes in the City of Chicago at the same time, the Cook County
(Chicago is in Cook County) Board President Todd Stroger, was
proposing hiking Cook County taxes.
Regards,
Bob Hunt
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Date: 22 Oct 2007 22:43:18
From: Mike Kruger
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
Bob wrote:
> On Oct 21, 10:00 pm, jobst.bra...@stanfordalumni.org wrote:
>> Mike Kruger <Mik...@mouse-potato.com> writes:
>>
>> http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/travel/14Journeys.html?ei=5087&e...
>>
>>> Notable is this: " installed around the city by J. C. Decaux, an
>>> outdoor advertising company". Chicago is awash in bus shelters
>>> controlled by Decaux. Mayor Daley is impressed with the program and
>>> has indicated interest in exploring it here. Would this take
>>> newspaper writers attention off the gigantic tax increases being
>>> proposed in Chicago and Cook County currently? The desire to have
>>> front page stories on something else other than these huge tax
>>> increases might be one of the main reasons this program gets off the
>>> ground in Chicago.
>>> Also notable is this view by the skeptics: "I asked an American
>>> friend living in Paris about the bareheaded cyclists. "Just wait,"
>>> he said, "until the first reports of accidents come out. In the fall
>>> when it's cold and slippery and business traffic really picks up,
>>> it's going to be a disaster. It will be the Waterloo of the
>>> V?libs." "
>>> Yes, winter will be a good testing ground for this social
>>> experiment. I wouldn't phrase it in terms of helmet use, but rather
>>> bike use. Will the bikes get heavy use in the Parisian winter?
>>
>> Nice dodge! Introducing a helmet thread and conservative "tax"
>> agenda in a rent-a-bike subject. How about the republican roads we
>> ride on
>> and ding our rims on holes in the road, not to mention the pinch
>> flats, while riding on federal and state roads? Let's cut taxes some
>> more and go to war somewhere in addition to Iraq.
>>
>> Jobst Brandt- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Jobst, take a deep breath. If you were a Chicago area resident you
> would have understood that Mike's post wasn't about conservative vs
> liberal politics and certainly not about any tax cut agenda or going
> to war anywhere. The same week Mike wrote his post the mayor of
> Chicago, Richard Daley, had just proposed a double digit property tax
> increase along with several other very substantial increases in other
> taxes in the City of Chicago at the same time, the Cook County
> (Chicago is in Cook County) Board President Todd Stroger, was
> proposing hiking Cook County taxes.
>
> Regards,
> Bob Hunt
Thanks, Bob. Yes, my tax reference was purely local. I'm letting you and
B.S. deal with national politics.
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Date: 22 Oct 2007 21:24:27
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
Chicagolander Bob Hunt wrote:
>
> Jobst, take a deep breath. If you were a Chicago area resident you
> would have understood that Mike's post wasn't about conservative vs
> liberal politics and certainly not about any tax cut agenda or going
> to war anywhere....
Ha. Cicero is harboring terrorists and is developing weapons of mass
destruction. Mayor Richard II must lead the CPD to liberate its people
before it is too late. ;)
--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 22 Oct 2007 14:08:41
From: joseph.santaniello@gmail.com
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 22, 7:41 am, rechungREMOVET...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Oct 21, 10:30 pm, tkeats2...@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
>
> > In article <1193030065.583249.49...@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
> > rechungREMOVET...@gmail.com writes:
>
> > > On Oct 21, 9:15 pm, tkeats2...@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
>
> > >> I expect Vancouver's climate is fairly similar to that
> > >> of Paris and London.
>
> > > Paris' weather is quite different than London's.
>
> > And climate is quite different from weather.
>
> Paris' climate is quite different than London's.
>
>
>
> > >> It doesn't take ice or snow to make things slippery.
>
> > >> Right now our streets & sidewalks are choked with clotted,
> > >> mushily wet masses of fallen leaves and horse chestnut offal.
> > >> It's a slippery mess!
>
> > > That's not a much of a problem in Paris.
>
> > Paris is befreft of deciduous trees?!
>
> Nope. Paris claims to have more trees per square kilometer than any
> other major city. But Parisian streets and sidewalks are swept daily.
I thought Laurent Fignon had all the trees cut down?
It doesn't matter because there is enough dog-do to slip on anyway.
Joseph
PS: I'm just kidding.
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Date: 22 Oct 2007 05:58:03
From: joseph.santaniello@gmail.com
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 22, 9:54 am, tkeats2...@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
> In article <1193037911.882700.270...@v23g2000prn.googlegroups.com>,
> "joseph.santanie...@gmail.com" <joseph.santanie...@gmail.com> writes:
>
> >> But first I've gotta do Reykjavik.
>
> > Are you insane?
>
> Yes.
>
> > Ok, Keflavik airport is a nice place to change planes
> > and Iceland Air is pretty good, but if you manage to get all the way
> > to Iceland, keep going. By all means stay for a while and check out
> > the incredible moonscape and have a swim, but IMO if you are looking
> > to visit a place to go to a city the entire world is filled with
> > better options.
>
> <shrug> I like Icelanders. I like herrings, and volcanos,
> and grrls in cable-knit sweaters, and aquavit. I like
> terrain & geology. I like Dutch doors and wooden window
> shutters w/ little heart holes fret-sawed out of them.
> I like those ring-eyed ducks that make eiderdown.
>
> I like coastlines and small craft like canoes & kayaks.
> I /need/ to do the Ring Road, but it has to be at the
> right time.
>
> I also like Iceland folx. Well, I pretty much like everybody.
>
> Actually, between you, me and the handlbar, I like those
> Icelandic ponies with that funny, "stoldt" gait.
>
> Yeah, I'm insane. But at least I'm not dangerous.
>
> cheers,
> Tom
>
Ok, sounds reasonable. In the context of talking about Paris, I
thought you wanted to go all the way to Iceland for the city-life.
Joseph
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Date: 22 Oct 2007 04:17:12
From:
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 22, 12:43 am, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <mik...@ix.netcom.com > wrote:
> There's a slight difference to how the language is spoken, particularly
> compared to the south of France
Yeah. Parisians mumble.
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Date: 22 Oct 2007 00:54:18
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
In article <1193037911.882700.270190@v23g2000prn.googlegroups.com >,
"joseph.santaniello@gmail.com" <joseph.santaniello@gmail.com > writes:
>> But first I've gotta do Reykjavik.
>
> Are you insane?
Yes.
> Ok, Keflavik airport is a nice place to change planes
> and Iceland Air is pretty good, but if you manage to get all the way
> to Iceland, keep going. By all means stay for a while and check out
> the incredible moonscape and have a swim, but IMO if you are looking
> to visit a place to go to a city the entire world is filled with
> better options.
<shrug > I like Icelanders. I like herrings, and volcanos,
and grrls in cable-knit sweaters, and aquavit. I like
terrain & geology. I like Dutch doors and wooden window
shutters w/ little heart holes fret-sawed out of them.
I like those ring-eyed ducks that make eiderdown.
I like coastlines and small craft like canoes & kayaks.
I /need/ to do the Ring Road, but it has to be at the
right time.
I also like Iceland folx. Well, I pretty much like everybody.
Actually, between you, me and the handlbar, I like those
Icelandic ponies with that funny, "stoldt" gait.
Yeah, I'm insane. But at least I'm not dangerous.
cheers,
Tom
--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
|
| | |
Date: 22 Oct 2007 21:42:04
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
Tom Keats wrote:
> In article <1193037911.882700.270190@v23g2000prn.googlegroups.com>,
> "joseph.santaniello@gmail.com" <joseph.santaniello@gmail.com> writes:
>
>>> But first I've gotta do Reykjavik.
>> Are you insane?
>
> Yes.
>
>> Ok, Keflavik airport is a nice place to change planes
>> and Iceland Air is pretty good, but if you manage to get all the way
>> to Iceland, keep going. By all means stay for a while and check out
>> the incredible moonscape and have a swim, but IMO if you are looking
>> to visit a place to go to a city the entire world is filled with
>> better options.
>
> <shrug> I like Icelanders. I like herrings, and volcanos,
> and grrls in cable-knit sweaters, and aquavit. I like
> terrain & geology. I like Dutch doors and wooden window
> shutters w/ little heart holes fret-sawed out of them.
> I like those ring-eyed ducks that make eiderdown.
>
> I like coastlines and small craft like canoes & kayaks.
> I /need/ to do the Ring Road, but it has to be at the
> right time.
>
> I also like Iceland folx. Well, I pretty much like everybody.
>
> Actually, between you, me and the handlbar, I like those
> Icelandic ponies with that funny, "stoldt" gait....
You forgot the puffins.
--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
|
| |
Date: 22 Oct 2007 00:25:11
From: joseph.santaniello@gmail.com
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 22, 8:37 am, tkeats2...@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
> Would Paris welcome me if I'd just shuddup, be amicably
> appreciative, and not leave a mess behind me?
Yes.
Actually I think Paris gets a bad rap. I've never had any problems of
any sort there, and everyone I've had to deal with has been helpful
and nice. Not the picture of rudeness that is painted. And I can't
speak French worth a damn. I dealt with people at the DMV, at the
utility company, plumbers, and all manner of other folks too. Only one
time did I get rude treatment. I was trying to get keys made and they
(allegedly) didn't have the proper blanks. I was with my wife and I
think it was a show to try to put me in my place for having the
audacity to have an attractive Scandinavian spouse.
Paris is a great place, You shoud go.
> But first I've gotta do Reykjavik.
Are you insane? Ok, Keflavik airport is a nice place to change planes
and Iceland Air is pretty good, but if you manage to get all the way
to Iceland, keep going. By all means stay for a while and check out
the incredible moonscape and have a swim, but IMO if you are looking
to visit a place to go to a city the entire world is filled with
better options.
Joseph
|
| | |
Date: 22 Oct 2007 21:44:18
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
joseph.santaniello@gmail.com Joseph Santaniello wrote:
> On Oct 22, 8:37 am, tkeats2...@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
>> Would Paris welcome me if I'd just shuddup, be amicably
>> appreciative, and not leave a mess behind me?
>
> Yes.
>
> Actually I think Paris gets a bad rap. I've never had any problems of
> any sort there, and everyone I've had to deal with has been helpful
> and nice. Not the picture of rudeness that is painted. And I can't
> speak French worth a damn. I dealt with people at the DMV, at the
> utility company, plumbers, and all manner of other folks too. Only one
> time did I get rude treatment. I was trying to get keys made and they
> (allegedly) didn't have the proper blanks. I was with my wife and I
> think it was a show to try to put me in my place for having the
> audacity to have an attractive Scandinavian spouse.
>
> Paris is a great place, You shoud go.
>
>> But first I've gotta do Reykjavik.
>
> Are you insane? Ok, Keflavik airport is a nice place to change planes
> and Iceland Air is pretty good, but if you manage to get all the way
> to Iceland, keep going. By all means stay for a while and check out
> the incredible moonscape and have a swim, but IMO if you are looking
> to visit a place to go to a city the entire world is filled with
> better options.
You forgot western Nebraska. Enough open space that one could set off a
small nuclear device without killing anyone. One could ride for days
without hearing hip-hop blasting from a car or house.
--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
|
| |
Date: 21 Oct 2007 23:37:36
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
In article <1193031703.518094.237920@i13g2000prf.googlegroups.com >,
rechungREMOVETHIS@gmail.com writes:
>>
>> Paris is befreft of deciduous trees?!
>
> Nope. Paris claims to have more trees per square kilometer than any
> other major city.
I wonder what Paris considers a "major city."
But Parisian streets and sidewalks are swept daily.
Sounds like Utopia. Let's all rush headlong into there
like a stampede or a locust infestation. Maybe do some
littering, and drop some Big Gulp cups & McD's containers,
and generally be a bunch of uncaring, self-serving,
disgusting, North American pigs, because there'll be somebody
there to clean up our thoughtless slime trails. And then
when we leave, we'll forget to thank Paris for its generous
hospitality.
Oink, oink.
I'd love to visit France, and especially Paris. And
for some historical reasons, Normandy. But, truth be told,
I have a speech impediment that oft renders me unintelligible
in the English language (unless you come from Ticehurst/Peacehurst,
Sussex, or the wrong side of the tracks in Baltimore.) I've always
had difficulty with /speaking/ languages, whether at home or abroad.
I can understand 'em, learn 'em, read 'em, decode 'em -- I just
can't speak 'em. French, spoken in a Vancouver East-Ender/vestigal
Southerner English/certain southern American influences accent just
doesn't come off quite right.
If Paris could endure me not uttering a word, I could
endure Paris. And I woudn't dare litter the streets.
And when the time comes to leave, I'd turn around to
the nighttime city lights and humbly say: "Merci."
But people near me would think I'm saying: "Mere Sea"
or "Merd si," and wonder what the hell I'm talking about.
Truth is, I'm just not a vocal speaker. But I guess
there are non-vocal non-speakers in all kinds of cultures,
so I guess I have kindred all over the world. I hate
vocalizing. It always leaves me embarrassed. And that
deficiency of mine is what has prevented me from travel.
Would Paris welcome me if I'd just shuddup, be amicably
appreciative, and not leave a mess behind me?
But first I've gotta do Reykjavik.
cheers,
Tom
--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
|
| | |
Date: 22 Oct 2007 07:43:50
From: Mike Jacoubowsky
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
>>> Paris is befreft of deciduous trees?!
>>
>> Nope. Paris claims to have more trees per square kilometer than any
>> other major city.
>
> I wonder what Paris considers a "major city."
>
> But Parisian streets and sidewalks are swept daily.
>
> Sounds like Utopia. Let's all rush headlong into there
> like a stampede or a locust infestation. Maybe do some
> littering, and drop some Big Gulp cups & McD's containers,
> and generally be a bunch of uncaring, self-serving,
> disgusting, North American pigs, because there'll be somebody
> there to clean up our thoughtless slime trails. And then
> when we leave, we'll forget to thank Paris for its generous
> hospitality.
Paris is hardly Utopia, but it's true that they do a good job of sweeping
the streets & sidewalks. It's not entirely due to a desire to be clean &
tidy though. It's also to get rid of the signs & smells that accompany any
large city with a significant population of homeless folk and far too few
bathrooms.
As for littering, roads aren't cleaner just because Parisians have some sort
of highly-evolved ethic regarding trash. France in general seems to do a
better job at packaging things, creating less waste to have to take care of
when you purchase hamburgers or cell phones or whatever.
>
> Oink, oink.
>
> I'd love to visit France, and especially Paris. And
> for some historical reasons, Normandy. But, truth be told,
> I have a speech impediment that oft renders me unintelligible
> in the English language (unless you come from Ticehurst/Peacehurst,
> Sussex, or the wrong side of the tracks in Baltimore.) I've always
> had difficulty with /speaking/ languages, whether at home or abroad.
> I can understand 'em, learn 'em, read 'em, decode 'em -- I just
> can't speak 'em. French, spoken in a Vancouver East-Ender/vestigal
> Southerner English/certain southern American influences accent just
> doesn't come off quite right.
>
> If Paris could endure me not uttering a word, I could
> endure Paris. And I woudn't dare litter the streets.
> And when the time comes to leave, I'd turn around to
> the nighttime city lights and humbly say: "Merci."
>
> But people near me would think I'm saying: "Mere Sea"
> or "Merd si," and wonder what the hell I'm talking about.
A 4th-year French student, someone considered exceptionally fluent in the
language, might still not pass the muster in Paris. There's a slight
difference to how the language is spoken, particularly compared to the south
of France, such that two things occur. First, you can try and practice your
very good French in Paris and in return the waiter may look mildly bothered
and speak very good English in return... and, if you're like me and enjoy
watching people, you'll see that French out-of-towners (those not from the
Ile-de-France/Paris region) are sometimes treated with mild contempt by
hotel staff. Much more so than with foreigners.
Do NOT let language barriers, real or imagined, get in the way of travel.
Being able to communicate is helpful, but not essential, especially if you
can make out signs and don't mind carrying a phrase book. What is important
getting around in a foreign country is not so much knowledge of the language
but rather understand their systems. There's a certain consistency to how
things work, a certain logic that will allow you to successfully extrapolate
and deal with what comes your way. Start with the transit systems. Once you
figure that out, you're on your way.
> Truth is, I'm just not a vocal speaker. But I guess
> there are non-vocal non-speakers in all kinds of cultures,
> so I guess I have kindred all over the world. I hate
> vocalizing. It always leaves me embarrassed. And that
> deficiency of mine is what has prevented me from travel.
>
> Would Paris welcome me if I'd just shuddup, be amicably
> appreciative, and not leave a mess behind me?
I think you'll do just fine. But please remember not to wear shorts in Paris
if it's below 85F or so. It's just not done. I remember one time, in
September, and it was perhaps 75F or thereabouts. A very pleasant day. And I
was wearing shorts. And I seemed to be the *only* person in Paris wearing
shorts, and even became the subject of parody for a street mime. It was
quite amusing, and I survived what might have been a terribly embarrassing
situation because, after all, I was bringing a bit of joy & laughter while
doing no harm.
Another major faux pas was the time in Avignon (same trip, actually!) when I
forgot that one doesn't order coffee before or with the meal, it's for
afterward. I had deliberately gone into an out-of-the-way spot for lunch,
one not frequented by tourists, and one in which not a word of English was
spoken. And I knew better, but my mind just wasn't functioning quite right
at the moment, and I couldn't figure out why she kept questioning me about
wanting the coffee right then. It was a few minutes later that I had one of
those "DOH!" moments.
But so what? I'm not mocking their customs, I just goofed. I survived, they
survived (and probably had a laugh at my expense). And in all such cases,
whether created by language or cultural ignorance, you learn, you grow to
appreciate and respect the differences. That's what makes travel worthwhile.
That things *are* different, that you *do* learn, and discovering that
language doesn't have to be such a terrible barrier after all.
> But first I've gotta do Reykjavik.
Um... ok! But pay attention to what Mr. Chung has to say. He has a pretty
informed perspective on Paris since I believe he's lived there for a while.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
|
| | | |
Date: 22 Oct 2007 20:55:15
From: Andrew Price
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:43:50 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
<mikej1@ix.netcom.com > wrote:
>Paris is hardly Utopia, but it's true that they do a good job of sweeping
>the streets & sidewalks.
No it isn't Utopia (what city is?) but Paris has truly excellent
infrastructure, public services and transport, and, as you pointed
out, a very pleasant climate. It's not even all that expensive,
compared to most other places in western Europe, and until about ten
years ago, even property prices were quite low, compared to cities
like London, New York or Tokyo.
|
| |
Date: 21 Oct 2007 22:41:43
From:
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 21, 10:30 pm, tkeats2...@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
> In article <1193030065.583249.49...@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
> rechungREMOVET...@gmail.com writes:
>
> > On Oct 21, 9:15 pm, tkeats2...@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
>
> >> I expect Vancouver's climate is fairly similar to that
> >> of Paris and London.
>
> > Paris' weather is quite different than London's.
>
> And climate is quite different from weather.
Paris' climate is quite different than London's.
>
> >> It doesn't take ice or snow to make things slippery.
>
> >> Right now our streets & sidewalks are choked with clotted,
> >> mushily wet masses of fallen leaves and horse chestnut offal.
> >> It's a slippery mess!
>
> > That's not a much of a problem in Paris.
>
> Paris is befreft of deciduous trees?!
Nope. Paris claims to have more trees per square kilometer than any
other major city. But Parisian streets and sidewalks are swept daily.
|
| |
Date: 21 Oct 2007 22:30:27
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
In article <1193030065.583249.49680@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com >,
rechungREMOVETHIS@gmail.com writes:
> On Oct 21, 9:15 pm, tkeats2...@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
>
>> I expect Vancouver's climate is fairly similar to that
>> of Paris and London.
>
> Paris' weather is quite different than London's.
And climate is quite different from weather.
>> It doesn't take ice or snow to make things slippery.
>>
>> Right now our streets & sidewalks are choked with clotted,
>> mushily wet masses of fallen leaves and horse chestnut offal.
>> It's a slippery mess!
>
> That's not a much of a problem in Paris.
Paris is befreft of deciduous trees?!
The horror! We should send some over there.
Fix 'em up with some mountain ash, birch, elm,
Bloch maple, vine maple, Eastern maple, red oak,
white oak, alder, gravenstein/pippin apple, early
bartlett pear, et al. And Sumach. Lotsa sumach.
and Russian olive. And hawthorne. Heh.
cheers,
Tom
--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
|
| |
Date: 21 Oct 2007 22:18:23
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
In article <rcousine-D4420F.21471321102007@news.telus.net >,
Ryan Cousineau <rcousine@sfu.ca > writes:
> My mug at work has no handle, but I got my co-worker turned onto a thing
> called the AeroPress, a cup-top sorta-press coffee maker by the guys who
> did the Aerobie.
>
> http://aerobie.com/Products/aeropress.htm
>
> She says it's the bees knees.
Sounds like a Melitta unit.
Landotter speaks of mugs with the handle on the bottom.
I'm picturing something like a ceramic finger-ring with
a mug on it.
I guess the flat bottom was, like fire, the wheel, the lever,
the inclined plane and the pulley: a technological leap,
judging by the design of antiquitous amphorae.
> When I was charged with purchasing the communal coffee maker at work
> (think 2-4 pots per day, and a vital role in productivity of our
> networking department), we went with a Braun with a double-wall steel
> carafe, which means no hot-plate. It cost about $100 for a 12-cup maker,
> but after 8 months of service, it seems like it was a good choice.
>
> I looked into the basic "no-carafe" models, but they're ridden by a poor
> ability to cope with odd-sized mugs or tall thermal mugs, and the lack
> of a carafe means nothing, as you still have to clean the internal
> reservoir.
The coffee machine we have at work is hard-plumbed -- you don't
have to pour water into it. It has its own hose. All we have
to do is to make sure we're not accidentally putting in two
filters instead of one.
>> Is it possible to contract VD from a rented bicycle saddle?
>> If so, that might make a good excuse.
>
> If you ain't getting it from public toilets, then that dog won't hunt.
Aw, shucks! <disgusted, throwing-hat-on-the-ground,
Wallace Beery countenance >
> ObBike: the Velib project will survive the Winter just fine, albeit at
> sensibly reduced usage rates, possibly as much because of the shorter
> daylight as the chill and rain. The bottom-up solution to road
> conditions is to increase your tire size, a much more adaptable solution
> than railing against the government.
We /shall/ nevertheless rail against our respective gov'ts.
I don't particularly like the idea of gov'ts getting mixed
up with cycling anyways. Sooner or later they'll take credit
for what we citizens accomplished on our own. Like they did
with multiculturalism. And then they'll create a self-defeating
ministry for it, and that ministry will have to be funded.
Like they did with multiculturalism.
cheers,
Tom
--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
|
| |
Date: 21 Oct 2007 22:14:25
From:
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 21, 9:15 pm, tkeats2...@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
> I expect Vancouver's climate is fairly similar to that
> of Paris and London.
Paris' weather is quite different than London's.
> It doesn't take ice or snow to make things slippery.
>
> Right now our streets & sidewalks are choked with clotted,
> mushily wet masses of fallen leaves and horse chestnut offal.
> It's a slippery mess!
That's not a much of a problem in Paris.
|
| |
Date: 21 Oct 2007 21:15:57
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
In article <XCUSi.15643$JD.9157@newssvr21.news.prodigy.net >,
"Mike Jacoubowsky" <mikej1@ix.netcom.com > writes:
>> Also notable is this view by the skeptics: "I asked an American friend
>> living in Paris about the bareheaded cyclists. "Just wait," he said,
>> "until the first reports of accidents come out. In the fall when it's cold
>> and slippery and business traffic really picks up, it's going to be a
>> disaster. It will be the Waterloo of the Vélibs." "
>
> The author may not be familiar with winter in Paris. It's not the arctic
> circle, nor even New York. Winters in Paris can be cold & wet, but not very
> often snow or icy.
I expect Vancouver's climate is fairly similar to that
of Paris and London.
It doesn't take ice or snow to make things slippery.
Right now our streets & sidewalks are choked with clotted,
mushily wet masses of fallen leaves and horse chestnut offal.
It's a slippery mess!
cheers,
Tom
--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
|
| |
Date: 21 Oct 2007 20:19:47
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
In article <1193019420.900175.230500@v23g2000prn.googlegroups.com >,
neil0502@yahoo.com writes:
>> > Regards,
>> > Bon Hunt
>>
>> I like the new name.
>>
>> What brought /that/ on?
>
> Wait.
>
> Check that.
>
> That's French, isn't it.
>
> Man, I've lost a step ;-)
Welcome to the club. And I've gotta go to work tomorrow,
and somehow at least appear to be functional. Tabernac!
Thank Goodness Bob has a sense of humour as well
as limitless patience.
cheers, et bon chasse,
Tom
--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
|
| |
Date: 22 Oct 2007 03:17:11
From: Mike Jacoubowsky
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
> Also notable is this view by the skeptics: "I asked an American friend
> living in Paris about the bareheaded cyclists. "Just wait," he said,
> "until the first reports of accidents come out. In the fall when it's cold
> and slippery and business traffic really picks up, it's going to be a
> disaster. It will be the Waterloo of the Vélibs." "
The author may not be familiar with winter in Paris. It's not the arctic
circle, nor even New York. Winters in Paris can be cold & wet, but not very
often snow or icy. For reference-
New York-
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USNY0996?from=36hr_bottomnav_business
Paris-
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/FRXX0076?from=36hr_bottomnav_business
Chicago-
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0225?from=36hr_bottomnav_business
The author may also be unaware of the relatively-wide tires, and longer
(more stable) wheelbase the Velibs have, compared to conventional road
bikes, or even hybrids. They're most certainly not high-performance bikes,
by any stretch of the imagination.
> Yes, winter will be a good testing ground for this social experiment. I
> wouldn't phrase it in terms of helmet use, but rather bike use. Will the
> bikes get heavy use in the Parisian winter?
Common sense, that rare & wonderful thing that shows up once in a while,
dictates that bike use, like nearly all outdoor activities, declines when
it's less-pleasant outdoors. I doubt that anyone expected it to be nearly as
widely used in the winter as at other times of the year, and I doubt that
any reasonable person would consider it a failure if they sat, un-used,
during the rain or extreme cold.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Mike Kruger" <MikeKr@mouse-potato.com > wrote in message
news:MZKSi.13112$lD6.5942@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net...
> http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/travel/14Journeys.html?ei=5087&en=a06dc28897b8e4d8&ex=1208145600&adxnnl=1&mkt=travelphoto&adxnnlx=1192982431-MnPlkkHWtqmfIz9SisrR3A
>
> Notable is this: " installed around the city by J. C. Decaux, an outdoor
> advertising company". Chicago is awash in bus shelters controlled by
> Decaux. Mayor Daley is impressed with the program and has indicated
> interest in exploring it here. Would this take newspaper writers attention
> off the gigantic tax increases being proposed in Chicago and Cook County
> currently? The desire to have front page stories on something else other
> than these huge tax increases might be one of the main reasons this
> program gets off the ground in Chicago.
>
> Also notable is this view by the skeptics: "I asked an American friend
> living in Paris about the bareheaded cyclists. "Just wait," he said,
> "until the first reports of accidents come out. In the fall when it's cold
> and slippery and business traffic really picks up, it's going to be a
> disaster. It will be the Waterloo of the Vélibs." "
>
> Yes, winter will be a good testing ground for this social experiment. I
> wouldn't phrase it in terms of helmet use, but rather bike use. Will the
> bikes get heavy use in the Parisian winter?
>
> --
> Mike Kruger
> Give no quarter to the paradigm people.
>
|
| |
Date: 21 Oct 2007 20:09:41
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
In article <471c124a$0$14076$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net >,
jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org writes:
> Nice dodge! Introducing a helmet thread and conservative "tax" agenda
> in a rent-a-bike subject. How about the republican roads we ride on
> and ding our rims on holes in the road, not to mention the pinch
> flats, while riding on federal and state roads? Let's cut taxes some
> more and go to war somewhere in addition to Iraq.
Do you use those Euro coffee pots with the handle in the
wrong place (on the side instead of the back where it
belongs?) Or are you one of those coffee press people?
Actually I wouldn't be surprised if you were into those
ceramic Melitta rigs. To tell you the truth, I like those
things too. But as a British Columbian, I must usually
defer to our beloved, traditional percolators. With the
handle properly in the back.
Is it possible to contract VD from a rented bicycle saddle?
If so, that might make a good excuse.
cheers,
Tom
--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
|
| | |
Date: 22 Oct 2007 12:37:28
From: Paul O
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
Tom Keats wrote:
<snip >
>
> Is it possible to contract VD from a rented bicycle saddle?
> If so, that might make a good excuse.
>
>
> cheers,
> Tom
>
Only if you forget to wear your fancy Spandex cycling pants!
People who ride while wearing other other types of pants are just
looking for trouble. Just look at the statistics!
--
Paul D Oosterhout
I work for SAIC (but I don't speak for SAIC)
|
| | |
Date: 22 Oct 2007 04:47:04
From: Ryan Cousineau
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
In article <l94hff.8p4.ln@vcn.bc.ca >,
tkeats2005@hotmail.com (Tom Keats) wrote:
> In article <471c124a$0$14076$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net>,
> jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org writes:
>
> > Nice dodge! Introducing a helmet thread and conservative "tax" agenda
> > in a rent-a-bike subject. How about the republican roads we ride on
> > and ding our rims on holes in the road, not to mention the pinch
> > flats, while riding on federal and state roads? Let's cut taxes some
> > more and go to war somewhere in addition to Iraq.
>
> Do you use those Euro coffee pots with the handle in the
> wrong place (on the side instead of the back where it
> belongs?) Or are you one of those coffee press people?
> Actually I wouldn't be surprised if you were into those
> ceramic Melitta rigs. To tell you the truth, I like those
> things too. But as a British Columbian, I must usually
> defer to our beloved, traditional percolators. With the
> handle properly in the back.
My mug at work has no handle, but I got my co-worker turned onto a thing
called the AeroPress, a cup-top sorta-press coffee maker by the guys who
did the Aerobie.
http://aerobie.com/Products/aeropress.htm
She says it's the bees knees.
When I was charged with purchasing the communal coffee maker at work
(think 2-4 pots per day, and a vital role in productivity of our
networking department), we went with a Braun with a double-wall steel
carafe, which means no hot-plate. It cost about $100 for a 12-cup maker,
but after 8 months of service, it seems like it was a good choice.
I looked into the basic "no-carafe" models, but they're ridden by a poor
ability to cope with odd-sized mugs or tall thermal mugs, and the lack
of a carafe means nothing, as you still have to clean the internal
reservoir.
> Is it possible to contract VD from a rented bicycle saddle?
> If so, that might make a good excuse.
If you ain't getting it from public toilets, then that dog won't hunt.
ObBike: the Velib project will survive the Winter just fine, albeit at
sensibly reduced usage rates, possibly as much because of the shorter
daylight as the chill and rain. The bottom-up solution to road
conditions is to increase your tire size, a much more adaptable solution
than railing against the government.
--
Ryan Cousineau rcousine@sfu.ca http://www.wiredcola.com/
"My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook.
Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing
|
| |
Date: 21 Oct 2007 19:59:09
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
In article <n9NSi.52$Yk6.7@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com >,
"Mike Kruger" <MikeKr@mouse-potato.com > writes:
>> This would be a good place for the thread to drift to a discussion on
>> the ineffectiveness of bicycle h*lm*ts. We all enjoy that discussion,
>> no? ;)
>
> JUST SAY NO!
>
> FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS DRIFT INTO HELMET THREADS!
>
> [picture of egg frying in skillet] THIS IS YOUR MIND IN HELMET THREADS!
.... mmmm ... a couple of over-easies shingled on steamed
light rye and four rashers of bacon. Or do the Full Canadian
thing and put the bacon & eggs atop a stack of flapjacks girdled
on the bottom with breakfast sausages, and the works soused
with maple syrup.
On the side, half a squirty pink grapefruit that's been out
of the fridge for awhile so the sprinkle of sugar on top
forms a glaze. And a couple o' cups of Ceylon black tea.
Maybe a couple of toasted crumpets topped w/ a li'l
marmalade. And another cup o' tea, just to wash down the
cloying sweetness of the marmalade.
So, what were we drifting into? Breakfast?
What's wrong with that? I just realized --
I haven't had a Denny's Grand Slam Breakfast
in a racoon's age. But Denny's Grand Slam
Breakfast ain't a patch on a Full Canadian.
Anyways, steaming bread is a nice option to
toasting it. It works especially well with
eggs Florentine.
cheerios,
Tom
--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
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Date: 22 Oct 2007 03:00:26
From:
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
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Mike Kruger <MikeKr@mouse-potato.com > writes:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/travel/14Journeys.html?ei=5087&en=a06dc28897b8e4d8&ex=1208145600&adxnnl=1&mkt=travelphoto&adxnnlx=1192982431-MnPlkkHWtqmfIz9SisrR3A
> Notable is this: " installed around the city by J. C. Decaux, an
> outdoor advertising company". Chicago is awash in bus shelters
> controlled by Decaux. Mayor Daley is impressed with the program and
> has indicated interest in exploring it here. Would this take
> newspaper writers attention off the gigantic tax increases being
> proposed in Chicago and Cook County currently? The desire to have
> front page stories on something else other than these huge tax
> increases might be one of the main reasons this program gets off the
> ground in Chicago.
> Also notable is this view by the skeptics: "I asked an American
> friend living in Paris about the bareheaded cyclists. "Just wait,"
> he said, "until the first reports of accidents come out. In the fall
> when it's cold and slippery and business traffic really picks up,
> it's going to be a disaster. It will be the Waterloo of the
> V?libs." "
> Yes, winter will be a good testing ground for this social
> experiment. I wouldn't phrase it in terms of helmet use, but rather
> bike use. Will the bikes get heavy use in the Parisian winter?
Nice dodge! Introducing a helmet thread and conservative "tax" agenda
in a rent-a-bike subject. How about the republican roads we ride on
and ding our rims on holes in the road, not to mention the pinch
flats, while riding on federal and state roads? Let's cut taxes some
more and go to war somewhere in addition to Iraq.
Jobst Brandt
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Date: 21 Oct 2007 19:17:00
From:
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 21, 7:11 pm, neil0...@yahoo.com wrote:
> On Oct 21, 7:07 pm, Bob <hunr...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Oct 21, 2:16 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > If you asked the average European about bike
> > > safety, you'd start with "don't ride like an asshole", move on to
> > > lighting systems, the new reflective tire technology with microprisms,
> > > seperate bike roads, how to integrate traffic signaling with bikes in
> > > mind--you'd probably talk all afternoon--till you got to helmets. The
> > > average Euro would probably think, "meh, they're for children and the
> > > spandex crowd", not that they're panacea.
> > >From what I observed in Europe just last month, if you asked the
>
> > average Euro (specifically those in large cities such as Paris or
> > *anywhere* in Italy) about any kind of traffic safety they'd most
> > likely look at you with a vacant stare. In fairness though, this was a
> > purely personal observation.
>
> > Regards,
> > Bon Hunt
>
> I like the new name.
>
> What brought /that/ on?
Wait.
Check that.
That's French, isn't it.
Man, I've lost a step ;-)
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Date: 21 Oct 2007 19:11:27
From:
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 21, 7:07 pm, Bob <hunr...@aol.com > wrote:
> On Oct 21, 2:16 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > If you asked the average European about bike
> > safety, you'd start with "don't ride like an asshole", move on to
> > lighting systems, the new reflective tire technology with microprisms,
> > seperate bike roads, how to integrate traffic signaling with bikes in
> > mind--you'd probably talk all afternoon--till you got to helmets. The
> > average Euro would probably think, "meh, they're for children and the
> > spandex crowd", not that they're panacea.
> >From what I observed in Europe just last month, if you asked the
>
> average Euro (specifically those in large cities such as Paris or
> *anywhere* in Italy) about any kind of traffic safety they'd most
> likely look at you with a vacant stare. In fairness though, this was a
> purely personal observation.
>
> Regards,
> Bon Hunt
I like the new name.
What brought /that/ on?
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Date: 21 Oct 2007 19:07:07
From: Bob
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 21, 2:16 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com > wrote:
> If you asked the average European about bike
> safety, you'd start with "don't ride like an asshole", move on to
> lighting systems, the new reflective tire technology with microprisms,
> seperate bike roads, how to integrate traffic signaling with bikes in
> mind--you'd probably talk all afternoon--till you got to helmets. The
> average Euro would probably think, "meh, they're for children and the
> spandex crowd", not that they're panacea.
>From what I observed in Europe just last month, if you asked the
average Euro (specifically those in large cities such as Paris or
*anywhere* in Italy) about any kind of traffic safety they'd most
likely look at you with a vacant stare. In fairness though, this was a
purely personal observation.
Regards,
Bon Hunt
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Date: 21 Oct 2007 12:16:46
From: landotter
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 21, 12:14 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@yahoo.com > wrote:
> landotter? wrote:
> > On Oct 21, 11:18 am, "Mike Kruger" <Mik...@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
>
> >> Yes, winter will be a good testing ground for this social experiment. I
> >> wouldn't phrase it in terms of helmet use, but rather bike use. Will the
> >> bikes get heavy use in the Parisian winter?
>
> > That's pretty lazy and shameful journalism when the writer could
> > simply have given statistics for safety in other European cities
> > during the cold months instead of suggesting helmets as panacea.
>
> This would be a good place for the thread to drift to a discussion on
> the ineffectiveness of bicycle h*lm*ts. We all enjoy that discussion, no? ;)
I don't want to talk about helmets, but statistics. If bare headed
Europeans are dying by the scores--then provide the data--enough with
the "but they don't wear helmets!!" hysteria.
I mean, it's gotten so bad, that when I asked my neighbor why he
didn't have lights on the bike he rides at night--he answered, "well I
could only afford the helmet at the moment." That's how helmet-
hysterical 'mericans are. If you asked the average European about bike
safety, you'd start with "don't ride like an asshole", move on to
lighting systems, the new reflective tire technology with microprisms,
seperate bike roads, how to integrate traffic signaling with bikes in
mind--you'd probably talk all afternoon--till you got to helmets. The
average Euro would probably think, "meh, they're for children and the
spandex crowd", not that they're panacea.
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Date: 21 Oct 2007 10:09:42
From: landotter
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
On Oct 21, 11:18 am, "Mike Kruger" <Mik...@mouse-potato.com > wrote:
> Yes, winter will be a good testing ground for this social experiment. I
> wouldn't phrase it in terms of helmet use, but rather bike use. Will the
> bikes get heavy use in the Parisian winter?
>
That's pretty lazy and shameful journalism when the writer could
simply have given statistics for safety in other European cities
during the cold months instead of suggesting helmets as panacea.
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Date: 21 Oct 2007 12:14:36
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
landotter? wrote:
> On Oct 21, 11:18 am, "Mike Kruger" <Mik...@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
>
>> Yes, winter will be a good testing ground for this social experiment. I
>> wouldn't phrase it in terms of helmet use, but rather bike use. Will the
>> bikes get heavy use in the Parisian winter?
>>
>
> That's pretty lazy and shameful journalism when the writer could
> simply have given statistics for safety in other European cities
> during the cold months instead of suggesting helmets as panacea.
This would be a good place for the thread to drift to a discussion on
the ineffectiveness of bicycle h*lm*ts. We all enjoy that discussion, no? ;)
--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 21 Oct 2007 13:47:45
From: Mike Kruger
Subject: Re: NYT article on Paris rent-a-bike program
|
Tom Sherman wrote:
> landotter? wrote:
>> On Oct 21, 11:18 am, "Mike Kruger" <Mik...@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Yes, winter will be a good testing ground for this social
>>> experiment. I wouldn't phrase it in terms of helmet use, but rather
>>> bike use. Will the bikes get heavy use in the Parisian winter?
>>>
>>
>> That's pretty lazy and shameful journalism when the writer could
>> simply have given statistics for safety in other European cities
>> during the cold months instead of suggesting helmets as panacea.
>
> This would be a good place for the thread to drift to a discussion on
> the ineffectiveness of bicycle h*lm*ts. We all enjoy that discussion,
> no? ;)
JUST SAY NO!
FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS DRIFT INTO HELMET THREADS!
[picture of egg frying in skillet] THIS IS YOUR MIND IN HELMET THREADS!
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