Dinkytown 4-21-11 bike death

In the morning of 4-21-11 a 25 year old woman died in an incident with a 18 wheel (or more) side dump semitruck and trailer while ridding a bike in Dinkytown.  The news reporting about this has continued to trouble me.  What troubles me is the wording on multiple sites that she died after "running into the truck."  As if the truck was just sitting there and she rode her bike into it which killed her.   What I gather from all I could read is that she and the truck were headed south on 15th past McDonalds (on their right) toward campus.  She was in the right lane and he was in the left lane (or left side of the lane if there was only one lane).  He "got to the intersection first" and turned right onto 4th in front of her.  If she was going straight through the intersection and he turned right in a way that made her "hit" him then he clearly cut her off.  She only ran into it because they were both going straight and he turned in front of her.  At worst I can imagine a sinereo were she may have seen the front of the truck turn/cut in front of her and been unaware that the rear end was tracking right for her.   Being more aware may have saved her life but the truck was clearly at  fault for cutting her off and running her over.   If another truck had been in place of the woman in the right lane as she was going straight through the intersection and this truck from the left lane cut in front of the truck going straight and hit it wouldn't the truck that turned right be at fault?   I am sick as shit of biased attitudes against cyclists.  The hate spewed in the comments sections of news stories is one thing but when the police and all of the media act like a truck cutting off a woman and killing her is "a woman rode her bike into a truck" it makes me want to puke.   

Man Freeclimbs 1700 foot tower

Good bye CRC coffee cafe

Hurl himself pulled my last two shots for an americano on Tuesday.  He is closing the doors today.  The great coffee, nonpretentious attitude of the shop, all the cycling publication he had available and the pleasant times I have had there will all be missed.  Pics are from people on the internets.  Thanks. 

Some pic's I found on Reddit

The moon was close and big a few days ago.  Not that we could see it. 

 I have seen this pic a few times over the years on the internets.  Hope no one was hurt. 

Makes Rambo look kind of wimpy

1961 Antarctica Leonid Rogozov takes out his own appendix.  Here is the link to the story in The Atlantic. 

First Surf Pic?

This has been called the first photo of a surfer.  I have no idea. 

Troubles around the world

The pic is of Japan and from the Big Picture.

Here is a link to a site with a Google Earth style map of the world and what appears to be a live reporting of many of the troubles going on in the world.  From Earthqwakes to airline incidents to volcanoes to biohazard events.  It is pretty interesting to see all the things going on at the same time.  It will eithor give you perspective about the world being a dynamic and at times dangerous place or you may decide that 2012 really is the end and will start sending money to televangalists.  

I love my MacBook Air computer

I have had my MacBook Air computer since the day it was available some time last year.  After ? number of months I can say I love it.  It took a little work to figure out the "user friendly" software that never seems to function instinctively to me.  I also needed to put a Cars R Coffins sticker over the Apple symbol to avoid Apple rubes thinking I am cool and PC users assuming I am more of a douche bag than I really am.   Other than these two minor issues it has been great.   One piece aluminum case is super durable.   The no moving parts no hard drive kind of memory is instant on like a smart phone which means I don't hesitate to use the computer for a minor reason and battery life is so long I don't bring the tiny power brick with me when away from home.  I just charge it every 3 or 4 days.  I will never again have a computer that needs more than a second or two to come alive.  It is like going from the old time dial up internet to the current instant on internet.  I also really love the giant touch pad.  I would give up a mouse to use it on a desk top even.  You can use 1, 2, 3 or 4 fingers to do different controls along with two finger moves to expand or contract things.  Much faster than a mouse.  A side reason I like this and our other Mac desk top is the photo booth program.  Both Maya who just turned 3 and Ella make photo's and video of themselves with and without special effects.  They are both doing it without my help and it is serving as a little unintentional journal each is keeping of themselves and their childhood.   I am sure solid state laptops can be made in a PC format and the photo booth thing could be done on other computers but the fact is that I didn't do it on other computers and am enjoying having it now.

Feb Festival in Chanhassen

Ella and I had a fun time this year eating food, watching the fishing contest, roasting smores, going for a sleigh ride and seeing friends this year out on Lake Ann.   

My wife turned 40 some time back.

A couple of shop pics