OK I have a problem with my familiar

I am having a problem with Clint that is peculiar to feline familiars. I can deal with the sloppy kisses, but he’s a year old and still hasn’t learned how to hug without using his claws, or basically display any kind of affection without using his claws. I look like a cutter who is also a contortionist. Or maybe like I bulled my way through a briar thicket in the nude. Protagonist in a slasher movie? After-battle survivor extra in a gladiator movie? I have lost count of the number of times I had to invoke the “no claws clause”, spank his paws, and toss him out of bed or my office for clawing me. I’m running out of hand sanitizer to disinfect the wounds. Mrs. the Poet is getting upset about the torn sheets and pillowcases and the bloodstains. Usually I can see the blood before it dries and sets in but we have a couple sets of sheets that will never be the same. But you can probably figure out he’s not trying to injure or cause damage, he’s just waving his paws around because he’s so happy to Be With Me.

And when I have the door shut so he can’t get in, the noise he makes! He howls like he lost his last friend on earth if he wants to see me and can’t get in. I tell you it is the most pitiful sound on the earth. I mean I know I’m his “Favorite Person On The Whole Earth™“, but I have to do things without his being there, like use the toilet.

I know this all sounds like I don’t like Clint, but I really do, and I worry about him when he gets in fights and the local squirrels beat him up. As Mrs. the Poet says, he’s a doofus cat. And I can’t really help but love him.

For cat lovers everywhere, Opus the Unkillable (but it still hurts)

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I found a better alternative to the phone app/hardware

After I posted yesterday I did some idle googling looking to see what kind of apps are available for my laptop and found one that reads the output from the OBD2 port and lets me reprogram to bypass missing systems by permanently setting the input as valid. I have to buy a cable to connect my laptop to the car but otherwise I’m ready to go.

This way is better for a number of reasons: The screen on my laptop is easily 4 times the size of my phone, there is an actual physical keyboard instead of a touchscreen for input, and the battery on my laptop lasts a lot longer in continuous use than the battery in my phone. Oh the connector cable for the laptop is $0.99 less than the phone connector cable, that’s important, too.

Unfortunately there will be a learning curve for the software to make it log everything when an error triggers so I can see how that error affects the rest of the engine. That will affect the measures I take to correct it. Right now I have 3 choices in dealing with error codes: tell the computer everything is fine and ignore the input, kluge something up that makes the computer think whatever triggered the error never happened, or pull the system off the donor car and install it on the hot rod. The last one is only going to be used as a last resort.

And while I was trying to type the previous paragraph Clint decided it was time for lap-sitting which interrupted the typing for about 2 hours. Nothing is bleeding, I just had to move the seat back so he didn’t knock anything off the keyboard tray which moved said keyboard out of arm’s reach. But he’s cute and cuddly so it was OK.

Also today was the first day there was enough sun to make my little solar-powered dancing alien decoration move and temperatures high enough to open the doors and windows and air the house out a touch. I don’t know if there is a correlation but my foot felt better today than it has in ages. It still hurt some, but nowhere near as bad as it did Sunday. I think I will be able to get that adaptor tomorrow and pump up my bike tires soon.

And now I have other things that need to be done so I’ll finish this here.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Unkillable

My BP meds are getting cut in half because reasons, and the Feed

What a day! First the cat tries to apologize for clawing huge gashes in my hand and arm by waking me up after only 1 hour of sleep and crawling into the bed to purr loudly at me, then I spent all day getting to and from the Lab Rat Keeper, then I find out my meds are getting cut because my BP is a bit on the low side, like 100/60. For a guy whose pressures topped out at 200/145 10 years ago this could lead to dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness. None of that is especially good. The good news is if my pressures come back up with lower dosages I get to participate in another side-effect study before the end of this year.

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Reminder to expect the unexpected on bike trails; Feds decide bike/ped safety matters, too

Still in CA. Bicyclist killed in Santa Ana hit-and-run identified

From my neck of the woods. How tracking police data by race can make unfair laws look like the cops’ fault Among other things this article identifies one of the main problems of the Metroplex: People don’t work where they live nor live where they work in the main. When only 5% of drivers stopped in a town are residents of that town, you have a problem with sprawl, and auto-centrism because everyone drives even if they don’t want to. So much of this area is a transit desert where if you don’t have a car you are trapped.

Remember that girl driving drunk and backwards when she ran over a cyclist in AK? Anchorage woman will finish college semester before going to jail for cyclist’s death Really? Let her finish school before a summer (maybe) in jail?!? Oh the ignominy. Have to finish college before prison…

Do you feel like you are not welcome among other bike riders? Project highlights stories of people who feel like outsiders in bike scene

Infrastructure in America’s Copenhagen. Active Transportation Summit dispatch: Vision Zero and the myth of freight Except for a tiny few places that are import centers like Long Beach or Houston or Corpus Christie truck traffic just is not that vital to the economy. And even Houston is trying to make more of its street network bike friendly.

If you don’t know where you’re coming from how can you know where you’re going? Unearthed: 1975 City of Portland “From here to there by bicycle” map

More infrastructure news from NYC. Prospect Park West Bike Lane War Continues: “New York City Is Not Amsterdam” and IT’S ALIVE: Judge Revives 5-Year-Old Prospect Park Bike Lane Lawsuit They LOVE bike lanes, just not the one in front of their building, which has raised the value of the units in said building substantially. Maybe that’s the problem, their taxes went up with the rise in property values…

Another dead pedestrian in NYC. Woman Fatally Struck By Sanitation Truck Driver On Upper East Side And for all those wondering why I have so many links from Gothamist and Bike Portland,it’s because I visit those web sites pretty much daily. Anywho, this was another blind driver just proceeding into space that was already occupied, and killing said occupant. And the Universal Get Out of Jail Free card shall be used, “I didn’t see her” and all will be forgiven.

More on the MA hit-and-run killing of a cyclist. Man charged with DUI in hit-and-run that injured cyclist

PA infrastructure story. Holly residents drill council for answers over roundabouts Seriously, you can’t figure out how to use a roundabout?

Another link to the guy looking to ride from BC to Panama getting taken out ²/₃ of the way through WA. Cyclist on B.C. to Panama ride injured in crash Interesting picture they used for the “touring bike”.

More on the CO man getting prison for killing a cyclist. Man gets 10 years for DUI crash that killed bicyclist And I hope he has to do every day of it.

It’s just better reporting on the wrecks, honest! Alan Solot: Tucson bike vs. car crashes aren’t increasing

It’s not really good news, it is a symptom of austerity. Fall in road offences due to reduction in traffic police says Transport Committee

And while we are on the site. Barbed wire booby trap found on Kent cycle trail Either some farmer is missing a section of fence, or all they need to do is ask who bought barbed wire recently at nearby farm supply stores.

And I got this video sent to me by several people from many different sources. Video: How to teach bus drivers to give cyclists space I thought the ones where the “riders” clothes wer actually ruffled by contact with the bus were good, unless the driver was not actually trying to get that close in which case they were fucking terrifying.

Speaking of close passing, this was also terrifying over on the Emerald Isle. Cyclist was thrown over the bonnet of car Cold they have gotten any closer without actually killing the cyclist? I think not.

Another link to the guy who killed a well-liked cyclist going to jail. JAILED: Driver who mowed down Oxford graduate cyclist in head-on-crash

[Facepalm]Cyclists maimed and killed by blind driver, but it’s OK because a cyclist ran a stop sign once.[/Facepalm] Pontevedra cycling tragedy raises concerns over elderly drivers

More on the Ozzie drunk driver killing a cyclist. Cyclist killed by allegedly drunk driver and Qld cyclist killed by intoxicated driver

A really ugly wreck in Oz, more than one link. Port Pirie cyclist killed when truck and riders collide near city and Truck crashes into three cyclists on Germein Rd at Solomontown near Port Pirie You can see the impact site on the passenger side of the truck bumper where the bumper was bent.

And this was just wrong. Holiday blues after woman arrives home from overseas trip to find a parking ticket because her street was rezoned while she was away There were no permits available before leaving, and tickets papering the car when she got back. I mean they hadn’t even decided on the date it was to be implemented when she left…

And have you heard the latest scandal in the pro peloton? Professional cycling’s latest scandal: unshaved legs I used to shave my legs back before I rode a bike with fenders.

And it’s 0430, I have been up 19 hours now on 1 hour of sleep. I’m going to bed, and the cat is staying in the bathroom with his food and litterbox until I get up.

Billed @$0.02, Opus

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and the Feed

This will be the last post of 2015, and I have to say that I’m slightly surprised at having survived this year as a blog and as a blogger. There were car wrecks and tornadoes, food poisoning, muggings and other mayhem, and none of it actually touched yr fthfl srvnt author. It all kind of swirled around me so that I could see it and report on it, but not have to suffer through it. Another bit of evidence that I’m a character in a story reporting back on what I see and feel as others live the story. I really need a better writer for my sex scenes…

Up first, the driver who killed a MD cyclist was violating two traffic laws to cause the wreck. ‘It’s Just So Unreal’: 19-Year-Old Cyclist Dies After Crash With SUV The two laws? Failing to obey a traffic control, and not stopping for a car stopped in front of a crosswalk. The cyclist had no chance to avoid this wreck as his view of the weapon vehicle was obstructed by the car that was following the law.

A NYS resident doesn’t have to leave the house to get above the legal limit for BAC. NY Woman Beats DWI Charge Because Her Body Is A Brewery This is an actual medical condition that I have been aware of for at least 25 years because I read about it before I moved to TX back in 1989, and again some time during the “Aughties”. So, rare, but not unheard of.

Cop hit cyclist in the most deadliest state in the US to walk or ride a bike. Cyclist, Patrol Car Collide In Miami Gardens Cop claimed to have the green light when the cyclist “pulled out in front of him”. The geometry of the wreck indicates the cyclist was in the intersection for several seconds before the patrol car got there, meaning this could have been a stale green crossing where the cyclist had the right of way over the cop car. But since the comments have been closed for the article the only place you will see that is in this blog.

A WV cyclist is blamed for getting right hooked. Keyser man injured in bike/van crash at Memorial Bridge Nothing more I can say about this.

CT LEO are asking the public’s help in finding a cyclist’s killer. Shelton PD Seeks Help Finding Hit-and-Run Driver Who Killed A Cyclist

DiYDoT in action in Portland. Activists use traffic cones to improve safety of bike lane along new Orange Line MAX Yay DiYDoT! Doing what the regular DoT can’t or won’t do to make streets safer.

Lastly, did anyone order a box of kittens?

And that’s it for 2015. Here’s hoping 2016 is at least a little better.

Billed @$0.02, Opus the Poet

No D&D today, and the Feed

I was supposed to go to a D&D game this afternoon, but once again the logistics didn’t work out and I’m stuck at home. There is a Friday the 13th Classic Monster Movie party at church tonight, I might go to that just to get out of the house. I have been trying to teach the fur kids that my legs are not to climb on with some success (after all they are just babies). I’m also playing that mobile phone game that hands out money as hard as I can. I’m almost a third of the way to my next $10 gift card, and ²/₃ of the way to my next $1 gift card (those are separate quests that are somewhat intertwined but require different things to accomplish). At this rate I shall reach my goals by Christmas.

Up first how about our Daily Ted? Morning Links: Bad news isn’t the problem, a Breeze-y day in SaMo, and bikes aren’t a priority in Beverly Hills

Aaand Daily Ted part two. BOLO ALERT: Driver of blue car fled the scene after dooring woman near Fairfax and San Vicente Thursday night

Still in CA we get Infrastructure. Safety at a crossroads The person who sent me this link pointed out the SUV using a bike lane to make an illegal left turn in the lead picture.

And more infrastructure from the same city (and newspaper). City officials grapple with who – and what – belongs on the beach bike path Here’s what I think belongs on the bike path: bicycles, tandem bicycles, e-assist bicycles, tricycles, tandem tricycles, e-assist tricycles, and velomobiles. And maybe skateboards and pedicabs. Definitely NOT Segways and hoverboards.

Over in Frisco, a bus takes out most of a block, including a cyclist. San Francisco tour bus crashes in Union Squre, multiple injuries This has to be the ultimate pinball wreck.

The legal infrastructure has been failing cyclists down in NOLA. Cyclists injured in hit-and-run accidents find minimal aid from police, state law TBH this is about what I expect from LEO in the deep south.

The AL restaurant where a cyclist bought breakfast regularly collects for her funeral. Bojangles employees raising money for funeral of customer killed while riding bicycle in Cullman

IL cyclist is killed JRA. Man Killed While Riding Bicycle in Joliet The narrative doesn’t say nor allow for deduction of the mode of the wreck. It does say there were multiple injuries that could have been the fatal injury so the plastic foam hat brigade is foiled in this one. Even if he had been wearing the perfect helmet that prevents every head injury he still would have been dead.

NYPD isn’t the only government agency blocking the bike lanes. Sleepy DOT Workers Block 2nd Ave Bike Lane To Take A Nap But you would think the guys that built the bike lanes would know better.

More infrastructure news from NYC. Plan For Amsterdam Avenue Bike Lane Met With Little Pushback From Residents Only one “I can’t stay in business without free parking in front of my store!!1!!”

Who died from motor vehicle violence in Staten Island? Heartbreaking profiles of 8 pedestrians, cyclist killed on Staten Island in 2015

Another link to the study that showed the best indicator of not getting killed is a pair of ovaries. Joint UBC, U of T study finds that women are less likely to be injured than men on their bikes No I’m not going through surgery to reduce my risk of getting hit.

Taking the lead from the insurance company lawyers the BC driver who ran into a cyclist head-on driving in the wrong lane. Driver accused in cyclist’s death denies responsibility for crash The comment section was wisely deleted from this article.

The Mounties got their man, or at least his car. Police seize vehicle in connection with Lorraine hit and run

Over in the UK they decide that a cyclist who was lighted and reflectored about 250% more than legal requirements was invisible. Cyclist, 42, died in accident on the A40 despite being warned not to ride on busy roads and Coroner: Lorry driver “would not have expected” to encounter cyclist he killed Yeah, I know.

Another cyclist hit in Enn Zed. Cyclist injured in Willis St crash Which just goes to show cyclists are more morally developed than drivers. How many times have I read comments along the line of “Given a choice of hitting a cyclist or hitting a car I’m hitting the cyclist”, and this guy picks a car over hitting a pedestrian.

And I’m out of links for the night.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet

Yay, I mean OUCH! I have a cat, and the Feed

This is what happens when your kitten starts to fall off your lap while you’re trying to type. Warning, it ain’t pretty.

Front claws in the thigh, back claws in the calf and he still ended up in a pile of fluff on the floor. Fortunately it didn’t hurt that bad initially, until I started to disinfect the scratches with hand sanitizer. Then it really hurt. But as you can see there is no infection, so the pain was worth it. The kitty hugs and kisses are worth it too.

Up first, a cyclist is killed by a driver in a stolen car he didn’t know was stolen. Cyclist and driver killed in crash on NW 12th Avenue in Miami and Bicyclist, Driver Killed in Fiery Crash in Miami also Video Shows Aftermath of Fatal Fiery Wreck in Miami this, too Bicyclist, stolen car driver killed in violent Miami crash, police say not done yet Questions arise after new details released in fatal car crash with cyclist OK as it stands now, the driver of the car thought he had a screaming deal on the Lexus which turned out to be stolen. I don’t know why he was being chased by LEO but you can see in the one surveillance video the Lexus and several cop cars following close behind. The cyclist was reportedly almost on the sidewalk after crossing with the light when he was hit so hard his legs came off his body, about a block before the car hit several objects and a tree on the side of the road and burst into flames. As for what a cyclist could have reasonably done to avoid this, I got nothing.

The other big story is over on the Isle of Man, where the kitties with the funny tails come from. Suspended sentence for driver who killed cyclist on Isle of Man upheld following appeal and Sentence unchanged for driver who killed cyclist So basically cyclists are worth about the same as the island’s famous cats.

A MI cyclist is hit “crossing” the road. Cyclist, Still Unidentified, Seriously Injured in Crash SWCC that I can’t say anything about because I don’t have any pictures of the bike. At this point they aren’t saying who had the right of way, or much of anything aside from the intersection and the direction of the weapon vehicle.

Over in AL a cyclist is blamed for getting hit from behind. Cullman bicyclist struck, killed by vehicle on St. Joseph Drive OK so maybe lights and reflectors on the bike would be a good idea, but the fact remains the law says drivers have to only drive as fast as they can stop in the distance they can see clearly, and this driver didn’t.

Salmon cyclist gets hit in GA. Cyclist struck after riding down the wrong way on Turner McCall Boulevard This is a textbook case of why you ride with traffic. The driver was turning right and looking left when he pulled in front of the cyclist and buckled the front wheel of the bike.

Our Daily Ted, part 1. Morning Links: BOLO alerts for a bike thief and a stolen e-bike, and a section of the LA River bike path closes

Daily Ted, part 2. Bellflower bike rider killed in August hit-and-run; one-third of LA County bicycling deaths are hit-and-runs

Still in CA another link to the guy killed trying to get to the bike lane in the median. Cyclist killed on Page Mill Road The consensus at this time is most of the blame in this wreck is on the infrastructure and the extremely dangerous merge across two lanes of 50 MPH traffic to get from one bike lane to the other.

Meanwhile on the other side of the country we discover the driver that flipped his car over on top of the guy walking on the sidewalk was not driving with a valid license. Unlicensed Driver Arrested After Killing Man On Crowded Brooklyn Sidewalk He was trying to prevent another car from passing him and lost control. Of course because he didn’t have a license to remind him that driving is a privilege and not a right.

Yay! Infrastructure changes coming to NYC. DOT To Unveil Plans For Protected Bike Lane On Amsterdam Avenue Small steps, baby steps.

And then they totally blow the progress they made with the bike lanes and pedestrian protection with this BS. Drivers Keep Killing Pedestrians, So The NYPD Will Crack Down On Jaywalkers Is stoopid an STD? Because if it isn’t then fvck the NYPD. A full 33% of the victims were not even in the street.

Changing the laws because NYPD doesn’t care otherwise. New Law Would “Protect” Pedestrians Once The Countdown Clock Starts NYPD is saying that once the countdown clock starts you lose your right-of-way as a pedestrian.

The way to avoid getting killed in Canada isn’t to wear a helmet, you need to grow ovaries. Female cyclists have lower hospitalization rates, study finds Of course this is exactly counter to experience in the UK where 6 out of 7 cyclists killed in London was a woman crushed by a semi or large delivery vehicle.

This just seems like a good way to get an assault charge. Injured cyclist to meet driver “Good afternoon, this is the man who crippled you for life. Please try not to strangle him with his own intestines.” Yeah, I can see that working real well.

Sometimes Bicycling Magazine gets it right. Five Cyclist-Blaming Headlines—And How to Reframe Them The one I hate is the drunk driver that doesn’t get mentioned until after 2 paragraphs of victim-blaming. Except there is usually 5 or 6 paragraphs of victim blaming.

Last link may end up being one of the most important changes to e-assist technology in history. Hydrogen Fuel Cells Are Becoming Too Big to Ignore Cars could refuel/recharge in about 5 minutes, e-bikes in 5-10 seconds. Imagine 10 seconds connected to a high-pressure hose instead of 2 hours connected to mains current.

And I’m done for the day. I went out again to build up some points on that mobile game and managed to clear $0.40 +/- but it was a bit rough on the feets.

Billed @€0.02, Opus

With a sad heart, and the Feed

As posted yesterday WoaB lost a valued employee and part of the family. Brian didn’t just make sure the rodents and cockroaches were eliminated, he was also a fuzzy confidant, something warm to hug, and a source of love in a cold world. He will be missed greatly here at Casa de El Poeta. No longer will he sprawl at the end of the bed and complain when we move our feet at night…

You will be missed, friend. 😥

Up first, a drunk driver hit-and-runs a cyclist in VT, so the head of VTrans wants us to ride more responsibly? Did I miss something? Minter: Drive, ride more safely after tragedies Your laws are car-centric, your infrastructure would be a crime in the Netherlands, and the cyclist was run over from behind by a drunk driver, and this is somehow our fault? More on that wreck, and the victim of it can be found here. A bike ride before dinner. He never came home. and Wife Of Police Officer Killed Cyclist While Drunk Driving, Released And Given Citation

I deal with clowns like this driver every time I ride. WATCH: Frustrated Texas cop smashes car window after driver insists speed limit is only a suggestion and in this case “Failure to Identify” is a valid charge because the LEO was trying to issue a speeding ticket.

NJ teens mourn their fallen friend as a bike-on-semi wreck is investigated. Cresskill students pay tribute to classmate killed by tractor-trailer Looking at the scene I don’t see what there is to investigate. The semi was at a stop sign while the cyclist was riding down a through street, and then the semi pulled in front of the cyclist when he was too close to stop. The weapon vehicle did not even clear the stop sign, much less get all the way into the intersection, before the cyclist hit it. So, what are they trying to prove? That the cyclist somehow committed suicide the day before summer break? That makes sense how?

Our Daily Ted. Newport Beach bike rider dies after fall, apparently due to natural causes Just like cats, people do die, and some die riding their bikes.

Daily Ted Part 2. Weekend Links: Bikeshare finally coming to LA, and fighting among ourselves won’t make bicycling to grow

Another failure to enforce a 3-foot law in FL. Bicyclist Killed in Collision With Private School Bus If the cyclist falls down as you pass and goes under the back tires, you passed too damn close! And really when was the last time anyone on a school bus was injured by running over something as relatively small as an adult human being? So why mentiuon that the kids were unhurt?

Update on an OR cyclist injured in a wreck. Injured cyclist Maurice considers actions, consequences Just as an aside, you are never alone when you ride with a GoPro, always the perfect witness. Other manufacturer’s video products work well also.

A bit of lifestyle as an injured cyclist recovers from her assault by a drunk driver. Sisters ride in Tour de Cure for injured cyclist This was the cyclist injured when a drunk driver hit a car at a stop sign and pushed it into the cyclists riding on the main road.

More on the cyclist killed in the GTA last week. Adam Excell, cyclist killed in Toronto, mourned in Halifax RIP fellow cyclist…

And reaction to the death closer to the site. Toronto cyclists hold ‘die-in’ at Nathan Phillips Square This is another one of those “don’t read the comments” articles. The toxic bilge expressed there will corrupt your mind unless you’re like me and no longer have anything there to corrupt 😉 More Group holds silent mass protest at city hall after recent cyclist deaths

When one of the winners of the UK version of “Survivor” says London is “too dangerous”, you have a problem with your infrastructure. Ben Fogle: Riding a bicycle in London has become too dangerous Yep, London has definitely gotten to the point where heads will roll unless something substantive is done.

Case in point to accentuate the preceding paragraph. Calls for safety review after second accident at junction where unicyclist was trapped under bus Less than a month after a highly publicised wreck involving a circus performer commuting by unicycle, a more “normal” cyclist was also hit and injured in the same intersection. Naturally this is being blamed on the infrastructure this time as having two wrecks in a month is beyond “coincidence”. The victim in this wreck reported several near-misses previous to getting hit this time.

Another report on the cyclist injured by a garbage truck (At least I think it was a garbage truck). London cyclist seriously injured in skip lorry collision Seems to be the same company as one that killed a cyclist a few years back not too far from the location of this wreck. Comments with the article seem to suggest that this particular class of truck (skip lorry) has a significantly higher incident rate with cyclists. Also pointed out in the comments was the fact that of the 6 cyclist fatalities in London this year 5 were female and all 6 were HGV making left turns (UK version of the “right hook”) through the cyclists. Not stated was how many of those cyclists were in bike lanes or trying to reach the ASL at the head of the queue for the intersection… This is a problem with much of UK infrastructure.

And another report that vehicle deaths and injury are declining while cyclists and pedestrians are killed and injured unabated. Number of cyclists injured on Teesside roads up by almost a fifth Drivers and infrastructure are still as bad as ever.

And as the protester’s sign says, another death, another protest in London. Pledge over road deaths Well, lessee. The last 6 deaths, and more than 40% of the previous year’s deaths, were the result of HGV hitting cyclists during rush hours. So how about a requirement that all HGV have to be parked off the main roads during rush hours. Not banned from the roads, just, parked during morning and afternoon rushes?

I’m detecting a bit of bias from this “news” outlet, but really the subject of this video is rather stupid. Look, no brains! Incredible dashcam footage shows idiot cyclist riding with no hands along busy London streets – because she’s too busy TEXTING Yeah, don’t do that. Someone might mistake you for a car driver.

Good cyclist news from the Emerald Isle. Cyclist Orla searches for Samaritan Conor after fall Conor, she’s cute and she wants to talk, and it sounds like she wants to share the lunch she won because of what you did.

And this is how you do it right, even in a medium density suburb. A Case Study in Bike-Friendly Suburban Planning

And I’m out of links.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the Poet

I just got a news item that really bothered me, and the Feed

I read several on-line newspapers as part of looking for bike articles to post here, and in one there was a report of a 21 YO white dude shooting up a black church in Charleston SC while berating the victims for raping white women and other such nonsense. This is much worse than what we get as cyclists. At least as a cyclist you know that once you get off the road and put the bike away you are no longer in any more danger than anyone else of your demographic age, but being a Person of Color is not something that you can put away and be done with at the end of the day. My heart goes out to all the people of Charleston who were affected by this tragedy.

Up first because it’s in TX, Houston cyclists are getting killed faster than they can put up Ghost Bikes to mark their passing. THREE HOUSTON AREA CYCLISTS KILLED IN THREE WEEKS Seriously, all those cyclists getting hit and nobody is even getting a ticket for failure to pass 3 feet or more away? TANJ!

Another double dose of Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Bike rider shot to death in LA’s Mid City; LADOT GM Seleta Reynold is new interim VP of NACTO Another senseless shooting death.

Part 2 is a guest post. Guest Post: Testing to Destruction I don’t like this post, it places too much blame on the victim for being there to get hit.

Some good news from NYC. Report: City Will Partially Ban Cars From Central, Prospect Parks and New Maps Reveal Expanded Car Ban In Prospect And Central Parks

A VT wreck is suspected to have been caused by a drunk driver. Police: Suspected DUI in crash that killed cyclist Really a 0.123% BAC and DUI is “suspected”? Oh, the perp is a cop’s wife…

This kind of wreck is very rare, but unfortunately it does happen. UPDATE: Cyclist dies from bicycle crash The juvenile mis-judged the clearance when he(?) made his turn. This might have been a case where a helmet would have helped.

This was a wreck where the helmet made absolutely no difference, in spite of what the LEO posited. Brooks cyclist escaped serious injury thanks to helmet When a big truck hits a cyclist they either have a head injury, or they don’t. Presence or absence of a helmet is not going to make any difference one way or they other. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool.

Trigger warning: the video in this clip shows a cyclist being assaulted from a moving vehicle with intent to cause harm. Disturbing footage captures laughing yobs shoving cyclist off bike from moving car The people inside the car thought it was hilarious as the cyclist face-planted in the grassy verge. I did that a few years back and even wearing a full-face BMX helmet it wasn’t fun. I got momentarily stunned but the helmet prevented skin to ground contact. This guy didn’t even have that level of protection. There is a special circle in Hades for animals like this.

One reason the aforementioned animals might have done their assault is articles like this. Dorrington cyclist fatal hit-and-run: Suspended sentence for lorry driver Cyclist wearing HiViz and equipped with flashing lights still gets hit and killed, and the driver gets 200 hours of community service and a 2 year ban on getting caught driving.

Still in Jolly Olde is this report on a wounded veterans support ride. North East cyclists support wounded soldiers on gruelling bike ride

Ozzie cyclists strike back at crap infrastructure. Bike activists take guerilla action by painting ‘unsafe cycle lane’ on Sydney roads A cyclist was killed a couple of months ago riding in just such a lane as he was thrown in front of a truck after bouncing off a door opened in his path without warning.

If building your own is too much trouble, or you lack the skills, then Pedego has your assisted cargo carrier needs in mind. Pedego Introduces a Superhero Bike — the Stretch Cargo! I wonder if it uses the industry-standard Xtra-bike seats and cargo bags?

In other e-assist news scientists are studying how battery materials act under overcharging conditions to design next-generation batteries with higher capacities. X-Ray Imaging Reveals Secrets in Battery Materials

And on a sad closing note, WoaB lost one of the founding employees today when Brian the Security Cat died on the job. Brian has been “working” for WoaB since before we started writing a blog. He had lost a lot of weight in the last few months and we were getting worried about his health, then his breathing got raspy this morning and he couldn’t find a comfortable place to rest anywhere in the house. He went to take his afternoon nap under the bed and never woke back up.

Brian 2000-2015, RIP

My life is getting too interesting now, and the Feed

Well, now, how can I put this? I can’t, so you’re just gonna have to take my word for it that things are getting interesting as in the Chinese curse sense (“may you live in interesting times”). I have a gig that I had to sign an NDA for because it is just that interesting… and I feel like I’m channeling Bugs Bunny Bugs the Beautician … Again

I’m trying to read other news outlets about other things besides bicycles. Can I just say the Gov Goodhair is treading on perilously thin ice? And that I make high-quality bicycle-drawn tumbrels for the most uncomfortable and undignified ride possible to that final public appearance and I’m looking for some crowdfunding… (Actually, I think that might be a good source of future income, making tumbrels and requiring the soon-to-be departed to pay for the privilege.)

NYPD hates cyclists so much that they literally would not lift a finger for one. >trigger warning< Brooklyn Cyclist May Have Found Her Hit & Run Driver, But NYPD Won’t Question Him and Cyclist seriously injured in hit-and-run, but no arrests and BSNY says Put this in your bottom bracket and inflate it. And I put those up in the order I got them in the Feed. Can you imagine having to find your assailant and the weapon vehicle and still not being able to get an arrest? (Well, yes I can, but that is a different matter entirely.)

Imagine having a wreck and getting seriously injured because you went by a bush at exactly the wrong time. Cyclist Seriously Injured in Auto Accident Near Evans and Grape That Closed Intersection Sidewalk cyclist fell off because a bush blocked the sidewalk and a car was passing at the exact same time, so infrastructure “up to Dutch” to prevent. Infrastructure “up to non-Dutch First World” standards would have worked also.

That wreck I linked to that I couldn’t tell if it was MA or VT? It was NH >le sigh< Cyclist Struck by Vehicle Still nothing about the mode or even a precise location as of this posting, so Infrastructure! to prevent.

More on the cyclist killed by a garbage truck in the Great White North. Grief-stricken officials defend safety measures of Ride the Rideau Of course they are grief-stricken, the victim was management-level… Scanlan: Cyclist’s death should prompt calls to improve safety Can I say I hope this conversation results in the adoption of the Dutch CROW manual for bicycle infrastructure?

Another link to that cyclist killed in Scotland. Cyclist killed in crash with car and Cyclist in Aberdeen killed in crash with car As I predicted media are now posting stock pictures of police vehicles rather than pictures of the crime scene.

Another cyclist killer facing a slap on the wrist in the UK. Motorist facing prison for causing cyclist’s death Sure prison is a “possible” sentence, but we all know that killing a cyclist in the UK is only slightly more frowned-upon than littering.

Approaching closure in Oz. Guilty plea in cyclist’s death Now we wait on sentencing…

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: No contest plea in Phillip O’Neill case, the Times gets it on 3-foot law, AnyKicks squeaks by

Lifestyle from CO. Benefit ride Sept. 20 for injured Fort Collins cyclist

Infrastructure! news from Seattle. A rider’s review of Seattle’s new 2nd Avenue bike lane A little too late for the cyclist lawyer killed there last week.

Infrastructure news from Oz. Bike advocates want motorists to leave more space on roads for cyclists

And those were all the links that gave me fits or giggles today. Slightly higher ratio of giggles to fits than yesterday.

Billed @€0.02, Opus the unkillable badass Poet

I mowed the lawn this morning, and the Feed

I know for most people mowing the lawn is no big deal, but with my allergies it can be dangerous. Someone has to do it, and as the choices are me, Mrs. the Poet who can’t pull the start rope because she’s left handed and you have to use your right arm to pull the start rope, or paying money we don’t have to someone else to do it and from the way that clause was constructed you should see the problems with that. I started to do it earlier in the week but had to quit because of back pains (standing bent over the mower to fill the gas tank and clean the dirt off the air filter caused it to go into spasm and it never quit spasming). Then it rained, then I had more back pains, and today I had no back pains and good weather to mow. So the rest of the lawn got mowed.

On another front, my Death Day celebration is coming up on the 31st. You know what is a good thing to give a guy that died and came back from a motor vehicle wreck? Amazon gift cards, or a Logitech steering wheel for the PS2 that is compatible with GT4, or a USB steering wheel and a copy of GT3 since you can grab a good new USB PS2 steering wheel and pedals that will work with GT3 and a copy of GT3 for less than the price of a used Logitech wheel and pedals. I just want to have a controller that works so I can build a virtual Sprint T and drive it, since it is looking less and less likely that I will ever get the chance to build the real thing. I’m trying to find out the file format for cars in the GT games, because I have read that GT3 cars can be imported into the GT4 game by putting them in your garage, and that you can connect a PC via the LAN connection on the PS2 and convince it that you are downloading your GT3 garage to the GT4 game garage… Can you tell I’m trying anything that would let me drive this car I have been thinking about for over a year now?

Up first from the Great White North, why use an entire car to hit a cyclist when just a wheel works just as good? Runaway car wheel strikes cyclist, sends him to hospital Um, OOOOhhhh Kaaaayyyy then. Moving along…

Moving closer to WoaB World HQ in the Beautiful Suburbs of Hell, a cyclist hits a car head on. Cyclist killed in collision in northeast Arkansas OK there are only 2 ways for a bike and a car to hit head on in the road, somebody was on the wrong side of the road. Problem is the narrative leaves that information out, but does mention the driver of the SUV the cyclist ran into (or that ran into the cyclist) was uninjured. So… Don’t ride salmon?

Update on a CA wreck. Wife of paralyzed cyclist thanks community The cyclist is now officially paralyzed from the chest down, and there is still some question about the condition of his lungs. WoaB wants to remind everybody to send this victim some positive energy to use as he needs.

A SWCC left cross in GA (too many acronyms/abbreviations). Cyclist injured in bike vs. car accident Cyclist allegedly hit while running a red light, but did the driver not see a car and assumed the road was clear to make the turn? Because I don’t see any mention of any other witnesses except the driver of the weapon vehicle as the cyclist was transported by ambulance from the scene. Anywho, this is an intersection wreck so protocols to avoid or reduce damages, and get the infrastructure “up to Dutch” to prevent.

A LEO-involved bike wreck in the most deadliest state in the US to walk or ride a bike. Sheriff’s deputy car collides with Cape teen cyclist Nothing about the geometry of the wreck, but the intersection appears to be a 2-way stop. Since the directions of travel were not given, and they aren’t blaming the kid for running a stop sign or riding without lights before sunrise, I would say there is a very high chance the Deputy did a “Not See” on the bicycle and ran the stop or stopped and went when there was no car in the intersection. And failed to miss the cyclist he didn’t see.

Moving to the north a KS cyclist wipes out on a steep trail because she was too short to see the warning signs. 9-year old injured in bike trail accident OK unless this was a technical off-road MTB trail I call this really bad infrastructure, if it was an off-road MTB trail and the signs were too high for this rider to see them it’s still not-very-good infrastructure. OK the video finally played so I could see the facility in question and whoever built the thing should be in jail. Imagine a street with a sign “Next 700 feet undrivable, get out and push”.

Update on the unlicensed cab driver that killed a cyclist in NYC. Police: Driver Who Allegedly Struck, Killed Cyclist Was Not Licensed For Livery Cab The initial report was no license, not just no commercial license.

A pair of red light runners collide in Paradise. Cyclist injured in early morning crash with sedan the weapon vehicle was making an illegal right turn on red (no stop) and hit the cyclist crossing in the crosswalk against the DONT WALK sign. If the DONT WALK sign was still flashing then the cyclist was technically running a yellow (or not even that, as most pedestrian signals only flash during the latter part of the green phase). I am not entirely certain about HI traffic codes on cyclists crossing in the crosswalk and which set of signals they need to obey. The one thing I do know is that even with infrastructure “up to Dutch” that would not prevent the driver from running a red light at 0246.

An apparent BUI in AK. Bicyclist critically hurt in collision with SUV in Midtown Anchorage Cyclist was weaving through traffic and apparently disoriented when he cut off an SUV and got clobbered. Not much I can say except don’t ride impaired, and that even drunk cyclists are safe from wrecks with cars with the infrastructure “up to Dutch”.

A cyclist is dragged through an intersection in the Great White North, and blamed for not wearing a helmet. Bradford teen cyclist airlifted in critical condition following collision In one picture you can see the cyclist being extracted from under the driver’s side of the weapon vehicle. The narrative seemed more concerned about the cyclist’s helmet or lack thereof than the geometry of the wreck. That only leaves me with the advice to get the infrastructure “up to Dutch” to prevent a similar wreck.

A buzz job kills in Jamaica. Police seek truck driver in death of cyclist Hit from behind protocols to avoid or reduce damages, and get the infrastructure “up to Dutch” to prevent.

Another infrastructure wreck, this time on camera in Scotland near where my daughter lives. Cyclist helmet cam video of tram track crash You can see from the video what looks like zero warning before the wreck, one second riding along normally the next sliding on the street…

Another Aussie cyclist gets buzzed. Witnesses sought to Caulfield South cyclist crash Hit-from-behind protocols to avoid or to reduce damages, and get the infrastructure “up to Dutch” to prevent.

Our Daily Ted. Morning Links: Sad Fiesta Island news, for and against the 3-foot law, and a new reflector could stop cars sooner

Lifestyle from CA. Family of Slain Rider Wants Drivers to Change Lanes to Pass a Cyclist

Lifestyle from the East Coast. Danvers woman conquers Washington in honor of friends killed by motorist For those who are not familiar Mt. Washington is the Pikes Peak Hillclimb for the east. And there is an event for e-assist cycles in the early fall, late summer called the Alternative Energy Regatta or something like that. They have never had more than 2 e-assist bikes make the attempt in the same year because of how tough the climb is. Just completing the climb is a serious test of battery capacity and motor cooling.

Lifestyle from the Great White North. Cyclist killed in collision commemorated with ride fundraiser

A new approach to making bikes theft resistant. Coming Soon To A Pole Near You: A Bike That Locks Itself If this becomes widespread this will be the first major change in bicycle design in almost a century. I don’t count all that crabon bushwah, that is just a materials thing

Battery breakthrough for a low-cost high rate cell. Energy Breakthrough, A Supercapacitor Battery Made From Hemp Supercapacitors are not really “batteries” but they have enough energy capacity now to be considered as a competitor for chemical storage. Where supercaps have it all over chemical storage is charge/discharge rates, making them really useful on systems that have lots of regen and energy recovery. And naturally lower-cost energy storage for large passenger and truck EV means lower cost energy storage for e-assist bicycles.

And going the other way for capacity and low weight over low cost. Tesla Developing 500-mile Graphene Battery? And this is also good for e-assist, lighter cells of the same capacity means better performance without assist, or the same weight means longer assist.

And because I haven’t linked a cat picture lately… Here’s what happens when you get an inbred cat

Billed @€0.02, Opus