The Tacho’d Endo
Monday, May 23, 2011
Taco v – a wheel bent over on itself, in the shape of a taco
Endo n – the maneuver of flying unexpectedly over the handlebars, thus being forcibly ejected from the bike; short for "end over end"
Greetings! – p.1
Spinning My Wheels – p.2
Cutler’s cyclizm – p.4
Ross’ Raiders for Heart – p.5
Ponderous Ponderings – p.5
A-V Club – p.5
Inside Joke – p.5
Parting Shot – p.6
Final Thoughts – p.6
Contributors’n’Sponsors’n’Advertisers – p.6
Greetings!:
Welcome back to my Taco’d Endo! This is my little forum to discuss things interesting … or not … to me or anybody who would be interested in taking the moment to peruse.
I know whatever I write won’t always pack a punch or have any severe relevance, but this is how I like to think.
Not all of what I say will be remembered in the anals … ANNALS of time, but I do think that I have something important to say, whether some agree with me or not.
Anyway, I really have to start writing my ideas down. Brilliant, as they are, they can be just as fleeting. I think that was a good use of “fleeting.” We should use that word more often … of course, then it wouldn’t be so fleeting, I suppose. I might have a lot of clips, or I may have nothing to show.
So, here I sit, outside on this lovely day, enjoying the great outdoors, on our patio out back. We had done all that we needed to do this weekend, so we could enjoy the day on Canada’s unofficial start of the summer season, the Victoria Day Long Weekend. God Bless Queen Victoria.
Okay, Harry, now be nice and do great things for Canada and maybe we’ll have a day off in your honour, too (notice the nice ”U” in honour – Long live the Queen!).
It was supposed to rain with a chance of t’under ‘n’ lightnin’ all day, but after a brief stint this morning, Mother Nature decided to give us a day off and let us enjoy the rest of the long weekend.
My dear wife sits and reads yet another book. It’s one of her favourite things to do on a nice day like it is now – get out and soak up the sun and lose herself in the words and pages of a book … or two. Of course, one of the other things she enjoys is gardening, which I apparently sabotaged (on purpose, she says), when I asked her to come in when the rain started after I had heard some thunder in the distance … Of course, the rain didn’t amount to much and she didn’t even hear the thunder, accusing me of making her come in. I’m mean, I know. How dare I not want her to be digging about with a piece of metal and/or wood when there’s lightning about? Anyway, it didn’t really amount to anything after all and I heard only one little faint crack of thunder in the distance after that.
But it did allow us to both sit and enjoy the rest of the day together, her reading, me napping and then writing.
It was a good day, followed up with ice cream at the Avondale Dairy in NOTL.
Thanks again Queen Victoria – you’re alright in my books.
Article time …
Spinning My Wheels:
So, unless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere, you may have heard some newsworthy event about Osama Bin Laden has been reportedly killed. I haven’t bothered to even look during the initial media circus thing because it’s easy to get caught up in that whole frenzy. Even if you’re not “into” that sorta frenzied thing of a circus, it’s very easy to get swooped up in the drama of it. And now that it has calmed down a bit …
I am not a conspiracy theorist.
Nor am I a pure skeptic. There are just some things we don’t get and that is that.
That’s life and we move on.
Now, I only say that he was “reportedly” killed as many are disputing this, because the body was never shown. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I wanted to see the corpse (‘cause that would be just morbid and disrespectful to not just your soul, but the family’s), but some sort of evidence would’ve been nice … Yes, yes, I know that faith is important and believing in what we can’t see (air, God, governments, etc … ), but something like this where the guy who had the highest bounty was “taken out” and then suddenly the world’s most wanted man has left the mortal coil without so much as open public documentation. But at least they apparently gave the man a burial at sea – but again, there were no cameras present there, either … that we know of.
At least they did that much for the man. And yes, I said, “man.” No matter who he was, who we are and no matter our station in society, it is only right and respectful that we should at the very least treat this person as we would like to be treated in our after-life … “The” after-life is a different thing altogether and a topic for another day.
And his son had every right to demand proof that his father has moved on, regardless of whether or not or how he chooses to grieve or cope, it is his right as a human being to be treated as such and allow some sort of closure with his father, regardless of how close or estranged he may have been. We would expect no less should one of our own family members die in some way or another. In fact, we would demand it – would we not?
“Do unto others …” comes to mind.
I also found it a sad reflection of our society that people were rejoicing so greatly in the streets over the death of another. Granted, karma-wise, what went around, came around, but to be handled in such a way just went beyond uncool.
Oh, yeah, and if you’re into karma, remember people in our own society were denouncing how others would party in the streets, shoot guns into the air and proclaim … whatever it is they’re proclaiming and now people in our society who may have very well condemned this have done exactly the same thing.
Karma can be a bitch, especially if you’re a bitch, first – it’s that whole what comes around, goes around thing.
Many are even going so far as to say that he didn’t deserve any sort of funeral. If we denied him and his followers and their beliefs of that seemingly small and simple act, are we no better than they who have stood against our chosen way of life, which we have through the very belief of freedom of choice in our society have the power to choose?
Now, of course, since it all happened so fast, that nobody could really confirm and/or deny the legitimacy of the act and/or its principle.
However, bravo to President Obama for not allowing any pictures to be shown to the general public. It’s nobody’s “need” to see any “crime scene” photos, except for those of the family and those investigating the event. We would respect that in our society, so should for them, too.
With regards to being a “crime scene” photo, a few world leaders have brought up a few good points – one being that this home invasion was rumoured to have done without any known consent from the local government.
And this brings up another point of interest …
If this was carried out without any communication to the local government (& please correct me if I’m wrong), then by any other rule of society, this could be construed as an illegal act. And we all know by watching all these police dramas that even they can’t go in to another’s home without written consent by the local government, in that case the judge. And if the Pakistani government was unaware, then the grounds being tread upon is a slippery slope indeed.
And let’s not forget that there are those who cry out for vengeance against what they would interpret as a miscarriage of injustice, crying out that yet another war should be fought in simple outrage and injustice against the loss and subsequent treatment of their fallen leader. And you know, if they haven’t spoken up yet, they will be – someone will swoop in.
“Do unto others” indeed. I want no part of that kind of doing unto them before they do unto me … and so on, and so on – just like in the shampoo commercial. That kinda talk and extreme point of view is a vicious circle that can only end when one turns their back on another and just simply lives.
But nature abhors a vacuum and often fools get sucked up into the rift to fill the void.
Now I may say or add things here which mock the whole thing and that’s only because this whole circus is one big joke, which seems to not end and people’s egos and their apparent arrogance force them down paths which carry us along with them as they insanely race toward the end of the world – their world not mine, I hope, but I’m sure they’ll take as many other people out as they can before it all ends – for them.
And speaking of the end of the world …
Well, maybe it’s a good thing the meek will inherit the Earth, ‘cause the not-so-meek-like folks just seem to be in a hurry sometimes to kill each other and destroy those around them who don’t play by the same rule book, as it were.
And yet another world ending moment has come to pass without any trace of it even remotely happening.
And thankfully, this blessed version of The Rapture has not come to pass.
Perhaps the good rev’rend shoulda read the part in the Bible where it’s basically saying that there is no set date, that when (and if) it comes, we won’t know. It’ll just sneak up and bite us in the arse lest we do it to ourselves first, which means we ALL lose.
Long story short, we’re in charge of our destiny and are the caretakers of this little blue ball of mostly water, bringing life to us “ugly bags of mostly water.” … name that quote and win the big no-prize o’ th’ day!
In case you are sure you are about to be Raptured, please follow these helpful instructions … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmX-lZOYcVA
It’s handy stuff, man.
Anyway, this here planet can be a beautiful Eden, which we humans, through our seemingly insatiable appetite to attain more useless crap we don’t want and/or need and to accumulate more digits in the bank which we may never get a chance to spend.
There are those who say that we’re already in Eden, but if we are, then we’re making it a bit of a hellish place, aren’t we?
And not to be morose, good person, but you may be pushin’ up daisies tomorrow. Why waste time and energy on accumulating that which nobody will truly remember you for? Just take a quick look at history – the greedy most often fall and fall hard, and when they do, are often forgotten, but if remembered, it isn’t really in a good way … Sorry, but it’s true.
If we were to just sit back, breath, enjoy what this glorious little blue ball o’ water and each other has to offer, then we all just might be in a better place – it just become that Eden we’re looking for, after all. We have so much potential that we simply waste it away on wanting more of what we can’t take with us anyway.
Take only pictures and leave only memories, comes to mind.
And don’t get me wrong, if you are filthy rich and live a full life, giving back when and where you can, then bravo and keep up the good work. But those who are stuck in a rut of accumulating what you don’t need, then take a step back to see what you’re really accomplishing.
I’m guilty of this, too and yes, am casting a stone, but in order to change, we must all look at that stone we have set to throw at another and really look at it, because inside of it is a tiny portion of who we are and we’re throwing it away.
Hmmmm … Then again … http://ca.news.yahoo.com/warm-water-no-el-nino-spell-active-hurricane-183058224.html
Maybe the end is nigh … Duh-duh-duhhhhhhhhh!
CUTLERS’s Cyclizm:
Though the weather hasn’t been all that great, I have gotten some cycling in, but not being a mud loving cyclist, I tend to avoid the trails altogether when they’re all slogged with water.
However, I have found an interesting article in the CAA Magazine. Basically, it’s good news for those who have CAA and they are out on their bike and get stuck somewhere, somehow and should be commended for initiating their Bike Assist program.
But if you are a CAA member, please remember that these folks who drive up lend a helping hand might know a whole lot about bikes, but will do their best to take you either home or some local shop that can help you out.
There are even some communities which have implemented a little program where they have tool kits available on well used bike routes and if you’re lucky, there might even be someone around who could help you out should you get stuck.
But please keep in mind that they won’t break your lock as there really isn’t any way that you can legally prove that that two wheeled treasure is really yours.
However, the above both being said, this is the main reason I finally broke down and picked up a cell phone a couple of years ago – if I’m out on a lengthy ride and get stuck, I phone my dear wife and she can come out and get me, should the mechanical issue be too much for my little bike tool kit.
My son and I and the kids I volunteer with have been discussing this …
Lake to Lake Classic and Pond to Pond – On Sunday, June 19th (Father’s Day), join over 1000 people as they make their way from either Lake Erie to Lake Ontario in the big 50km classic, or join the kids and newbies up at Brock University, by Lake Gibson on down to the same finish in Port Dalhousie.
Ross’ Raiders for Heart :
I’m still looking for recruits to my Pedal 100 for Heart & Stroke bike team.
There are four routes to choose from (30, 60, 100 & 160 km). Be a part of my team and ride the most suitable length you feel most comfortable with in lovely, scenic Western Niagara. I’ve cycled the 160km route before, but my bad knee didn’t favour it last year, so I’ll just stick to the 100km length.
I have ridden this charity event now for the last nine years, which is a part of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada.
If you would care to sponsor me for this ride, please let me know. I would love to take your money … for a good cause. I’m also part of the route planning committee, so yes, I am more than just a rider and fund raiser – this cause is very important to me.
Heart disease and stroke have affected both sides of my family tree and so, I do what I can, in what little way I know to make a difference.
If you can’t ride, then perhaps volunteer - be a part of this beautiful ride through the countryside. But ride whichever one best suits you and maybe challenge yourself to increase the distance next year, if you like, of course.
However, if you don’t feel that you can ride, but would like to contribute, then come on out and volunteer.
Either way, please let me know. I’d love to see you involved somehow.
Ponderous Ponderings:
“Everything in the universe goes by indirection. There are no straight lines.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
A-V Club:
These are just some of the inspirational pieces of music that make me wanna either hum along softly or crush the pedals when I’m out for a bike ride.
And yes, I was a member of the A-V Club in grade school and I thoroughly enjoyed it, too. I had fun going from class to class setting up the equipment for the other kids.
Anyway, due to today’s topic, here are a couple of pieces of the same thing … but different.
REM – It’s the End of the World
Great Big Sea – It’s the End of the World
Everyone in the videos seem happy about the end of things. Maybe the end isn’t something that we should worry about so much, after all? All ends are just more beginnings.
Inside Joke:
"I find that a duck's opinion of me is very much influenced over whether or not I have bread." – Mitch Hedburg
Parting Shot:
Well, I’ve been giving that slogan that I posted last time some more thought and decided to combine the two into one amazing saying …
I started off saying, “I want MORE!”
Which means …
Mutuality
Of
Respect
Eh!
I thought it better than, “I want CRAP!”
And this stood for …
Courtesy,
Respect
And
Peace.
Well, why not combine the two?
Come on, say it with me, “I want MORE CRAP!”
Never thought o’ that, did ya, Oprah? No wonder you’re leaving your show – you’re all out of ideas.
>pfpht<
Final Thoughts:
I got nuthin’ today … Well, I guess even though I haven’t thought of something, that it is I suppose a thought in itself.
Thanks for your time and consideration and I look forward to seeing you next time (& remember, I did say, monthly-ISH, so don’t be surprised if you don’t get one every month – I often get very busy with Scouting and have to devote my spare time to that).
Cheers!
S. Ross Cutler.
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Have a nice day!
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