Peace

Wishing you a reflective holiday.

Portdaddia

Confucius' Birthday Celebrated In Portland

The celebration of Confucius' birth is the day in Taiwan when teachers are honored. Bruce Lee has been an inspiration and can be honored as a teacher as well as a cultural icon.

Quotes attributed to Bruce Lee:

As you think, so shall you become.

If you love life, don't waste time, for time is what life is made up of.

A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.

A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.

The successful warrior is the average man, with laser focus.

I applaud his stoke.

 

 

Sellwood Bikeways Crazy Good Time

Thanks to Mel at Recumbent PDx for outfitting me with a Cattrike 559 -- a truly sweet ride.

Life is grand on a beautiful day with friends on a very comfortable trike. Yesterday I experienced the fabulous mayhem of a Portland bikeways ride in the Sellwood neighborhood.

Bikeways are when the city closes streets, or limits traffic, to allow streams of human-powered conveyance. Recumbent bikes are the best way to experience these slow-moving fairs on wheels.

I was riding a trike, so when I stopped pedaling I was already in a super comfortable position.

The video:

Better shot of the Cattrike -- thanks, Mel!

 

 

Slowly Exploring the PCT from Portland

This past weekend we headed up to Mt. Hood to hike another section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Every time I set out I learn to be a better hiker.

The big lesson from yesterday is that if the trail you are on is covered in logs and is washed out in many places you are not on the PCT. I confused the Barlow Road Trail for the PCT and spent a few minutes figuring things out.

The PCT is heavily used and is cared for by volunteers so it is in impeccable shape, especially for the sections near Portland and other popular recreation areas. I can't speak about the condition of the trail in remote areas, not yet.

I did a good job of making sure we had warm clothes, food, and water. I did not bring a headlamp. We returned to the car at 4:00 pm so no crisis was reached. A small LED light wouldn't have added significant weight and would have been good insurance should we have been delayed on our return.

 

 

How Much Does X Files Box Set Cost?

Today the daughter asked me how much a box set of the entire run of the X Files cost. Not sure why she asked me, as I've never purchased a box set of any TV series, ever. Also, questions like these can be answered on Amazon with a precision that goes far beyond idle musing.

For US$130 a person can devote many hours to the careful study of each and every episode of the X Files.

I was encouraging her to be a serious amateur in her study (perhaps later she may become an academic). I reasoned that considering the scores of hours such a collection would provide, the money spent might be considered reasonable.

"I've already seen the first three seasons. The last two seasons sucked. So not much need to purchase the box set," she said.

The beauty of rationality when spending one's own money. Stoke!

 

 

Documents From Outdoor School Revealed

 

 

One More Day Of Smoke -- Let It Rain

A very smoky day in Portland. The rain is supposed to arrive tomorrow night. Let's hope the forecast is right.

 

 

15-year-old's Planner Entry

The entry states:
Bringing home the bacon and shaking the moneymaker for 16 years you fricking old dingus. Why are you not older? Foo, foo, foo.

I will let the academics and serious amateurs delineate intention and ultimate meaning.

Until then --Stoke!

 

 

Room Of A 12-year-old

When investigating the photo, make sure to use the scroll bar below to get the full effect.

The kid recently put up some new posters, adding to the decor.

 

 

Bibimbap Is The New Taco

We’re a decade into our multi-cultural food rampage and going strong! Tacos just don’t cut it anymore, so like dedicated chowhounds we keep searching for the new kick.

The other day we tried the Korean specialty bibimbap. The word literally means “mixed rice.” The dish is a skillet with rice, sautéed and pickled veggies, and meat of some kind. Ours had a fried egg on it too.

We all found the dish wonderful, but couldn’t figure out why the restaurant had a boar’s head on the wall.

Until the next time – boar stoke!

Anti-fascist Protesters Disrupt My Bike Ride

An anti-fascist rally forced me to detour around it when I was on a bike ride Sunday.

And no, my ride was not ruined, merely inconvenienced for several moments.

I like the idea that the fascists have an organized adversary, but I am not in favor of violence by anyone.

The video:

 

 

Kids Strike Dramatic Poses In Woods

 

 

7th Grade Science Binder

This is how the 12-year-old chose to decorate his science binder.

1. Atom thingy
2. Slime mold
3. Morpheus giving pushback on evolution deniers
4. Bacteria (this was undoubtedly inspired by the local cryptosporidium outbreak)
5. Technical photosynthesis graphic

 

 

The 12-year-old's Summer Reading

Great job! A few graphic novels, but still a good list.

 

 

Refrigerator Poll

The names on the refrigerator keep growing. David Hasselhof is not faring well.

Tough break for The Hof.

 

 

Skateboarder Smashes Board, Enrolls In Business School

Actually, I have no idea what happened. But I am intrigued by these skateboard fragments.

Whatever the maneuver, it must have been totally epic. Or maybe the thing just fell apart from repetitive use (of an epic nature)  over many years.

It's not inconceivable that the skater is now enrolled in an epic MBA program.

 

 

Report From The Westside

"West Coast Stank" is spelled out in mustard. The kid was so proud he ran from the kitchen to upstairs and found me in the bathroom to show me this.

In the pursuit of keeping it real, I must slow down enough to report on the madness that is our home.

This past month we've been studying, enjoying, the Saturday Night Live sketch "Rap Song."

In the video, Kyle Mooney plays a rapper called Sloppy Moses who brings to the song the "West Coast Stank"

Needless to say, the West Coast Stank is much discussed.

This is my life and all is well.