Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Prop8 observations

Stopped by at history in the making on my commute this AM. Got to SF City Hall moments after the Supreme Court upheld Prop8 to restrict marriage.

I was surprised by how subdued the crowds were, given all the awesome organizing that happened after the vote itself in November.

It was an interesting contrast to the day that the Supreme Court decided to allow similar gender marriages about a year ago, when the crowd numbered less than a dozen. That day, I happened to be walking my dog outside the Supreme Court when that decision was made.

One quick observation: it occurred to me that this isn't really about wanting marriage - it's much more about being told that there is something specific we can't do. It's been fascinating watching queers slowly evolve towards being in favor of marriage after so many decades of resisting it.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Commuting getting better

So, the bike is too short, that's true.
But, I can't describe how wonderful it feels to be biking again.

Floating through the city, skimming along the streets

Timing my strokes to the count-down on the stoplights

Seeing smelling hearing the vibrancy all around me

Coming home sweaty and smiling

Falling asleep during the first TV episode

Waking re-freshed

Isn't that what it's all about?

Friday, May 15, 2009

First Commute on New Bike

Riding a fixie is definitely different. I like it, but different. I have some sore muscles on my inner thigh that I've never felt before, so they must be related to the pedal braking.
I'm not confident about my braking skills yet, so I was taking it all pretty slow. I think I'll need a rear handbrake as well in order to feel more confident.

I also am realizing that the frame is just too short. I need to swap up to a larger frame.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Bill's New Fixie!

I am so happy to be back in the saddle again.
If you know me, you know I'm attached to my bike.
So having my bike stolen in December was a crushing blow. It did force me to get familiar with the MUNI transit system, for which I am grateful, but all and all, five months without a bike was an eternity.

So, I went on craigslist and found this awesome '84 Peugeot converted to a fixie. It's my first fixed-gear bike, at least first since I was a wee one, and the ride is really different, it's going to take some getting used to.
It's really smooth, this bike is in fantastic shape, the weight is just right (steel frame). I can't wait until a week from now when I've got the hang of slipping in and out of the pedals. I may need a taller seat, but I think I've got it adjusted just about right for now.

I didn't realize just how much I missed the open air, the swooping feeling of moving through the city. Aaaahhh. Freedom.

Tell me about your biking life-style in the comments...

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Death Cab for Cutie video

OK, I usually don't go pop culture here.
But I think Death Cab for Cutie is fantastic, and this little video is quite moving. Of course, the suburbanites pictured could have saved themselves a lot of hassle (and gas) if they had been sensible enough to live in the city instead of fire-prone hill country, but I digress.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Counting LGBT People in Health Studies - Update


Thanks to the hard work of the National Coalition for LGBT Health , Woolverine, and many people who called their senators, 7 more senators signed on to Sen. Whitehouse's (D-RI) call for the National Institutes of Health to start asking survey respondents about their sexual orientations and gender identities.
That data will be invaluable for investigating health disparities affecting sexual and gender minorities (both adverse and beneficial), and also identifying the causes of those disparities.

Send your thanks to Senators
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA)
Chris Dodd (D-CT)
Ed Kennedy (D-MA)
John Kerry (D-MA)
Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Jeff Merkley (D-OR)



Canada does it.
Massachusetts does it.
California does it.
Why can't all states benefit from this information?