Hi everyone,
I've been a little slow at updating the cm site. I have a ton of new
pictures from the March ride and one awesome picture from the November
Ride. Check back soon.
I've added small map showing where exactly we meet downtown. I hope this helps. I take for granted that I'm almost always downtown.
I'm wondering if anyone would like me to start a mailing list? The idea was tossed at me recently. I'm on the Vancouver CM mailing list. It's a good newsletter. I'll toss around the idea at the next ride to see if anyone wants to contribute their email address or ideas to a newslatter
I've been surfing around for interesting bicycling pages. I had an interesting one sent to me via email from Matt P. He's also the one whose been sending me the ideas for what to add to the site.
I realized that I haven't added much to this site in a while. I'm really eager to take some pictures of the March 30th ride. Hopefully, I'll have a digital camera to carry with me. Last months ride fell victim to a bit of a cold spell but I've grown to accept that winter in Edmonton sucks. At least it's over. I'm going nuts with anticipation for the March CM ride. Seeya there.
I found another awesome site geared at making things a little bit better. You are probably already familiar with Food Not Bombs. I've seen then in front of City Hall sharing free food with the people. I had no idea that they had this awesome website. Please check it out. Perhaps Critical Mass and Food Not Bombs can combine efforts this summer the way we teamed up with Reclaim the Streets in August of last year.
It's almost time for the February ride. I've been doing alot of updates on the site lately. It's been a tad chilly outside and I haven't been able to find anything better to do. I really can't wait for summer. I've been typing out those old articles that were formerly only available in gif format. I'm about half way there. I'll maybe type up the rest over the next few days. I've been thinking about that "reclaim the streets rally" back in August. I'm still wondering what ever happened to the video of that. If anyone has any recordings of that event or any other wonderful bicycling incident, please let me know. I'd like to post them on this site.
I've been surfing the web a lot lately in search of interesting Critical Mass type content for the site. I found a tiny clan of CM people at the Yahoo Critical Mass Club. One of the members out in Australia requested that I post the his CM site here. So here it is...
I've just finished revamping the site with some funky new html techniques I learned the other day. I'm so proud of myself.:) Most of the work went into the photo gallery. Unfortunatly, there aren't any new pictures yet. It's really been too dark over the winter for any really good photos. I have a few that are still in my camera that I hope turn out. Please let me know how you like the changes to the site. And please leave a message in the guestbook. I'm really unsure about the fonts on the page. I can never pick good fonts.
Over the winter, the CM rides have shrunken drastically. This was to be expected. I suspect the February ride will be rather small as well.The turnout has been poor this winter due more to the lack of daylight rather than the cold temperatures.
The idea has been passed on to try and make the March 30th ride the biggest ever. As far as I can figure it, the sunset should be around 7:10 PM which would be perfect for the 5:30 pm ride. Adobe Acrobat leaflets coming soon.
Newsgroups: rec.humor.funny.reruns
From: c60c-3ds@WEB.Berkeley.EDU
Subject: Zen and the Art of Bicycle Riding
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1998 19:20:00 PDT
Taken from the May/June 1989 Utne Reader, which took this from Shawn Gosieski, New Cyclist, Fall 1988. (and it has come in from other sources -ed)
A Zen teacher saw five of his students returning from the market, riding their bicycles. When they arrived at the monastery and had dismounted, the teacher asked the students, "Why are you riding your bicycles?"
The first student replied, "The bicycle is carrying the sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!" The teacher praised the first student, "You are a smart boy! When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over like I do."
The second student replied, "I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path!" The teacher commended the second student, "Your eyes are open, and you see the world."
The third student replied, "When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant nam myoho renge kyo." The teacher gave praise to the third student, "Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel."
The fourth student replied, "Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all sentient beings." The teacher was pleased, and said to the fourth student, "You are riding on the golden path of non-harming."
The fifth student replied, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle." The teacher sat at the feet of the fifth student and said, "I am your student!"
Trevor emailed me with this little tidbit of update on Thom Mcdonald's situation. "...it turns out that Thom is paying the fine in community service hours so the collection isn't necessary anymore. Thanks tho."
If anyone else out there has any information about local bicyclist issues or critical mass issues, please feel free to email them to me at chriticalmass@telusplanet.net.
This months CM Ride kindove snuck up on me. About 10 or so riders showed this month. Thankfully enough for a ride.
In other news, Trevor made me aware of Tom Mcdonald's ( I hope spelled that right) settlement in court. It stems from the "Reclaim the Streets" party back in August during the Fringe. Tom "took the brunt as the sole organizer of the ralley". He received a small charge and a $175 fine. What we're hoping is that we can pass around a hat and collect small donations to help pay this fine for Tom.
For those who weren't there for the relaim the streets ralley, have a look at the photos. And an article from the journal. And the best for last, listen to a CJSR Radio Report a 15min NewsRoom article by Nic Cornell.
One more personal tidbit. I just had a revelation about my Opa (Grandfather in Dutch). In all of his 90 years on this planet, he drove a car once and he couldn't stand being behind the wheel. He never ever drove a motor vehicle of any kind again. Opa passed away on the 25th of this month. It's a strange feeling to be involved in something like Critical Mass when the person I was named after spent his entire life without driving. I guess that's what they call inspiration. Here's to you Opa.
Pedal Revolutionary Radio: "Broadcasting bike fashion tips, bike poetry, great bike music you have never heard before, bike NEWS, traffic, repair tips, politics, local bike events, parties and all the bike culture you can fit into a half hour college radio time slot."
Well it's a sad day in Bicycle Town. Not much of a turnout at the ride tonight. It's best called the Critical Trio. Free-style guy showed up early on. A girl from Montreal was there and another of our regular's. I was there too but I don't count cause I was working and couldn't have joined if I wanted to.
Also, to those who are inquiring about bikeworks. It's located at 10047 - 80 Ave. The entrance is from the alley - approx 79.5 ave. All the information you'll ever need about it is at the EBCS website.
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas. It's been a busy busy one here. Haven't had time to update anything much here. I did write a little something about last month's ride but somehow got lost. I do remember is being really cold but a success. I lil bit of concern lack of people invilved.
I regret I may not be able to attend the December 29th ride. I may be stuck working. We'll see.
Be Sure to book Friday, November 24 off for some fun time.
Yes, it's Buy Nothing Day again. A 24 hour moratorium on consumer spending to flex our muscles as consumers and send a clear message that will send big business into trembling frenzies. We have the power to support those who are ethical and boycott those who aren't. We can take one day to not buy ANYTHING and spend the day reflecting about our tendancies as a hemisphere to overconsume. We'll be celebrating with people all over the world, like it was Christmas, gathering around our dinner tables in the holly-day warmth, discussing how we can lessen our ecological footprints...more
At last, those who have emailed me inquiring about the Calgary Critical Mass, I have a contact. The email address is CalgaryCM@yahoo.com. There is no known website yet and I'm not positive that there is someone out there to answer this address. I just sent a letter on it a few minutes ago. I pray there is a reply. The Calgary Activist Network page regarding CM is here.
A 24-year-old Palestinian man riding a bicycle blew himself up at an outpost guarding a bloc of Jewish settlements. The blast slightly wounded an Israeli soldier...more CBC.ca
Courtesy Adbusters.org. Celebrate Buy Nothing Day on November 24th.
It finally snowed on our fair city. I was already out there and it was ugly but kinda fun. Poor motorists are terrified out there. Time to put on my winter tires.
I updated the main title a little smidge. Hope you like it.
Awesome ride today. As always. I have to get to bed right away so I'll write more about the ride tomorrow night after work. Regretfully I was unable to take pictures during this ride due to a lack of real fingers on my costume. If anyone out there has pictures, my scanner is lit for you.
I've also decided that a domain name is an absolute necessity. I'm thinking something like "www.criticalmass.edmonton.ab.ca" but that's a bit long. I'll think about it. Send me some suggestions. Sadly, criticalmass.ab.ca is already taken. Thanks to Trevor and everyone else out there who was pushing the website during the ride and elsewhere.
Almost that time again. Critical Mass October. I'm dieing to see some of your costumes. I still have to finish mine. I'm not sayin what I'm gonna be though. Might have to use a whole role of film on this one.
In other news, I took a trip over to the Bikeworks the other day. Very very impressive. So impressed in fact that I immediatly joined the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society. They are the people who created Bikeworks. Scroll down the EBCS page to find directions to Bikeworks. There's a ton of tools and spare parts galore and mounting equipment for all of your bicycle repairs. There's a whole bunch of other benefits too. Just read through the website.
I saw a cop on a bicycle riding down the left lane heading southbound on 109st. It was pretty damn strange I say.
Finally, I have fresh film developed from the September and August rides. They're all posted and soon to be posted at the pictures section.
Added five new articles that I just picked up tonight. I couldn't resist the urge to get them scanned and online so here they are. I can't thank Trevor enough for keeping these.
First or all, I've been in contact with a few of the good people out there who have pictures and articles etc. for me to scan. I should have it all posted on Sunday sometime.
Second, I've been given the go-ahead to let generation.ab.ca host a domain name such as "criticalmass.ab.ca". The cost in about 50 bucks or something so I still have to do a lil bit contemplation on the idea. If anyone else has a better idea for a domain name, let me know. It's just that every time I look at Sydney's Critical Mass site I want get this need to grow more and more. I mean, they have press conferences and police escorts and some kind of low band radio station.
I also want to thank everyone for emailing me your comments. It really is inspiring. You can now leave me your ideas and comments in the handy guestbook that I set up this morning. I still love getting email though but either way it's all good.
We now have pics from the March 31, 2000 CM ride. Look here or visit the Pictures page.
Awesome turnout at the ride yesterday. I'd say it was about the same size as last month's ride. This ride, however, seemed more communal. But then again, what do I know; this is only my second ride.
Cheers to that inebriated No Nukes guy on Whyte and to all the motorists who honked in support of us. Ironically they were the lucky ones going the opposite direction. Specially that guy in that white car trying to turn onto Jasper Ave. Boy did he ever honk loudly. He sure must really love Critical Mass.
Time to start thinking about a costume for the October 27th ride. I really really can't wait.
I received email about the CM ride in Vancouver today. Details available here. A little bit of danger on that front. Scary even. Makes me wonder how many whacks from a Kryptonite lock it takes to immobilize a motorist like the one mentioned in the Vancouver ride.
DESPERATELY SEEKING PICTURES: Please send me pictures. If you don't have a scanner, I can scan them and return them to you. *please with sugar on top and chocolate and coconut sprinkles*drool*
Yay, it's ride day. Oh boy. I'm just giggly. *rolling around on the street in traffic giggly* It's a little bit overcast but that's ok. I have my lil camera handy. I had to buy a lil disposable (Yes very very bad) camera for the ride this time cause my 35 mm is jus a lil awkward. I should have photos from last month up soon. Looking for a cheep place to get film developed.
In other unrelated cycling news. Myself and my trusty companion Dave biked to Red Deer last weekend. It was an excellent ride until we ran out of day light at 7:30. Then it got cold and yucky on the highway 2. Pictures from that coming soon too.
One final blipvert: Benje... your email no work:P
Apparently yesterday was International Car Free Day. This is according to the awesome anti-car display set up over at Mountain Equipment Coop. I was tempted to grab a flyer and give it to a car salesman and steal a car but that'd be bad.
Oh yea, this site now has a link to it from the Worldwide Critical Mass Hub.
One more week till the September CM ride. I can't wait.
Yet... the forecast looks positive for the 23rd. Me and Dave are biking to Red Deer if the weather is good. That's not really an update to the page but oh well... I thought you all should know..
This just in. I've finally found a critical mass forum to use. A forum is just like a bulletin board or newsgroup. This one is at http://www.delphi.com/critmass/start/. It is very much worth a look
This is the very very beginning of the CM Edmonton Website. We've got a long way to go from here. I need your pictures, your writing, your artwork, your ideas, anything to do with CM. Send it to CritcalMass@telusplanet.net.
