kittens!

 squee XD

 Would you like one of these kittens? Because I can get you one!

bicyling tips

Because it's Earth Day and I'm sick of suburbanites and city folk alike mad hatin' on cyclists...

Tips for Sharing the Road
Five tips both drivers and cyclists should know: 

1. Both drivers and cyclists should know the laws and their responsibilities, and should abide by both. 

2. It‘s okay to ride bikes on residential area sidewalks. However, in business districts it is against the law. When in a business district, bike riders must dismount and walk on sidewalks or ride in the street. When in the street, cyclists have all the rights and responsibilities of a car.

3. Reducing distractions and being aware of your surroundings improves safety. Watch to make sure that other cyclists or motorists are noticing your movements.

4. All traffic signals and stop signs must be followed. Disregard of signals and stop signs by bicyclists and motorists leads to crashes. Everyone can improve and prevent accidents.

5. You need to check both directions before pulling into traffic. Even if it’s a one-way street, looking both ways can prevent a crash.

Five tips drivers need to know:

1. Cyclists need to have the entire width of a lane when there’s not enough room for a vehicle and a bike to travel side-by-side.

2. Drivers need to be patient and must give cyclists a three-foot or more clearance when passing. 

3. Whenever making left or right turns, drivers should always be cautious. They should check for oncoming and rear-approaching cyclists, and give bikes the right-of-way when required.

4. All drivers should expect to see bicyclists on the sidewalk. When there are bikes on sidewalks, drivers should yield to them as they would pedestrians. When stopping at street corners, alleys and driveways, drivers should come to a halt before crosswalks.

5. Slowing down makes the streets safer. A cyclist’s chances of survival in a crash are greatly improved when the vehicles involved are traveling at a slower speed.

Five tips cyclists need to know:

1. Cyclists should ride just right of center in the lane that best serves their destination. Bike riding along curbs and in street gutters is dangerous because it makes it harder for drivers to spot them and increases the risk of riding into debris. Also, cyclists should not ride too close to parked cars to avoid colliding with an opening car door.

2. Bikes need to ride with the flow of traffic, unless a bike lane allows travel the opposite direction.

3. Cyclists should use caution when riding on residential sidewalks, particularly when crossing streets, alleys, and driveways. They’re considered pedestrians when not on the street, and should slow down and watch for traffic.

4. Stoplights and stop signs must be followed. Bikers should use hand signals to indicate turns and when switching lanes.

5. Helmets make for safer travel. Bikers should also use headlights, taillights and wear reflective light-colored clothing at night.

Taken from MPLS's Bicycling homepage

Northern Cardinal

 

taken from the front yard (fuck yes on 20x zoom!)

On Thneeds

 

I'm being quite useful. This thing is a Thneed. 

A Thneed's a Fine-Something-That-All-People-Need!

Wants vs Needs. What are my wants, and what are my needs?

In truth, most everything is a want, and very little is a need. Wants have names like Apple iPhone, Ikea Karlstad sofa, Twinkies, Diet Coke, or Chuck Taylor All-Stars. 

Needs have names like water, air, food, shelter. 

In this respect, needs have general, generic terms whereas wants are specific, branded products.

We may want more, but we also have more, and our happiness levels haven't changed. What have we gained, and what have we lost?

Avian Reskilling

With the sun shining, and the temperatures warming up I hate to miss even a second of day light. I set an alarm in the morning even if there's nothing planned, shaking Adam awake and begging him to come out and play with me.

Last week, while trying to cajole my handsome fiance out of bed kitten jumped up into the window and started preowing at a bird. Because the bedroom is in the basement, I couldn't see the bird, but I could hear it. I've been learning bird identification lately, and I nearly started crying tears of exciting-silly-joy when I know what it was.

Fee-bee, fee-bee. Fee-bee, fee-bee, it sang through the window.
"Adam, I know what the bird is! It's an Eastern Phoebe! Listen - it say it's own name as it calls!"
Undoubtedly he laughed, but I was so excited! I know a handful of bird vocalizations now, and can identify pretty much anyone I see. Birding is a hobby I would definitely recommend! It's fairly easy, you can practice it anywhere, and it's fulfilling to learn a new useful skill.

Eastern Phoebe