I know it's like comparing pears and apples, but both are "fruits,"
perhaps infected by the same disease.
Around here it's more visible, or palpable if you will, with "street
beautification" that adds yet another challenge for drivers and
cyclists. It's perhaps the way to "dump money down the drain" in the
literal sense of the word. It's also palpable in the sense that you
may bump into it at night. Something invisible may be palpable, just
as the blind man feels finds his way around.
The greatest miracle though is that people remain blind to all this
corruption. Never mind that they can speak freely. They won't.
But there's renovation in China as there in America. Perhaps someone
will remember the humble man on a bike or foot. Or perhaps the humble
man is no more. There are just winners and losers.
> TibetanMonkey wrote:
> > I know it's like comparing pears and apples, but both are "fruits,"
> > perhaps infected by the same disease.
> > Around here it's more visible, or palpable if you will, with "street
> > beautification" that adds yet another challenge for drivers and
> > cyclists. It's perhaps the way to "dump money down the drain" in the
> > literal sense of the word. It's also palpable in the sense that you
> > may bump into it at night. Something invisible may be palpable, just
> > as the blind man feels finds his way around.
> > The greatest miracle though is that people remain blind to all this
> > corruption. Never mind that they can speak freely. They won't.
> > But there's renovation in China as there in America. Perhaps someone
> > will remember the humble man on a bike or foot. Or perhaps the humble
> > man is no more. There are just winners and losers.
> With permission, does a corrupt society have bad laws or does it have
> good laws which its citizens don't obey?
> This has puzzled me for a long time now.
> I mean, in reality laws are made by humans and we humans have almost
> no clue. The very laws are usually principally enforced on non-law-
> maker humans which have even less clue.
> Does a non-corrupt society have perfect (utopian) laws with which its
> (utopian) citizens are familiar and which they obey? Where do you get
> these laws? And where do you get infallible automata to obey them?
> Just some "thoughts".
> pi
Let me give you my humble opinion on the subject:
We can say, for example, that most laws that regulate speed in a city
environment are fair and just. How can we justify that cars
customarily violate the speed limits and endanger pedestrians?
The solution is rather simple, cold and effective as only a machine
can be: SPEED CAMERAS! However America seems to be that only civilized
country where such devices are resisted by those who are most
threatened by their effectiveness. The driver rules.
They claim that Big Brother is predatory but the government is elected
by the people, so they seem to prove my point rather than prove the
effectiveness of democracy. Perhaps people are just dumb unless they
have a degree of education and participation.
In the Netherlands it was the people not the elites that brought about
space for cyclists.
On Nov 13, 11:46 pm, "when does a Chinese deny a Chinese is
a Chinese , ? when a Chinese claims to be a Malaysian"
<voivodv...@gmail.com> wrote:
> SAME SAME ,
> but in different ways .
Perhaps we can explain it this way: Corruption in China is more
"monumental" while in America is the kind "underground." Though our
stadiums are monumental too and you can't miss them. But in America
you don't see big dams or fast trains that actually do something.
> you might wanna hush about testing all voters and keep it to being a flexitax thing. until youre in charge.
> O:-)
By implementing SPEED CAMERAS, local politicians can dispose of plenty
of cash without raising taxes. But can they take a bite while doing
something actually good?
On Nov 14, 9:59 am, "TibetanMonkey, the Beach Cruiser Philosopher"
<thetibetanmon...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Nov 14, 4:51 am, "mortx" <m...@x.org> wrote:
> > you might wanna hush about testing all voters and keep it to being a flexitax thing. until youre in charge.
> > O:-)
> By implementing SPEED CAMERAS, local politicians can dispose of plenty
> of cash without raising taxes. But can they take a bite while doing
> something actually good?
> It sounds challenging.
Another solution (the revolution is about solutions) is cracking down
on people who litter. Banning chewing gum and cigarette in public
places sounds good to me. The fines pay for public projects.
Again, it doesn't take care of what they do with the money. "City
beautification" should start with clean streets not pouring money
into projects that squeeze drivers and cyclists further. Guess who
loses when we are squeezed and we don't have the space to ride a bike.
If China promotes the automobile --as they seem to be doing-- we are
all doomed. The bicycle is the vehicle of liberation. In that sense,
Mao was right.
> Le 14/11/2012 16:51, TibetanMonkey, the Beach Cruiser Philosopher a écrit :
> > On Nov 14, 9:59 am, "TibetanMonkey, the Beach Cruiser Philosopher"
> > <thetibetanmon...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Nov 14, 4:51 am, "mortx" <m...@x.org> wrote:
> >>> you might wanna hush about testing all voters and keep it to being a flexitax thing. until youre in charge.
> >>> O:-)
> >> By implementing SPEED CAMERAS, local politicians can dispose of plenty
> >> of cash without raising taxes. But can they take a bite while doing
> >> something actually good?
> >> It sounds challenging.
> > Another solution (the revolution is about solutions) is cracking down
> > on people who litter. Banning chewing gum and cigarette in public
> > places sounds good to me. The fines pay for public projects.
> > Again, it doesn't take care of what they do with the money. "City
> > beautification" should start with clean streets not pouring money
> > into projects that squeeze drivers and cyclists further. Guess who
> > loses when we are squeezed and we don't have the space to ride a bike.
> > If China promotes the automobile --as they seem to be doing-- we are
> > all doomed. The bicycle is the vehicle of liberation. In that sense,
> > Mao was right.
> "Cracking down on people" is bad practice. Educating kids from the
> start is what works. Educate kids about dirt and littering, about
> coughing and smoking, about helping and not grabbing, is what it's about.
"People who litter" deserve some punishment, don't they? They could be
thrown in jail in NYC, but I don't know if they enforce it.
> And making sure to mix boys and girls playing together, rather than
> assigning them sexist roles (such as cheerleading vs. football),
> is what it's about.
> And making sure not to segregate cars and bikes on the road is the
> only way to go. Mixing them all together is the only way to raise
> their attention and starting them to driving smart (rather than
> driving listening to mp3s and dreaming about their next fast-food break)
That's another model different from the Dutch? They practice
segregation but even kids feel safe riding. Would you mix kids and
cars on the same road?
> TibetanMonkey, the Beach Cruiser Philosopher wrote:
> > I know it's like comparing pears and apples, but both are "fruits,"
> > perhaps infected by the same disease.
> > Around here it's more visible, or palpable if you will, with "street
> > beautification" that adds yet another challenge for drivers and
> > cyclists. It's perhaps the way to "dump money down the drain" in the
> > literal sense of the word. It's also palpable in the sense that you
> > may bump into it at night. Something invisible may be palpable, just
> > as the blind man feels finds his way around.
> > The greatest miracle though is that people remain blind to all this
> > corruption. Never mind that they can speak freely. They won't.
> > But there's renovation in China as there in America. Perhaps someone
> > will remember the humble man on a bike or foot. Or perhaps the humble
> > man is no more. There are just winners and losers.
> When countries sink to that level of corruption, the difference is
> pretty academic. In other areas, China is probably more repressive
> of individual rights than the U.S., but at least they don't waste
> everyone's money by getting involved in other people's conflicts or
> having troops stationed all over the world. And I doubt that
> they're constantly breaking down doors, invading homes, terrorizing
> and often beating and arresting innocent people the way the U.S. does.
And they save the money spent on elections. That's money, very big
money.
Perhaps they can build a train from NY to LA with that money. Well,
counting corruption they should be able to make it to Chicago.
> Le 14/11/2012 22:52, TibetanMonkey, the Beach Cruiser Philosopher a écrit :
> >> And making sure not to segregate cars and bikes on the road is the
> >> only way to go. Mixing them all together is the only way to raise
> >> their attention and starting them to driving smart (rather than
> >> driving listening to mp3s and dreaming about their next fast-food break)
> > That's another model different from the Dutch? They practice
> > segregation but even kids feel safe riding. Would you mix kids and
> > cars on the same road?
> > I don't think so.
> Of course I do and I have. Do you want your kids to be cowed and fearful?
> They need to learn to be alive to what's happening on the road,
> weave and duck, stand up to bullies, learn the power they have over
> drivers and all other threats.
> What power, you ask?
> The power of their minds over matter, whether on roads full of perils
> or over governments who want to send them to wage war.
Wow, kids should not be send to war. The warlords in Africa do and are
persecuted for that. I think they are too young to face drivers
without a bazooka.
> Le 15/11/2012 04:42, TibetanMonkey, the Beach Cruiser Philosopher a écrit :
> > On Nov 14, 6:24 pm, liaM <cud...@mindless.com> wrote:
> >> Le 14/11/2012 22:52, TibetanMonkey, the Beach Cruiser Philosopher a écrit :
> >>>> And making sure not to segregate cars and bikes on the road is the
> >>>> only way to go. Mixing them all together is the only way to raise
> >>>> their attention and starting them to driving smart (rather than
> >>>> driving listening to mp3s and dreaming about their next fast-food break)
> >>> That's another model different from the Dutch? They practice
> >>> segregation but even kids feel safe riding. Would you mix kids and
> >>> cars on the same road?
> >>> I don't think so.
> >> Of course I do and I have. Do you want your kids to be cowed and fearful?
> >> They need to learn to be alive to what's happening on the road,
> >> weave and duck, stand up to bullies, learn the power they have over
> >> drivers and all other threats.
> >> What power, you ask?
> >> The power of their minds over matter, whether on roads full of perils
> >> or over governments who want to send them to wage war.
> > Wow, kids should not be send to war. The warlords in Africa do and are
> > persecuted for that. I think they are too young to face drivers
> > without a bazooka.
> You're fighting the wrong battle. What you'll get with your policies is
> a gated community just like Patrick McGoohan's Village. Concentrate
> instead in educating kids to measure risks and opportunities.
> My idea of nirvana on earth is any street in rural India mixing
> pedestrians, cars, carts, cows, cycles, coexisting together on
> a level playing field. Maybe one day my vision of pullulating and happy
> humanity will come about, and it'll look something like present day
> India. Check this out:
That's good, very good. The tablet will be like Mao's Red Book, but
you can read whatever you want --except Facebook, of course.
Anyway, you get me wrong. I'm proposing mixing all sorts of
transportation on roads, not because it's ideal or democratic, just
because it won't happen any other way in places where corruption is
high and concern for cyclists is low. Around here we get dozens of
bike lanes that are not connected, and that's more about corruption
than practicality. I PROPOSE THAT THE RIGHT LANE IS OPEN TO ALL SORTS
OF VEHICLES, FROM BIKES TO SMALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND THE DONKEY --
just like Jesus did.
But that takes a revolution to accomplish --a revolution I humbly
propose.
> TibetanMonkey wrote:
> >Let me give you my humble opinion on the subject:
> Is there a way to stop you?
> >We can say, for example, that most laws that regulate speed in a city
> >environment are fair and just. How can we justify that cars
> >customarily violate the speed limits and endanger pedestrians?
> The way Los Angeles County did it
> was to take a survey of all the cars that pass
> a couple of counters in a road at some point.
> They then take what's called the 80% rule
> and apply it to that stretch of road.
> Their assumption was, last eye-checkered in on it,
> that 80% of drivers actually know how to drive.
> So the limit is set at whatever speed the 80% go.
Sorry, but you are talking to a man of high wisdom and fast Internet
connections. See for yourself how complicated it is...
Instead we will make it SIMPLE. They'll go at the speed that don't
kill people and don't intimidate people. Mind you, they are already
using a random low speed limit (20mph) through affluent communities
around here. It's the poor that are left without protection.
We can make the right lane have 20mph limit and the others have 30 or
35mph. And that's plenty. In the fight of good vs evil it's the driver
that does the most evil.
> > >>>>> Le 15/11/2012 04:42, TibetanMonkey, the Beach Cruiser Philosopher a crit
> > >>>>> :
> > >>>>>> On Nov 14, 6:24 pm, liaM <cud...@mindless.com> wrote:
> > >>>>>>> Le 14/11/2012 22:52, TibetanMonkey, the Beach Cruiser Philosopher a
> > >>>>>>> crit :
> > >>>>>>>>> And making sure not to segregate cars and bikes on the road is the
> > >>>>>>>>> only way to go. Mixing them all together is the only way to raise
> > >>>>>>>>> their attention and starting them to driving smart (rather than
> > >>>>>>>>> driving listening to mp3s and dreaming about their next fast-food
> > >>>>>>>>> break)
> > >>>>>>>> That's another model different from the Dutch? They practice
> > >>>>>>>> segregation but even kids feel safe riding. Would you mix kids and
> > >>>>>>>> cars on the same road?
> > >>>>>>>> I don't think so.
> > >>>>>>> Of course I do and I have. Do you want your kids to be cowed and
> > >>>>>>> fearful?
> > >>>>>>> They need to learn to be alive to what's happening on the road,
> > >>>>>>> weave and duck, stand up to bullies, learn the power they have over
> > >>>>>>> drivers and all other threats.
> > >>>>>>> What power, you ask?
> > >>>>>>> The power of their minds over matter, whether on roads full of perils
> > >>>>>>> or over governments who want to send them to wage war.
> > >>>>>> Wow, kids should not be send to war. The warlords in Africa do and are
> > >>>>>> persecuted for that. I think they are too young to face drivers
> > >>>>>> without a bazooka.
> > >>>>> You're fighting the wrong battle. What you'll get with your policies is a
> > >>>>> gated community just like Patrick McGoohan's Village. Concentrate instead
> > >>>>> in educating kids to measure risks and opportunities.
> > >>>>> My idea of nirvana on earth is any street in rural India mixing
> > >>>>> pedestrians, cars, carts, cows, cycles, coexisting together on
> > >>>>> a level playing field. Maybe one day my vision of pullulating and happy
> > >>>>> humanity will come about, and it'll look something like present day India.
> > >>>>> Check this out:
> > >>>> Wow. Our drones ought to scatter those all over the 3rd world.
> > >>>> Ned
> > >>>> 'Pullulate' huh? What a horrid little word!
> > >>> I think it's a neat word: POLLUTE + POPULATE = PULLULATE.
> > >>> I just saw this crime episode of "Numbers," and it makes a lot of
> > >>> sense. But people are not rational in a mathematical sense. They think
> > >>> any population control is wrong and they ignore that it doesn't add
> > >>> up. Add pollution and we have a problem with the equation.
> > >>> But I know this is kind of deep.
> > >> Pollution is a matter of point of view, of the scummy sometimes smelly
> > >> cream that is found inside people's navels for example, considered
> > >> pollution by most. But for the happy few, researchers in microbiology,
> > >> it's an exotic jungle of tens of thousand varieties of bacteria, some
> > >> extremely rare, whose benefits to the mankind is only now beginning to
> > >> be studied and understood. What has this to do with cancer
> > >> and other human illnesses? A story waiting to be told..
> > >> Just as how I evaluate health in the social body of humanity.
> > >> Why is it I feel safer, healthier, more active and alive, when
> > >> cycling in dangerous byways, weaving, asserting mastery, jumping over
> > >> sidewalks? Why is it I am happiest upon leaving my front door,
> > >> to find myself amidst hundreds of people, pullulating in cafés and
> > >> streets like bacteria in a human navel?
> > > Yes, and sometimes we must take the antibiotics so feared by the small
> > > jungle inside us. What's the antibiotics that we can take to clean
> > > society? Anti corruption antibiotic? Anti litter antibiotic?
> > > But what's the best medicine? Prevention!
> > > I rest my case.
> > Case adjourned.
> I have a gut feeling that the subject is guilty, but prevention is not
> easy around here:
> (I quote --somewhere in America)
> Those of us who like to go outside once in a while, or more often, for
> a long walk, or bicycle ride, in the sunshine and free air, perhaps to
> have a long think or just to relax, face increasing doubts about our
> habits, bordering on outright hostility toward the very notion of
> "going outdoors."
> So we must sit on our ass and wait for disease and death.
> But this is a comforting thought:
> (I quote)
> I've noticed that the more I ride in traffic, the more comfortable I
> get being very close to cars. It's probably a mistake, I know it, but
> so far so good.
An observation on robotic behavior:
"Ultimately, sooner than we dream-dread, robots will be able to handle
those last few irritating reasons for having to venture beyond the
home pod."
The article closes with this futuristic assessment:
"Long languorous attention is good. Long languorous rides are good. An
arduous hike up a barren rock is good. An out-of-control rip down a
rocky twisting singletrack trail with cactus ripping at your legs is
good, especially if it's 110F. And a good book recommended by a
dedicated librarian is the best. I mention these because in a few
years, when no one goes outside, ever, when even the house robots peek
through a crack in the curtains with trepidation, someone will retweet
this. For old time's sake. Get up. Go outside. Ride."
***
My own thought:
My campaign "Monkey out of the Cage!" makes sense in an era of robotic
behavior.
It's all about living life and saving the future. The automatic pilot
must be stopped. Spaceship Earth is out of control.
