Lost in OK

There comes a time in every man’s life when he is asked to shave his head for a good cause.  While some might hesitate from such a challenge, a proud few refuse to shirk from the cause.  Inspired by my friend Dustin, this year, at 2:00 PM on March 28th at VZD’s, I will be shaving my head in support of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.  That’s right, all fur must go!  St. Baldrick’s helps raise funds for childhood cancer research, certainly a noble cause.  If you can help, please consider donating to this organization at my sponsorship page:  https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/nlorenz.  Even one dollar would provide much-needed help to this critical research.

I’m having a difficult time remembering a film that has incensed me as much as James Cameron’s latest effort, Avatar.  I have never had a great deal of respect for Cameron’s work, the first two Terminator films exempted.  In fact, his greatest commercial success, Titanic, has always been one of my most despised films.  However, with Avatar, Cameron has truly done something monstrous.

I know there have been several complaints about this film that have been floating around, the small controversies about the notions of racial loyalty, the white man’s savior complex and Sigourney Weaver’s incessant smoking.  Even the Catholic Church has strongly criticized the films endorsement of nature worship.  I think all of these small critiques are hitting around what is really really wrong with this film.

I know I haven’t really posted on here in over a year.  Its been a strange year for me and I don’t know that I’ve absorbed it all yet.  Because of this, I haven’t felt any strong urge to spill my soul in words.  But a new year is always a time of reflection, a time to look back and see what you loved and lost during a period of time.  I know it’s an arbitrary point in time, but if there a fixed point to use, it’s as good as any.

A great little short from the slightly bent mind of Rodrigo Blaas at Pixar.  Watch in HD if you have the bandwidth:

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

Walter J. posted this interesting little legal tidbit about the bicycle licensing requirements of Nichols Hills to the OBS mailing list:

Sec. 22-221.  Impoundment.

Any bicycle found upon any of the streets, sidewalks, alleys, parks, or public ways, or upon private property not under the control of the owner of the bicycle, and not licensed as herein required, or which does not otherwise comply with the provisions hereof or state law, shall be impounded until compliance is made. Abandoned bicycles shall be seized and impounded for safe keeping by the police department.

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I hate well crafted pop music, it won’t get out of my head.  But they say misery loves company, so for the rest of you . . .

Sad news as yet another cyclist is killed in the metro area:

A bicyclist was hit and killed by a truck on Kelly Avenue near Main Street in Edmond on Thursday.

The victim’s name was not immediately released. He appeared to be an adult male, Edmond police spokeswoman Glynda Chu said. The man was riding a bicycle on a sidewalk about 5:45 p.m. and lost control as he entered Kelly Avenue, Chu said. He collided with a truck and died at the scene. It wasn’t immediately known whether the victim was wearing a helmet.

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Another completely random article.   This one about two cycling friends and competitors in the 1930’s.

During the Depression, two Oklahomans spent three years on the semipro bike circuit. Earl Bigelow and Carl Spencer were notorious for setting sprint-worthy paces in long-distance races. They were teammates, competitors and friends.

. . .

As teens, these two developed strong calves and thighs while competing as messenger boys in Oklahoma City. Bigelow delivered telegrams for Western Union, Spencer for rival Postal Telegraph.

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Generally, I’m not a big fan of changing laws specifically for bicyclists.  I think the best way to improve the relations with bicyclists and motorists is for us to be viewed as normal vehicles on the road and not as special charity cases.  However, given the number of poorly set sensor lights out there, I’m inclined to agree with this one . . .

Representative Chuck Hoskins has authored House Bill 1795, which would make it legal for motorcycle drivers [and bicyclists] to continue through an intersection even if the light is red. The only requirements would be that the driver come to a complete stop and then make sure it is safe to proceed before going through the light.

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Not that they make much difference, given the woman who ran me off the road a week ago shouting something about me being on “her” roads, but I’m glad to see these articles reminding people about traffic laws in Oklahoma . . .

With a few exceptions, Oklahoma law gives bicycles as much right to use public roads as cars, on the condition that bikes shouldn’t “impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic.”

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