What's New With Mick

Author: Mitchell Laurren-Ring

  • Vital Statistics

    Saw another truck on my way to work this morning. It was a 1993 Mazda B2000 (or something like that) for a little more than $2000. I got the phone number and will call tonight.

    Bike odometer: 6024 miles
    Current reading: Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing, 9-11 by Noam Chomsky
    Recent listening: Buddy Holly, Rainy Day Music, Spirit Trail (Disc 1 only), Rock ‘N’ Roll, Love Is A Dog From Hell, Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, Has Been
    Recent viewing: South Park, Countdown, Without A Trace
    Recent playing: Poker Room
    Recently Accomplished: n/a
    Imperative To Do: Fix Graham’s Pinewood Derby car (a little glue), bike repairs, truck shopping, mow lawn (front and back)
    Cool link: Funny Video

  • Vital Statistics

    As promised, here’s a picture of the truck that I was thinking about buying:

    After I asked a number of stupid questions, my co-worker concluded that I was not man enough for such a truck. Alas, I have to agree. So I have been browsing Craigslist to get an idea of what kinds of trucks are out there and how much they cost. I’ve been narrowing my criteria and this is what I’ve come up with so far:

     

    • $3000 or less
    • Less than 150,000 miles, preferably less than 125,000
    • Less than 15 years old
    • Extended cab
    • Gas mileage doesn’t matter much
    • Tags good, recently passed DEQ
    • Owner will let John Mechanic check it out at his home

    My co-workers seem to have an anti-American car bias and recommend Nissan trucks. My sense is that both Ford and Dodge make fine trucks (my little Mitsubishi is really a Dodge). Although my preference is probably a smaller truck, I’m not going to use it for commuting, so bigger trucks are OK, too. I’ve always been attracted to SUVs, but not so attracted to SUV pricing. Does anybody make an SUV with a rear bed?

    Current reading: Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing, 9-11 by Noam Chomsky
    McCartney Trivia: According the the book I’m reading, George Harrison’s “Something” was written about his then-wife, Patti. Years later, George’s best friend would write another song about Patti, with whom he had fallen in love. The friend was Eric Clapton and his song is “Layla”. (last installment)
    Recent listening: Decade
    Recent viewing: Nova, World Poker Tour, Saturday Night Live
    Recent playing: Poker Room
    Recently Accomplished: Taxes done, entered and reconciled half.com transactions
    Imperative To Do: Bike repairs, truck shopping
    Cool link: Craigslist RSS feed: An RSS reader allows you to watch for new and updated postings. Unfortunately, you can’t save your search criteria (“truck” + price range) as an RSS address.

  • Vital Statistics

    After discussion with a co-worker about the merits of the 1975 Ford F-100 that I was considering for purchase, I have come to the conclusion that I am not cut out for such a truck. I’m not adept at vehicle maintenance at all, and contrary to my earlier beliefs, old trucks require quite a bit of maintenance (for example, tune-ups every 12,000 miles). I have decided to target the sub-3000 dollar market and am hoping to land a 90’s era truck. I hear Nissan’s are excellent, but please weigh in with your personal opinions in the comments below.

    I’m finishing off my taxes today. This year I’m using TurboTax Online to fill out and file my taxes. It’s very much like the TurboTax CD-based software that I have been using for over 10 years but doesn’t require a local installation – just a web browser. Unfortunately, choosing to wait until the 14th to do your taxes online is not necessarily a good idea because there are evidently many other people dragging the servers down today.

    Current reading: Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing, 9-11 by Noam Chomsky
    McCartney Trivia: John wrote “Because” after Yoko played the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven for him. John asked her to play it backwards and based the chords for “Because” on the backwards version that she played.
    Recent listening: Rock ‘N’ Roll, Throw Down Your Arms
    Recent viewing: The Alternative, Power Fuse, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
    Recent playing: Poker Room
    Recently Accomplished: Neared completion of taxes
    Imperative To Do: Taxes, lube bike, fix bike fender, fix bike pedal
    Cool link: A Victory for Bicyclist

  • Vital Statistics

    I called the number on the truck and got some more information:

    • 1975 Ford F-100 with 124,000 miles
    • Four on the floor, new clutch
    • Rebuilt engine that has 24,000 miles on it
    • New radiator
    • Priced at $1800, but will sell for less (guy has a $1200 tax bill)
    • He’ll let me drive it to my mechanic’s across town
    • Has not done any work on the front end (including the bushings) and there is 2″ of sway (which might mean it’s hard to steer)
    • Won’t go over 85 mph because of the four-speed, but gets 14 mpg because of the 2-barrel

    I snapped some pictures this morning which I’ll put up later today.

    Bike odometer: 5990 miles
    Current reading: Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing, 9-11 by Noam Chomsky
    McCartney Trivia: If is well-known by Beatle fans that “Sexy Sadie” was written for the Maharishi (substitute “Maharishi” for “Sexy Sadie” when singing). As the story goes, John became disillusioned with the Maharishi because the guru made a pass at a girl (often said to be Mia Farrow or her sister but was likely just a blonde who looked like Mia Farrow) in their camp. In fact, the allegation was probably fabricated by a guy named Magic Alex who was a well-known hanger-on who had attached himself to John Lennon. After Magic Alex got John worked up over the allegation of impropriety (which is not necessarily inconsistent with the Maharishi’s teachings), Lennon did not even allow the Maharishi to answer the charge – he just packed up and went back to England. Later, when recording the White Album, George begged John to change the lyrics because he still admired the Maharishi.
    Recent listening: Decade, Amore
    Recent viewing: Sportscenter, Countdown, Distraction, South Park
    Recent playing: Poker Room
    Recently Accomplished: New truck stuff, found my missing W2s
    Imperative To Do: Taxes, lube bike, fix bike fender, fix bike pedal, take truck to John Mechanic
    Cool link: The Development Abstraction Layer: Why are some software companies successful while others aren’t?

  • Vital Statistics

    Got the verdict from my mechanic last night: 400 dollars if he only has to replace one valve. Add another hundred if I want to get my heater fixed. Tina and I already decided that we wouldn’t put more than 400 into it, so it’s sayonara to my old truck. I tried to give it to my mechanic, but he said he’s already got too many “projects” sitting around at his house. I’ll probably try Craigslist or I may donate it. I’ve considered taking the sucker apart and trying to fix it myself, but I’d probably have to pay to have it towed then.

    Yesterday I spotted a replacement candidate on my ride to work. It’s a four-wheel drive, late 70’s/early 80’s old Ford. The sign in the window says $1800, I think. I wrote down the phone number this morning and will have more info about it soon. A sign in the passenger window claimed it had a recently rebuilt engine and a new clutch and something else I don’t remember. I think older cars are simpler to maintain but I could be wrong. Let me know what you think.

    For the second day in a row, there was a FedEx truck blocking the bike lane outside my office. This time the guy was inside, so I stopped and politely asked him to please park closer to the curb so as not to block the bike lane. He said he would try but it’s hard when it’s a tight squeeze. I thanked him and left.

    Bike odometer: 5983 miles
    Current reading: Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing, 9-11 by Noam Chomsky
    McCartney Trivia: “I like writing sad songs, it’s a good bag to get into because you can actually acknowledge some deeper feelings of your own and put them in it. It’s a good vehicle, it saves having to go to a psychiatrist.” – Paul
    Recent listening: Lifted or The Story Is In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground, De-Loused in the Comatorium, Throw Down Your Arms, Has Been, Science Friday, KBOO Bike Show
    Recent viewing: Countdown, Sportscenter, CSI: Miami
    Recent playing: Poker Room
    Recently Accomplished: Got most of the tax materials together, dropped van off for repair
    Imperative To Do: Taxes, lube bike, fix bike fender, fix bike pedal, buy a truck
    Cool link: Rate My Professors: Every school in America is listed. Find your favorite prof and rate them.

  • Illegal Immigration

    We’re having immigration demonstrations in downtown Portland today and we had an impromptu debate about it in my office. I think people are resentful of illegal immigrants and fear that they are taking part of America from each of us, whether it be jobs, services, etc. I think those are valid concerns if those things are being taken away. I’m actually not sure that is the case. Don’t most government services require some sort of proof of citizenship? For example, when I recently renewed my license, I had to have two different pieces of citizenship proof. And doesn’t everybody agree that most of the jobs in question are low-paying jobs that most Americans don’t really want?

    Here’s a couple of things to think about:

    • Jon Stewart joked about how he was going to have a hard time telling his son that he wouldn’t be able to live out his lifelong dream of becoming a hedge-trimmer or the guy who hands out towels in the men’s bathroom.
    • The local news interviewed a couple of illegal immigrants at a rally in Salem. One had been here for 25 years and the other had been here for 18. They have tried for years to become citizens.
    • When we talk about building a wall along 700 miles of the Mexican border, do we consider whether the cost of building/maintaining that wall is roughly equal to however much illegal immigrants are costing us in government services now?
    • Although illegal immigrants don’t always pay income taxes, they definitely pay other taxes like sales and property taxes. Also, those who are paid by legitimate employers put in social security and medicaid money that is a gift to us – they will never collect.
    • There are approximately 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. today. Does anybody deny that most of them are among the hardest working, yet lowest paid people in our country? Does anybody consider the economic impact of removing these people from the economy? What if lettuce farmers and meat packers and landscapers had to start paying real wages? Higher prices is what it means.
    • Without a local and cheap workforce, I’m pretty sure that more jobs would be moved overseas. While the loss of those jobs doesn’t directly impact American workers (since the jobs are currently occupied by illegal immigrants), there is an ancilliary economic impact.
    • Liberals tend to throw out the racism accusations a bit too easily. While I think there is an undercurrent of that, I don’t think wanting to limit immigration automatically makes you a racist.
    • WWJD?

  • Vital Statistics

    Bike odometer: 5966 miles
    Current reading: Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now by Barry Miles, 9-11 by Noam Chomsky
    McCartney Trivia: Most Lennon/McCartney songs were composed before going into the studio. One exception to that rule is “Birthday”, which started with Paul jamming at an upright piano. It was not written for anybody in particular.
    Recent listening: NPR Story of the Day, DrugMusic, Throw Down Your Arms
    Recent viewing: The Henry Rollins Show, Saturday Night Live, World Poker Tour, Nova
    Recent playing: Poker Room
    Recently Accomplished: Sunday To Do
    Imperative To Do: Call John Mechanic, gather tax materials, lube bike
    Cool link: LaLa: CD trading website with a great UI. Each trade costs $1 plus shipping which is about 60 cents with the free envelopes they send you.

  • Sunday To Do

      Completed 

    1. Finished entering CDs into LaLa
    2. Called John the Mechanic (quote not ready)
    3. Send CDs for LaLa trades
    4. iTunes maintenance
    5. Grocery shopping
    6. Fix a computer for Thomas
    7. Haircut
      Not done 

    1. Get all tax materials together
    2. Quicken: pay bills and put receipts in
    3. Coordinate weed pulling with Thomas
    4. Clean bike
    5. Put 24 on a DVD
    6. Buy lug nut wrench

  • Vital Statistics

    Bike odometer: 5953 miles
    Current reading: Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now by Barry Miles, 9-11 by Noam Chomsky
    McCartney Trivia: Ringo “quit” the Beatles for two weeks during the making of the White Album. While Ringo mulled his future on Peter Sellers’ yacht, the other Beatles continued recording “Back in the USSR” and “Dear Prudence” with Paul on drums. When Ringo returned, he found his drum kit wreathed in flowers with a large “Welcome Back” sign.
    Recent listening: Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, Science Friday, NPR Story of the Day
    Recent viewing: Suns vs. Clippers, Mean Girls, Saw, Final Four
    Recent playing: Poker Room
    Recently Accomplished: cleaned and lubed bike, vacuumed house, entertained the Bartons, started taxes
    Imperative To Do: Buy lug nut wrench and jack for van, finish taxes, figure out what to do about the truck
    Cool link: Boot Camp: Apple released beta software to let you boot Windows on your Intel Mac. It will be included in their next OS version which is code-named “Leopard”.

  • Parallel Parker in the Bike Lane

    What a great day for riding Friday! No rain and sunny. I even took off my long sleeve shirt for the second part of the ride. Unfortunately, my perfect ride was ruined by a perfect asshole driver. As I made my way uphill on Broadway towards Alder (the very last block of my ride to work), a car cut into the bike lane and stopped directly in front of me. The driver signalled to parallel park and there was a spot immediately to my right. Traffic was dense to my left and there was not enough room for me to pass her on the right. Also, in downtown Portland, it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk. I stopped and considered the situation.

    Having been a victim of the right hook before (numerous times but I last wrote about it here), I made a decision to try to inform this driver of her illegal actions. Thus, I waited for the bike lane to become unobstructed or for the driver to get out to discuss the situation. Of course, I was preventing her from completing her parking maneuver, but I thought I had the right of way, so I waited.

    Soon the passenger opened her door, got out and walked past me to survey the parking spot. Evidently satisfied with its suitability, she approached me and proceeded to yell at me for being in the way. I ignored her until she asked if I would move, to which I replied that I was waiting for them to do precisely the same thing. Furthermore, I explained that she was illegally blocking the bike lane creating a hazardous traffic situation. This made her madder and she yelled some more.

    Soon, a meter maid happened by and queried the passenger about the situation. She complained about the presence of a biker in the bike lane and requested that the meter maid do something about it. She asked me my side of the story and I gave it to her, adding that I was just waiting for them and would she be writing them a ticket for illegally stopping in a bike lane? “No, she wouldn’t,” she said, “because they have a right to cross the bike lane in order to get to the parking spot.” I pointed out that they had gone beyond that and were actually stopped in the bike lane and blocking bike traffic. She requested that I back up to which I asked if she would make the same request of a car in the street. She said yes, but her eyes said no. My requests for what exactly the law had to say on the matter fell on deaf ears and soon she walked away and started muttering into the radio she carried with her. This was a bit alarming.

    Since I was starting to doubt whether I was on the right side of the law, when I noticed that another car had tried to pull into the disputed parking space, I took the opportunity to take my leave on foot via the sidewalk. As I walked away, the meter maid had some more choice words to which my response was to get her identification number.

    When I got to my office, I looked out the window to the scene below where it had happened (yes, right underneath my window). The two women were still talking to the meter maid but there was no sign of the cops. The meter maid was writing something down as the ladies talked, but I have no idea what it was. The cops never did show.

    Out of curiousity, I checked my handbook of Oregon biking laws. It is quite unequivocal about the fact that cars must always yield to bicycles in the bike lane. Always.