Posted by Ted on Nov 28, 2011 in
Burning Man,
Events Looking at the back of one’s Burning Man ticket, the opening disclaimer reads;
THE TICKET PURCHASER OR HOLDER (“YOU”)
VOLUNTARILY ASSUMES ALL RISK
OF PROPERTY LOSS OR DAMAGE,
PERSONAL OR BODILY INJURY,
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
After 7 years, I failed my saving throw against common sense by trying my untrained feet at the Black Rock Roller Disco on the very first night. At this theme camp, the only shoes that would fit were inline skates, which I had never worn before. Needless to say, my cavalier personality prevailed. I strapped them on and started off.… [Read more]
Tags: injuries, temples
Posted by Ted on Nov 25, 2011 in
Photography We spent last Thanksgiving in our guest house in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Just NW of the moat, WaLai House was a great place to spend a few weeks as Liz took classes in Thai Massage and I biked around town and the countryside. Largely in our honor, the two proprietresses of WaLai, who enjoy any excuse to celebrate, decided to throw a Thanksgiving party. While biking around earlier in the day, I came across a restaurant that was reputed to have pumpkin pie. They were sold out.
“When do you need them by?” the owner asked. ”… [Read more]
Tags: Chiang Mai, Thanksgiving
Posted by Ted on Nov 18, 2011 in
Causes,
Photography,
Politics I’m not a full time occupier, but I do drop by the Camp a couple of times a week. After a leisurely ride around the lake last Thursday, I stopped by the corner I’d been scrubbing walls of the week before.
I could tell instantly that I had clearly just missed something big.
I hung back, secured my bike, and leaned against the railing of the 12th St BART stairs. 
The crowd was agitated. Someone was on the ground, surrounded by concerned people. Police broke out the yellow barrier tape and established an expanding perimeter – which my bike … [Read more]
Tags: Oakland, Occupy, OWS, violence
Posted by Ted on Nov 5, 2011 in
Causes,
Events,
Politics Last week I woke up in anger at the Oakland Police Department (and their affiliates, and the mayor). This week I woke up in anger at some of the demonstrators. Wednesday’s “mostly peaceful” General Strike was overshadowed by the acts of a few extremists which vandalized buildings and broke windows. Dressing ala the ‘Black Bloc‘, they took the opportunity to wreck havoc under the cover of the crowd and confusion of the day. (More coverage here and here.)
Since Oakland is now in the international spotlight, I didn’t want the world to get the impression … [Read more]
Tags: community, Oakland, Occupy, OWS, protests
Posted by Ted on Oct 27, 2011 in
Causes,
Events,
Politics Yesterday morning I felt as if I had woken up in a Middle Eastern police state. In a pre-dawn raid, several hundred police in riot gear tore through Oakland’s Frank Ogawa plaza to disperse the peaceful Occupy Oakland demonstrators. One first-hand report noted;
“It was brutal. Over 300 police in full riot gear fired tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bombs. [..] Then they started pushing us back with barricades and when we didn’t move as fast as they wished, they began grabbing people and trying to drag them over the fences. There was a struggle and then they
… [Read more]
Tags: Oakland, Occupy, OWS, police, protests, violence
