Graffiti: Its Art.

This morning I walked past the Asylum in Portland and saw that the graffiti art was changed recently on the rear wall. This is a great example of graffiti art. It is uniform in its theme, mood and color. Stephen King should be proud of this one. A nice portriat of him, the clown of It, the cat of Pet Cemetary and a bloody Carrie are all represented. I couldn't get Carrie in the shot, no light.

Have a nice day.

Usless Commuting Statistics and a Friendly Challenge

Commuted into work by bike today. The typical route from Yarmouth to Portland via Middle Road. The weather was perfect and I felt good.  

My statistics in this morning were: 

• 14.14 miles
• 0:46:12 (hr:min:sec)
• 18.3 mph average speed.

The whole trip right through the stats are the usual. Today however there was a plot twist during this otherwise normal bike commute.  

I was just starting off from a traffic light (yes Ma, I stop at traffic lights) in the last 0.3 mile or so on Preble Street, when a guy on a white single speed in road racing style clothes buzzed past me.  I immediately stood, pumped to get up to speed and shouted 'CHALLENGE'.  He was staying just ahead of me as we were traveling at 27 mph on flat road.  Too high of a speed for me to sprint and overtake him. 

Then for the first time I really understood and felt how & why being behind a leader gives you the tactical advantage.  I could see he was on a single speed bike. I could see his pedal strokes and that he was working hard to stay ahead. I could see him looking back to check form.  I also knew that the road was about to pitch up and he would surely loose some momentum and slow.  

He did, and by the time we hit the next traffic light, I had him.  

Before the light turned and we went our separate ways I said something like 'Have a nice day or that was fun.'   Whatever I said it started off the day with a great little friendly sprint challenge.

Thanks to the dude on the white single speed with the flavor-saver goatee.

F. Moser buildup continued.

The previous posts to this story are HERE and HERE. 
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Today I had my 3oclock appointment at Port City Bikes  (FB) with Peter and Percy to start the build up of my Moser Leader AX.  I had learned that the frame has taken a special spot on the wall for protection and perhaps admiration.  Regardless today it came down and Percy and I added parts while Peter order some additional items for it.  

Added today were: 

•  2007 Campagnolo Record bottom bracket. 
• 07' Campy Record crank. 53-39 with 11-23 in the rear.
• 07' Campy Record rear deraileur
• 07' Campy Chorus breaks
• 07' Campy Record hubs were placed into the dropouts. The rims are due to arrive.
• 10' Ritchey WCS seat post

It was a great experience again building up a bike from the frame. I had done it as a kid to get my 1986 RL Osborn General Pro, which I still have in my shed, 24 year later. I'm thinking the Moser will be around that long too and spending the money to build is will be worth it.

And hanging out in the shop cleaning parts and shootin' the shit about bikes, movies and with customers was pretty relaxing and a great way to skip work for two hours.  I am really looking forward now to seeing the remainder of the parts to come in.

Juggling Skills: The Flaming Torch

I went for a walk today and came across this guy juggling flaming torches.




I love walking Portland. You never know what interesting thing you will see.

Little Boy Jew Come Blow Your Horn

I couldn't resist the post title. It fits too perfectly, and the number one rule to get your story read, is have a catchy title.

Sitting in the park today, soaking up the sun I watched as two men wearing some traditional style Jewish clothing were handing out free honey, blowing a shofar (ram's horn) and as I learned publicizing the coming new year -Rosh Hashana.

It turns out that Rabbi Akiva Herzfield of the Congregation Shaarey Tphiloh in Portland is inviting everyone to attend the free service at 4:30pm on Saturday the 19th. this year

"Now is the time to reach out and remind people of their Jewish roots, and to invite them to greet the New Year" -as the good Rabbi is quoted in the September 12, 2009 Portland Daily Sun.

Herzfield and 'David' were also handing out free 4-ounce jars of kosher honey while promoting their new year services.  The honey is made in Portland. The honey is very tasty and you can get more info and even purchase some at OVERLAND HONEY.com.

Cycle Commuting

Yep. Today I rode in. The weather is fantastic this week (finally) and I am going to take advantage of it, plus this week I found a cool new web site; MAP MY RIDE.
I have not played with it too much yet but the interface is simple and I have been able to do everything I need without any difficulty. Mapping routes, viewing ride information and even keeping track of my workouts. oh and they provide embed code.
here was my ride this morning into work:



The ride back to the car will be similar.

USELESS Commuting Statistics:
14.17 miles
44 mins 2 seconds
19.2 mph avg speed
30.5 mph max.

outting

Last weekend Wife and I attended the wedding of an old friend of mine. It was significant because, well not only the wedding, but that it would be the first night that we would leave LilGuns over night with his Grandparents.

We picked up my brothers lady in Cape E. and got to the Portland Club at just before 5. the last guests to arrive...of course. After shooting the shit with my bud's, many of who were in the wedding party, we were told to take our seats by someone.
The entrance of the wedding party began and before you knew it they bride and groom are walking out. Ten minutes start to finish. Let the reception begin!
The three of us went right back outside to the car where I had a few beers waiting in the car trunk. Hey, there is no need to buy 6 moderate quality 4$ beers when I got 6 good quality on ice right out side. The ladies each had a Sam Adams, I had two NewCastles. My brother came out and a few others. They shared some Crown Royal whiskey. Now, primed up we can go back in and have dinner.
The bride/groom first dance was a fun choreographed thing. Best one I ever saw...Something along the lines of THIS.
And the food was good. So, with that hurdle crossed there was nothing to do but feed wife a shot of tequila and dance and smoke a cigar.

stuff and stuff

It cant be just me. I mean its gotta be generally understood. The busier one gets the less time for blogging.

I got a few minutes here, so Ill send out an update. I know my family reads my blog for status updates, download pics, and generally see what I/We are up to.
Last week, with the comment of Bruce running through my head, I took down the pic of LG in the air. Mainly to just avoid a shit storm that should never have to begin. It was a preemptive move.
So. last week i got to play the part of deck hand and take a client out on the bosses boat. The last post was from my cell phone. The pic to the left is a better pic looking up from the marina dock in Freeport.
And I managed to get a second 19" monitor at work. Edits reports in PDF was a real bitch, flipping back and forth between programs and scrambling up paper printed copies...ugh. most of that should end now. It's only been two days but I love it so far. I'd love to have a 'war room' type of set up. touch screens all over the place. surrounded by incoming data. reviewing, monitoring and reporting. sending out invoices. it'd be madness. but anyway, here is a pic of that.

Two thoughts for today. One. Fuck North Korea. Jailing those two women reports for 12 years!? My plan. set up a meeting with the heads of state in Pingpong N.K. get all the top Korean guys there. Mock up the shit out of the US arrival and summit talks. Then just as they are all gathered up. drop 4 MOABs, and wipe out the government.
Then follow up with supply crates of food and water for the citizens.

Second. A group of people in the Portland area are complaining about what has been touted as the single best public health venture ever, flouride in public water supplies. They are up in arms about 1 (ONE) part per million. They are clearly not balancing the greater good. It is shortsighted thinking and I completely disagree. And thats all Im gonna say about that.

Hump Day Stroll

Portland can be a damn interesting city. Not only did I walk through the Wednesday Farmers Market, complete with artists and musicians, I was asked for spare change by too many.

But, However *shaking finger* I did come across some new graffiti art and the PETA fruits were out against exotic animal skins.
My temptation to go grab a couple of hot dogs and shoot the shit with the pretty tarts handing out flyers was short lived. I had hot dogs yesterday.

I am spending some time today and tomorrow at the Northeast Geological Society of America meeting. This morning I managed to grab some GSA schwag (pictured), cruise the poster presentations and sit in a couple of talks.

My problem with the talks, as it has always been, is that while the presenters are among the best know and respected geologist in their field, few of them have any clue how to present good, clear and meaningful slides or how to SPEAK THE FUCK UP.

I was sitting there this morning thinking of this. Guy! speak INTO the microphone. Don't look at your slides and speak towards them. Not only that you are not projecting your voice AT ALL. Good lord man your like one of the 10 ten guys in this room right now.
I wanted to shout out ' could you please speak up'. But, as that I know who most of the people in the room are; it is really not the situation to be shouting at the idols. It would be poor form.
After lunch Ill go back up and sit in on a couple of more talks. Might as well. It's ligit time away from the office.

Sea Smoke

Last week the air temperatures were way below zero (deg. F). On my way into work I noticed that the ocean had a really thick layer of sea smoke. Sea smoke is not fog. It occurs when the ocean temp.'s a warmer than the air temp and evaporation occurs.

So, I took a detour into work up to the East End of the Portland peninsula to take a few pics. I was a bit surprised to see a few other people there doing the same thing. Anyway I got this decent photo of a fishing boat coming back into Portland harbor, making its way though the thick sea smoke. The boat was at least a mile away, and my camera is a cheapy, so the quality isn't the best. But it's better than nothing.

In Town

Walking about Portland over the past few days I have come across a couple of photo worthy images.

The first here is a really cool child playhouse that is being given away or something there was some little plaque on it, but i didn't really care what it said. I just wanted the photo.

Then on last Friday driving out of town at 4:30 pm or so the 'Time and Temp' building as it is know around here [ if you call 207 775-4321 you will get the correct time and temperature also it has a HUGE ass clock and temp on the roof visible from most of the city], had the whole building front lit up for the Make-a-wish foundation. It looked really cool. For the photo geeks i used my trusty samsung s860 digital camera with with an F-stop 2.8 and 1.5 second exposure held firm by my steering wheel.
Other than that, its really cold today. Booger freezing cold. Like -18 centigrade. Play nice and stay warm.

Grafiti Art

Near my job place in Portland a local club allows some graffiti art on their back wall. These guys have some serious talent. Here is a small portion of the wall:

My critique would be to work on composure and structure. Less words and faces scattered all over the 'canvas' and more uniform themes would really make this art stand up. But what the fuck do I know?

Fishbone!

Fishbone played at the Asylum in Portland last night. Guess who went? Yep, ME!, and brother (D)and semi-brother (C). A GREAT SHOW, definately in my Top 5 Best Live Show ever! Good music. I can't really say too much. Either you know Fishbone -or you don't. Typically, music people know.

The crowd was realtivley small but full of energy. Ill talk with D&C to try and get a song list put together. I also got some short video clips, Ill attempt to get those to my youtube page later this week.

ROCK ON!

Cycling and a 'lil Geology

This morning was another beautiful day in Vacationland to ride my bicycle to work. The photo here I took on my way in this morning. It is a view looking west at the Presumpscot River, down stream of the falls.

Commuting Stats:
Distance (miles): 14.41
Time: 49 mins. 17 secs.
Average Speed: 17.5 mph

For the the the geology nerds. The geology of the area is fairly interesting. The soil are blue-gray marine clays of the Presumpscot Formation. Very typical of coastal Maine. The rocks are WAY more interesting. Silurian to Ordovician Age Hutchins Corner Formation. A flaggy blueish to purplish gray biotite quartz plagioclase granofels with greenish-gray interbeds of calc silicate. Migmatic pegmatite layers commonly interbeded with the host rock, conforming to the bedding. There are also some unmapable pelitic schist layers.

ROCK ON.

Useless Commuting Statistics

Finally took my bike the partial distance to work today. I had done it a good bit last year but I have been slacking off so far this year. Well, hopefully today will get a trend going with me.

Yarmouth to Portland

Distance: 14.22 miles
Time: 48 minutes 54 seconds
Avg. Speed: 17.4 mph

Carrying rack and truck bag, 2 rear panniers, lunch, towel, change of clothes, bike lock and other crap like my wallet, keys, cell phone and PDA.

It was a glorious morning for a ride to work.

C-span bus tour

One cool thing about Portland is that there is always shit going on in town. Today at lunch I ran across the C-SPAN bus and took a tour.

There are two buses. Each cost a million bucks. The inside is like a traveling t.v. studio. The guy speaking with us said that the two buses travel all over and at least one will be at each presidential debate, once we get there.

In the rear are all the monitors and controls panels to produce a show. In the mid-section is the 'studio' where the seats, larger screens and backdrops are located. Some t.v. clips were shown that show what it looks like when televised, ya know? You can't even tell it's on a bus. Pretty cool stuff. I guess people like Rudy Giuliani and Bill Richardson have been on the bus, to name a couple.

There are no sleeping facilities on board. Everyone (cast/crew) sleeps in hotels.

That's all. Just thought I would share.

And the Universe Smiled...

Today at lunch time I took a walk as I usual. Within a couple of minutes of walking up the street, there it was, a nice little folded up 1 dollar bill. SCORE! I pocketed it glee and with a huge shit-eatin' on my face I carried on.

This must be karma paying me back for yesterdays' good deed. Then brief thoughts of that t.v. show My Name is Earl pops into my head.

Yesterday as I was returning from lunch I walked past a woman in an electric wheelchair fighting with a non-automatic door. I stopped and open the door for her. Simple. She said "Thank You" I said "Your Welcome" Total interaction 21 seconds.

'The universe is smiling today' I think as a walk toward my typical sitting spot 'and it just paid me a dollar to get the door for that woman yesterday'.
How will I spend my dollar? Shortly after that thought I pass by Violin Man, in His usual spot along the side of the Nickelodeon movie house. Everyone in town knows who this is, I walk past him ALL THE TIME. That's him in the photo above.

So, I flip him the buck I just found.

"Hey how a bout a nice polka?" He coherently mumbles.

And after years of walking past him, today he played my that polka.

"It's usually an according song, but I can do it with this.."

A few more final bits of small talk of the weather and I was back on my way.

The Universe is Smiling today and Karma has once again proven itslef.

Valentine's Day Phantom

Every year since 1976 the people of Portland have witnessed the work of the Valentines Day Phantom. This year was no different:

Today I again saw that most of the windows and doors of shops and businesses have been tagged by the 'bandit', as some call him. Walking around town and see all the bright red hearts really does give you a good feeling inside. And I love that the identity it still unknown. Though I have heard suggestions that it is everyone from the former Police Chief Mike Chitwood to local weather guy Kevin Mannix, the identity is still unknown.
I also like to over hear tourists commenting "Did you notice all these hearts?" Not fulling understanding the history of it...

It's a tradition that I look forward to each year.

Reporter Jeff Inglis with the Portland Phoenix published a very good article today. (FULL ARTICLE). Below I have copy and posted the history of it for your reading pleasure:

Heart history

1976 The first Valentine’s Phantom strikes in Portland, and garners reports in the Evening Express and Maine Sunday Telegram newspapers.

1977 Printing the flyers cost $22 at Colonial Offset Printing on Forest Avenue; a Portland Press Herald effort to discover the Bandit’s identity fails.

1978 Hearts went up a day late, and bore a note: “It’s not only ONE day!”

1979 The weather was 8 degrees and windy, according to notes made by one of the six bandits.

1984 Massive heart banners, roughly 20 feet by 35 feet, hang from the Cumberland County Civic Center and the Portland Museum of Art.

1986 A heart banner is hung on Fort Gorges in the middle of Casco Bay.

1991 Down East magazine imagines that “the phantoms roam the city in a pack, dressed in red or white capes emblazoned with huge hearts.”

2001 A heart flag flies from the roof of Portland’s Central Fire Station; a fire lieutenant denies any knowledge.

2005 A heart banner hangs from the roof of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute on Commercial Street.

OCTOBER 2005 Portland City Council candidate Carol Schiller claims to be one of the phantoms.

NOVEMBER 2005 An anonymous phantom responds with information that his effort predated hers, and that she has never worked with them.
2006 CNN mentions Portland’s Valentine’s Phantom in a national report.

DECEMBER 2007 A would-be Portsmouth Valentine’s Bandit posts a message on Craigslist, hoping to get some pointers from Portland. No dice, apparently: “If anything does happen in Portsmouth, it won’t be any of my doing.” Sure. Like we’re supposed to believe that.

April Art Show

If you happen to be in Portland, Maine during April stop by Zharra's Monumental Coffee Shop located in Monument Square, and Breaking New Grounds on Exchange Street. Steve Dean Art will be hanging for you viewing pleasure, and available for purchase as well. Prices range from $35-100. Cheap. Steve will also do commission work if you like. Here are two examples.

Busy Brain

Mark 96.1