Tips and Tricks for New York City’s Citi Bike and Starting to Bike in Your City

As someone who has lived in NYC for most of her life, I never ever thought it possible that the city might start becoming friendlier towards bikers, nay, even promoting biking as a viable transportation option.

On May 27th, New York joined the ranks of many other biking cities in the world by initiating the largest bike share program in the nation, Citi Bike. A program which has been highly successful in Montreal, Washington DC, Boston, Melbourne, AU, and other cities with more soon to launch. Finally, this was a totalitarian overreach by Mayor Mike and the powerful bike lobby I could get behind. Or, you know, ride. And, since its inception, the biker population has really exploded, it seems, with Citi Bikers and non – a development I am very happy about if somehow eventually it means less cars. Continue reading →

Satan Loose in Texas, According to Pants-Crappingly Frightened Republicans on Twitter

According to frightened poopy-diapered babies Texas Republicans, protestors demonstrating against recent outbreaks of batshittery in the Texas Legislature began chanting “Hail Satan” this week, prompting a rash of right wing fantods, fainting spells, and Twitter meltdowns. Reports from the scene are somewhat confused, because apparently Twitter is what we have now instead of journalism. Continue reading →

Saying Goodbye to Faith, for Good

Late this Spring, my parents were in a car accident. It was early evening. It was raining, and the car hydroplaned. It went over a guard rail, flipped over, and came to a stop on the side of a hill. My mom suffered some severe but not life-threatening injuries. She was beside my father as the first responders tried, but ultimately failed, to revive him on scene.

They were out of province, on their way home from their 33rd wedding anniversary vacation. Continue reading →

How Your Area Code Determines Your Status in Life

What’s your area code? Does it have a 1 or a 0 in the middle? That’s a proper area code. Due to a quirk in the brilliantly elegant Bell System switching design, all area codes had 1s or 0s in the center. That way, the system knew whether you were dialing an area code or a local exchange, which used to have beautiful names like WAverly-6 or LIncoln-2, back before you had to dial a bajillion digits to call your neighbor down the street.
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July Fourth DJ Party — Discopendence Day

djcatHappy birthday, America United States. I made another mix of nu disco tracks for your enjoyment. Please don’t drink too much Pabst Blue Ribbon and listen to this. Hahaha, just kidding. If you’re not drunk right now please tie a roman candle to your dick and light it.

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Accordions Are Not Cool

accordian_girlMy mother is cleaning out the attic, and dredging up memories that best lie undisturbed until that hoarder’s delight is at long last razed.

“Guess what I found,” she called and crowed to me.

“What.”

“Your accordion!”

Yes. My goddamn accordion,

I’d long dreamed, as a girl, of playing the piano. I’d seen the old black-and-white movies, where a glamorous blonde in an evening gown shimmies to a grand piano, sweeps the audience with a bold, saucy blue set of eyes, and preforms something beautiful by Mozart with her gorgeous long fingers. Instead, when it came to time to torture her children with musical instruments, I was assigned the accordion. Continue reading →

The Best Signs from Austin Stand with Texas Women Event

Crowds estimated between 5000 (Planned Parenthood) and 10,000 (MoveOn.Org) gathered Monday on the South Side of the Capitol Building in Austin, TX to Stand With Texas Women. Dressed in burnt orange, the unruly mob filled the lawn for several hours listening to politicians, musicians, clergy, and leaders of the Pro-Choice movement.

A broad range of people attended the rally — more women than men; lots of children and infants; several pregnant women; fewer people of color than I hoped. Contrary to reports from Republicans, the protesters were from Texas. People came from all over the state, based on conversations with those standing around us, in bus and car loads. There was a positive, energized vibe despite the heightened police presence.  The rally organizers planned thoughtfully, providing kid-friendly areas, free cold water, and for a short time, electronic charging stations. Certainly the unusually comfortable weather and cool breezes helped.

As expected, the signs were witty, pointed, crass, and spot-on. Continue reading →

SOON: A Movie Trailer Roundup

Screenshot 2013-07-02 at 10.19.52 PM
Sure, you’re content with your Lone Star Ranger Monsters Man of Iron Steel Trek into Darkness University for now, but what cinematic goodies lie ahead? Meet me after the jump to watch three trailers/teasers that recently hit the web. Continue reading →