Taking the positive with the negative– from a time of celebratory self-expression to a massive and exhausting crowd worth avoiding altogether– another San Francisco Pride weekend has come and gone. As the city now thankfully returns to “normal”– of course a relative term around here– the history behind this longstanding annual event is not far from my mind. Despite a seemingly endless street mess among various unruly elements scattered about, all in all it’s good to remember the fortunate reality that each of us has the right to our own Pride, however it might, or might not, be expressed.
Author Archives: Ryan
Our Own Pride
Gazing South-Southwest
From one of my most recently discovered vantage points, often on the horizon gazing south-southwest appears a certain famous landmark. On a day like this one however, with weather conditions so drastically different from one mile to the next, you really wouldn’t know anything was out there. And trust me, having pedaled through that thick, damp, blinding cover not long before this photo was taken, indeed the cycling day was far more satisfying in the vicinity of this present location.
Hot in the Bay
What a fantastic outdoor day, when it’s unusually hot in the Bay. From one picturesque viewpoint to another, this is a time to savor what feels like Southern California weather, never knowing of course how long it will stick around. When it falls on a Sunday, all the better! Summer is indeed upon us, and not just by calendar alone.
Following The Jubilee…
Here’s to her impressive 60 years as monarch, though of course not a record for her position. This will come roughly three and a half years from now, and I’d say it’s a safe bet she’ll make it. Either way, at least for now Great Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II might finally get some rest upon the conclusion of four days of celebration for her diamond jubilee. If not Her Majesty herself, the city of London may very well need the time to recoup. After all, with jubilee celebrations now at an end, the London Olympics are quite soon to begin!
Looking Back at 75
Now that the Golden Gate Bridge has celebrated its much-anticipated 75th birthday, one more date hereby joins the timeline of San Francisco’s most notable landmark. On such an occasion as this, I find it quite interesting to look back into history, to the birth of what will very likely outlive our grandchildren’s great-grandchildren!
Go West!
Finally! Relieved cyclists are at long last returning to the west sidewalk of the Golden Gate Bridge, thanks to its much-anticipated and very necessary reopening this week. This of course comes just in time for the iconic landmark’s big 75th anniversary celebration this weekend, while not a moment too soon– as I’ve said before— for us cyclists simply tired of having to navigate the narrow and overcrowded east walkway. For months the bridge’s east side has been nothing more than a maddening pedestrian obstacle course. Now, happily enough, the madness is all over, at least for now if not– fingers crossed– for good.
Finally a reality once again, thankfully so!
This lengthy and unfortunate cycling inconvenience came about, as you may very well know, thanks to south-end construction of the new Golden Gate Bridge entry plaza and Bridge Pavilion, which has now finished up right on schedule with this weekend’s anniversary festivities. Not only did the work wipe away existing pathway access to the west sidewalk, but bridge officials apparently decided not to let cyclists pass through the service area or alongside the toll booths, which would have been perfectly fine with me. Instead we waited– and suffered– until now, as finally the time has come for cyclists to “go west” once again.
Happy 75th, Golden Gate. I’m looking forward to my first west-side crossing in far too long. Plus, seeing as the new pathway from the plaza to the west sidewalk is much improved over the previous, wider and smoother that is, in the end it looks like we cyclists have been rewarded!
Let’s See More…
The 2012 Tour of California Finishes in Downtown L.A.
A professional cycling race making its way along Sunset Boulevard through West Hollywood was truly an impressive and memorable sight to behold today. Indeed this was the first time the Amgen Tour of California featured such a route, along a stretch of roadway my own bicycle knows all too well– at somewhat slower speeds among a few more cars of course. Still, to see the peloton hammer through such familiar territory was nothing less than an honor and an inspiration.
As plans evolve for 2013, I hope the Tour of California decides to bring road racing back to even more of L.A., to some exciting and challenging streets yet to be conquered. Mulholland Drive, anyone? In any case, let’s see some more of this in our own backyard. May today’s first not be the last!
Beyond Awesome
In addition to the Tour of California, another major professional cycling event currently taking place is of course the 2012 Giro d’Italia. One of my favorite racing powerhouses, “fastest man on two wheels” Mark Cavendish, continues to prove he’s beyond awesome in taking today’s Stage 13 in the northwestern town of Cervere, as we see above. No matter how it all ends on May 27, Cavendish and his numerous awesome competitors are already fueling my anticipation of this year’s Tour de France, come June 30!
In The Blink…
Blink and you probably missed them! The 2012 Tour of California is well underway, with Stage 2 kicking off this morning in San Francisco’s picturesque Marina District. The peloton didn’t exactly stick around for coffee; within minutes riders were hammering south en route to today’s finish line in Aptos. Hitting a mere 40 MPH on my own ride today, no doubt I would have been dropped.
If you did blink, look for the gang again tomorrow at the start of Stage 3 in San Jose. Quite a cycling week it is!
“What The Hell’s The Presidency For?”
In light of one refreshingly frank rhetorical question from President Lyndon Johnson almost 50 years ago, President Obama might very well be asking himself the same thing today. Considering Mr. Obama’s now-clarified support of same-sex marriage, it seems a very solid question on which to base his announcement.
In addition to the expected widespread liberal praise, agreement with the president’s viewpoint is coming even from conservative sources. Former Bush Solicitor General Ted Olson, who more than two years ago wrote the conservative case for gay marriage, wasted no time yesterday in reminding us Mr. Obama has it right. In fact, Mr. Olson goes on to articulate precisely the argument that too often seems to be forgotten:
“How many citizens would have voted to continue separate-but-equal schools, if you’d put that to a vote in 1954? In fact, in 1967, there were 14 states that prohibited interracial marriages, indeed made interracial marriages a felony, and the Supreme Court struck down those laws unanimously in 1967.” (Avlon, DB 5/9/12)
It’s been said before and will be said again: Civil rights, for any group at any time, need not be put to a popular vote. Why gay marriage continues to be left to “the will of the people” certainly baffles many of us. Nevertheless, President Obama has now placed himself in the position of initiating some real and permanent change on this matter, while perhaps drawing on the experience of LBJ. After all, the question that rang true in 1963 should certainly carry its weight in most any circumstance.
Regardless of what comes next, at least Mr. Obama is no longer “evolving.” And in spite of all the tension, argument and debate, we always need a good chuckle!
Untouched & Unmistakable
1967
2012
Some designs in the automotive world never change, nor should they. As we now approach the 50th anniversary of a beloved icon that debuted in 1963, and throughout this past half-century of remarkable technological advancement, the basic shape remains largely untouched and refreshingly unmistakable.
In other words, a Porsche 911 is and seemingly always will be, well, a Porsche 911. Having recently enjoyed my first roadside spotting of 911’s newest incarnation– the seventh-generation 991— among all else, the longer, flatter tail lights immediately flagged a striking resemblance to its oldest predecessors. Before delving further into the features of this amazingly advanced machine, I was already both impressed and nostalgic.
Ferdinand Alexander Porsche clearly made an indelible mark on the auto industry, while living long enough to see this latest version of his half-century-old creation. May he now rest in peace. And may all future 911 generations continue to respect and preserve Mr. Porsche’s original, one-of-a-kind design.
Always A Plus
A 120-mile motorcycle excursion proved most enjoyable yesterday, especially considering the rarity of such an event for me these days. Suffice to say, in this first third of 2012 the miles have added up far more quickly on my bicycle than my motorcycle– 1250 versus 700 respectively– and not by accident.
No miles of any kind accumulate all that quickly within San Francisco itself, inviting the satisfaction of any beyond-the-city journey. Still, while the motorcycle has become my almost-daily city commuting tool, the bicycle continues to enable my longstanding pleasures 
of strength, endurance and distance. Gone is my time, so it appears, of an 11,000-mile motorcycling year. At the same time, still to return is a year of bicycling 6,000 miles. While anticipating this accomplishment, at least I’m reminded of the pleasures of a motor once in a while.
Motorcycling has its place no doubt, and fortunately I’ve not had to choose one over the other. However, as I’ve said more than once over my past 2.5 years of owning a motorcycle: I’m a bicyclist first, and I always will be. Of course my preference also burns more calories, which is always a plus!
On His Way…
As speculation became anticipation over the course of several months– if not years– the big day is now just weeks away. Ole J.R. is on his way!
A Sight to Remember
Washingtonians were treated to an impressive sight this past Tuesday, one that might not be seen again anytime soon. The photos deserve a good look, as we bow to this truly unparalleled transportation marvel.
Don’t Freak Out.
“Raising a national fuss because a few public employees chose sex over reading good books in their off-hours is an American pastime.”
“(They) may have violated their employers’ rules, but they hadn’t broken any laws.”
“Maybe… we could just learn to shrug our shoulders.”
I was thinking of writing something on the topic. Then I quickly discovered the words had already been extracted from my mind and written for me. How convenient. Thoughtful even.
Essentially it’s all summed up for you above, unless of course you simply must now read the entire well-worded thing. Very well then, go right ahead. Just don’t “freak out.”
Later Than Sooner
We knew it would happen sooner or later; it just happened to come a little later than sooner. Whether or not Rick Santorum’s departure from the presidential race really pleases Jesus, at least now– as I discussed here not too long ago– the Republican nomination might proceed more logically. At the same time, we can always count on another fitting “text from Hillary” to sum up the situation with a humorous one-liner!
Keeping The Momentum Going
It’s time to bring Idaho to California. While certainly not the first to say it, I’m joining the chorus.
The issue at hand: Bicycles and stop signs. In California, the law dictates that cyclists must always come to a complete stop. (Yeah, right.) The debate has been around for a long time, and it always seems to get pushed once again to the forefront when someone gets hurt or killed.
It’s important for cyclists to yield to cars and pedestrians, to stop when necessary, and to not kill ourselves or anyone else. Stopping at every uncrowded intersection, however, is simply not conducive to the physics of cycling, especially the kind of high-speed road sprinting that my fellow racers and I enjoy. Recreational and commuter bicyclists might stop more easily, but they too shouldn’t have to always do so just because it’s “the law.” And as I look carefully for cars and pedestrians in my path that would cue my need to stop, I’m tired of having to also look around for cops before rolling through an otherwise-deserted intersection.
This brings us to Idaho. The law there permits bicyclists to treat a stop sign as a yield and roll through it under certain circumstances, meaning… when it’s harmless to do so! This is hardly a novel concept; in fact it’s exactly what I and so many other cyclists already do everyday, in all those instances when simple practicality trumps the letter of the law.
It would just be nice if we didn’t have to risk being stopped and ticketed for safe judgment, common sense, and keeping the momentum going!
About Those Fools…
Unlike other years, in finding myself wondering this time around what the day really means, I decided to read up on it. Fortunately for me, as April 1 now draws to a close, I seem to have emerged unscathed. It looks like the same might not be said however for Mitt Romney!
This Delicious Day in History
37 – Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate.
845 – Paris is sacked by Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collects a huge ransom in exchange for leaving.
1738 – English parliament declares war on Spain (War of Jenkin’s Ear)
1774 – Britain passes Coercive Act against Massachusetts
1776 – Juan Bautista de Anza finds the site for the Presidio of San Francisco
1794 – Louvre opens to the public
1799 – NY State abolished slavery
1845 – Mexico drops diplomatic relations with US
1866 – First ambulance goes into service
1881 – Greatest Show On Earth was formed by PT Barnum & James A Bailey
1885 – US Salvation Army officially organized
1910 – First seaplane, takes off from water at Martinques France (Henri Fabre)
1920 – Actor Douglas Fairbanks marries actress Mary Pickford
1933 – German Reichstag confers dictatorial powers on Hitler
1939 – Spanish Civil War ends, Madrid falls to Francisco Franco
1944 – Astrid Lindgren sprains ankle & begins writing Pippi Longstocking
1945 – Last German V-2 (buzz bomb) attack on London
1959 – China dissolves Tibet’s government
1960 – Pope John raises the first Japanese, first African & first Filipino cardinal
1974 – Ryan R. Sanderson is born
2012- A delicious and delightful lunch is enjoyed at the newly remodeled Hotel Bel Air, featuring steak tartar and sashimi salad, to celebrate Ryan’s 38th birthday. Ryan rests very satisfied with the occasion and recommends the dining destination to all.
The healthy, relatively light and very well-presented sashimi salad is a must!
Hold The Outrage, Thank You
Were you “outraged” by any comments, jokes or insults floating around in the media universe yesterday? I most certainly hope you were not. If however you were, then you missed the “National Day of No Outrage,” brought to us by comedian Bill Maher via his op-ed last week.
“Let’s have an amnesty– from the left and the right– on every made-up, fake, totally insincere, playacted hurt, insult, slight and affront. Let’s make this Sunday the National Day of No Outrage. One day a year when you will not find some tiny thing someone did or said and pretend you can barely continue functioning until they apologize.” (Bill Maher, The New York Times, March 21, 2012)
Thank you, Mr. Maher. I could not agree with you more, except to take the practice a step or two further by instituting the same kind of national week, then even a national month, and so on and so forth until all “outrage” has been purged from everyone’s bodies! Then maybe– just maybe– personalities can freely say what they will, offend a few viewers or listeners along the way– which is par for the course– and wake up to see another day without a big chunk of everyone’s time wasted on yet another silly, forced apology. After all, with another nod to Maher’s reasoning, who wants to live in a society where nothing ever offends anyone? How utterly boring! And remember, there’s a big difference between being “offended” and being “outraged.” Think about this.
Until this time comes, at least we have Maher’s second piece of solid, sound and refreshingly simple advice to practice daily while learning to coexist:
“If you see or hear something you don’t like in the media, just go on with your life. Turn the page or flip the dial or pick up your roll of quarters and leave the booth.”
And that’s our coexisting opinion!
Those Were The Days
In the spirit of that famous TV theme line “girls were girls and men were men,” I’m thinking now of a time ever so long ago when “5’s were 5’s and 3’s were 3’s.”
Take 1987, during my just-beginning-to-learn-to-drive heyday of knowing my car models while imagining the one I wanted to have. The clear difference between BMW’s 3 Series and 5 Series could be spotted a mile away.
1987 BMW 3 Series
1987 BMW 5 Series
I’m afraid the same cannot be said in 2012, not even from a few feet away, let alone a mile. Upon my first glance of the “all-new” sixth generation 3 Series, I really did think I was looking at a 5. Only upon my surprise of seeing the trunk lid badge was I corrected.
2012 BMW 3 Series
2012 BMW 5 Series
Can you see an immediate difference? Call me old-fashioned if you will, but I wish we could still easily distinguish between a manufacturer’s major models. Unfortunately, as I’ve lamented before, everything looks the same. And here– modern-day technology notwithstanding– is yet another example.
And so the theme song finishes, as I too sing: “Those were the days!”
Quite An Introduction…
The 17th of March, safe to say, is not another typical day to visit Foley’s Irish House just off San Francisco’s Union Square. Still, seeing as my somewhat-Irish entourage and I were clad in green spirit (literally), and mindful that Foley’s has long topped my personal list of San Francisco establishments to experience, we could not have chosen a better place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!
Unless I wait another year, my second trip to Foley’s will be nowhere nearly as loud, crowded and jubilant as my first. Nevertheless, my St. Patrick’s Day introduction has left me thoroughly impressed with Foley’s richly and classically decorated space, coupled with an extensive food and drink menu that clearly deserves further enjoyment. I look forward to my return and recommend your own visit, relative peace and quiet notwithstanding!
By No Other Name
My favorite annual day of indulgence and festivity comes tomorrow, falling on a sure-to-be bustling, spirited and office-free Saturday this year. As always, my green wardrobe is ready to go! We’re talking of course about what could only be called St. Patrick’s Day– or — does it now have another name?
Apparently someone has renamed our joyous Irish holiday, in a move that’s simply preposterous, outlandish and asinine! Seeing as “stupid”, “ridiculous” and “illogical” have already been used, I must add to the list of appropriate descriptors. If you have your own to include, do share!
There can never be another name for St. Patrick’s Day. Any such attempt is certainly nothing more than “political correctness gone too far.”
“Beware The Ides of March”
“The Ides of March are come.”
“Ay, Caesar, but not gone.”
This ominous historical date has acquired a superstitious aura, akin to Friday the 13th.
The Ides of March marks the day of Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 B.C., while coming to be known as a day to “beware.”
On the other hand, this line sums it up well: “But bad things happen every day– we just notice them more on days of heightened superstition.” (Judkis, WP Style Blog) In this case, fear not!
Not One Ride Soon Enough!
It closed, it opened, and then it closed again. The word is the Golden Gate Bridge bicycle lane will reopen– hopefully for good this time– by “the beginning of April.”
More Saturdays than not so far this year, I’m one of many cyclists “forced” to brave the bridge’s narrow, crowded, east-side walkway to Marin, then later a second time when even more congested and unruly– back across to San Francisco. In a rare moment of not dodging slow-moving, seemingly oblivious, camera-snapping packs of pedestrians, I glance across lanes of traffic to an empty, lifeless west-side bikeway– not a worker in sight– spotting no visual reason as to why on a Saturday, an obvious day off from the bridge’s current repairs, this very necessary stretch should remain closed. And then it’s back to the “obstacles” ahead.
Suffice to say, the beginning of April cannot come one ride soon enough!
Math + Logic = ________
At this point it’s all about the math. In the wake of Super Tuesday, the race for the Republican presidential nomination appears to be leaning all the more in favor of the largely presumed winner.
“Super Tuesday dramatically reduced the likelihood that any of Governor Romney’s opponents can obtain the Republican nomination. As Governor Romney’s opponents attempt to ignore the basic principles of math, the only person’s odds of winning they are increasing are President Obama’s.” (Rich Beeson)
In other words, it’s time for even the most conservative Republicans to put logic ahead of emotion, if this is at all possible. From my own selectively objective, somewhat journalistic, ideally non-partisan viewpoint, I echo the common sentiment that Republicans of all degrees need to rally around Mitt Romney for even the slightest chance of winning the White House come November.
This is where the math comes in. Romney holds a majority of delegates so far allocated, and from what I heard on a talk radio program today, Santorum would have to win two-thirds of all remaining delegates to clinch the nomination, a basically insurmountable task. Gingrich and Paul, meanwhile, barely deserve a mention at this point. And for anyone who didn’t already know this: Rick Santorum is just plain unelectable by our general population. Nominating him, however unlikely, would simply hand President Obama his reelection.
As such, one question for the GOP to answer in the next several weeks is this: Will logic back up the math?
And this is really not just my opinion, if my opinion at all.
Offensive or Not…
All the current hubbub over conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh and his inflammatory words concerns me, not so much over what he said about Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke– which was indeed a stretch– but more so for the resulting behavior of his critics, the media and even the public at large.
Granted, Rush was out there on one of his typical audience-feeding rants, being his usual shocking, outlandish, offensive self, while perhaps using a less-than-accurate choice of words to describe Fluke. After all, maybe her sex life is monogamous, and who’s to know if she charges? Rush knew not what he was saying, as if this particular instance were unusual.
But guess what: That’s Rush. He’s a “media entertainer” of his own brand, catering to his distinct and loyal audience, shocking, outlandish, offensive– and in this case inappropriate– as he may be. None of these traits is illegal. I’ve listened to his program on occasion, and while a time or two I’ve grabbed onto a thread of his logic with which to agree, more often than not I’ve found him to be, for lack of a better term, crazy, his train heading straight for derailment. Not once, however, have I wished to see him stricken from the airwaves, nor in any way edited or silenced. If I tire of him, or find his topic du jour too unpalatable, I’ll change the station. Rush is who he is, and he has every right to be so, apology or not. What concerns me is how so many people believe otherwise. Why is this?
Enter Kirsten Powers. She just might be onto something with her take on the situation, as I find her talk of a partisan-based double standard worthy of some serious contemplation by all.
While all this is going on, I learned while in Los Angeles last week that the often-insensitive though widely popular “John & Ken” had been suspended from the air for speaking callously— if not accurately God forbid– of the late Whitney Houston. A situation unrelated to that of Rush, it stands in the same camp, that of punishing often-intentionally offensive media personalities for speaking their unedited minds. John & Ken, like Rush, enjoy a dedicated following of fans unlikely to be offended by anything they have to say. The irony here– and with Rush– is that all the uproar, protest, boycotts and calls for their heads come from those who wouldn’t want to listen to them anyway! Still, Rush pays the price, just as John & Ken do.
My concern remains. Silencing voices deemed too inappropriate, while calling for the type of “civil discourse” that some might say turns us into milquetoasts, not only undercuts media diversity, broadcast entertainment, range of thought and free speech, but more than all this furthers that slippery slope of punishing anything “offensive” or outside of the so-called mainstream. Insensitive speech, in whatever crude though legal form it might present itself, should not be shunned, but rather welcomed and used to further that much-desired discourse. If not this, then perhaps it can just be laughed at, shrugged off, and not taken so damn seriously!
Isn’t freedom of expression, offensive or not, what this country is all about?
Driving The Past Into the Future
More captivating to me than any moment in last night’s enjoyable yet typical Oscars telecast is a commercial that preceded the show’s opening, one powerfully rich in historical presentation, striking a beautiful balance between the past and the present, while launching viewers into an exciting immediate future.
Seconds into the one-minute spot, I was riveted. As the visual timeline unfolded, I watched closely in awe, smiling all the more. By the end I was breathless, sold on the “breathtaking” item at hand. To the advertising professionals who created this piece, I applaud a job beyond well done, thankful for yet another wonderful MBZ showcase I will enjoy watching again… and again. This product indeed has a lifelong hold on me, after all.
History “drives” us into the future. True as this can be in most aspects of life, it’s certainly a very powerful advertising principle, one that always works for me no doubt. This said, the commercial is here for all you car lovers and Mercedes-Benz aficionados to enjoy as much as I do.
A First!
While never before thinking I’d say so, I’m saying it now: I’m impressed.
This is to say, my first glance has me looking twice– three or four times even– at not an Aston Martin or a Jaguar as the front-end lines might suggest, but rather at what indeed happens to be– yes, it is– a Ford sedan. This all-new 2013 Fusion quickly captured my attention, which I must say for most any Ford product is a first!
Perhaps we’re left to wonder what this evolving American automaker has in store across the board in the next few years. And no doubt this is exactly what Ford expects us to do.
Script-free & Unedited
She never sat down with Barbara Walters and spilled her guts. There was no public airing of her dirty laundry. To her great credit, she maintained dignity and privacy throughout her life, granting no interviews. As such, never did she create the typical high-profile media event akin to so many others– one that’s scheduled, promoted, sensationalized, over-analyzed and ultimately replayed time and again. She simply did not share herself with us in the way we might have expected and enjoyed.
The closest she ever came– and the most we’ll ever get– exists in the form of her audio recordings of 1964, made public for the first time just this past fall, as I then enthusiastically reported. Just months after the indelible event of November 22, 1963 that changed her life, the country and the world, the recently widowed Jacqueline Kennedy spoke on tape with historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., providing a rare yet quite extensive glimpse into her feelings, outlooks and recollections of not only her time in the White House– among everyone and everything that came with it– but also of the rigorous path to getting there, along with the seemingly countless figures by whom she was constantly surrounded.
I’m pleased to say I’ve now had the pleasure of hearing this insightful audio collection in its entirety, and not a moment too soon. Five months ago my words were based solely on the small pieces of these recordings that the media reported. As with most material of particular interest, however, it’s far better to listen, learn and judge for ourselves. This I’ve done, leaving me satisfied, informed and rewarded.
Much ground is covered, with numerous names, dates and places to recall and keep track of while listening to Mrs. Kennedy speak. Fortunately the book which accompanies the CD recordings presents her words verbatim, while within the pages annotates the individual or circumstance being discussed. This makes for a series of fascinating and thorough history lessons.
Granted, some topics of conversation prove more interesting than others. This is a never-before-heard Jackie, wonderfully raw and unedited. With this come her often-fragmented thoughts, her mid-sentence changes of course, and her occasional long-windedness. Still, it’s precisely these elements that make these recordings so compelling. After all, at no other time have we heard her in this manner. Unlike her 1962 White House Tour, or her 1964 thank you to the nation, we’re treated to the real Jacqueline Kennedy, free of script, rehearsal or cue.
For anyone who appreciates the many varied players and events of the Kennedy administration– and of course admires Jackie herself– this audio collection is not to be passed up. My copy will remain with me for years to come, and maybe even find its way into my lending library!
And that’s my… oh, need I bother?
Ryan R. Sanderson 