Thomas Paine

“Common Sense” pamphleteer, patriot, seminal abolitionist and skeptic Thomas Paine (1737 - 1809) had plenty to say about “offering up human sacrifices to the pride of tyrants” that resonates all the more today. “Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it... The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance... I love the man [who] can smile in trouble, [who] can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.” America finds itself in same straits as when merciless monarchs ruled, only now it’s oligarchs manipulating media to avoid responsibility to those who made them wealthy.

Pamphlets were the founding father’s Facebook. Despite misuse, current media does reduce consumption by relaying information instead of wasting fuel. Then again, once enlightened, you might want to visit places you never did. Corporations expect employees to adapt, commute and relocate. Messages increase ecotourism and political action as much as inspire “staycations”. Have lately grown weary with local scenery, instead focus on cracks ahead hoping to finish faster and get ride over. Wanderlust only serves those with trust funds. Highways are so messed up motorists would be willing to pay more to correct, when everyone already pays too much in taxes for something totally unsustainable. A trillion dollars nationwide in the last decade doesn't seem to deter those dodging potholes.

Nothing is straightforward. You’re forced to spend all your time sorting through agendas, arguments, lies, opinions and spin. Otherwise, they’ll betray your confidence, deny earned entitlements, pick your pocket, sell you unwanted stuff, and steal public properties and revenues. They’ll allege you have trust issues while giving you reasons not to. Dullards who hate to do for themselves enjoy Top 10 lists, which are as phony as anything else compiled by those in control. The best is usually lame, runners-up an absolute bore. Popularity, extremely overrated, means nothing more than an ill-informed audience agrees. Consensus validates nothing, which is why democracy struggles, though people must agree before action can occur. “All mankind are my brethren. To do good is my religion,” said Paine just before inciting revolution.

What matters is what you think for yourself. You bring originality and perception personally, so it doesn’t much matter whether or whither you wander. But, as Bleeping Pain confirms, you can’t just stay put, need to encounter rude others. Humans must interact to thrive. Destinations don’t matter, either, because bulk of experiences occur en route. So throw a dart at at map then wend your way there. Labann crosses unfriendly city to area farms to buy vegetables, even if costlier for being fresher than supermarket, neither of which are close, makes multiple stops, and talks to many. Therefore, hopefully, farms with wild habitats and wistful vistas like a Wyeth landscape endure. In contrast, because they coerce you to drive, supermarkets in suburban exile present drab architecture surrounded by baked blacktop. Efforts to insulate make one isolated and vulnerable.

Remember being miserable pedaling along soaked in predicted 10% precipitation. Wary of forecasts, wonder why so seldom see overhangs at intervals that could shelter those who need to be out. At least Italy has its arcades, some New England strip malls awnings, and Texas covered boardwalks. They'd attract riders by covering bus stops and posting schedules. But is inconsiderate infrastructure worthy of complaint? Tyrants abuse or use others daily, expect royal treatment, make slaves out of those who have skills, and subjugate wills. All work is dangerous and tiresome, leads to broken bones and scars, while recipients grab proceeds and shrug off your trauma. Many factory workers, for example, have lost fingers. Farmers risk their lives to grow produce and raise stock, but many sell land for lack of profits. If you’ve never made hay, milked cows or picked vegetables, you have no idea what back breaking effort it takes to feed you. Be grateful; you don’t deserve it.

Inhumanity manifests in many ways, none quite as blatant as yesterday being buzzed within inches by a big black SUV with opaque windows. Registration plates betray driver anonymity, so can report this crime if so inclined but doubt state would indict. Cause rests in what Paine impugned before traffic code was ever imagined, a “long and violent abuse of power”, which perfectly portrays entire automotive history. And to think this remarkable prophet died unappreciated and unmourned except by a pair of black freedmen and presumably a few farmers for whom he tirelessly fought. Lest Americans forget, there would be no Independence Day without Paine, who galvanized opinion by embracing the oppressed while snubbing the powerful.

*Bleep*ing Pain

Like any saying, old bicycling adage, “It never gets easier, you just go farther faster,” holds some truth. You do lose excess weight, so pedaling your bloated carcass around grows decreasingly bothersome. Pack a knapsack with 6 five-pound bags of sugar and see how carrying 30 extra pounds grinds knees and wears thin. Cycling advocates can be sickly sadistic, don’t say it so newcomers merely accept pain, rather that they masochistically embrace it. Yet the more you peddle, the better you do get and more tricks you learn. Butt turns to leather, choices help, heart and lungs improve, saddle conforms, and thighs strengthen, so you carry more weight on your legs not tender bits. You quicken your cadence to leave behind rude riders with nary a greeting for a fellow cyclist. None of this applies to those who stay fit, though. A clever saying neglects to mention every exception. As with everything on earth, blackness merges with light, commodious combines with odious, yang entwines yin. Facts and paradoxes are boring/messy/negative; people prefer encapsulated/neat/positive fiction. “Lie to me,” is their plea.

Who can separate beneficial from painful? “That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Don’t want to be conspicuously strong or to cheat death, just finish rides and sidestep primordial stimuli carried by interoceptors to thalamus. “Is sitting the new smoking?” Couch potatoes, desk jockeys, and seated motorists face cardiovascular failure while back, leg and neck muscles shrink and shorten. Bicycling and walking build; Tai Chi and Yoga stretch. Pumping iron and working out are only for those already fit. With an obesity pandemic, food choices and quantities ought to come first. People in sunless upper half of America are Vitamin D deficient, which leads to brain disfunction, diabetes, and other diseases. But the preponderance of medical evidence emphatically confirms that smoking remains the #1 health hazard. Cycling discourages smoking, which impedes breathing.

Ways to die in order of frequency (number of deaths cited annually nationwide, compiled from multiple official sources): 1. Cardiovascular diseases (clots, heart attack, stroke, 727,000 fatalities). 2. Cancers (all types including skin from too much sun while cycling, 580,000). 3. Lung dysfunctions (including COPD from car exhaust and smoking, 138,000). 4. Brain ailments (Altzheimer’s, dementia, insanity, 80,000). 5. Crime, gun violence and suicide (70,000). 6. Diabetes (69,000). 7. Accidents other than driving (60,000). 8. Kidney disorders (50,500). 9. Infectious diseases (50,000). 10. Automotive collisions (40,000). More people died in motoring accidents in the last 100 years than soldiers in wars. Causes in common are diet, driving distracted/impaired, smoking, and substance abuse, all personally preventable. Little is done to save lives, since 2 million pointless deaths provide jobs and profits. Meanwhile, other important work never gets done. It's a war. Call it what you will, criminal enterprise, but make no excuses.

Been checking out home water filters that sort cancerous toxins from sustaining necessity. How do you choose what’s best? Claims are proven phony. Had to replace truck, too. Of course, looked for a reliable, safe plug-in hybrid SUV miserly on gas at the same price as a quality bike into which it would nicely fit. At 4 times more than long awaited dream vehicle, settled for a small sedan that actually exists. Who can afford these compromises, prices, premiums, property taxes, or Tesla S? Everything involves complex decisions based on too many facts, models, and options. Traffic is so chaotic, experts try to impose controls, laws, and penalties, none of which slow daily carnage. Technologists are close to introducing the first robotic vehicles. While avoiding valuable cars will they collide with vulnerable cyclists? Built-in cameras, cell phones, cruise controls, hands-free consoles, and sound systems count as distractions that endanger everyone, new opportunities to inflict pain, and wasted resources mankind will never recover.

Can see why bicyclists become bitter; they absorb whatever torture convenience imposes and find no welcome where reckless speed dominates. For pain alone, it’s hard enough trying to convince people to ride. They ought to earn a free pass for not making world worse to live in. Seems another instance where, “No good deed goes unpunished,” although that’s no more true than, “Crime does not pay.”

Slip Seine

Short of half way through year, yet at point of no return, should also mention some newly published bicycling books. Whether you attend or ignore, culture continues to simmer into Summer and slip through your permeable net. Labann hears, sees and smells supporting evidence everywhere, often right after issuing a post about the very same thing. “It’s in the air,” they say. Curiously, riding alone it simply occurs with no tangible input from existing but unread books. Can ideas exist without humans to think them? Are books even necessary? Rather catch answers or fish than flak or questions.

Tour de France 2013 champion Chris Froome has out an inevitable autobiography, The Climb (Viking, 2014, 448 pp.) for those who follow pelaton hijinks, a word derived from an 18th Century drinking game, akin to truth-or-dare, which forced loser of dice throws to consume more or do something undignified. These days cycling's more about PEDs than persistence.

Bruce Weber’s Life Is a Wheel (Scribner, 2014, 336 pp.) takes you on a Transamerica 2-wheeled tour. Sounds like 4,100 grueling miles of hell in 14 weeks, but Weber exposes the majesty of a great yet welcoming expanse that so many have accepted as an earnest challenge.

From cycling mad Seattle, Frank Strack, et al., together known as The Velominati, or Keepers of the Cog, set forth in humorous fashion The Rules (W. W. Norton & Company, 2014, 304 pages) based on their blog, Velominati.com. Any culture must have its elite, jesters, police and snobs. Check out samples for a laugh at Amazon.

Shirley Hughes offers historical fictional in Hero on a Bicycle (Candlewick Press, 2013, 213 pp.) set in 1944 Nazi occupied Florence, Italy. Eager to get on with life’s adventures, 13-year-old Paolo sneaks out each night to ride his bike along darkened streets thrilled by the risks. Partisan resistance soon maneuvers him and his family into an impossible situation. Does Paolo have what it takes to truly be a hero? Morality tales seem to produce more slaves and victims than winners.

Here's to Hindbrain

The hindbrain is compromised of 3 parts. Cerebellum may play a role in episodic memory retrieval (Andreasen, et. al., 1999), but together with Medulla and Pons, it surely controls autonomic reflexes, balance, breathing, coordination, muscle flex, tone and twitch, and such bodily functions upon which cyclists rely. So let’s salute this pink blob saddled atop spinal cord that sits in the background but supervises foremost business.

Sometimes look back in shame on mistakes. Don’t always get things spot on. Said blogs can’t post essays or lists, but stubbornly did so anyway. At least a post can be ignored, unlike email blocking queue or phone call that might spell trouble. Can't neglect Bike Month. Hope it was all it could be for you. As a retrospective and wrap, retrieved these overlooked and unmentioned bicycling songs (artist, title [type if not pop or rock], album, label, year) with excerpts of lyrics and links in yet another dismissive missive:

• A2J, Bicycle Ride [Christian], Prove It, Go Media, 2013
• Admamh Roland, Bicycle Ride [Queer folk], You’re Alive, Riotfolk, 2007
• Andy Vaz, Bicycle Love [idm], (single), Yore Records, 2013
• Anthony B, Ghetto Bicycle [dancehall], Riddim Rider, Vol. 15, Jetstar Music, 2004
• The Arrivals, Simple Pleasures in America, Volatile Molotov, Recess Records, 2010. “I don't want just be a bitch, and I don't want to just hate on rich folks, but that's kind of how we have our fun; still just for her this is a positive one. I like the bill of rights, and I like to ride my bicycle, and everybody gets a little piece of the pie. I like to go that extra mile...”
• Aurora Nealand & The Royal Roses, Bicycle Bird [Dixieland], New Orleans Compilation, self, 2012
• Basic Astronomy, Bicycle Song [eam], Slow News Day, self, 2009
• Classified, Choose Your Own Adventure 2 [Canadian hip-hop], Self Explanatory, Halflife/Sony, 2009
• Eleanor Friedberger, Owl’s Head Park, Last Summer, Merge Rec., 2011
. "I heard they got used bicycle parts down in Coney Island. There's a Russian there who makes them out on Surf Avenue. I chose my seat and my wheels, one pink and one white. He said come back in an hour, but I got nothing to do. I gave him sixty bucks. I guess they must've been stolen, baby, fine, finally they found their way back to me or you. ...I only took one picture that day. It's me on the bike posing next to a white Lamborghini on Manhattan Avenue in front of that tiny, tiny restaurant... It's the only photo I have of that bike on that day. The boys on the F-Train said that frame was fresh. It was the color blue. But I didn't know my way so... I couldn't ride home to you."
• The Honey Brothers, Green and Gold, Time Flies Like a Peach, Velour Rec., 2012. “Green and gold bicycle... It's gonna be a long walk home without you. The road is winding, the path is empty and bare. And it feels binding 'cause you're just never there. You're up ahead now. It's impossible to see. Your hair is shining. Maybe you're following me. There's so much space here and so little time. I watch you mounting your green-gold bike in the sky.”
• Ral Partha Vogelbacher, Wrong Bike [Britpop], Kite vs Obelisk, Monotreme Rec., 2004
• Ricky Fitzpatrick, Bicycle, (single), self, 2013
• Sam Bisbee, Alltime Low, High, self, 2004
• Spiral Beach, Casual T [Canadian], Ball, Sparks Music, 2007. “If an accident happens, then I can die laughing looking into those high beams. Don’t tell me what happens. Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, riding on a bicycle, looking like a casual T. But now I can see that the wheels keep spinning, and I’ll be underneath...”
• The Treasure Fleet, High on a Bicycle, Cocamotion, Recess Rec., 2012
• Yourself and The Air, Bicycles Plus, Who’s Who in The Zoo, Lujo Rec., 2011

Big Buck Hurricane

Will wealth ever be evenly distributed? Unlikely. On an internet thread, let a conservative bait and denigrate. Wastes time when you argue with a soulless parasite. Civil discourse becomes impossible. Underlying was his desperation to rationalize wrongs. If you’re alert, you can analyze human nature from on-line forums. People only cherish their own words, seldom read your posts; the one who does misquotes or parrots without crediting source. Unabomber vilified socialism, which he couldn’t even define. Likewise, conservative extremists exhume Marx every time someone challenges their masquerade of materialism. Only an infant is so insistent.

Historians say whenever >75% of the wealth was held by <25 allow="" americans="" hold="" occurred.="" of="" population="" revolutions="" society="" to="">90% of wealth due to a global economy, media hegemony, and sheer stupidity. The Great Depression was a speed bump in the road compared to current "recession”. Unemployment then was 25%; in some states today, it's as high as 50%, although they now apply yardsticks that only count individuals seeking jobs or new unemployment claims, not those who’ve become ineligible or given up. Conservatives ludicrously blame 1930's on FDR. Pure greed went unchecked for decades preceding. Republican Coolidge, practically a tea bagger in his spending curtailments, precipitated crash. Because robber barons seized rule that deposed nobles once presumed, then stiffened class inequalities, fairness inevitably begat bread lines, social security, unemployment insurance, and welfare. Shows that social justice can gain ground through consensus.

Greed is firmly rooted in fear and ignorance; those who once suffered may never overcome anxieties. The avaricious few buffer themselves with media buffoons, deny responsibility, and lie about creating new jobs. Divisive talk erodes defense and generates panic. There would be plenty to go around provided it went around. But the rich want to press affluenza, presumed morals, sham religion, and their stingy agenda. These conditions are not conducive to innovation upon which markets thrive. Phishers troll waters wriggling cash lures. Surprises just how many are willing to forsake fairness and sell their souls. The same deregulation initiated by Reagan in the 1990s let bankers and brokers go rogue around globe. Will they forever get away with corporate bailouts, mortgage crises, and stock swindles? Seeds of discontent have already been sown. Could this be the catalyst that redistributes wealth? Turmoil teeters precipitously. Crossfire hurricanes

and zero sum games level everyone, losers and winners alike.

America’s debt, $17.7 trillion and counting, now exceeds its annual gross domestic product. Some borrowing is tolerable, but this is outrageous; deters both impulse and planned buying. During Clinton’s administration public debt shrank to "only" $4 trillion. Bush ran it up by $10 trillion with a war that even his commander-in-chief dad urged him to avoid. You can’t blame executive branch for what occurs, since Congress is always complicit. Succeeding presidents inherit deficits, but only a Republican House can do anything about it. Their consistent tactic has been to cut taxes for the wealthy, shift onus onto middle class, and stoke division among victims. Given decades to prove their approach, they've disastrously failed everyone except themselves. Their harm will define the 21st Century. Everyone owes $65,500. If you exclude 50% of citizens who don’t earn wages - children, elderly, green carders, privileged nonparticipants, and those incapable - each poor working slob has to pay back $131,000, her/his life’s savings probably, mostly to a few foreigners. Where did it all go? Child support accounts for 75% of welfare. After decades of contributing, retirees take Social Security begrudgingly doled out. Trillions for each went to defense contractors and furtive multinationals. Unless government continues to spill billions into bond/stock markets or dependent nations, they’d collapse. Retrogressive finance provides nothing of value and strangles industries that do. Enough! Kings George have had their day. Can't let this happen again.

Population growth has begun to slow. Who'd want citizenship under these conditions? With ever fewer to tax and unemployment creeping above 12% nationwide, they expect debt to grow beyond Godzilla. No wonder they’re urging people to work. Of residents, 12% are illiterate in any language, 13% older than 65, and 31% younger than 18; instead of remaining 44%, 57% work, which means some children, incompetents and retirees must serve. After decades of age, race and sex discrimination, those who’ve improved themselves can't find jobs. A $10.10 minimum wage won't impact issue, since those earning would remain below poverty line and tax threshold, which describes 1 in 6, 45 million. Nation’s workforce of 154 million includes 72 million women; this more than half who don't stay at home make up 46.7% of whole but receive 15% less than men for same jobs, which further limits expected revenues. An illegal underground exists outside government’s ability to repress. Anyway, income taxes won’t make a dent in debt. Feds only collect $2.8 trillion each year. Taxes could be restored to Eisenhower era highs, when 35% of total was paid by corporations and top earners, unlike 5% today. Revenues must be managed, too, but Congress gives it away, spends wildly, and threatens to default. By holding back 20% to buy down bar tab, getting even would take 31 years, provided government closes shop and doesn't engage in another war with typical monetary aftermath. If the most generous nation on earth goes bust, what of the rest?

If you don't have millions for campaigns, can you sway elections? Nobody who runs deserves your support. Rewards must be well worth it, or why would NRA back certain candidates and blacklist others? With energy, guns and oil, government could step in with regulations or takeovers. Long overdue are elections where all candidates only get to spend the same fixed amount from general treasury, no lobbyists or PAC money. Don't bother waiting for that bill. Omnibus Jobs Bill drafted in late 1990's languished under Bush. Meanwhile, economy swooned while minor tax cuts mollified angry populace and transferred fortunes into friends coffers. Nobody noticed as interest rates on plebeian deposits nosedived from double to fractional digits. Someone benefited from the $10 trillion that disappeared after stock market plunged. Retirement accounts sequestered trillions from circulation for bankers and corporations to grab. Depositors get principal and pennies after inflation robs value. The desperation this breeds has fangs, fire and horns.

Labann is no economist or essayist, but who is? Fewer than ever understand such complex issues. No system anyone has yet applied works. Every time conservatives get the least edge, disasters occur. Insanity defends debacles. People now see conservatism for what it is, a downward spiral, as is liberalism and whatever one-sided extremism you wish existed for your personal gain. Merely tolerated, you don't live alone; others have different views they'll defend to death. You never earned a penny without approval, never succeeded without society allowing it. Assets can be seized in an instant. You're no more in control because you can fire and hire than someone who can organize unions. Everyone is subject to same laws and regulations, though they are selectively enforced. If all boats float on a rising tide, all hit bottom when ocean evaporates. Why rely on a lame analogy? Negatives are clearly understood. Are there any positives to pleonexia? Only one: Incentives never surpass necessities as a motive. People ought to be imagining how everyone can flourish rather than how much they can stash. Better to invest in diversity and innovation. Time for progress in which all thrive. Amassing assets will go out of style when enough people understand how this best serves self interest. Distributive justice now!