Saturday, September 20, 2008

Current Events



This election is kind of a big deal. I'm not going to lie- I was definitely pretty apathetic and melodramatic about the whole thing up until I saw the Democratic National Convention. It's easy to be relatively fatalistic about politics in general, and given our present situation (quickly declining economy/inflation, rising unemployment, larger financial gaps being created between classes, etc.), I really couldn't forsake anyone for truly not giving a fuck and preferring to drink themselves into oblivion. Especially cut throat republicans who are punching themselves for reelecting Bush (you know who you are). It's funny because I live in a place where I can SO freely speak and really not be met with any (or much) opposition when it comes to my opinions on common political issues... New York City, at least at street level, is so ridiculously left-wing that I am pretty quickly convinced that there is no way a republican could possibly win this election.

The fact is, the proportions are so ridiculously unrealistic in my immediate surroundings. Just across the river, or even above Columbus Circle, I am sure there are so many Republicans that I just never encounter and are definitely going to be putting their balls on the chopping block for the McCain/Palin ticket. This is absolutely horrifying. I think New Yorkers, of all kinds, so commonly see what is completely wrong with the world on such a daily basis, that I can't believe that any of us could so ignorantly look past it. Maybe that's morbid or pretty ideallic considering most people that walk around in this city have their blinders on to anything not directly concerning themselves.

Anyway, the DNC was some of the most incredible television I have seen in a really long time. It made me give a shit. Plus, that picture with Terry Richardson only helps things.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

On racing, really racing.



Hes back from a three year retirement. Can he win again? Poupou raced his last tour at the age of 40 and finished second. I guess we shall see what onenutMgee can do.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

On racing, being real, and getting lame.


When did allycats become lame? I think the last one I did was July 4th or maybe it was the Courier Classic? Regardless the July 4th race was the last real allycat I did.

I rolled up to the Metal Race last weekend and pretty much instantly knew I wasn’t going to race. I knew I made the right choice when even Crihs “the man who will race any race even his own” decided against racing as well.

Maybe I’m starting to get jaded. Ha. That’s an understatement right there. I feel so bitter about so much shit.

At first allycats were races organized by messengers and raced by messengers. The rewards were small and the recognition non existent with the same risks every messenger knew and understood from his day to day.

Eventually non-messengers began to participate. The prizes got larger and the competition tighter. What once was a way to pit your skills against the people you bumped in to inside messenger centers now became its own brand of an underground sport of sorts.

Today we have allycats that are no longer even organized by messengers are not raced by them ether. They have BMX categories(cough Baltimore cough) and skateboard categories (what the fuck?).

Who cares? So what? I mean we all knew the shit wouldn’t last. No scene or community does. Everyone eventually gets bitter at something or other.

Maybe this is just my second year messenger slump talking. God I cant believe its been two years since I first went on the road.

Anyway we have all heard it before. The “it used to be better before” and the “back in the day” oh and don’t forget the “when this shit was real” statements. There is certainly truth there. But it makes you feel like some kind of grumpy and bitter old man to listen to it.

So now I just suffer out on a road bike. No illusions there. Race to race. No posers just pack fodder.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Just remember:

NO BITCHASSNESS