My story about gas prices

Remember about a year ago when it seemed that every news organization had a (at least) weekly column about the price of gas? Why did not of them report on the price of gas for race cars?

I was filling up my car when I noticed one of the nozzles was for 110 octane, leaded racing fuel (I didn't even know you could sell that at a normal gas station). But what really amazed me was when I noticed the price, $5.399/gal. And this was when the price of regular gas was below $2.

Where were the stories about the poor race car driver that had to take a second mortgage on his house just so he could drive his kids to soccer practice? If I was a race car driver, I would feel that the national media really let me down on this one.

(After I posted this story, I noticed I was getting a few hits from people searching where to buy 110 octane racing fuel in Iowa. The photo was taken at the Hawkeye convenience store in Czech Village on 16th St.)

Canstruction - The conclusion

Saturday was the build date for this year's Corridor Canstruction, and although I could write a long rant about my many dislikes for how the lack of organization this year, I will just keep this short and post of cool pictures.

I was very please how smoothly the build went, and except for the substitution of razor sharp steel wire for the insulated copper wire I had originally used, there were no screw ups.

To the right is a photo of the front of the boat, although my brother seemed to get the front and the back confused. In retrospect I can see the confusion, it seems that the group in charge of the stern decided to make it a little on the pointy side, while the method used to construct the bow resulted in a rounded bow, oops.

For more pictures of the event, go to the Gazette's photo gallery. There is only one photo of our TiCanic, but as Gazette photographer, Liz Martin said, it wasn't very photogenic. I have to agree with her on this, it was a bulky bizarre thing. It will just give me more to think about in planning next years...

Dear Asshole (A letter to the asshole in the truck, from the asshole on the bike)

Dear Asshole,

I understand why you might have been pissed off with me, I was selfishly taking up an entire lane of a four lane road with a stupid bike. I can understand, I am often pissed off at things, more so when I happen to be driving.

However, bikes on the road might be something you should learn to deal with if the City of Cedar Rapids has their way and become a bicycle friendly city. As I said, I can understand being pissed off while driving, which is probably one of the reason I enjoy bicycling, you might want to look into it.

On a serious note, if you're going to honk at a bike in front of you, and then quickly accelerate and pass that bicycle quite closely while saying something (you have to slow down if you want me to actually hear you,) you should punch yourself in the face, because you shouldn't do that to start with. But if you do, you should at least have the courtesy to acknowledge that same cyclist when they catch up to you stopped at a traffic light a block down the road.