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The Austin Bomber Got Caught and Self-Exploded; Book Writing Day Photos

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 3 Comments

I’m sure you can find plenty of media about the Austin serial bomber. I’m against the death penalty but sociopaths deserve life in prison or a mental hospital. Maybe we’ll find out his motives. But he was a millennial, white, male, conservative, Christian, bigoted domestic terrorist who killed two African-Americans and injured four, one of whom was Latina, so that tells us alot.  It’s a sad situation.  Maybe there is such a thing as karma.

Today and tomorrow are book writing days, so enjoy a few photos.

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SXSW Day 1: Legend + Party + Film = Fun!

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 12 Comments

Today kicked off the real festival(s) and conference(s), so I put my free badge earned from the many volunteer hours I worked by attending three events.

Introducing Comedy and TV Legend Dick Cavett

Dick Cavett exiting stage right.

I’m not old enough to have watched his original show and probably missed subsequent ones, but I certainly know who Dick Cavett is.  He took over the Tonight Show from Jack Parr, and since 1959 has been on television more than off un.  Considered “the thinking person’s host” due to his pedigree from Yale and intelligent questioning, he has an identifiable voice and droll sense of humor as well as an acerbic with.  This was on display tonight at Esther’s Follies, as the first comedy event of the festival.  I was lucky to get in and sat next to a cyclist from New York who said he brought his bike and had ridden 140 miles in two days.  Wow! Continue reading →

Wow! I Met Author Walter Mosley at a Book Reading and Signing Event! (+ 12-Mile Trainer Ride)

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 4 Comments

Coincidence is a funny thing. When two disconnected but interrelated things happen for no clear reason, we search for answers. Religious people would say it’s the will of the one(s) they worship. Agnostic athiests and secular humanists like A Dude would chalk it up to chance. The spiritual might say it’s the butterfly effect, or intentions coming back to you. Scientists would say something… sciencey.

I don’t know what Walter Mosley would say about me writing a blog about one of his books just a few days ago, and then him coming to town from a reading and book signing. Well, I think he may have said thanks.  I wasn’t starstruck as much as feeling like “Wow!  That’s Walter Mosley!  Did I somehow summon him to Austin?”  I wish I had that superpower.  But anyway, what I’d say about this coincidence, fate, destiny, kismet, stupid luck, good fortune, or whatever — it was freaking awesome! Thanks to my host for reading my review and cluing me in. Continue reading →

Foam Rollers for Post-Workout Sore Muscles: Beneficial or Torture?

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 10 Comments

Yesterday A Dude mentioned some ways to save money, and one of them was to go to massage schools.  To save even more money, a foam roller is a great way to keep your muscles limber and it’s free once you buy it.  I have owned one of these innocent looking cylinders of pain for a while.  But it tends to sit in the corner or hide out under the bed, lonely and neglected.  After yesterday’s ride, moving earlier in the week, and another day of wrangling boxes, I was feeling pretty tight.  So after a tasty nap next to Buddy the dog and doing my 30′ of yoga (which I’ve been at for over 4 years now), I dragged out the roller to smooth out the rough spots.  First I did a little online reading and for those unfamiliar am happy to share what I learned.  Let’s get rolling!

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13 Ways to be Frugal and Save Money When You’re Unemployed (Or Just Broke) + 18-Mile Bike Ride

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 5 Comments

Saving Money Is Simple and Sometimes Easy (Like Rawlins)

There are probably countless websites listing a far more coherent and cohesive list of places to go and things to do to save money.  Here is what I came up with today that began percolating on my ride.

1. Stay In. There are lots of things to do at home. Blog, cook, read, do yoga, make crafts or art, play cards or board games, read www.ADudeAbikes.com, etc. All are basically free.  Of course if you are a shopaholic or order pizza every day that’s a problem.  I find staying in is a way to save.

2. Barber, Beauty and Massage Schools. Why pay $30 for a hair cut, or too much for body care products and treatment, or muscle relaxation? If you don’t need a perfect treatment and have time, go where experienced students will do it much more cheaply, and are supervised.  I pay $20 for 5 haircuts and get to practice my Spanish while a number of Latina women stare at the one cutting my hair.  They don’t get alot of dudes.

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