THX…

Thanks again for the ongoing support. (You know who you are.)

Richard

Thank you

I would just like to say a quick “Thank you” to those who were kind enough to help out so far. I’m very grateful for your generosity.

Richard

Why My Summer Became a Bummer

In my family, we were raised to be proud, of our family and ourselves, even of our family name.

There certainly are things I’ve done in my life about which I’m proud, just as there are things about which I’m not. This does not make me unique, of course. Time and experience present all of us with challenges. Some we meet and overcome, leading to a sense of pride, and some we don’t, leading to the opposite.

Today, I seem to find myself in one of those “don’t” times; presented with a challenge I’m unable to meet. Not proud, but embarrassed that my situation has gotten the best of me.

Coming from a proud family as I do, I’ve also found that swallowing my pride has always been one of the most difficult challenges I can be presented with. I have trouble asking for help. Doing so hurts, and has a powerful effect on my sense of self, as well as my sense of pride.

Yet, here I am, struggling to succeed with my writing business; struggling to pay my bills; struggling with the need to ask others to help me.

Without going into too much detail…

Early this year I took in a roommate to help cover my rent and living expenses. After one month however, he disappeared and I had to find another. Needless to say, this put me behind the eight ball and, since then, I’ve been struggling to catch up. With the annual downturn in business that hits every summer, I now find myself unable to meet my obligations.

So, I’ve decided to swallow my pride in public, and ask for help from my online family and friends. If you are able – and willing – to offer help, please use the “Donate” button on this page to help out a silly old man who just can’t seem to get it right sometimes. (PayPal account not required.)

I will be more grateful than you can imagine, and promise to do my best to keep my pride in check, and to never need this type of help again. I also promise to “pay it forward,” as soon as I am able.

Thank you,
Richard

 

Word of the Day/Quote of the Day

When I first saw this word, I thought it had something to do with swallowing one’s post-nasal drip.

The word: inspissate (in-SPIS-ayt)

verb: To thicken or condense.

Used in a sentence: “Due to my sedentary lifestyle, my body has begun to inspissate somewhat dramatically.”

Quotation of the Day…

“Every reader finds himself. The writer’s work is merely a kind of optical instrument that makes it possible for the reader to discern what, without this book, he would perhaps never have seen in himself.” ~ Marcel Proust, novelist (1871-1922)

 

Word of the Day

Learned a new word this morning. When I first saw it, I thought it meant “a group of politicians speaking the same talking points for party advantage, or other self-serving reasons.”

The word: assonance

noun: The use of words with same or similar vowel sounds but with different end consonants. Example: The “o” sounds in Wordsworth’s “A host, of golden daffodils.”

Bike Assembly Denver – $45

I miss working on bikes. Unfortunately, the market for used bikes in Denver has made it almost impossible to find bikes to rebuild and sell at a decent price. Plus, my other job, the writing business, does not allow me the time required to service bikes either. All I can do is offer bike assembly, for new bikes only, and by appointment only.

So, as an experienced bike rebuilder with no bikes available to work on, and in an effort to continue doing something I love to do, I will assemble a new adult bicycle for $45, by appointment. Bike assembly is available on Saturdays and Sundays only, with advance notice of 1-2 days preferred.

This is not a minimalist service. I will make all the adjustments to brakes, shifting, saddle height and fit before you leave.

Bike Assembly… $45 cash (New bikes, still boxed, or fresh from the box.)

I live and work in Aurora, near Mississippi Ave. and Buckley Rd. Please get in touch with me by email at: richard@milehicycleguy.com

**I do NOT assemble full carbon bikes.**

 

We the People – Frustration vs. Indifference

As the news cycle changes, so does the focus of debate across the US. However, becoming bored or frustrated by a particular subject, and your inability to effect change, does not mean we should forget about the various scandals and/or policy questions that have been dropped from the headlines of an equally bored, frustrated, or disinterested media.

We must all take care to not allow our frustration to become indifference. Here are five of the most important stories, and scandals, We the People cannot allow ourselves to forget:

VA Scandal – and the actions taken to resolve the wide range of unethical and illegal practices that have become standard practice in the 2^nd largest department in our Federal system. Obviously, this is not the result of the inaction of the current administration exclusively. It takes many years for a culture of neglect and indifference to grow and flourish in any bureaucracy. Yet, President Obama campaigned on the problems at the VA before winning his first term, and his administration has just as obviously been ineffective at cleaning up the mess he “inherited.” Congress too shares some of the responsibility here, for their lack of oversight and lack of action concerning problems which were well known in DC, though not throughout the rest of the country. This article outlines the actions that have so far been taken to improve care within the VA system; some of them admirable, while some appear to be mere window dressing.

To date, no one has been prosecuted for the many illegal acts that have been documented, and few have been “fired,” while others have resigned their positions, allowing them to retain their federal pensions.

Benghazi Terrorist Attack – the scandal which will not go away, nor should it, as the administration, in its indictment of the recently captured suspect in the attack on the US Consulate, contradicts its own argument (and that of Hillary Clinton) that the incident was inspired by a video posted to YouTube six months before the attack.

From the article: “The Justice Department’s indictment spells out a calculated conspiracy by Ahmed Abu Khatallah and associates to attack the U.S. diplomatic mission and CIA annex, which killed four Americans. The indictment might be viewed as a death knell for a theory that the attack resulted from a spontaneous protest against a U.S.-produced video.”

Benghazi Terrorist Attack 2 – the House Select Committee refuses to let go of the scandal, nor should it. This article outlines the actions taken to bring the committee up to speed, with an anticipated timeline for action.

IRS Targeting Scandal – and the missing, or “lost,” emails of Lois Lerner and six others at the IRS. The possible long-term ramifications of this story are vast, and disturbing. If there is one thing we know about government bureaucracies, it is that, once they’ve exceeded their mandate, they will not stop. In fact, they will continue to push for ever more power and influence. This story outlines the court case against the IRS by Judicial Watch, who claim the IRS has refused to conform to the orders of the court to divulge all emails requested under the Freedom for Information Act, and in fact, have actively resisted the court’s orders to do so.

Bowe Bergdahl Story – there are still many questions which need to be answered about the Bergdahl situation; among them, whether deserted his post, whether he conspired with his captors, whether the trade for five high-value detainees should have been made – basically, whether he was worth it. This story outlines the efforts of the US Army to further his “reintegration” into society.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of the scandals and policy blunders made by the current administration and others in DC, nor is it meant to be. My goal in posting this is to simply remind and inform.