Admitting Rebel Shame - and Saluting Southern Pride

Dallas has at Least Covered up its Rebel Shame - November, 2019

It has now been over two years since I posted about the shameful rewrite of history that the City of Dallas maintains on its property while patting itself on the back for possible removal of a Robert E Lee statue in Lee Park.

Well, since then, they removed the Lee statue from Lee Park. At auction, it fetched more than the high estimate for the winning bid. I note, that now, the "formerly Lee and Oak Lawn before and after that" Park will henceforth be known as "Turtle Creek Park." This happened earlier this year. A story on the renaming is here. Since it appears that no Council action is required, this name change might stick. The Lee statue itself seems to have wound up on a golf course near the Mexican Border. That story is here. At least it no longer resides on public land.

Enough about Lee/Turtle Creek Park. In the meantime, the monument in my "Rebel Shame" post is still in the Dallas Pioneer Cemetery, within sight of Dallas City Hall. Even in Dallas, however, there are signs that Rebel Shame might be starting to be recognized. I was in Dallas earlier today and the statue has been redecorated by Dallas. There're no signs about what might happen in the future, but at least the "brazen lips of Southern cannon thundered an unanswered.." nonsense is not there for descendants of Rebel victims (such as the Gainesville Great Hanging) to read with no mention that things were not quite so romantic as all that for THEIR ancestors.

The picture at the top of the page shows the Rebel Memorial as it is now. To their credit, the Dallas City Council voted to have it pulled down, but not everyone agreed, the story of "what happened next" may be found here, and it is still going on, though the only site I could find within the last month wanted me to take a survey about whether or not Adam Schiff should be charged with treason. You'll have to find that one on your own, but basically, it recounts how lawsuits are continuing over the memorial.

OTOH, we should offer a salute for Southerners that did not betray their country. Among these was Sam Houston, and Lilburn Colley, for whom Colleyville was named. In the 2017 post, I recited Houston's feelings about the United States. Old Doctor Colley remains in North Texas. His grave is in the next town over from the one named after him. If you go to "Findagrave," here, you can see he was born in Missouri, though there's no mention there that he fought for the preservation of the Union.

Headstone of Old Doctor Colley, from Findagrave

In closing, I will add another quote from Sam Houston (one his last while Governor of Texas, immediately after secession), one that none of the Rebel Memorials include:

Fellow citizens, in the name of your rights and liberties, which I believe have been trampled upon, I refuse to take this oath. In the name of the nationality of Texas, which has been betrayed by the Convention, I refuse to take this oath. In the name of the Constitution of Texas, I refuse to take this oath. In the name of my own conscience and manhood, which this Convention would degrade by dragging me before it, to pander to the malice of my enemies, I refuse to take this oath. I deny the power of this Convention to speak for Texas....I protest....against all the acts and doings of this convention and I declare them null and void.

Southern Pride, indeed. Two veterans who helped make the United States united again. I salute their service.

Rebel Shame

Some of you may know that there's a fight going on right now in Dallas over the proposed removal of the Robert E Lee statue in Lee Park. There're a bunch of stories on the subect here.

It is less well known, except to my loyal reader, that the Lee statue is less offensive than other memorials that have appeared in posts from this blog. Notable amongst those, are posts here, here, here, and even here. At least the last was "just for the day" and used the common name for what I sometimes call "The War of the Rebellion." The offensive memorial sits a block from Dallas City Hall. I believe it is on Dallas City property and is administered by Dallas Parks and Recreation.

The memorial in Dallas  was moved there only in 1961. It is notable that three of the four corner statues had their main connection with Texas during the Mexican War. There is no mention of the other notables, such as US Grant or Sam Houston that also fought in that war. Most shameful is the lack of any mention of those that lived and are buried in North Texas that fought to preserve the Union. THAT lack is the true REBEL SHAME. Inscriptions such as

“The brazen lips of Southern cannon thundered an unanswered anthem to the God of Battle.”
and
“Confederate infantry drove bayonets through columns that never before reeled to the shock of battle.”

(among others noted here) seem to me to attempt to rewrite history in a way unconnected to any reality as an attempt to change things to a narrative of "The Lost Cause." And THAT is the Rebel Shame. I'm not sure most of that belongs even in a museum, any more than Holocaust Denier documents would.

IMO, worthy of a memorial a block away from Dallas City Hall would be something including the Sam Houston quote: "I wish no prouder epitaph to mark the board or slab that may lie on my tomb than this: 'He loved his country, he was a patriot; he was devoted to the Union.'"

Closer to my home, almost hidden amongst the Rebel monuments, is the fact that Old Doctor Colley, after whom Colleyville (where I live) is named, was a Southerner that fought to preserve the Union. THAT should be a source of Southern pride. If we want to talk about history, let us at least not leave Rebel Shame as the only voice. It took REAL courage to stand up for the Union if you lived in the South. 

"Old Doctor Colley" is the Second Name from the Top; With a Union Star

Colley Enlisted in Missouri in 1864

"Old Doctor Colley" and Wife

Lest you think this is limited to the South, the "Jefferson Davis Memorial Park" is located in Southern Washington State. It is within sight of Interstate 5. In its defense, at least it is on private land, though I cannot fathom why people feel they need to put up a monument to two milestones originally put up along old Highway 99, many miles from where the Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway was SUPPOSED to be. See the story here. 

Back around 2000, I clearly recall that the Blaine milestone still resided along the main border crossing into the US from Canada about five feet from the left side of the road, where you would have much time to contemplate its meaning if traffic was backed up. Look left and you see Jeff Davis. Look further left and you see the Peace Arch. Rebel shame indeed!

Bicycle Mystery

In response to my "Goodbye to Old Friends" post, Whareagle made a comment from which I quote:

• "whareagle said...  Dude - go to "Google Trends" and type in 'cycling', then focus in on the US, then Texas, and set the date to 2004-present. We're F'ed. The US is F'ed in regards to cycling, and Texas is REALLY F'ed.  I'm out of business. I got a call from TWO other Level 1 coaches, asking for work..."

At the time, I advised against panic (I've been known to cite Google Trends myself, such as here and here), even though he was completely correct in his observation of the Google trends.  These are shown in the two graphics below, along with "bicycle" for comparison

US Google Trends for bicycle and cycling. Bicycle now sits at 33% of its Peak

Things Look EVEN WORSE in Texas, Where Bicycle has dropped to 25% of its Peak

Things certainly look dark for those of us that frequently use human-powered two wheeled vehicles for transport. However, things are not always as bleak as they first appear. To check things out a little more thoroughly, I tried a couple of similar, but different search terms, adding "Bicycle" as a topic rather than a search term, and also "bike" as a comparitive search term. THAT shows a rather different story

Searching for the Term "Bike" Suggests Searches are 76% of the Peak

I checked further, Looking at my old post, I decided to see how the term "vampire" has fared over time, since it was more popular than "cyclist" back when I posted here. Well, instead of cyclist and vampire in Texas as I used then, I used bike and vampire in Texas. The results are shown below:

As you may note, the term "bike" is still sitting at 69% of its peak, while interest in "vampire" has dropped to 29% of its peak. My point? I think panic is premature and we'd be wise to not get too thrilled with cycling-related results from Google Trends.

Vampires Seem to be Disappearing from Texas!

Don't Ride in Lightning Storms

Jeep after Getting Struck by Lightning While Parked in a Parking Lot in Dallas, Texas

The photo shows why it isn't good to be out and about during a lightning storm. It's not really a good idea, even if you are in a car, especially if the car doesn't have a metal roof. The Jeep not only got damaged a lot, but the vehicles on both sides got burned as well. Luckily, I don't have any photos of cyclists who were struck by lightning while riding during a storm.

If you aren't sure where the lightning might be, there's an app for that. Personally, I favor "Boltmeter," as discussed here.

Different Fall Colors

Part of this Tree FELL, in Fall

In years past, people such as RANTWICK and ANNIEBIKES had contests for cyclists to send in their photos of fall color. Alas, it seems nobody is doing this in 2014, though there are plenty of cyclists enjoying the autumn weather. I decided to look at fall color a bit differently this year. First up, the tree at the top of this post really put the "fall" into the term. Actually, it split rather than fell if we want to get technical.  The fallen portion of the tree has now been removed.

Green Mistletoe in a Mostly Bare Tree

Second, in North Texas, as in some other places, mistletoe keeps the color green in trees that otherwise turn pretty bare. We've got pines around as well, but mistletoe seems like it fits the season better.

Finally, we get some browns from the Texas State Nut, the pecan. Nope, I'm not the official state nut! Interestingly, the pecan is separately, the State Tree.

Pecans, the Texas State Nut

Texas Oddities

Sometimes, Texas Oddities Stick to a Texas Theme, as in this Birdhouse

 Occasionally, we need reminders that people like things that are considered whimsical or odd, even in places such as Texas. Earlier, HERE, I noted oddities along my commute route. Separately, HERE, In took note of "yard art" in Ocean Shores. Out this morning, I noticed new and different whimsical items in Colleyville.

VERY Elaborate Windvane!

Two Fairs

No Big Tex Fire this Year

This year, I was fortunate enough to go to two different state fairs. First, we went to the “Washington State Fair.” In past years, this fair was officially known as the “Western Washington State Fair,” but most often people called it the Puyallup Fair. I’m not sure why they felt it necessary to change the name, but they did. More recently I went to the much larger “State Fair of Texas.” Both fairs are big shindigs, but they differ in many ways as well. Notable for the Texas fair is the presence of “Big Tex.” Despite the clothing logos on his outfit, Big Tex is somewhat a relic of a less commercial and elaborate past of the fair. I think that is part of his appeal. The fair itself seems to largely revolve around the large number of fried food vendors, commercial outlets, and major sponsors. As it turns out, Chevrolet is the official car of this year’s fair and Bud Light is the official beer. This is combined with elaborate show halls that date back to the depression era. Art deco is all around you.



Beer Sponsor at a Family Park in Dallas?

Typical Vendors in a Big Hall

Statue Watches from the Dallas Animal Hall

Still, there ARE other things that harken back to an earlier era. There were cultural dances, such as the Irish dancing my daughter participated in. In addition, if you looked long and hard enough, there were arts and crafts and animal exhibits. I never got the feeling that these were a major fair focus anymore, but they’re there.

Irish Dancers Outside the "Hall of State" at State Fair of Texas

 

Proof there are Arts and Crafts at the Texas State Fair

Texas Farm Humor at State Fair of Texas

The Washington fair, while it’s also gotten FAR more commercial over the years, has a lot more exhibits and displays that are clearly homegrown. I don’t think you’d find a hand-painted poster at the Texas fair warning about danger to your dog’s feet from hot asphalt. Nor would you find the Puyallup Mineral Club talking to passersby about their hobby.

 

Of Course, 87F Would be a Good Mid Morning Temperature around DFW, but THIS Sign was in Puyallup

These Guys Loved Answering Questions and Even Smiled for the Camera

While I think I prefer the smaller Washington Fair over its slicker and far larger Texas cousin. It may well be that we’ll get to go to the Gray’s Harbor County Fair and get to see the organic produce display that was grown by the “Hoquiam High School Grizzlies.”

Cow Milking at the Puyallup Fair (NOT a Competitive Sport!)

Lighthouse Collection on Display in Puyallup. I Saw NO Lighthouses in Dallas

Two Steps Forward and One Back

Toto, I Think We're in Kansas! Jaguar en Route from Texas

It seems things go “two steps forward and one step back.” Such has been the case in Ocean Shores lately. We recently drove up from Texas with one of the Jaguars in tow. Step forward.

I’ve also been riding more each week than I was able to do in the previous five months. It doesn’t even hurt very much. Second step forward.

Coming Home. The Jaguar Offloads from the Trailer

A new restaurant opened up this week in a location formerly occupied by an EXCELLENT taco stand. They went to the trouble of taking OUT a bike rack that didn’t impinge on motorist parking at all. Luckily, I'm not sure I would have been likely to become a patron even had they left the bike rack unmolested. Stay tuned for a future inquiry. What’s more, the Ocean Shores Farmer Market has been relocated from its attractive location at the library to the far end of a giant gravel parking lot. Apparently the motoring public wasn’t happy with the amount of parking. Myself, my enthusiasm for the local farmer market is lessened when I have to ride past the local IGA and across a giant gravel parking lot to pay quite a bit more for produce than I did last year. One step back…


Despite the Loss of a Bike Rack, Many People Cycled to the Ocean Shores "Woofathon" Last Weekend

Environmental Influences on Cycling



Someday, It's Gonna be Fall in North Texas Again!

I’m back in lovely, but rather warm, Tarrant County. I notice that I cycle a bit differently in Ocean Shores than I do in Texas. A few items are noted below

Washington	Texas
No helmet	mostly helmet
No earphones	earphones a lot
Backpack	Trunk bags and panniers
No raincoat	Good raincoat
Toe clips	Mixed
Kermit used	voice only
No mirror	mirror, but not real useful
Deer	Possums
Slow	Not AS slow
Ride daily for fun on these roads	Not as fun to ride on these roads
Really really FLAT	Hillier than it used to seem
Browser favorite is the IGA site	Browser favorite is Walmart (our closest store)
Coffee at Fidalgo Bay (next to IGA)	Coffee at home
Workout via car to OSCC via bike route	Workout via bike to 24 Hour via car route

 Does any of this mean anything???

Ocean Shores Elephant

 

What's a Warning to Do?



CURRENT WARNING - Older Adults Should Limit Outdoor Activity - and How Old are "Older" Adults?

THURSDAY UPDATE
One of the above came out at 4:46PM this afternoon, precisely as I was halfway home on my bike. After the fact warnings are not too useful!

Sometimes government, at least at the local level, is phenomenally responsive. One might wonder about this sometimes. I'll give you an example. NCTCOG sends me email alerts when pollution levels get high. Things are, in theory, pretty bad when there is an Orange Pollution Warning. We're told to limit outdoor activity.

The alerts that have been issued SINCE "Bike to Work Day" look like the picture above. I asked the NCTCOG lady about those warnings, and particularly their mention of bikes as shown in the "before" warnings that are pictured below.

No, I didn't suggest they actually eradicate cycling from their suggestions, merely that they might want to consider what they are advising. Mostly, I get these after I have left for work and am checking my email at Starbucks on the way home. Yup, simply based on a semi-serious inquiry at BTW Day, NCTCOG has changed their email broadcasts. I was surprised, particularly after the response I got from Fort Worth when I made input to their bike plan.

Government response aside, has anyone in otherwise reasonable health ever suffered some sort of damage due to failure to limit outdoor activity during such episodes? For example, would the Cowboys or Rangers cancel a game due to a pollution warning?



Before BTW Day, We Older Types Were Supposed to Limit Outdoor Activity but Were Also
Supposed Bike or Walk Instead of Driving

Hot in Seattle

Some of you, in some colder places, think it is as HOT AS HADES in North Texas. Indeed that would be true if it were not for two things. First, it's really pretty dry here when it gets up above 100F. Second, when you get back inside after the balmy bike ride home, you feel a bit chilly from the air conditioning.

It isn't like that in Seattle. When I got here, it was 93F. That is not a real DRY 93. What's more, since it rarely gets hot up here, hardly anyone has AC. It means they sweat. Quite a bit.

In other factors, I saw a lot more of those "really far right sharrows." I also saw NOBODY riding as far left as the RH wheel in any of those sharrow locations. In fact, I was AMAZED at how comfortable people felt riding really close to the curb at high rates of speed. I guess we're just sissies in North Texas.

In retrospect, I'm not sure I agree any longer with what a couple of ex-Texans once told us when we lived in California: "If I owned Hell and I owned Texas, I'd live in Hell and rent out Texas." Maybe I'm just getting sentimental, but I've enjoyed riding to work each day so far this summer. Maybe you just enjoy heat more as you get OLD.

Commute Tracker Comparison

At Least Tryparkingit Supports Its Site

I’ve kept a log of my bike commuting since May, 2008. Four years ago last weekend. It has come in handy for purposes of spotting trends and also in helping me keep up with bike maintenance. I keep it in an Excel format that was derived from the “tryparkingit.com” website that is maintained by the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

On a number of occasions in the past, I’ve noted that the site has some shortcomings, such as here. Other posters have been less generous. However, the site does work consistently – like ALWAYS – and it has saved every bit of data I’ve ever input into it. Right now, it is one of two commute log sites listed in my sidebar. I’d LOVE it if my loyal reader has others to suggest. You see, I’m going to go back to listing only a single site. I pick the one others love to berate. Follow on to see why.

Partly just to “try something different,” I began keeping a duplicate log of bike commuting on the “Cateye World Commute” site at worldcommute.com in January 2011. It had the advantage of being to easily accommodate daily changes in commute distance as well as other, non-commute trips. While it had a bunch of “carbon reduction” stuff that is pretty meaningless, so does the “tryparkingit” site. My initiation into dual recordkeeping was noted here.

Having used both sites nearly daily for well over a year, I’ve had enough time to make a recommendation to my loyal reader. Rather than a recommendation, I’ll instead say what I plan to do, and why.

In short, I plan to continue using the “tryparkingit” site and discontinue using the Cateye site. While the Cateye site has more flexibility and better site sophistication, it doesn’t do what I need a commute site to be able to do. As far as I can tell, it won’t tell me what I put into it beyond a couple of weeks’ worth. What’s more, despite repeated inquiries to find out if I simply misunderstood, the site failed to do what it promised – to respond to inquiries. Ever. It doesn’t have any support for the user that I can determine, while the NCTCOG site has EXCELLENT and prompt support. I have made three inquiries to that site, and each was answered within the same day. THAT is service that is pretty unusual on a community site.

Promises Made, Promises  Broken with Cateye

For comparison, I attach screen shots of recent communications with Cateye. I'm not sure this will help those of you who do not live or commute around North Texas, but in my book, “Promises Made, Promises Kept” counts a lot more than pretty graphics.

Like All My Previous Inquiries, this One Failed to Achieve any Response

SO, as I leave the Cateye “Worldcommute” site behind, are there recommendations for another to take its place as a contender to the wonderfully supported “tryparkingit?”

BIG Babble

Building Our Way to North Texas Infrastructure Bliss? The Highway 121/114
Multi-Billion Dollar Construction Zone at the Time of "Peak Oil"

Not Bill's Tricross, But WITH it in Spirit

Sometimes, real life intersects all this blogging stuff. Last night, some of us around DFW that have loosely associated with the Google Group "Cyclebabble" got to meet a "fellow traveller." Specifically, we got to meet Bill "Big Oak." Bill is based in Indiana. Yes, that's the very same Indiana where Breaking Away was set, though Bill is fortunate enough to have chosen a Specialized Tricross for commuting rather than a Masi. Living in Indiana instead of North Texas is a mixed situation for Bill. He gets a little extra snow (like at left), but misses out on the blistering North Texas summers.

 

Anyway, here's how things unfolded. In an unusual move for myself, I carpooled with Chandra "Chandra." This prompted a note to myself about a couple of future posts. First, a while back, I started another myth series post about the folly about trying to build ourselves to paradise via infrastructure. One clue to its direction is the photo at the top of this post. A second is about the pleasant aspects of rising gas prices. That clue is ALSO in the same photo. Conveniently, I had time to ride home from work and then pick  up "Piglet" from my indulgent wife for the ongoing carpool trip to the rendezvous.

 

Before too awfully long, I arrived at Chandra "Chandra's" place of employment. One look at the car fortress in the next photo illustrates why Chandra has that plant that is gradually taking over his work space. I didn't actually get to see where his bike parks. It seemed like a quest best left for another day.

 

The "Car Fort" Where Chandra Works

When Chandra and I linked up, we headed out from there to Tarrant County. While I actually LIVE in the portion of Tarrant County that we were headed to, I must confess that the freeways in between Chandra's place of employment and there are somewhat of a mystery to me. As a result, we were soon lost in automotive infrastructure and were somewhere down by Cowboy Stadium. We were, in a word, LOST.

After somewhat added delay, we got to the restaurant where we had agreed to meet. It was really WORTH the toil and trouble. One shock to me was that somehow I'd never figured out the basis for "Big Oak's" nickname. All those giant bike frames in his blog went right past me. I hope this provides some insight as to how I consistently FAIL to be able to get license plate numbers of motoring scofflaws.

Anyway, besides Chandra and myself, Paul "Doohickie" and Chris "Pondero" attended, as well as Myles "Rattrap Press" and his wife. Watch their blogs for more on this event. Maybe even Myles. As I noted to him, despite his claimed final ever post, even Sean Connery did another James Bond movie: "Never Say Never Again." We can always hope...

Chris "Pondero" and Chandra "Chandra" Beam for the Camera

Oh, almost forgot. Yes, "Big Oak" and his wonderful wife were both there. They are a lucky couple, at least in IMO. As is my typical "Modus Operandi," I dispensed some completely useless bicycle advice to her.

Bill "Big Oak" and "Mrs Big Oak" in Hurst, Texas. Myles "Rat Trap Press and "Mrs Myles Rat Trap Press" in Foreground

During the night, it did not pass without the remark occurring that someone was missing. THAT person is show below, from a previous "Cyclebabble" gathering. So he can understand, turn on the Google translator and convert all this babble into French.

Paul "Doohickie," With "Mrs Big Oak" and Chris "Pondero" in the Background.
In the Interests of Full Disclosure, This Photo was Edited to Remove "Devil Eyes" from Doohickie
Conspiracy Types Might Wonder What Connection He Has to the End of the World in 2012...

The ENTIRE Group, Well Except for Yours Truly and "The Missing Man"
Note the BASIS for the "Big Oak" Nickname!

Anyway, like at one previous event, in the interest of completeness, I include Doohickie, modelling "the missing man."

Doohickie, in HONOR of "The Missing Man"

Je Me Souviens

Coat of Arms of Quebec

Is the motto seen on Quebec motor vehicle license plates. It also sums up a lot of the last week that will probably never get posted on this blog.

Lots of Stuff Happened This Week. This is Only One.
Je Me Souviens

For reasons totally unrelated to this post, I inquired of a French Canadian colleague about the motto's meaning. She indicated that "I remember" means that they had excellent memories of the past; going into the future. At the time, I remembered Wolfe and Montcalm, and the battle, (and, only to myself, Benedict Arnold), but, as I got to ride my road bike for the first time in many days, the Quebec motto; "je me souviens" could just as well apply to many of the bike posts I have read, and even sometimes commented on, while I was up in Quebec during the last week. What's more, they apply to world news.

Those Quebecois bear close watching, and pondering, as I ride from point to point around the DFW Metroplex. And, Thomas, this morning's ride was extra nice, even though no motorist was anything other than considerate or polite. What's more, I think the Chipseal affair is wrapped up and tied with a bow.

Je Me Souviens...

Rantwick's Tree is Safe - For the Moment. Quebec Trees are in Groups!

As Rantwick Says, A Group Might Well Overwhelm the King

IMO, We, in North America, Can TAKE THOSE Europeans On!
Je Me Souviens

On My Way Home, I Noticed Rubber on the Edge of a Bike Path.
I Noticed it AFTER I Almost Suffered a Diversion Fall
Je Me Souviens

This Guy Honked From His Parking Spot. I Think, However, His Honk was Not Intended Towards Me
I was Sipping Coffee at the Time. Who Knows if He'd Have Waved on the Road
Je Me Souviens

Back on the Bike After a Week of Driving
Je Me Souviens

Unlike Tim Horton, Starbucks has Free WiFi
Je Me Souviens

Smooth Roads and Light Traffic
Je Me Souviens