Clay and Wattles

Alexander died, Alexander was buried,
Alexander returneth into dust; the dust is earth; of
earth we make loam; and why of that loam, whereto he
was converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel?

-William Shakespeare, Hamlet

As a result of my deep frustration with inadequate and unsafe bike racks in Yellowknife (such as the one pictured in front of Centre Square Mall), I posted my personal list of bike rack criteria.

After much searching, I have finally found an authoritative source which describes how to select and place a bike rack. This brochure includes measurements and clear criteria for setting up bike facilities. It is part of the amazing bicyclinginfo.org site which is full of resources for creating cycling-friendly communities.

I’ll tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world. I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammelled womanhood.

-Susan B. Anthony, 1896 (found here)

I’ve been thinking a lot about cycling this week. I have just discovered an amazing source of stats on the costs of motorized vehicles versus bicycles: the Bicycle Universe Almanac.

Some cool examples:

It costs about $50 to build and maintain one space in a bike rack and $500 for a bike locker, yet one car parking space in a parking structure costs about $8,500.

95% of a car’s energy goes towards moving the car itself, and only 5% to moving the passenger. Contrast with a 30-lb. bicycle: 83% of the energy goes towards transporting the rider, not the vehicle

The energy and resources needed to build one medium-sized car could produce 100 bicycles.

While you’re at it, check out BicycleSafe.com from the same author. It is the best summary of urban cycling tips I’ve found.

No man ever stood the lower in my estimation for having a patch in his clothes; yet I am sure that there is greater anxiety, commonly, to have fashionable, or at least clean and unpatched clothes, than to have a sound conscience.

-Henry David Thoreau, Walden

I attended a great workshop/open house today at City Hall. The topic: cycling routes in Yellowknife. It was organized by Ann Peters in conjunction with the City and Ecology North.

I’m sure that the information Ann collected was useful, but, for me, the best part was having an excuse to spend an afternoon hanging around and talking about cycling. We all had the chance to talk about our pet peeves and be in the company of like-minded folk. Spring cycling season feels like a long way away right now, but today I was reminded of what I have to look forward to.

I haven’t been on my bike at all this winter, but, after today, I’ve decided I will make the effort to start riding again this week. I had planned to ride all winter and acquired studded tires and an old beater bike last fall, but somehow I never got around to it. Now I’m going to do it!

It can be difficult to make art which educates people and doesn’t alienate or bore them. This comic strip usually succeeds.

Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only. Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul.

-Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Philosophy, the arts, and religion cost very, very little money.

-E.F. Schumacher, Small is Beautiful

Free and open source software (Click here to learn why you should know about it) is becoming more and more popular among people who aren’t computer experts. The OpenOffice word processor and spreadsheet, Firefox web browser, and Thunderbird mail reader, in particular, are absolutely painless ways to try out free software with huge benefits. They run on Microsoft Windows and are simple to install and use. These are just the beginning, however.

If I had my way, I’d tell everyone to stop using Windows altogether. If you hesitate to shop at Walmart and always buy fair-trade coffee, you should feel the same way about using corporate software from the likes of Microsoft. Except when I’m sitting at a computer which belongs to someone else, I’ve used nothing but free software on the Linux operating system for years. It works great for me and, happily, Linux runs all the same great open source programs (like OpenOffice, Firefox, and Thunderbird) we love on Windows.

Unfortunately, Linux hasn’t always been easy for a novice to use and install without some help. That has changed. Ubuntu (pronounced oo-BOON-too) is the first version of Linux that I consider to be ready for novice users.

Ubuntu is a “distribution” of Linux. A distribution is just a sort of pre-packaged version of the operating system which, while it is compatible with the dozens of other distributions, has its own special emphasis. Some distributions are for servers, some for old hardware, some for gaming, etc. Ubuntu is for desktop users who aren’t necessarily experts (though experts will find plenty to like about it also).

For more information, check out the Ubuntu site. You can try out Ubuntu by downloading a CD and using it in your computer without modifying anything on your hard drive. If you like it, you can install it on your existing computer without disturbing your Windows installation (when you start the computer, you get to choose which operating system to run). In case you’ve never burned a CD before, there are simple instructions here.

How is Ubuntu different? I have usually used the debian distribution in the past for a variety of reasons. Ubuntu takes that debian base and sort of tidies it up for new users. It adds a number of user-friendly features like automatic updates (yes, that’s right – for every single program you ever install it will automatically update them forever), easy installation of new programs (just pick what you want from a list), lots of help and tutorials, automatic detection and setup of your hardware, and very simple initial installation.

I have been personally testing the Ubuntu distribution (trying to always approach it as a new user – no programming or command-line configuration) since last fall and I love it. I have also installed it for several other people who are complete Linux novices. To my amazement, I have had fewer cries for help from these people than from my friends who use Windows.

As a final note, I should mention that I usually hear two concerns from people when I propose migrating from Windows to Ubuntu (or other Linux distributions):

1. Will I be able to work with other people using Windows? Yes! Your documents, the CDs you burn, your printers, network shares, wireless, etc. are all completely compatible with other people’s Windows computers.
2. I only just figured out Windows! Will I have to learn everything from scratch? Absolutely not. If you are already using OpenOffice and Firefox, the transition is utterly straightforward because these programs look and act exactly the same on Linux. If you aren’t, you will still find that, after spending about ten minutes to get your bearings, you will be immediately productive and require very little effort to learn about the few things that are different. Don’t forget that this is time well spent because once you learn Ubuntu, you will never, ever have to change again! Windows forces you to relearn everything everytime Microsoft decides they are due to extort more money from you (e.g. Windows Vista).

So, there you are. Please consider giving Ubuntu a test run. You won’t regret it.

p.s. to my Yellowknife friends: I will be happy to give you an Ubuntu CD if you want one and am very happy to provide free troubleshooting help to get you up and running.

As previously reported, the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op has decided to form an environmental committee. The terms of reference are still under discussion and the committee hasn’t been meeting independently yet, but Christa Domchek and I have been attending the regular meetings of the Co-op Membership Committee in the meantime.

We can’t claim a lot of progress so far, but we are working on a couple of things. We have started compiling a list of organic products (with the co-operation of co-op staff) with shelf locations. We hope this will help people to find the organic alternatives to in various categories, plus show us where the gaps are. This project sort of fits in with my Yellowknife Organics List, though prices are not going to be included. In addition, I wrote a very short introduction to organic foods for the Co-op newsletter. Christa is researching reusable alternatives to disposable shopping bags.

Anyone who is interested in assisting with the list or on the committee should feel free to contact member services at the Co-op or let me know (kevin [at] ravenconsulting.ca)