http://markballew.com/blog The writing of Mark Ballew Thu, 15 May 2008 03:09:07 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Tomorrow is bike to work day, on what is probably going to be one of the nicer days of the year in our normally cold, foggy, and windy city. Local activists will be handing out free food and free advice all over the city to get people to come out and ... http://markballew.com/blog/2008/05/14/bike-to-work-day-is-may-15th/ In the interests of posting not only amusing insight into my life, I'd like to mix it up a bit and present to you a video clip on the art of cat yodeling. http://markballew.com/blog/2008/04/14/cat-yodeling/ I went to Trader Joe’s as part of my normal weekend hunting and gathering ritual. As I was shopping for wine, a bald shaven Aussie said to me “Nice shirt brother.” I turned his direction only to end up facing his wife, who said, “Oh let me see!” So I stood there as ... http://markballew.com/blog/2008/04/12/random-comments-from-international-strangers-day/ Three months ago I announced to the blogging world that had checked out of consumerism since July. I was no longer going to be a part of this system of buy, use, throw away. I was going to buy used, be sustainable, and avoid garbage I no longer needed. Essentials ... http://markballew.com/blog/2007/12/18/the-end-of-the-no-buy-embargo/ Black Friday came and went, and this year and I did not buy a thing, since the day after Thanksgiving is Buy Nothing Day for me. And I bought nothing. And I feel fine about that. http://markballew.com/blog/2007/11/24/black-friday/ This time I’m quoted at the top of the page! READERS’ PLATFORM: Transbay Terminal The Transbay Terminal is a symbol to the world of what San Francisco was - a city with transit at heart where a working-class person could get to work on a train or a bus in a safe ... http://markballew.com/blog/2007/09/19/quoted-in-sfgate-again/ Transbay project design selection The whole reason we are putting up a tower is to help pay for the Caltrain terminal. All the tower designs are ugly and pre-'90s L.A. designs, nothing to show the world that San Francisco is a world-class city. At this rate we should just directly fund ... http://markballew.com/blog/2007/09/16/quoted-in-sfgate/ On Sunday I took a long bike ride, from Golden Gate Park, through the Presidio, across the Golden Gate Bridge and back, through the car congested Marina, down the grid locked Embarcadero, around the strangely silent Bay Bridge, and back up Market to home. The journey was about 21 miles, ... http://markballew.com/blog/2007/09/03/how-to-ride-your-bike-to-work/ It has been about two months since I began my no-buy embargo. I haven’t really discussed it, since I’m actually sort of embarrassed about it. What kind of capitalist refuses to buy things? Or do I mean consumer? From June 16th until December 16th I’m not allowed to buy anything new. ... http://markballew.com/blog/2007/08/28/the-no-buy-embargo/ For the second time, the N-Judah has been super hot on the way back from work. So again, I called 311 to let them know that the train A/C units aren’t working. The funny part was that since I’ve called 311 so many times to report problems, they just asked ... http://markballew.com/blog/2007/08/02/thats-one-hot-train/