Saturday, April 30, 2011

Eeyore's Birthday & Ghost Bike Memorial Ride

Was a bit eerie how these two events, both of which I wanted to attend badly, seemed to seamlessly melt into one another today. Eeyore's Birthday technically ended at 6, while the ride started only minutes down the road at 6:30, Lamar hooking up Pease Park with the start of the ride at Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge. Eeyore's was wonderful. Amazingly, I think I kicked my heart out for about 4 hours total, in the midst of much merry-making all about, a massive lineup of virtually endless drumming the whole time. A "real" Eeyore was there for the kids & young-at-heart, many great & silly costumes all over, many beautiful, smiling hula-hoop girls all over the place, while I got to kick with my local hacky sack/footbag freestyle pro friends, and they thoroughly tore it up in spite of the heat. My speed-kicking went ok, in spite of my rookie shoes, not used to , and my overbearing, large cargo shorts. For a 48 year tradition, Eeyore's was amazingly non-commercial and actually highly community-oriented, as all of the vendors were locally based with many of them supporting numerous local good causes. Just a very cool event all-around. The memorial ghost ride for Andrew Runciman was very meaningful too. I happened to meet one person with New Orleans roots & another who I'd met in Shreveport while he was bike-touring from New Orleans, among other typically overly friendly Austinites. The ride was to remember Andrew Runciman, who was killed just this past week by an SUV driver who is still at large, and to post a white ghost bike at the spot of his passing, to remind us all of this unbearable tragedy, so that we all will hopefully learn to make sure this senselessness doesn't transpire again.. Andrew had been in town from Tennessee since about when I got here 7 months ago, a young guy, 24, a brilliant software/tech guy, who valued the power of getting involved wholeheartedly to make the world a better place. Local people who he worked with in Austin spoke, remembering him fondly, saying he'd want us to gracefully fight on. Unbeknownst to me, much of his family had come all the way down here to participate in the ghost bike dedication event. They were waiting for our ride to arrive at the site. His little sister spoke, joking about how he'd feel like the tribute t-shirt that she made, and was wearing, would've irritated him, so that's why she had it on. She finished by pleading for there to be better bike traffic safety in place, so that no one else had to lose their big brother for no good reason. It's simple...bikes should be respected & admired for the innumerable benefits that we all know improve society. The few who choose to travel by bike definitely should be able to operate under safe enough circumstances to keep them from being killed. In the meantime... Cyclists: I think in Austin, we can be lulled into thinking that all motorists here are considerate around bikes, and the vast majority really are. Surely though, we as cyclists should never give them an automatic benefit of the doubt while on the road. Motorists: At 1 ton-plus, the vehicle that you drive from 30 mph & beyond in the city limits is a potential deadly weapon to all you come across on the roads...other motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians and so on. Please be very considerate & cautious, accordingly. If that SUV driver has any conscience whatsoever, it's surely being eaten alive for the rest of that person's life until they turn themselves in. By using common sense & courtesy, such a guilt-filled fate won't befall you.

Posted via email from hackysacksteve's posterous

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Tears for Innumerable Good-Hearted Muslims in the East

On my route today for an Indonesian restaurant in South Austin, I had the privilege of meeting a friendly retired professor in front of his house.

As he saw the Indonesian restaurant's flyer, he commented that he has made numerous trips to Malaysia and other nations in the Southeast Asia region. He pointed out that if Americans made trips to that part of the world more often, they'd see how wonderful the vast majority of that region's people, many of whom are Muslim, really are.

He quickly remembered that a friend's daughter had a wedding scheduled in Malaysia, back in 2001, an event to which he was invited. There was an amazing number of 2000 in attendance. He said everything was wonderful. Tragically though, the spirits of everyone were severely decimated when news came through about the 9/11 attacks.

Of the 2000 attendees, he said that he, his wife and a friend were the only whites/Americans. Also, almost everyone there was Muslim.

I thought I saw a glistening in his eyes begin to develop as he spoke, then I thought I heard his voice started to tremble, then as he clearly started to sob for a moment, he told me this:

After the 9/11 news traveled around the wedding event, he said that many of these thousands gathered began to form columns of humanity, humbly and patiently waiting to express extreme sympathy to he and the other two Americans for this horrible tragedy. They also went through great efforts to make clear that these horrific acts were not representative of their Muslim faith, in spite of al-Qaeda claiming that the act was in the spirit of Islam.

His tears were obviously generated by the appreciation and feeling that he had for these people, who were so warm and supportive to him during that horrible time, even as so many in the West characterize their faith as inherently destructive and violent. And of course, the violent events that these vast multitudes of peaceful Muslims have had to endure both at the hands of the West and al-Qaeda, isn't even nearly comprehensible to most of us.

I told him about my New Orleans/La. friend's work for Tibetan refugees over the past decade in Nepal & Dharamsala, India area (The Louisiana Himalaya Association). I also told him about how a major sport in Malaysia, Sepak Takraw (a kicking volley game, played with badminton-like court/net dimensions), put a very similar American-invented game, footbag net, to shame, in the sense that Takraw players are massively more skilled. Says a lot, as footbag net players are extraordinary in their own right.

I hope he gets to see some video of Takraw players, as it'd just be at least a tiny extra reason for him to find pride in the great people of Southeast Asia.


Steve Godfrey
318-229-3559
progressivepromotions@gmail.com
progpromo.com

Posted via email from hackysacksteve's posterous

Tears for Innumerable Good-Hearted Muslims in the Eastern World

On my route today for an Indonesian restaurant in South Austin, I had the privilege of meeting a friendly retired professor in front of his house.

As he saw the Indonesian restaurant's flyer, he commented that he has made numerous trips to Malaysia and other nations in the Southeast Asia region. He pointed out that if Americans made trips to that part of the world more often, they'd see how wonderful the vast majority of that region's people, many of whom are Muslim, really are.

He quickly remembered that a friend's daughter had a wedding scheduled in Malaysia, back in 2001, an event to which he was invited. There was an amazing number of 2000 in attendance. He said everything was wonderful. Tragically though, the spirits of everyone were severely decimated when news came through about the 9/11 attacks.

Of the 2000 attendees, he said that he, his wife and a friend were the only whites/Americans. Also, almost everyone there was Muslim.

I thought I saw a glistening in his eyes begin to develop as he spoke, then I thought I heard his voice started to tremble, then as he clearly started to sob for a moment, he told me this:

After the 9/11 news traveled around the wedding event, he said that many of these thousands gathered began to form columns of humanity, humbly and patiently waiting to express extreme sympathy to he and the other two Americans for this horrible tragedy. They also went through great efforts to make clear that these horrific acts were not representative of their Muslim faith, in spite of al-Qaeda claiming that the act was in the spirit of Islam.

His tears were obviously generated by the appreciation and feeling that he had for these people, who were so warm and supportive to him during that horrible time, even as so many in the West characterize their faith as inherently destructive and violent. And of course, the violent events that these vast multitudes of peaceful Muslims have had to endure both at the hands of the West and al-Qaeda, isn't even nearly comprehensible to most of us.

I told him about my New Orleans/La. friend's work for Tibetan refugees over the past decade in Nepal & Dharamsala, India area (The Louisiana Himalaya Association). I also told him about how a major sport in Malaysia, Sepak Takraw (a kicking volley game, played with badminton-like court/net dimensions), put a very similar American-invented game, footbag net, to shame, in the sense that Takraw players are massively more skilled. Says a lot, as footbag net players are extraordinary in their own right.

I hope he gets to see some video of Takraw players, as it'd just be at least a tiny extra reason for him to find pride in the great people of Southeast Asia.

Posted via email from hackysacksteve's posterous

Thursday, March 17, 2011

N'awlin's Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Just happened to stumble onto the 2nd Line on way to work in Downtown Austin, right when SXSW Music is gearing up. Super cool!

Posted via email from hackysacksteve's posterous

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Hard Rain in my brain, for Japan

P660

NPR Music's playing "Hard Rain" by Bob Dylan, which may be my favorite of his. Being the Dylan-head that I am, you know that it means a lot to me. Thanks NPR. Many back when it came out thought he was singing of nuclear rain, like what's feared in Japan. Keep thoughts & prayers up for those people. Now they play The Black Keys...I need to scrape some of my piddly $ up for NPR, but I think Japan could use it more...sigh...

Posted via email from hackysacksteve's posterous

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Highly Effective/Efficient/Extremely Affordable Quality Bike Messenger Promotions!

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This is to let any businesses, nonprofits, events, etc. know that the most client-minded, most effective, most affordable, most diligent & hardest working promotions company in the area is now available to work for you

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As we run lean & mean on bicycle-based delivery, we can afford to have the unbeatable standard rate of just 7 cents per flyer

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We happily, free of charge, would consult with you about coming up with the best possible promotions plan for your goals if we're called upon to do so

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Postering of flyers, hand-to-hand flyering & other types of flyer distribution are also available; contact for specific rates on specific requests

ONLINE PROMOTIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE, WITH CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES CUSTOMIZED TO WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE, EITHER AS STRICTLY ONLINE PROMOTIONS OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH REAL-WORLD ADVERTISING:

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We also have experience in promoting events & venues, as we've got substantial experience in organizing campaign/event plans, benefits, events & are capable of supplying quality talent applicable to your particular needs We are available to be contacted at any time.

Many thanks for reading & considering.

Steve

Posted via email from progpromo.posterous.com

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Pretty Recent Photo

P177

Photo credit to Russ Roca of the bike-touring site: pathlesspedaled.com...Please visit their amazing site!

Posted via email from hackysacksteve's posterous

Pretty Recent Photo

Photo credit to Russ Roca of the bike-touring site: pathlesspedaled.com

Please visit their amazing site

Posted via email from hackysacksteve's posterous

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Austin Mel's Folk Art

Please check out a site I put together for my landlord, "Austin Mel", just yesterday:
austinmelfolkart.posterous.com

It's really cool stuff, and Mel's really cool too.

Thank you,

Steve

Posted via email from hackysacksteve's posterous

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Nassim

Colin Krieger Is that the legenadary
Nassim Kashani? Been forever since I've seen her. I tried to friend her a year or so ago, tragically no response
January 16 at 5:48pm · Like · Remove
Colin Krieger No,Nassim passed? I saw the pic before the previuos post. Can't believe she could ever be stopped. She was inspiring to know.
January 16 at 5:53pm · Like · Remove
Steve Godfrey I know, she was such a massive spirit. I spontaneously also tried to reach her just this past November, I think it was. Had no idea she was sick.
January 16 at 5:59pm · Like · Remove
Steve Godfrey Only found out this morning.
January 16 at 6:00pm · Like · Remove
Colin Krieger I just told a story about her the other day. I remember riding bikes back from Jazz Fest with her in college. She always pushed me, she was always positive. The Nuetral Ground, Tips, UNO...hard to forget her. I remeber when ya'll when out, you descibed her simply as "passionate" She was that--in every sense of the word.
January 16 at 6:04pm · Like · Remove
Steve Godfrey Absolutely, she lived so much life in so few years...like you say, an inspiration, and reminder, to live as fully as you can while you can. That's the best tribute to her that I can get together at the moment, to live as fully as I can, not taking what's important for granted.
January 16 at 6:15pm · Like · Remove
Colin Krieger Think I'm dance with my girls out in the grass tommorow.
January 16 at 6:17pm · Like · Remove
Steve Godfrey Beautiful.

Steve Godfrey
318-229-3559

Posted via email from hackysacksteve's posterous