It's the Lakers flags that really get to me. How about that Tim Salmon homer, eh? Which team should I cheer against? The team that beat the Yankees, or the team representing the self-satisfied wankers from up north?

Anyway, earlier today I went out to Hansen Dam to do some mtbing. Other than the Mexican oompapa music occasionally heard from across the lake, it's fairly interesting. Going through the fine dirt even on the flats was fairly difficult in parts. Right by the lake there's a short bit of single-track with reeds on either side. I also highly recommend the book Bicycle Rides: Los Angeles County. Hansen Dam is ride #60 in that book.

Say, have you spent some time over at freerepublic.com lately? Seems like >75% of their visitors have turned into basically panicking ninnies about the MD shooting thing. They seem to think this definitely has to be al Queda. It's not that they're just considering the possibility, it's that they refuse to accept any other possibility that gets to me. Many of those seem to confuse cause and effect. "I'm terrorized, therefore it must be a terror organization." While it certainly may turn out to be al Queda, the Iraqis, the Chinese, the Israelis, a drug cartel, or some other state or actor or combination of the above, this idea of leaving a note with a phone number sounds, well, sounds more like a run-of-the-mill nut. Of course, it could be a red herring. But, why not a more interesting red herring? Like, something really weird like a juju doll or something.

This latest shooting just goes to show that military spy planes aren't going to work for catching what is probably just a criminal. Better declare martial law and send in the tanks. Don't worry, it'll just be a temporary move.