Drapetomaniac

NPR (All things Considered) had a story today where they expressed surprise and adoration at a mixed race rapper who got a college degree (J Cole).

The story dwelled on the idea it was was rare for rappers to have a college degree and at one point asked if it hindered or helped his career.  This was the most bizarre question, considering it is in a career based on language and communication.

I remember back in the day, degrees of Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, Sista Soulja and Chuck D were out front and they promoted education. Others still do.

Contributing to the false stereotype of praising ignorance results in praising ignorance.

GOOD has a slideshow of other very well known artists with degrees here.

One would hope that J Cole would push back at the stereotype as well.  With his college education, he must know how the proliferation of stereotypes can harm him, his profession and others.

Tonight I take a bus to Houston so that I can bike for two days back to Austin.

Here’s a few lessons I’ve learned from going from zero miles to 150:

• If it keeps raining every time you want to bike or train, ride in the rain. Turns out it’s supposed to rain the weekend of the ride, so at least I have practice now
• If you’ve never used gears on a bike, ask a few people, because you’re probably still using them wrong
• Higher gears means about 20 lower hearts beats per minute and a saved min per mile. After figuring this out, my fear of a heart attack decreased substantially.
• Don’t bike at high speeds with your mouth open unless you don’t have any protein bars handy and need the extra nutrition
• The “old” ladies passing you aren’t illusions, but your youth might be.
• Don’t get discouraged with the big guy in a Santa suit passes you. Especially if you’ve already gone 25 miles and this is his only lap of the day
• Bikers aren’t whiny (Well, many aren’t). You really will be honked at by aggressive drivers who, even if you are nowhere near them and in a bike lane
• When the driver honks at you, both of your heart rates are racing. One from stress, one from exercise. Guess who lives longer?

The City of Austin recently spent several years taking input for the future of the City web page and several rounds of RFPs.

Unfortunately, at the top of every RFP was the demand that the project be Python/Plone based. I ignored every RFP and call for a meeting because Python wasn’t my area and Plone, even less.  I was curious, but not proficient.  Holding open meetings with such a specific pre-requisite isn’t really holding an open meeting.

The city is likely prepared to listen to new ideas after the recent fiasco of nearly awarding a very large contract to a California company instead of an Austin company.

Let’s see if Austin can pull together and provide truly open constructive feedback.  The City has a new CIO and is prepared for a new direction.

Go to OpenAustin.org to provide feedback on what you think the City of Austin should do for our web site.