Check this phenomenon out - mass rides through cities on the last Friday of every month - usually bringing traffic to a standstill in a mass demonstration of pedal power - sounds wicked! What about something like this in Kuala Lumpur?
I think the government here would know how to deal with it - you wouldn't see any of us for two years as we'd be whisked away under the ISA (Internal Security Act) and that would be that. One can dream though. The web site is
http://critical-mass.info/origin.htmlThis is what Wikipedia has to say about it: -
"
Critical Mass is an event typically held on the last Friday of every month in cities around the world where bicyclists and, less frequently, unicyclists, skateboarders, inline skaters, roller skaters and other self-propelled commuters take to the streets en masse. While the ride was originally founded with the idea of drawing attention to how unfriendly the city was to bicyclists, the leaderless structure of Critical Mass makes it impossible to assign it any one specific goal. In fact, the purpose of Critical Mass is not formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and traveling as a group through city streets.
BackgroundCritical Mass rides are self-organized, non-commercial and non-competitive, and they operate with diffused and informal decision-making, independent of leaders. They are often also unofficial, foregoing permits and official sanction from municipal authorities. Typically, only the meeting place, date, and time are fixed. In some cities, the route, finishing point, or attractions along the way may be planned ahead. Participants have differing purposes for the event, such as celebrating their choice of the bicycle for transportation, and enjoying car-free social time on city streets.
Critical Mass rides have been perceived as protest activities. A 2006 New Yorker magazine article described Critical Mass' activity in New York City as "monthly political-protest rides", and characterized Critical Mass as a part of a social movement; and the UK e-zine Urban75, which advertises as well as publishes photographs of the Critical Mass event in London, describes this as "the monthly protest by cyclists reclaiming the streets of London". However, Critical Mass participants have insisted that these events should be viewed as "celebrations" and spontaneous gatherings, and not as protests or organized demonstrations. This stance allows Critical Mass to argue a legal position that its events can occur without advance notification of local police.
Critical Mass rides vary greatly in many respects, including frequency and number of participants. For example, many small cities have monthly Critical Mass rides with fewer than twenty riders, while on the opposite extreme, in what have been the largest events using the name Critical Mass, cyclists in Budapest, Hungary hold only two rides each year on 22 September (International Car Free Day) and 22 April (Earth Day). They attract tens of thousands of riders. The April 22, 2007 Budapest ride participation was generally estimated at
50,000 riders.
HistorySan Francisco Critical Mass, April 29, 2005.The first ride took place on Friday, September 25, 1992 at 6 P.M. in San Francisco. At that time, the event was known as Commute Clot and was composed of a couple of dozen cyclists who had received flyers on Market Street.
Shortly after this, some participants in that ride went to a local bicycle shop for a screening of Ted White's documentary Return of the Scorcher, about bike culture overseas. In that film, American human powered vehicle and pedicab designer George Bliss noted that, in China, both motorists and bicyclists had an understood method of negotiating intersections without signals. Traffic would "bunch up" at these intersections until the back log reached a "critical mass" at which point that mass would move through the intersection. The term caught on and replaced Commute Clot as a name at the time of the second event.
By the time of the fourth ride, the number of cyclists had increased to around 100 and participation continued to grow dramatically, reaching about 1,000 riders, on average.
The name was soon adopted as a generic label by participants in similar but independent mass rides that were either initiated in various locations around the world at around the same time, or had already existed before 1992 under other names. It is estimated that there are Critical Mass-type rides in more than 325 cities to date. The term "Masser" is sometimes applied to frequent participants.
StructureCritical Mass differs from many other social movements in its rhizomal (rather than hierarchical) structure. Critical Mass is sometimes called an "organized coincidence", with no leadership or membership. The routes of some rides are decided spontaneously by whoever is currently at the front of the ride, others are decided prior to the ride by a popular vote of suggested routes often drawn up on photocopied flyers. The term xerocracy was coined to describe a process by which the route for a Critical Mass can be decided: anyone who has an opinion makes their own map and distributes it to the cyclists participating in the Mass. Still other rides decide the route by consensus. The "disorganized" nature of the event allows it to largely escape clampdown by authorities who may view the rides as forms of parades or organized protest. Additionally, the movement is free from the structural costs associated with a centralized, hierarchical organization. In order for the event to function, the only requirement is a sufficient turn-out to create a "critical mass" of riders dense enough to occupy a piece of road to the exclusion of motorized road users. Authorities in New York, California and Oregon have expressed concern with the difficulty of coordinating with the riders, due to the lack of leadership.
See more at Wikipedia -
CRITICAL MASS - very interesting
It really annoys me when people blame managers of football teams for the teams failure. Occasionally however, it is clear who is responsible and the inept performance of the England football team over the past few months can be fairly and squarely laid at the feet of Steve McClaren.
Now he is refusing to resign which personally I think is a good thing, this imbecile deserves nothing more than the humiliation of been sacked shortly followed by a public flogging.
In fact my start was 3:30am but my buddy Ian was celebrating his fiftieth year by doing his first marathon. His start was at 2:00am and as I was doing the race to support him I felt it the right thing to do to go and see him off rather than catching an extra hour and a half in bed - I'm a hero right!!!???
Critical Mass rides have been perceived as protest activities. A 2006 New Yorker magazine article described Critical Mass' activity in New York City as "monthly political-protest rides", and characterized Critical Mass as a part of a social movement; and the UK e-zine Urban75, which advertises as well as publishes photographs of the Critical Mass event in London, describes this as "the monthly protest by cyclists reclaiming the streets of London". However, Critical Mass participants have insisted that these events should be viewed as "celebrations" and spontaneous gatherings, and not as protests or organized demonstrations. This stance allows Critical Mass to argue a legal position that its events can occur without advance notification of local police.
Tey just sent me some full size photos of me struggling around Lumut. Here's a couple more just for the hell of it.
The real point of this post is to say thanks to Tey who keeps supplying the sporting hordes of Malaysia with tens of thousands of photos every year at all sorts of events - so on behalf of everyone that you've snapped, THANKS TEY.
I told him he was INSANE and he returned the compliment by calling me a LUNATIC. Clearly we are in good company. Could this be the man that as foretold brings balance to the FORCE?
Mmmm! Or should I say OUUUUUCCCCHHHH!
I started on the bike with high cadence and what seemed like a decent pace - then Tanya Randall (NZ) who was doing the sprint distance rode past me - nothing wrong with being beaten by a girl but I usually am stronger on the bike.
[Note: Tanya won the women's Sprint race - well done, she was looking awesome. Thanks also for the encouragement when you went past - Having said that I'll try not to let it happen again]
Having said that before the end of the first lap Don rode past me. At that point I was starting to ask myself questions. I decided that Don would be my rabbit and I'd pace him for the rest of the ride and see what happened on the run. I sat in behind him the requisite 3 bike lengths behind to stay out of the drafting zone and stuck with his pace. 
The amazing Marianna caught me up with about 3k to go but somehow I managed to stay ahead until the finish line - she's going to kick butt at the SEA games though. I caught Danny with 500 metres to go which was a consolation at least. My second 10k was a little over 52 minutes which is really woeful considering my first 11k time.
Unfortunately, I heard afterwards that Kimberley Yap, the reigning SEA games Gold medalist for triathlon had to pull out of the race. Not sure why but I'm sure she'll be back in action to defend her title.
So what else did I learn? I learnt that I am still slightly faster than Sam (sad fact is he is 57 years old) but now he owes me a case of beer to prove it. 
I learnt that KK really does have more money than sense as he bet a case of beer that he's be within 17 1/2 minutes of me, it was a pleasure doing business with you. 
I also learnt that if you put enough pressure on someone they will take a bet that they really don't want to make (also 17 1/2 minutes); sorry Randy but you weren't that far off catching me.
So three cases of beer and a pint from Adrian (I had to give him an hour handicap) - we will have to have a bit of a get together to drink the beer as this was clearly KK's plan from the off. Sam will only have a half a shandy anyway and I feel for Randy so the least he deserves is to get drunk on the proceeds.
Just a quick mention as Shilpa tells me he's not thrilled about it. My brother-in-law has been busy working his butt off, moving house and doing a Masters degree in the evenings and at weekends; so although he entered the New York Marathon he was hardly able to do any training for it.
I'm impressed even if he isn't - great job Kapil - just imagine what you'd have done if you had been able to train - next time dude!
It was Shilpa's birthday yesterday. Her day started with presents and cards from her hubby and Ashley. Followed by a birthday brunch with the Twin's Group.
They left all of their twins with maids and supervisors at Kids Sports next to the restaurant and proceeded to have a jolly good brunch followed by cakes of course!
Then a delivery truck arrived with the real birthday present - it's the Indian swing not the gorgeous chap on it! Shilpa has wanted one for years (I'm still talking about the swing) and saw one just a few days ago. This thankfully took away all the stress of working out what to buy for her birthday, so I was happy - and she was very surprised and happy too.
Then daddy came home with the present that the boys had bought (don't worry boys, I'll take it out of your pocket money). They bought Mummy a Secret Recipe Raspberry Cheesecake with "Happy Birthday Mummy" on it. Good boys, Mummy was a happy chappie.
Mummy then thanked the boys and got changed to go out to Saffron for her birthday dinner.
Here I am, as usual not very photogenic but I had a lovely time too and I really wasn't as grumpy as I look honest!
And finally here's Shilpa looking radiantly gorgeous.
OK folks it's official Adrian of klingklngman has thrown in the towel, withdrawn his Fergie vs Halle Berry poll 12 hours early after overwhelming odds in favour of Fergie.
I have to say that Adrian did enquire whether I'd been cheating, which I was a little shocked about; but even some of my own contacts (that I was legally lobbying in the contest) suggested that drumming up support was undemocratic and underhand! WELL I NEVER!
However, I have taken these comments in my stride especially as they pale into insignificance when compared to the turncoat traitors that voted for Halle Berry. 
There I was, honestly and fairly lobbying most of my address list and can you believe it some of my "friends" voted against me - you know who you are - Ashley, Julie, Hayley, Emma, Sue ... the list goes on but needless to say you're all off my Christmas card list.
Anyway a big thank you to all you guys that voted for Fergie. And just in case there is any misunderstanding about this poll; it wasn't about whether Halle Berry or Fergie were the sexiest or the most beautiful, or about winning a beer, it was just about WINNING.
With that achieved I can now openly say that although Fergie is Raunchy Sexy, you wouldn't want to take her home to Mum. Halle Berry on the other hand is not only sexy but gorgeous and certainly is one of the most beautiful women in the world. Therefore Adrian, I concede the Poll beer but will put another one on the outcome of Powerman if you're up for it?
Here's my cousin Helen signing the marriage register at her wedding. She's looking rather gorgeous and her new husband is understandably looking tickled pink!
