.:.

Last night critical mass rode as what is likely the largest mass of riders in its world history. The low estimate by police and media is between 5000 and 6000 riders while the reasonable high estimate is as many as 10,000. The Bike National Convention, spearheaded by bike activist group Times-Up!, was a major force behind the swell of riders in last night’s tour of the city.

Critical Mass events have been occuring on the last friday of the month in NYC for over 8 years. For the first time, police declared riders were violating the law, creating unsafe traffic conditions and would be arrested if the mass proceeded as usual. A flier of fear was distributed by police to riders meeting in Union Square. In the past, NYPD fear tactics have successfully reduced the size of Times-Up organized bike events. However, last night’s deep failure to reduce the size of the ride may have served to frustrate the police force, leading them to unnecessarily arrest over 250 bicyclists.

For over a month, a large after party was being organized for the end of last night’s ride. A space was secured as was valet bike parking. The purpose was to end the ride in celebration and provide the space and resources to accomodate an expected large group of riders. However, over the last week police and coast guard were regularly visiting the chosen establishment’s owners in an attempt to scare them from hosting the planned celebration. Two days before the ride, their tactics were successful and the owner pulled out.

By successfully removing the critical mass after-party, the New York Police Department effectively created the scenario of thousands of riders pouring through the streets with no final destination. Quickly, Times-Up secured a much smaller space, St Marks church. The venue became less of an afterparty and more of an attempt by the NYPD to cover their failings.

The ride stopped in front of St. Marks but the large mass of people was only able to slowly move inside the grounds. Street watchers filled sidewalks further impeding the the bicyclists street exit. Boxed in, the NYPD swept into the street riot style and arrested anyone present (whether they were trying to leave or not).

As noted by Times-Up organizers, this loss of after-venue and it’s effective result in arrest and chaos is a possible first sign of what will happen with RNC protest marches in the face of non-granted Central Park permits.

[Update: 8:30pm Eastern | A reasonable NY Times article.]

My friend Brandon will also be keeping a blog during the RNC, check out Learning to Roar.

For sensory experience, last night in Qingdao was pretty golden. A swift jaunt was made to the local Carre 4 — a French company bringing China their version of Walmart. I bought some nice looking green and oolong teas sold in bulk and pitched in to get a cake for Lancelot (it was his birthday). Lancelot is not his real name, but many of the chinese students have created english names (loosely based on their true names) in order to help the westerners stop butchering their language. Similarly, I had someone translate my name into chinese characters so it could be pronounced more easily.

Into the streets we went. The groups fractured and I found myself wandering Qingdao city with Lancelot from Beijing and Allan from Boston. First mission was to find out why there were tapped kegs of beer on so many sidewalks. Two yuan were handed over to someone sitting by a keg and a weighed kilogram of beer in a plastic shopping bag was handed over; along with a wrapped juice straw. A gross distortion of drinking capri-sun back in the day.

Drinking and talking, cultures colliding, we found ourselves next to an array of kebab stands selling various creatures cooked on sticks. Allan eyed the box of wiggling, larvae-like things. Some translations were made by Lancelot and we found they were silk worms. They were very strange to watch. One end of their body was spiraling round and round. Allan decided a new food discovery could not be passed up. 5 for 2 yuan. Onto a wooden stick they silk worms went. A yellow fluid oozed from them. I cringed. A sauce of hot spices was applied with a brush, and onto the grill they went. I ordered squid on a stick, a Qingdao specialty.

Allan made little hesitation to try his new found food. He popped a cooked silkworm into his mouth and chewed heartily. “This is fairly disgusting”. He spat the remains into the bushes nearby. I offered some of my squid, which was great. After his bite of squid he said, “you should try the silkworm.” Though his experience offered humor, it did little to entice. “Oh come on,” he persisted, “you can have silkworm with a squid chaser.” I sighed.

Much hesitation ensued, but I found myself waving a stick of silkworms in front of me until finally, i was chomping down on one. Cooked, leathery flesh compressed between my teeth. The flavor of spice mingled with the fresh silkworm insides squeezed out like toothpaste from a tube. I chewed. It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. It wasn’t so good, but it wasn’t terrible. It reminded me of scallop you’ve been chewing on too long.

Rx Gallery: Jiffy-Scuttler 2

My favorite artist, Loren Chasse (front), playing with Glenn Donaldson as The Blithe Sons; absolutely sublime.

Danielle DeGruttola ripping on her electric cello. Gliding through subtle, experimental sound, classical composition and metal enthused noise.

Rx Gallery: Jiffy-Scuttler 1

What follows is a failed, forced attempt at descriptive writing:

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