Pappillon

USA Cycling's War Against Women

2024-07-28T12:17:00.077-05:00

After almost a decade racing in his correct sex-class, this otherwise anonymous weirdo, Michael Pillman, convinced USA Cycling to allow him to begin competing against women.

Last month, having registered under the not-at-all goofy name "Arya Elowen," he stole the USAC Colorado women's category 4 state criterium championships.

That the national governing body for competitive cycling in the U.S. enables and sanctions this degeneracy is surreal.

Marie Barbara (Danek) Papp | 1942–2023

2023-03-17T20:26:00.001-05:00

My lovely, dear, sweet mom, Marie, died yesterday morning. 💔

Arrangements via Paul Henney in Bethel Park: https://www.henneyfuneralhome.com/obituary/Marie-Papp.

Don’t just deny Texas’ original action. Decimate it. - Tom Goldstein, SCOTUSblog

2020-12-11T18:38:00.005-05:00

From Tom Goldstein, publisher of SCOTUSblog:

"...A simple five-page per curiam opinion genuinely could end up in the pantheon of all-time most significant rulings in American history. Every once in a long while, the court needs to invest some of its accumulated capital in issuing judgments that are not only legally right but also respond to imminent, tangible threats to the nation. That is particularly appropriate when, as here, the court finds itself being used as a tool to actively undermine faith in our democratic institutions — including by the members of the court’s bar on whom the justices depend to act much more responsibly..."

-Tom Goldstein, Editorial: Don’t just deny Texas’ original action. Decimate it., SCOTUSblog (Dec. 11, 2020, 2:06 PM), https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/12/opinion-dont-just-deny-texas-original-action-decimate-it/

Open Letter to PA Rep. Natalie Mihalek re. 2020 General Election

2020-12-07T15:26:00.001-05:00

December 7, 2020

Honorable Natalie Mihalek
3515 Washington Rd, Ste 540
McMurray, PA 15317

Dear Representative Mihalek:

As a long-time Republican and a constituent who voted for you in November, I write to express my profound disappointment in your co-signing a letter with other members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly urging our Congressional delegation to block the awarding of Pennsylvania’s Electoral College votes [Roebuck, Jeremy (4 December 2020). "After Trump team calls them 'cowards' and 'traitors,' state GOP leaders urge Congress to reject Pa. election results". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Elizabeth H. Hughes. Retrieved 7 December 2020.)],[http://www.pahousegopnews.com/AttachedFiles/12.04.20%20Congress%20Election%202020.pdf].

I am an elections officer in Bethel Park, serving a 4-year term as Judge of Elections in Ward 6,District 3. Your claim that our elections officials conducted themselves in such a manner as to undermine “the lawful certification of Pennsylvania’s delegation to the Electoral College” is personally offensive, and flat-out wrong. Furthermore, encouraging Congress to reject the will of the people and instead pursue a radical and legally murky scheme to - presumably - appoint Trump electors in contravention of the popular vote is deranged. It’s a shameful attack on our democracy. Why are you involved in this?

Please remove your name and signature from page 7 of the December 4th letter to Pennsylvania’s Congressional Delegation, and publicly affirm that Pennsylvania had a fair and secure election.

Sincerely yours,

Joseph Papp
5887 Keystone Drive
Bethel Park, PA 15102-3359

Disappearing Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio)

2018-01-31T12:20:00.000-05:00

Everything was going just fine until the Chickadees and Nuthatches showed up. . . . . . #easternscreechowl #screechowl #scaredycat #whitebreastednuthatch #elite_owls #elite_raptors #pacollective

A post shared by Todd Ladner (@tladner) on Jan 30, 2018 at 10:02am PST

National Bird Day - Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

2018-01-05T15:02:00.000-05:00

It's #NationalBirdDay, and I'm utterly captivated by this Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) - a truly regal #bird. It's the largest of North American #hawks — with a unique gray head, rich, rusty (ferruginous) shoulders and legs, and gleaming white underparts 💛💛💛 #raptors #birdsofprey #birdsofinstagram #wildlifephotography #NatureIsBeautiful #nature #wildlife @parks4all #FEHA #GGRO @nationalparkservice @goldengatenps

A post shared by Joe Papp (@joepabike) on Jan 5, 2018 at 11:57am PST

Freedom of Speech in the Digital Age

2017-06-06T14:17:00.000-05:00

BREAKING: Knight Institute demands that President Trump unblock critics on Twitter. https://t.co/AyftwQBzJF @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/Gqas7i2DfN
— Knight 1st Amendment (@knightcolumbia) June 6, 2017

The Knight Institute’s letter to President Trump is here.

POTUS

2017-06-06T14:10:00.000-05:00

a @POTUS so mentally weak & intolerant of dissent he blocks US citizens critical of his policies from even reading his latest pronouncements pic.twitter.com/MjLuMUPqBD
— Joe Papp (@joepabike) June 4, 2017

#PaidProtesterChallenge @realDonaldTrump

2017-05-01T22:51:00.000-05:00

@TruthOnly37 @jbat413 @joepabike @realDonaldTrump @GOP Check out the #PaidProtesterChallenge. I posted it weeks ago and nobody has claimed the reward $$ yet (it's my pinned tweet)
— (((Amanda Pompili))) (@amanda_pompili) April 30, 2017

Epic Day of Birding in SoWePa, 61+ species and rarities, plus two 4-leaf clovers, plus new friends...

2016-04-30T22:18:00.003-05:00

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

I birded today at the Wingfield Pines Conservation Area in the company of Matthew Juskowich and James Hausman III - more experienced local birders and guides. We got a crackin' start to the day, and I'll write some more about it later perhaps, but suffice it to say it was Properly Epic. We saw more than 60 species of birds throughout the wetlands and spent hours there making observations and sharing the info and encouragement with other birders who'd followed news of our successes. It was pretty cool.

Definitely want to write some more about this, and will leave you a pic of the Indigo Bunting, one of the magical birds we saw...

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is OK

2015-05-23T17:38:00.000-05:00

While the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency isn't immune from constructive criticism, they've been doing things right (Big & Small) for the athletes whose commitment to clean sport they're charged with verifying.

The redesign of the Athlete Express website has made it fantastically easy and convenient to update Whereabouts now from multiple platforms. My last plan change took about 17sec to complete. This is pretty Big, since inclusion in an out-of-competition testing pool means accepting unpredictable intrusions into what "normal" people might consider to be pretty sacred private space. So being able to efficiently manage your role in the process makes it easier and less dramatic for all involved.

And apart from the actual monitoring & testing regimes...just last week I got an out-of-the-blue call from a USADA investigator - not looking for intel or assistance, but just to say hi and ask how I was. And then Chester (Bob) found this gem in the post today. It's a nice reminder that USADA is staffed by actual human beings like Athlete Services Coordinator Kirk W., who'll take the time to send you a hand-signed birthday greeting. Little things like these encourage one to see the relationship as collaborative, and not adversarial or unpleasant.

I know this isn't every athlete's experience with their NADO, but it's been consistently mine and I appreciate it enough to want to let you know.

Greg LeMond swoops into Paris ahead of peloton on Avenue des Champs-Élysées

2015-02-25T16:54:00.000-05:00

Rare moment of pro cycling chivalry, back in the day...

Scuba cat

2013-12-21T04:52:00.000-05:00

scu·ba cat (skoo-buh kat)

n.

1. A cat that enjoys being in water.
2. A sopping-wet pussy.
3. Term of endearment.

interj.

1. Cry of warning to persons in a swimming pool who are in danger of being struck by airborne cat.
Origin(s): late-2000s, a scuba-diving calico featured on an episode of Discovery Channel's "How Stuff Works" show, with its own commercial.

Examples:

"Chester hates getting wet! ... Yeah, he's no scuba cat."
"Miss u Scuba Cat! Sending u lotsa luv & kitty kisses! home by 8PM! xoxo" (via text)
"Heads-up! ... Scuba cat!!" (throws cat into pool)

LOST CAT

2012-07-23T17:57:00.000-05:00

LOST CAT

Dark BROWN Tabby
Mystical YELLOW Eyes

On Friday July 20th our kitty “Cookie” – a medium-sized female indoor cat – escaped from our house at 5887 Keystone Drive and disappeared. Please help us find her!

She is approximately 1-year old with a soft, medium-to-long fur coat that is very dark brown (with light brown stomach and neck and some tiger-striping). She has striking yellow eyes and tufts of extra-long fur in her ears and her on paws. Cookie is extremely timid and has both front and rear sets of claws. Her tail is bushy. If you think you’ve seen our cat, please contact us at any time.

Use the contact form:

http://www.josephpapp.com/index.php/contact or
http://goo.gl/0c9tR (short-URL)

2012 Tour de France stage 18 Dog Daze(d)

2012-07-21T16:28:00.000-05:00

"Runners" and Dangerous Spectators during the Tour de France

2012-07-09T14:50:00.004-05:00

I'm still rabidly anti-runner, especially when they're running alongside the riders on climbs that have crowd barriers on at least one of the two sides, and the majority of the fans remain respectfully and demurely behind the barrier(s), save for the moronical runner(s) who decide that the mountains of the Tour are really their stage - and not the riders' - for them to display their impressive skillz. Good though to see some riders fighting back at least, whacking the fools or (I imagine) in the case of the Italians at least, shouting "Vaffanculo!" And respect to Bauke Mollema, whose suave yet declarative response to a non-boorish female runner on stage 7 was ideal for the situation. While she definitely targeted the Rabobank rider, I'd classify her as a non-boor runner, as she was enthusiastic and seemingly positive, But, rider's rules, and as soon as she began to trot alongside #153, he gave her "The Hand" and she stopped dead in her tracks. Should be the model for future rider-runner interactions that don't require the closed-fist. Diagram below.

(original image here: http://twitpic.com/a5h9dp)

The scenario begins evolving around 9:50, here: http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/t...illes/1457547/

I hold to my original contention, that it's better to drive motorcycles into/over all the obnoxious runners rather than permit these few (possibly) drunk, boorish fans to ruin the reputation of those who would run elegantly and respectfully alongside their heroes (or villains), w/o invading their personal space or screaming unintelligibly into the riders' ears.

(original image here: http://twitpic.com/a5gis3/full)

Here's an example of how to properly spectate in the mountains:

(No comment on the stationary (??) and senile old man on the left side of the road today who allegedly had a hand - or foot - in bringing down Sammy Sanchez and ruining his Tour and his Olympic title defense...)

See old guy in chair w/ a Basque upon him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a575kuPAIHU

Quoting Cyclingnews: "The crash took place in the 60th kilometre of racing on stage eight on a short uphill section, and initial reports say it was apparently caused by a elderly male spectator sitting at a table too far out in the road. Team-mate Jorge Azanza - who was mainly responsible for protecting Sánchez in the pack - tried to avoid the spectator, who was moving out of the way at speed, but instead ended up colliding with him, with Valverde slamming into Azanza and Sánchez crashing into the two Spaniards, and somersaulting into the tarmac. Valverde was able to continue, but Sánchez injuries were too serious for the 34-year-old to follow suit, and he abandoned in tears."

Website Update!

2011-09-10T12:59:00.000-05:00

Once again using the old blog to update you on the new website - which disappeared from the Internet this week. Apparently the registrar decided unilaterally to delete or deactivate the domain. Hopefully it's sorted by the time you read this, and we can update you on France via the new site!

Meanwhile, we're still trying to convince the Poles to transfer www.joepapp.com back to our control, or at least stop holding the URL - and all joepapp.com email - hostage. Unbelievable that this has been going on for a year!

As for Joe, he's hanging in there and is trying to make the best of a tough situation.

"The Leaf on the Water"

2011-07-21T23:55:00.000-05:00

The wind tears a leaf from the willow tree;
it falls lightly upon the water,
and the waves carry it away.

Time has gradually effaced a memory from my heart,
and I watch the willow leaf drifting away on the waves;
since I have forgotten her
whom I loved,
I dream the day through in sadness,
lying at the water's edge.

But the willow leaf floated back
under the tree,
and it seemed to me
that the memory could never be effaced
from my heart.

-Ouan-Tsi

Ale-Jet Leads out Gilbert in stage 3 of 2011 Tour de France

2011-07-04T13:13:00.002-05:00

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Popcorn

2011-06-30T10:26:00.000-05:00

Never tasted so good!

New Pappillon Website with Integrated Blog is Live

2011-02-10T18:32:00.000-05:00

To repeat a post from Decemeber, while we have enjoyed our time with Blogger, this version of Pappillon ~~seems to be going the way of our WordPress site, and~~ ~~will be~~ has been wistfully integrated into a completely new ~~www.joepapp.com~~ wwww.josephpapp.com. ~~The bugs are still being worked out of~~ The new site's content, ~~which is incomplete at present,~~ is more complete, and we will continue blogging there - so ~~but~~ check there for new blog posts before you click back here. Time will tell to what degree the integrated-blog serves the needs of you, the readers. Stay tuned - but not here!

New Website ONLINE NOW

2010-12-05T18:33:00.000-05:00

While we have enjoyed our time with Blogger, this version of Pappillon seems to be going the way of our WordPress site, and will be integrated into a completely new www.joepapp.com. The bugs are still being worked out of the new site's content, which is incomplete at present, but check there for new blog posts before you click back here. Time will tell to what degree the integrated-blog serves the needs of you, the readers. Stay tuned - but not here.

UPDATE: Pappillon

2010-11-21T23:33:00.000-05:00

The lack of new postings as of late stems from complications in the process of integrating this blog into a redesigned www.joepapp.com website. The new site itself is more or less complete (needing only the final content in some areas), but currently we are unable to associate the correct URL with it. Negotiations are underway to resolve this issue at the earliest possible moment, but until then, we don't expect to invest further resources in updating this version of the Pappillon blog.

Thanks, though, for all of your interest and support. Cycling remains the most beautiful sport in the world. Ride on!

The Tea Party movement: deluded and inspired by billionaires

2010-10-26T18:06:00.002-05:00

The Tea Party movement is remarkable in two respects. It is one of the biggest exercises in false consciousness the world has seen – and the biggest Astroturf operation in history. These accomplishments are closely related.

An Astroturf campaign is a fake grassroots movement: it purports to be a spontaneous uprising of concerned citizens, but in reality it is founded and funded by elite interests. Some Astroturf campaigns have no grassroots component at all. Others catalyse and direct real mobilisations. The Tea Party belongs in the second category. It is mostly composed of passionate, well-meaning people who think they are fighting elite power, unaware that they have been organised by the very interests they believe they are confronting. We now have powerful evidence that the movement was established and has been guided with the help of money from billionaires and big business.

Much of this money, as well as much of the strategy and staffing, were provided by two brothers who run what they call "the biggest company you've never heard of".

Read More...

Wikileaks

2010-10-26T11:27:00.001-05:00

Regarding Wikileaks - I find it curiously-revealing that one side of the debate is focused on denouncing the distasteful actions (or lack thereof, in the case of protecting detainees from torture at the hands of their Iraqi jailers) chronicled in the reports, whereas the "other side" is desperately denouncing the act of releasing the information itself.

I learned from the Armenian Shark that you can't 'unring' the bell - so might it not be more effective in a democratic and free-thinking society to ensure to the best of our abilities that, in the future, either the kind of damaging information revealed by Wikileaks isn't recorded so it can't be leaked in the first place (ignorance is bliss), or, more realistically, that our policy makers institute directives that compel the best possible behavior from our government representatives abroad, and that we actually hold ourselves accountable for following those directives and conducting ourselves according to the highest standards of enlightened liberalism? I mean, it's downright embarrassing to see former State Dept. advisers whining that Julian Assange should be declared an "enemy combatant." Apparently it's lost on them that this kind of extra-judicial, imperial hubris is what got us into this mess in the first place. Just compare:

"The government views the allegations very seriously," - Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen

vs.

"Here are some of the things the U.S. could do: Explore opportunities for the president to designate WikiLeaks and its officers as enemy combatants, paving the way for non-judicial actions against them." - Christian Whiton

Seriously?

The USA does not need an Official Secrets Act. Our government just needs to do the best it can, at home and abroad, to implement policies that are in the long-term national interest, which don't jeopardize our international standing and the legitimacy we supposedly enjoy as a bastion of democracy, unique in the world thanks to our American exceptionalism.

As Stephen M. Walt writes in the respected journal Foreign Affairs: "Realist that I am, I believe that human beings are more likely to misbehave if they think they can shield what they are doing from public view. For that reason, I also believe that democratic societies are more likely to adopt better policies when information is plentiful and when government officials cannot determine which facts are available to the public and which are not. Because its primary function is to make more information available on issues that concern us all, I therefore conclude that what Wikileaks is doing is on balance a good thing."