DrTCombs

DrTCombs, 3 days ago to NoStupidQuestions

We've been finding some fascinating artifacts while digging in some very deep clay to install a new drainage system around our house. Yesterday's finds include this etched metal medallion. Can anyone help us figure out what it is?

For background, the house is 80 years old and was built on the site of a Union army bivouac. It's got some cool US history.

#Question
#Detectorists
#History

reverse side of the medallion. there is writing etched into it that we have been told is likely Taoist-era Chinese but are otherwise clueless. there's a thin metal wire across the back, like you'd find on the back of a pin.

DrTCombs, 3 days ago to random

Sitting in my #garden, sipping coffee, reading #KilledByATrafficEngineer, watching people blast through an all-way stop... Lots of feels this Sunday morning

DrTCombs, 4 days ago to accessibility

One of the many arguments against allowing right turns on red is that it entices drivers to roll up as close to the intersection as possible, the better to see when a gap appears that they can dart into. This causes them to completely block crosswalks, curb ramps, and beg buttons.

It seems like a little thing...unless you need to use those facilities....in which case it's a BFD.

#RTOR #BanRTOR #VisionZero #Accessibility

Video from a bicyclist's perspective. The bicyclist is on a sidepath, approaching an intersection with a crosswalk, with an active walk signal. A white van has pulled up into the crosswalk, blocking the bicyclist's path and forcing them nearly into oncoming traffic in the roadway.

DrTCombs, 5 days ago to random

using food as a reward to teach kids about nutrition pretty well sums up our approach to education these days

DrTCombs, 5 days ago to random

Not particularly thrilled to know there's a fellow bicyclist in the hospital and a driver with a warrant for felony hit and run on the loose in my little town tonight

DrTCombs, 6 days ago to random

I have no words.
Literally none.

#CarBrain

DrTCombs, 7 days ago to random

you don't really want to know where I think you should put that 'be safe, be seen' slap bracelet

DrTCombs, 7 days ago to random

School's almost out here, which means it's almost time for the annual "all the ways we nearly got killed getting to and from school this year" video montage. Stay tuned...the last day of school is always the most interesting from a near-death perspective.

DrTCombs, 12 days ago to random

I just shifted my weight in my desk chair. Dog 1 twitches. Dog 2 notices twitch and looks up. Dog 1 notices Dog 2 looking up and jumps up. Dog 2 notices Dog 1 jumping up and also jumps up. Dog 1 notices Dog 2 also jump up and barks. Dog 2 notices Dog 1 bark and leaps off the sofa. Dog 1 notices Dog 2 leap off the sofa and starts sprinting to the door. Dog 2 notices Dog 1 sprint to the door and also sprints to the 2. Both dogs now jumping at the door barking their fool heads off.

DrTCombs, 13 days ago to random

📣 My department is hiring! Please help us find our next Grants Manager!

"The Grants Manager in UNC's Department of City and Regional Planning is responsible for all grants administration within the department, from proposal development to close-out. We are looking for someone who is a good critical thinker, creative, diligent, curious, and willing to learn and grow!"

Full posting is available on UNC's Employment Website: https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/281293

DrTCombs, 13 days ago to random

anyone else have that one person you are most afraid of disappointing in the whole world, even though you only kind of know them, but you still know they would think your fear of disappointing them is utterly ridiculous?

it can't be just me.

DrTCombs, 14 days ago to cycling

But what if you meet a friend for coffee and they randomly give you a giant toolbox?

#BikeTooter #FediBikes

DrTCombs, 14 days ago to random

I continue to be amazed that someone signed off on this.

#CarBrain

Photo taken from a new sidepath alongside Estes Dr in Chapel Hill NC (opposite direction to the previous image). The sidepath is about to cross the entrance to a Circle K store. Just after the driveway, the width of the sidepath is reduced to half, to make room for a Circle K sign advertising the price of gas. There is a ramp and tactile paver the full length of the sidepath, but then the pavement ends and is replaced with unmowed grass, some sort of derelict-looking lighting equipment (sitting in the grass), and then the sign. Regular unleaded is currently US$3.49/gallon, according to the sign.

DrTCombs, 15 days ago to cycling

Happy to have solved the problem of the school bus driver honking at us every morning.

It's been a week, and not a single honk.

#BikeToSchool #BikeTooter #BikeSafety

BarbChamberlain, 16 days ago to transit

Rereading my old blog posts points me to resources I found and then lost over the years. I've often asked people if they remember a piece about how time on the bus is more valuable than time driving and here it is, linked in a post of mine from 2010. Not a study but full of points that are true for me, by Michael Lewyn
https://www.planetizen.com/node/44534. Anyone know of research on this?

(My 2010 post https://biketoworkbarb.blogspot.com/2010/06/little-light-reading-transportation-and.html)

#transportation #transit #Time #ValueOfTime #time #TimeIsRelative #MichaelLewyn

DrTCombs, 19 days ago to random

Gotta love the kind of driver who backs his porsche out right in front of a family on bikes and then parks it in the bike lane along with their other car, already parked in the bike lane, in the school zone during school drop-off.

bikepedantic, 19 days ago to random

Totally untested take that might be 100% wrong in several ways, tell me if I am:

Walking advocacy has had trouble attracting heat, because everyone just… does it. But runners are organized in clubs, persnickety about routes, and maybe can be engaged to fight for better pedestrian networks, maybe?