I’ve been reading one of my old calculus books (Thomas/Finney Calculus and Analytic Geometry 7th Edition). It’s amazing how much I used to know, eh? Other than to remind myself with how stupid I have become, I wanted to register for a free internet thing, but as part of the process, one had to answer a random math question (brilliant idea, really), and, duh, I couldn’t remember some “basic mathematics” as my East German 4th semester calc prof termed it.
On the positive side, it didn’t take me that long to figure out the problem with the text in hand. I haven’t completely entered my dotage yet.

In regards to my previous post about the nude cyclists getting arrested (see article here), there are no laws in Washington prohibiting nudity. However, according to Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Dewey Potter (the cyclists had to get park permits for the ride; those approving the permits knew about the nudity):
“In the state of Washington, it’s not illegal to be nude, per se,” Potter said. “What’s illegal is to provoke someone or upset them in some way.”
Um, so being “offended” is cause for getting someone arrested? Like that’s a good idea, huh.
Of course, then there is “indecent exposure” which is illegal:
RCW 9A.88.010
Indecent exposure.
(1) A person is guilty of indecent exposure if he or she intentionally makes any open and obscene exposure of his or her person or the person of another knowing that such conduct is likely to cause reasonable affront or alarm.
An annual nude bicycle ride hardly qualifies. I suppose the three could have been lecherously flashing people, but I personally find that unlikely. Why those three and not the others? When we passed the group in Seward Park none were unclothed, so I presume they were threatened by the authorities. Given all the public commentary I have read, a lot of people think it *is* illegal to be nude in public, but one would hope the police know better.

14 JUL 2007 : SATURDAY
Amanda had morning clinic. I touched up the stairwell paint job and took the opportunity to touch up everything else on the first and second floors.
Amanda then took a nap while I did some outside chores.

When she woke up, we went on a bike ride. Amanda finally got to check out her new cyclometer, but she was not sure how to use all of its functions. She was OK during the ride, but got really dizzy when we stopped. We went over I90 to Mercer Island and back and then when along the lake to Seward Park. The Powers That Be close Lake Washington Boulevard around Mt. Baker to vehicular traffic one day of the weekend during the summers, so we were able to zip along side by side (pacelines are boring anyway). Amanda got something in her eye near Genesee Park, so we stopped to try to flush it out. I think it was more difficult because she wears contacts (another reason I don’t wear them), but eventually we were able to remove the offending material. Which was probably a bug.

They were setting up stuff at Seward Park for the Seafair Triathlon. I was amused that all the porta-potties/honey buckets were all locked via plastic ties. There were also a lot of police and bicyclists; it looked like they there impounding some bicycles, but I was unsure what was going on. Later I read that it was nude bicycling weekend or somesuch, so I guess someone broke some public nudity law.

We watched Pan’s Labyrinth back at home. It was interesting.

15 JUL 2007 : SATURDAY
We headed out to the Eastside to go on a hike with Larry, one of his sons, and a coworker Tela(?). We stopped by BK for some fat and salt to buffer our stomachs for the hike. We basically went up one of the summits of Tiger Mountain, which is actually very close to Seattle (before Snoqualmie Pass). It was a nice little hike, maybe six miles round trip with 2000 ft of elevation gain. Larry had the benefit of having his son carry everything. There were a lot of people around the area, as I guess it is a popular location, but we took a much less popular route on the way up.

Tela was a interesting guy. He was from Elmira, NY of all places.

One of the summits of Tiger Mountain has a lot of cell towers on top. I had always wondered what that mountain was, so now I know.

There were some very unhappy people hiking up whilst we were zipping down. I hope they weren’t coerced into going on the hike, but I guess they probably were.
We had dinner at Larry’s house afterwards. He lives on Cougar Mountain, right by where we went on a hike with Amanda’s mom a while ago. We had a very hard time finding his place earlier (we had picked them up before the hike), because none of the roads were straight nor did they join together predictably. As one might expect from suburbia combined with the fact the development was on a hill/mountain. There were a lot of people walking around, though, which is atypical of the classic burbs. I think they were just walking for exercise, though, as they wasn’t a lot nearby except for other houses.

Dinner was fun. It was cool to hang up with Larry and his family. His eldest son is going off to Olin this fall (full ride!). He got into everywhere he applied to (like MIT, Cornell, etc.), so I guess they weren’t stressing about college like all the people in the newspaper articles I have been reading over the last few years.

Back home, we watched Chicago. I thought it was just OK and was surprised it won six Oscars. Queen Latifah’s song was pretty good though. I think actually seeing it as a musical would have been better.

In reference to my previous ignorance, it is “Latte Tuesday” at the Italian store up Rainier from us, and latte’s are $1.20 according to their sign. Amanda says she can get a very small latte are Harborview for $1.99 $1.90. But one can spend seemingly outrageous amounts of money for one’s latte. So now I know.