Dallas Smith
@smithbend.bsky.social
Roads and trails I run and have run, people, things, events I experience there. 100+ marathons. AG winner Chicago and NYC marathons. 100+ AG state records. Background: engineering, Prof Emeritus.
Latest book: Bench Of Despair.
23 July 2024 #6,132,672
Latest book: Bench Of Despair.
23 July 2024 #6,132,672
Pinned
Dallas Smith
@smithbend.bsky.social
· Jan 31
My heart is heavy with regret and sorrow, regret that I didn't do more to make our 40 years together better and sorrow that it is forever too late. Jo Ann passed away Monday two weeks ago. I could not have had a better wife.
Has anyone noticed that Raintree Crow's New Moon at Red Deer Wallow sounds a lot like Herbie Hancock's Butterfly which was written 15 years earlier?
December 2, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Has anyone noticed that Raintree Crow's New Moon at Red Deer Wallow sounds a lot like Herbie Hancock's Butterfly which was written 15 years earlier?
Don't see them much but I had a shiny 50¢ piece in my pocket. I was watching for a quarter on the street -- which would make enough for a cup of coffee at Wendy's this cold morning. Didn't find. Stopped & bought a cup with folding money. Leaving, a block from Wendy's, found a quarter on asphalt.
December 2, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Don't see them much but I had a shiny 50¢ piece in my pocket. I was watching for a quarter on the street -- which would make enough for a cup of coffee at Wendy's this cold morning. Didn't find. Stopped & bought a cup with folding money. Leaving, a block from Wendy's, found a quarter on asphalt.
Roll of new carpet laying in middle of narrow two-lane. I dragged it over to ditch line so it wouldn't block traffic. Must've fallen off immediately before I got there. When I was finishing my 6-miler it was gone. Owner must've come back. Good outcome.
December 1, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Roll of new carpet laying in middle of narrow two-lane. I dragged it over to ditch line so it wouldn't block traffic. Must've fallen off immediately before I got there. When I was finishing my 6-miler it was gone. Owner must've come back. Good outcome.
Reposted by Dallas Smith
The president is a political cartoon of corruption come to life, a gaudy grifter who is selling off pardons and lining his pockets, building a golden ballroom and protecting his fellow sex predator elites, all the while regular Americans are suffering and struggling to make ends meet.
Run on *that*
Run on *that*
November 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The president is a political cartoon of corruption come to life, a gaudy grifter who is selling off pardons and lining his pockets, building a golden ballroom and protecting his fellow sex predator elites, all the while regular Americans are suffering and struggling to make ends meet.
Run on *that*
Run on *that*
I charge my EV at the house 90-something percent of the time, plug it in and go to bed. It's charged the next morning, no hassle, near negligible expense, one or two times per week.
But, to have even the *potential* to travel, you gotta figure on tangling with the public charging network.
But, to have even the *potential* to travel, you gotta figure on tangling with the public charging network.
November 28, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I charge my EV at the house 90-something percent of the time, plug it in and go to bed. It's charged the next morning, no hassle, near negligible expense, one or two times per week.
But, to have even the *potential* to travel, you gotta figure on tangling with the public charging network.
But, to have even the *potential* to travel, you gotta figure on tangling with the public charging network.
If I ever ever ever charge my EV at a public charging station without a huge giant hassle I'll probably have a stroke and fall down on the ground. They can sell the Ioniq when they settle my estate.
The number one drawback to electric cars is the charging network. It is s damned nightmare.
The number one drawback to electric cars is the charging network. It is s damned nightmare.
November 28, 2025 at 6:51 PM
If I ever ever ever charge my EV at a public charging station without a huge giant hassle I'll probably have a stroke and fall down on the ground. They can sell the Ioniq when they settle my estate.
The number one drawback to electric cars is the charging network. It is s damned nightmare.
The number one drawback to electric cars is the charging network. It is s damned nightmare.
When I'm afoot I don't need to see the driver's face. A hand in the sunlight of the windshield tells me if it's a woman or man.
When the hand is open, palm out, fingers spread the driver is a woman.
When the hand is open, palm out, fingers spread the driver is a woman.
November 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
When I'm afoot I don't need to see the driver's face. A hand in the sunlight of the windshield tells me if it's a woman or man.
When the hand is open, palm out, fingers spread the driver is a woman.
When the hand is open, palm out, fingers spread the driver is a woman.
She was resting on the guardrail half standing, head down. As I walked by she raised a face full of gloom, and when I waved she didn't wave back.
It made me think of Cole Porter's Miss Otis Regrets, when she woke up and found her dream of love was gone.
It made me think of Cole Porter's Miss Otis Regrets, when she woke up and found her dream of love was gone.
November 24, 2025 at 7:17 PM
She was resting on the guardrail half standing, head down. As I walked by she raised a face full of gloom, and when I waved she didn't wave back.
It made me think of Cole Porter's Miss Otis Regrets, when she woke up and found her dream of love was gone.
It made me think of Cole Porter's Miss Otis Regrets, when she woke up and found her dream of love was gone.
A thing I've not done in a long long time -- pump gas.
In this case into a hardtop convertible, a guilty pleasure on this sunny day in Tennessee. And yes the environmentalist and EV driver (normally) is gonna put the top down.
Forgive me!
In this case into a hardtop convertible, a guilty pleasure on this sunny day in Tennessee. And yes the environmentalist and EV driver (normally) is gonna put the top down.
Forgive me!
November 23, 2025 at 6:23 PM
A thing I've not done in a long long time -- pump gas.
In this case into a hardtop convertible, a guilty pleasure on this sunny day in Tennessee. And yes the environmentalist and EV driver (normally) is gonna put the top down.
Forgive me!
In this case into a hardtop convertible, a guilty pleasure on this sunny day in Tennessee. And yes the environmentalist and EV driver (normally) is gonna put the top down.
Forgive me!
Reposted by Dallas Smith
A lot of people say the god of the New Testament isn’t vengeful, but Janis Joplin just asked for a color TV and look what happened to her.
November 23, 2025 at 12:35 AM
A lot of people say the god of the New Testament isn’t vengeful, but Janis Joplin just asked for a color TV and look what happened to her.
Willie Stark: Man is conceived in sin and born in corruption, from the diaper to the shroud there's always something.
Woke up thinking about this saying this morning. Why?
Woke up thinking about this saying this morning. Why?
November 21, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Willie Stark: Man is conceived in sin and born in corruption, from the diaper to the shroud there's always something.
Woke up thinking about this saying this morning. Why?
Woke up thinking about this saying this morning. Why?
Reposted by Dallas Smith
bush v gore is the hinge upon which basically everything awful from the last quarter century swings on
i don't think that bush v. gore is the *worst* ruling in the history of the supreme court, but i do think it is the most openly *corrupt* ruling in its history. a real disgrace.
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 AM
bush v gore is the hinge upon which basically everything awful from the last quarter century swings on
Reposted by Dallas Smith
The president of the most powerful nation on Earth is so terrified of the tales that an imprisoned sex trafficker can tell that he plies her with a comfort puppy and custom meals and is holding out the prospect of a pardon.
77 million people voted for this.
77 million people voted for this.
November 15, 2025 at 3:40 AM
The president of the most powerful nation on Earth is so terrified of the tales that an imprisoned sex trafficker can tell that he plies her with a comfort puppy and custom meals and is holding out the prospect of a pardon.
77 million people voted for this.
77 million people voted for this.
Lemme tell you the difference in men and women -- drivers of the vehicles I meet while afoot anyway.
A woman holds her hand in windshield palm outward, fingers spread, an open, welcoming greeting.
A man shows the edge of his hand salute style, or one-or-two fingers Texas style.
Happy for either.
A woman holds her hand in windshield palm outward, fingers spread, an open, welcoming greeting.
A man shows the edge of his hand salute style, or one-or-two fingers Texas style.
Happy for either.
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Lemme tell you the difference in men and women -- drivers of the vehicles I meet while afoot anyway.
A woman holds her hand in windshield palm outward, fingers spread, an open, welcoming greeting.
A man shows the edge of his hand salute style, or one-or-two fingers Texas style.
Happy for either.
A woman holds her hand in windshield palm outward, fingers spread, an open, welcoming greeting.
A man shows the edge of his hand salute style, or one-or-two fingers Texas style.
Happy for either.
Lithium ion batteries have changed the game.
Used to be I'd pick up tire-threatening nails at intersections. Now I pick up 3-inch screws. Carpenters frame a house with their cordless drills.
Used to be I'd pick up tire-threatening nails at intersections. Now I pick up 3-inch screws. Carpenters frame a house with their cordless drills.
November 12, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Lithium ion batteries have changed the game.
Used to be I'd pick up tire-threatening nails at intersections. Now I pick up 3-inch screws. Carpenters frame a house with their cordless drills.
Used to be I'd pick up tire-threatening nails at intersections. Now I pick up 3-inch screws. Carpenters frame a house with their cordless drills.
What a big-assed leaf. That sucker must've measured 18 inches across.
Compare it to the "normal" leaves littering the ground -- sweet gums mostly.
Compare it to the "normal" leaves littering the ground -- sweet gums mostly.
November 12, 2025 at 6:33 PM
What a big-assed leaf. That sucker must've measured 18 inches across.
Compare it to the "normal" leaves littering the ground -- sweet gums mostly.
Compare it to the "normal" leaves littering the ground -- sweet gums mostly.
On my snowy 6-miler today I found a penny, a penny, and a nickel. I left them on pavement in front of rural mailbox. see how long they stay there.
November 11, 2025 at 4:18 AM
On my snowy 6-miler today I found a penny, a penny, and a nickel. I left them on pavement in front of rural mailbox. see how long they stay there.
This ain't unusual. Well, or maybe it is for Middle Tennessee.
Anyway a chill factor of 15 deg F and it did not seem to rise very much all day long.
I was out in it off-and-on most of the day, starting with a 6-mi trudge, and I lost one hand warmer early on.
Anyway a chill factor of 15 deg F and it did not seem to rise very much all day long.
I was out in it off-and-on most of the day, starting with a 6-mi trudge, and I lost one hand warmer early on.
November 11, 2025 at 12:38 AM
This ain't unusual. Well, or maybe it is for Middle Tennessee.
Anyway a chill factor of 15 deg F and it did not seem to rise very much all day long.
I was out in it off-and-on most of the day, starting with a 6-mi trudge, and I lost one hand warmer early on.
Anyway a chill factor of 15 deg F and it did not seem to rise very much all day long.
I was out in it off-and-on most of the day, starting with a 6-mi trudge, and I lost one hand warmer early on.
Reposted by Dallas Smith
Rereading a bit of Frederick Douglass today and this felt unfortunately relevant, "the white man's happiness cannot be purchased by the black man's misery."
November 10, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Rereading a bit of Frederick Douglass today and this felt unfortunately relevant, "the white man's happiness cannot be purchased by the black man's misery."
For supper: Dinty Moore stew and Cold Duck wine.
Don't tell me I don't know how to live!
Don't tell me I don't know how to live!
November 11, 2025 at 12:09 AM
For supper: Dinty Moore stew and Cold Duck wine.
Don't tell me I don't know how to live!
Don't tell me I don't know how to live!
Chill factor 15 deg F, snowing sideways. Trudge 6 miles.
Can't allow weather-defeat. I'm 85 years old, man.
Can't allow weather-defeat. I'm 85 years old, man.
November 10, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Chill factor 15 deg F, snowing sideways. Trudge 6 miles.
Can't allow weather-defeat. I'm 85 years old, man.
Can't allow weather-defeat. I'm 85 years old, man.
Reposted by Dallas Smith
There are 133 counties and county-equivalents in Virginia and New Jersey. In 127 of them, the vote shifted to the Democrats since November 2024. On average, the shift was 6 points to the left.
November 5, 2025 at 4:02 AM
There are 133 counties and county-equivalents in Virginia and New Jersey. In 127 of them, the vote shifted to the Democrats since November 2024. On average, the shift was 6 points to the left.
Ray Wylie Hubbard's lyrics to Conversation with the Devil, sung in a talking blues style, are about as much fun as you'll find in a song.
"One thing you won't find in heaven are Christian Coalition Right Wing Conservatives," Devil told him. Then he showed him where in hell he keeps the preachers.
"One thing you won't find in heaven are Christian Coalition Right Wing Conservatives," Devil told him. Then he showed him where in hell he keeps the preachers.
October 26, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Ray Wylie Hubbard's lyrics to Conversation with the Devil, sung in a talking blues style, are about as much fun as you'll find in a song.
"One thing you won't find in heaven are Christian Coalition Right Wing Conservatives," Devil told him. Then he showed him where in hell he keeps the preachers.
"One thing you won't find in heaven are Christian Coalition Right Wing Conservatives," Devil told him. Then he showed him where in hell he keeps the preachers.
Historic drive to lunch at Rojas Kitchen today, thru Nameless (Blue Highways fame), Granville (Scarecrow walk in prog), Chestnut Mound, Elmwood and now Carthage
Past home of Albert Gore and home of Al Gore, each sitting within sight of each other.
Past home of Albert Gore and home of Al Gore, each sitting within sight of each other.
October 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Historic drive to lunch at Rojas Kitchen today, thru Nameless (Blue Highways fame), Granville (Scarecrow walk in prog), Chestnut Mound, Elmwood and now Carthage
Past home of Albert Gore and home of Al Gore, each sitting within sight of each other.
Past home of Albert Gore and home of Al Gore, each sitting within sight of each other.