National Co-op Month: A Collective Project

co·op·er·a·tive (k - p r- -t v, - -r t v, - p r -). adj. 1. Done in cooperation with others: a cooperative effort. 2. Marked by willingness to cooperatee.

I'm not officially a member of a co-op but given the number of co-operative ventures that populate my life: the SF Bike Coalition, City CarShare, the Bay Area Songwriter Collective, eating at Cheeseboard, or shopping @ Rainbow Grocery, it's clear how much I'm drawn to that model. And as I described the process of recording and assembling my latest EP, the about-to-be "Other Halves," to an engineer, it became clear that it was hardly MY Cd. Not much happens if you don't communicate and collaborate clearly toward a common goal, aka cooperatively, and while yes, the recording is of songs I penned, it has not been solo endeavor. From my band mates, to the handful of local studios both seasoned and newly-minted in which I recorded, to the artwork & duplication , it's been a seriously collective, and local, experience. I couldn't have planned a better way to commemorate National Co-Op month . The EP is just getting pressed this week. If you're at my November shows, you'll be able to pick up a copy. In the meantime, you can listen to the lead-off track "Off Sides."

Off Sides by Deborah Crooks

Blog Action Day: Share the road, clear the sky

RE: Blog Action Day: Climate Change

"Within the United States, transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions after electricity generation." — U.S. Department of Transportation

And transportation habits are one of the quickest things you can change and usually going green about it, is cheaper too. Why not ride the bus, carpool, carshare or get on that bike and ride today? Click on the links and you'll get to some nice resources for just that.

Bike plans, bay views

Sunshine, a bicycle and a waterfront view are keys to happiness. Yes, I rode my bike the long way to work and everything is looking just swell today. (the Festival of Sail is gearing up so there's some especially scenic boats on the bay) All the Bike Coalitions hard work and rallying efforts have really paid off in clearly marked, dedicated bike-ways along 14th and 16th St. I was also struck by how many SF residents are riding these days. Not that the hard work is over. A big rally on Monday, called city government out on stalling the City Bike Plan, part of which seeems to be attributable to an unwieldy California Environmental Quality Act. You can read more about it in the Guardian. And find out ways to help the Coalition spur action by visiting their site.

Pedaling to Play

Bike to Work Day got me on my bike again this week to my renewed joy. I let PTSD from last summer's bike-taxi accident get me for the past several months, to the point of almost selling my beloved near-vintage Bontrager again. However, the part of me that remembers how much I love cycling, even slow and cautious rather than my one-time racers self knew better. Great weather in SF and the annual celebration of the joys of 'alternative' transportation made for an easy week of pedaling from home to town and all around.
So I was even happier to hear that tomorrows Bay to Breaker's gig with Ben Bernstein & Friends along the race route is going to be a pedal-powered event! Due to some ingenuity, we'll be powering the PA via bicycle. How cool is that? Proves there are sooooooooo many ways to cut energy consumption and have fun at the same time. Come say hi. BB & Pals is @ Marx Meadows from 8-11:30. I'll be playing around 10:30 (pedaling prior!) :)

national do something month

November has always been my favorite month, even before it became National Write a Novel in a Month Day (NaNoWriMo) National Write a Blog Post a Day a Month (NaBloPoMo), and National Write a Solo Album (NaSoAlMo) month. (FYI It's also National Diabetes Month, National Epilepsy Awareness Month and National Peanut Butter Lovers Month). Something about the harvest I think, the change of the season, and the powerful forces that make today Day of the Dead, have seemed to make me realize each November that, hey I 'm alive, I better get cracking. So...
Last year I did the NaNoWriMo (starting late and writing 30,000 words, that continue to be edited as time allows) and wrote a song every day as well (two of which survived into performance worthy). This year, I'm already writing a blog post a day, but the priority is on taking action. Chiefly, finishing projects as much as starting new ones (getting songs mastered, figuring out artwork-the picture is from last month's sketchbook). And what could I do every day that might be helpful beyond adding more of my words to the canon and give me a sense of accomplishment. A bit more service may be in order.... Yesterday, amid the other routines, I helped the Bike Coalition with the bike light project and picked up friends from the airport. Today, I'll start by pointing you toward a compilation CD that includes a track by a great San Francisco based songwriter Sean Hayes (along with Norah Jones and the Shins.), Big Change: Songs for Finca. (Hayes is an example of a local boy making it big. And deservedly. His music is great). I'll also direct you to the Green Party voting guide. I came home to a hard copy on my doorstep yesterday. Here's the info online.

shine your light

I'll be volunteering later for SF Bicycle Coalition along with the Municipal Transportation Agency to distribute free bike lights tonight. Come on by one of these stations between 5-7 pm, on your two wheels and ride safely:

• Market St. @ Duboce
• Howard St. @ 8th
• Valencia St. @ 17th
• Valencia St. @ Cesar Chavez
• McAllister St. @ Webster
• Polk St. @ California

The Bike Light Give Away corresponds with the end of Daylight Savings Time.

more cycling news

SF Chronicle reports today:

"San Francisco is one push of the pedal closer to offering residents and visitors a bike-sharing program in an effort to ease traffic congestion and to promote health through exercise....."

Are you a San Francisco Bike Coalition member?