Southern California - Tom the Sweeper...

I keep reading about him on the GMR reports...shed some light for me.

Who is he?
Is he out there every weekend?
Does he ride all the way up with that big broom?
How long has he been doing this?

I rode up GMR this weekend and sure enough, Tom was there with his trusty broom.

At the end of my ride, I was in the parking lot loading my bike when I struck up a conversation with the guy next to me. He said Tom is just a guy who rides up and sweeps the road every weekend. He is not a city/county employee and does it out of the goodness of his heart. He said Tom told him he was afraid someone would get hurt because of the dirt on the road and was trying to prevent any accidents. His rationale is that he's afraid they'll close the road to cyclist if people get hurt and so he sweeps the road.

This guy deserves an award if you ask me! This world needs more people like Tom.

Thanks jamlo! It's nice to know that there are nice people out there. :)

Thanks jamlo! It's nice to know that there are nice people out there. :)

So, Brandy, were you going to bring Tom and me some brownies?

(Tom, cause he is a great guy and me cause I like brownies)

There is a lil Oriental guy that sweeps the SA Trail too. He only does the section around the golf course/Edna Park. Everytime we ride by we say hi. He looks very happy when people acknowledge him. I haven't seen him in quite a while, hope he's ok. Does seem to have kind of a handicap, maybe a sroke as his arm looks a bit off.

I wish he would move down a bit near the SA section and sweep up the glass. Maybe I'll offer him a ride on my handlebars. Drop him off and pick him back up on my way back!:D

How long has Tom benn sweeping? Couple of years ago, while traing for the Bear, I rode up 3 times a week and never saw the guy. I had never seen him before the BF ride a month a ago. But I hadn't been up there in a year.:eek:

There is a lil Oriental guy that sweeps the SA Trail too.

Pssssssssst...it's Asian. Oriental is used to describe inanimate objects like rugs. Of course, I don't see the need to describe people by race in the first place, but if you're going to do it, do it right.

Sorry...off my soapbox, but that one always bugs me.

So, Brandy, were you going to bring Tom and me some brownies?

(Tom, cause he is a great guy and me cause I like brownies)

When I finally make a GMR attempt, I will certainly bring Tom the Sweeper some goodies. You all know I have room in my handlebar bag. :p

Pssssssssst...it's Asian. Oriental is used to describe inanimate objects like rugs. Of course, I don't see the need to describe people by race in the first place, but if you're going to do it, do it right.

Sorry...off my soapbox, but that one always bugs me.

Kind of like when people send a message from Mexico and start with "Hola"?......Guess everybody has a peave!:p

BTW, the guy does look a bit like a rug!:D

Kind of like when people send a message from Mexico and start with "Hola"?......Guess everybody has a peave!:p

Let's see...me saying hello in Spanish vs. you referring to an Asian person as oriental? Apples to oranges Mr. Beanz.

Let's see...me saying hello in Spanish vs. you referring to an Asian person as oriental? Apples to oranges Mr. Beanz.

Uhhhh, OK!

Uhhhh, OK!

I'm glad that you can see that I'm right. :p

I'm glad that you can see that I'm right. :p

Yeah right! When you learn to speak Mexican, then I'll explain it to you!;)

Yeah right! When you learn to speak Mexican, then I'll explain it to you!;)

Now I'm confused......what's the difference between Mexican and Spanish?

Now I'm confused......what's the difference between Mexican and Spanish?

Mexicans like me have no money and are mostly poor people. Spanish is what Mexicans become when they run into money!:D

The whole thing is confusing to me! I buy oriental noodles at the supermarket. I thought they were called Oriental noodles cause Oriental people ate them. Why don't they call them Asian noodles so that some of us don't get confused?:mad: ........So I'm confused about what Oriental really is. Not my fault, I'm just a victim of society and a product of my environment!:p

The whole thing is confusing to me! I buy oriental noodles at the supermarket. I thought they were called Oriental noodles cause Oriental people ate them. Why don't they call them Asian noodles so that some of us don't get confused?:mad: ........So I'm confused about what Oriental really is. Not my fault, I'm just a victim of society and a product of my environment!:p

If it's confusing, then take advantage of the explanation that I gave you up there. Oriental is used to describe inanimate objects...like rugs. Asian is used to describe people...that is...when you feel the need to describe someone by their race instead of just saying that there's some really cool guy likes to sweep SART. :rolleyes:

If it's confusing, then take advantage of the explanation that I gave you up there. Oriental is used to describe inanimate objects...like rugs. Asian is used to describe people...that is...when you feel the need to describe someone by their race instead of just saying that there's some really cool guy likes to sweep SART. :rolleyes:


Geeez, another one! I wasn't responding to you.

Geeez, another one! I wasn't responding to you.

I was trying to help you out with your confusion there Mr. Beanz, but if you'd prefer to remain ignorant, then ignore my posts!

I was trying to help you out with your confusion there Mr. Beanz, but if you'd prefer to remain ignorant, then ignore my posts!


I understand, you don't have to go on and on. My reply was for Fixer. I appreciate your info, but please let it go. I and maybe a few others find your Hola ignorant the other day, but I didn't feel the need to criticize you when you posted it. Also I avoided it cause you probaly wouldn't understand what I meant if I had brought it to your attention.

You wouldn't understand if I explained it to you which actually makes you ignorant too. I would bet money that you would have argued if I had brought it to your attention and gave you my reasons. My assumption is based on replies of yours that I have read in the past. I see you can get pretty nasty, so I avoided the confrontation. But it looks like you're looking for one.

Good night!

Actually, in UK the term Asian is usually used for people of Southern Asian descent (Indian, Pakistani, etc.). While people from far east (China, Japan, etc) are referred to as Orientals.

http://www.shanghaiist.com/attachments/shang_dan/The_More_You_Know.jpg

All I know is I'm referred to as a chino amongst my employees....:D

now now kids, play nice.

Speaking as an "oriental," Brandy is correct. Other countries may use the terms "oriental" and "asians" differently, but in the US, Brandy's definition is correct.

Mr. Beanz, out of legitimate curiosity, do most hispanics/mexicans/latinos/chicanos (trying not offend anyone here) find it offensive when non-hispanic/mexican/latino/chicano say "hola"? I've never heard of that before and some of my best friends are hispanic/mexican/latino/chicano. When people say "ni-hau" to me, I don't think anything of it. Now if they say "konichiwa," then i stab them in the eyes with my chopsticks because I'm chinese and not japanese and just cause we may look alike doesnt mean you should assume we're the same. But if saying "adios" and "hola" and "amigo" is offensive, then I think everyone's in a world of hurt because hell, I think everyone is guilty of it whether they're saying "hola" or "sayonora" or "bon jour."

And as a neutral party, I too thought that you still didn't get the distinction based on what you wrote in your post (#14) so don't be too hard on Brandy.

Now let's all hug and make up.

Adios (just kidding)

I knew just who Mr. Beanz was talking about and being part oriental (note the lack of quotation marks) I took no offense. Now admittedly I don't look the slightest bit oriental but apparently looks don't mean anything to anyone anymore so that detail shouldn’t matter…ha. Growing up, the term oriental was what was used with no derogatory meaning attached, but suddenly in this Politically Correct world gone wild even someone who I believe (I could be wrong) is not even oriental can get all upset about something the doesn’t even apply to them. People themselves choose to be offended by terms they don’t like, they should get over it.

Now I’m off my soap box.

Signed,

Angry, mostly white, male.

Noun 1.Oriental person
oriental person - a member of an Oriental race

Jamlo, I see what you are saying. My #14 was a reply to Fixer in a kidding fashion. I didn't mean to offend anyone by describing the guy as Asian. You'd have a better chance of knowing my subject than if I said,"the guy in the shorts and a red t-shirt". But right away some will make it seem like a racial hate crime. I've been on ride alongs with local law enforcement agencies. Once I was riding with the county Sheriff's dept, a group of cars gathered to investigate people entering a bulding. An officer said,"it's just a bunch of stupid Mexican janitors cleaning up trash". Now that would be offensive! my use was only an innocent description. Went on a PD ride and was pretty much the same to blacks. That's when I decided I wouldn't fit in, so I gave it up.


You'd be suprised but you can call a Hispanic any one of the terms you listed above and all can be found offensive to one or the other. I would say that you didn't know that, but I wouldn't attack you and call you ignorant. I could explain, but I'd have to pretty much write a book. Let's just say to some, like my parents, calling them a Chicano would be like calling a black person the "N" word! But surely some others, maybe the young have a different interpretation as they haven't experienced what my parnets have. Maybe even like you said, location differs. My point is that we are all ignorant in a way! Why attack me if I don't attack you?

I prefer asian, not out of political correctness but simply because saying "oriental sensation" just doesn't sound right. :lol:

[and yes, i'm asian, the asian sensation] :D

Which reminds me, i need to change my user title...

BTW, not because I would consider anyone ignorant but you probably didn't know , only because you have never experienced it. IF I tell a person from Mexico that I am Mexican, we have a fight on our hands!

That's how delicate it can be! That's how much maybe you didn't know!

And i apologize to anyone that I may have offended by using the wrong term or any term at all, due to my ignorance!..But aren't we all?

Ralph.....I see absolutely no Asian feature in you. What fraction are you Asian?...I'm curious..:)
Many mistake me for a Latino as people often come up to me speaking Spanish, especially in my business. People are often surprised when I tell them I'm 51% Japanese......in fact sushi chefs are often shocked to see this 'Latino' place sushi orders in fluent Japanese...:D

I prefer asian, not out of political correctness but simply because saying "oriental sensation" just doesn't sound right. :lol:

[and yes, i'm asian, the asian sensation] :D

Which reminds me, i need to change my user title...

See, now I actually think that is cute but lose it. And no more Rocky "Italian Stallion" Moveis either, I guess!:D

Mr. Beanz--

No worries. I wasn't offended. Sometimes i think we're too sensitive these days when it comes to race. I certainly did not think you were trying to be offensive and likewise with me. My roommate in college (mexican) told me that some people think the word hispanic is offenseive, but then I see some people refer to themselevs as hispanic and I think "well, is it offensive or is i not offensive." Thats why I just refer to everyone as either white or other....just kidding.

Ok--now let's get back to talking about bikes!

Ralph.....I see absolutely no Asian feature in you. What fraction are you Asian?...I'm curious..:)
Many mistake me for a Latino as people often come up to me speaking Spanish, especially in my business. People are often surprised when I tell them I'm 51% Japanese......in fact sushi chefs are often shocked to see this 'Latino' place sushi orders in fluent Japanese...:D

Come to think of it, I thought you were hispanic. Pretty funny. Then again, I thought Caligurl was asian...until I met her.

So...how did you arrive at the 51%? Seems that you would need to trace your family tree back quite a ways to know that.

If you think you get funny looks at the sushi bar when you order in Japanese, you should see the looks l get...then again, it could just be my lousy pronunciation.

My roommate in college (mexican) told me that some people think the word hispanic is offenseive


I thought you were hispanic


DOH!!!

Ralph.....I see absolutely no Asian feature in you. What fraction are you Asian?...I'm curious..:)
Many mistake me for a Latino as people often come up to me speaking Spanish, especially in my business. People are often surprised when I tell them I'm 51% Japanese......in fact sushi chefs are often shocked to see this 'Latino' place sushi orders in fluent Japanese...:D


Hey Fixer,

My grandmother is from the Eastern part of Russia, a town right on the border with Mongolia and looks like a Mongolian, so 25%. If you saw her (you can't, she died a few years ago at 100 years old...a century?) you would think oriental or asian right away. I have two brothers that if you were told to look for asian features you would see it right away. My sisters an I however, took after my dad.

I've got to ask, just how do you get 51%, did you all take a vote or something???:D

Mr. Beanz--



Ok--now let's get back to talking about bikes!

yes, please ;)

My mother is 100% Japanese which makes me 50% Japanese & 50% Caucasian......but since I think in Japanese I tack on that extra 1%....:D

When I walk into the sushi place across the street I address the sushi chef in spanish (he is Mexican after all) and he addresses me in english because he knows that I am an ignorant gringo.

(and yes, he is from Mexico, so I do not have to refer to him in PC terms).

I sometimes use people's race when I describe them to others, I feel it paints a better picture. It has nothing to do with stereotypes, because the fact is that everyone is a specific race.

Just for the record, one doesn't need to be a member of the group in question to take offense to something said about that group.

Just for the record, one doesn't need to be a member of the group in question to take offense to something said about that group.

Well of course, this is America and we can take offense at anytning we like, I guess.

Ok--now let's get back to talking about bikes!
So are you becoming a regular on the GMR? Couldn't get enough, could you?

Well of course, this is America and we can take offense at anytning we like, I guess.

I'm offended by your typos.

I'm offended by your typos.

DOH!
I went to fix it, and saw you took my offending typo and offended me with it!!!:D

So are you becoming a regular on the GMR? Couldn't get enough, could you?


I got bored with Fullerton. Its definitely more fun riding up with a group than riding it solo.

I think I'm just going to start calling everybody "Earthlings", so as not to offend anyone who may or may not be a part of a particular region, culture, or demographic. The only ones I might offend are extra-terrestrial aliens, and if they happen to show up, we're fxxked anyway.

/dumb mick.

Question: You can call an American 'american'. You can call a German 'german'. We refer to the French as 'The French'...but the one time you call a Chinese person 'Chinese', you're in hot water...why is that?

/ignorant WOP.

Other posit: 'Asian' is far too vague when describing people...since India, Russia, Nepal, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, N/S Korea, Indonesia, The Phillipines, China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, etc are all "Asian". I'd think lumping them all together as "Asian" is the height of ignorant arrogance.

/lazy kraut.

Finally: My next door neighbor is Filipino, and I asked her (in civilized, polite conversation) which was the correct term, and she said Filipino, not Asian.

/insensitive prick




*** BOT - Maybe someone should put a ribbon on a broom, leave it on GMR and put a note on it saying "Thanks, Tom. Love, Bicyclists.

Maybe someone should put a ribbon on a broom, leave it on GMR and put a not on it saying "Thanks, Tom. Love, Bicyclists.

He's been using a very nice push broom with frame and handle made of CF...:D

You know what everybody likes? Parfaits. Have you ever met a person, you say, “Let’s get some parfait,” they say, “No, I don’t like no parfait”? Parfaits are delicious.

Parfaits may be the most delicious thing on the whole damn planet.

You know what everybody likes? Parfaits. Have you ever met a person, you say, “Let’s get some parfait,” they say, “No, I don’t like no parfait”? Parfaits are delicious.

Parfaits may be the most delicious thing on the whole damn planet.

I love Parfaits, but I think one would melt before we got it up to Tom.

I love Parfaits, but I think one would melt before we got it up to Tom.

OK, how about chocolate dipped soft serve?:D

I was kidding again, no need to lecture me, I understand the meltdown theory now!:D

You know what everybody likes? Parfaits. Have you ever met a person, you say, “Let’s get some parfait,” they say, “No, I don’t like no parfait”? Parfaits are delicious.

Parfaits may be the most delicious thing on the whole damn planet.

NO!!!!! So Cal Bike Forum people are like onions!!!

NO!!!!! So Cal Bike Forum people are like onions!!!

I'm glad somebody got it. :)

NO!!!!! So Cal Bike Forum people are like onions!!!

Make you wanna cry?:p

I'm glad somebody got it. :)
I got it...I was just trying to get back to the topic of the thread...;)

NO!!!!! So Cal Bike Forum people are like onions!!!

You leave them out in the sun and they turn brown and sprout little hairs?