Dick of the Week: Tomas Delgado

Per Smitty's nomination. I think on the 30th, it's safe to just promote this asshole to Dick of the Month...

Driver Who Killed Teen Sues for Damage

MADRID, Spain Jan 25, 2008 (AP) A speeding motorist who killed a teenage cyclist is suing the boy's parents over damage to his luxury car, the government says.

Enaitz Iriondo, 17, died instantly in August 2004 when businessman Tomas Delgado's Audi A8 crashed into him at 100 mph near Haro in northern Spain, an Interior Ministry traffic report said. The speed limit was 55 mph.

Iriondo was not wearing reflective clothing or a helmet, the ministry report said. As the sun had set when he crossed the path of Delgado's car from a side road, a regional court found both parties at fault and closed the case, the report said.

Delgado, whose insurance company paid Iriondo's parents $48,500 in compensation for their son's life, filed a suit in late 2006 to recover $29,400 in damages to his car and car rental costs, the ministry traffic report said.

"It's the only way I have to claim my money back," Delgado was quoted as saying by the newspaper El Pais, which first reported the story on Friday. El Pais said a ruling was expected next week.

Iriondo's parents were shocked.

"It's the final straw, a stab in the back," Iriondo's mother, Rosa Trinidad said, according to El Pais. "Before the lawsuit we thought the poor guy would find it hard to live the rest of his life with the thought of having caused our son's death.

Sorry Mrs Trinidad, apparently the only thing this guy had trouble living with was being out his deductible. This dick's punishment is a no-brainer. Hook him up to his fancy-ass Audi and drag him the 347 feet he dragged the cyclist. He won't, of course, be instantly killed by an impact prior, so he'll really be able to consider what a dick he is as he makes his way down the road.

And yes, I feel compelled to use that horrendous news artwork—even though it's totally cheesy, it's the wrong kind of Audi and the cyclist is wearing a helmet...

NOTE: After a tremendous public outcry in Spain, he dropped the suit today (see Smitty's link). Still a dick. Reduce his dragging to 150 feet.

Resting On My Laurels

So, here I am feeling all good about myself for riding my bicycle to work, and losing ten pounds, but the truth is, I'm really have another ten to lose, and I've been stuck in the mid-170s for probably a month or more. And now we head straight into the toughest stretch of the year: cold weather (less biking) plus Halloween, birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (more chowing) equals return to Huskyville...

The state of my complacency was brought to vivid light with this morning's bit of trivia from Mrs. Furious: with her steady erosion down to a fantastic 113 pounds, I now weigh more than the rest of my family combined.

By one pound.

Did I mention I have two kids? At least it doesn't include the dog.

Future weigh-ins will take place at the playground. On the see-saw. Mrs, Kid and Baby F on the other end...which way does it go?

BONUS: Searching for the photo yielded this funny post.

00:25:29

Today was the first day of commuting by bike. It took me 25 minutes to get to work, and since I left way more time than that, I actually got to work far earlier than normal (I'm a 9:05 kinda guy).

I was like a kid on Christmas Eve last night getting everything ready to go for the morning ride. While I'm not looking as forward to the more uphill ride home in 90-degree heat, riding in definitely works—not too sweated-up, etc (change of clothes in the office), and I seem to be more energetic this morning. When I arrive home, I can always just tumble into Kid Furious' pool to cool down.

"On a Steel Horse I Ride"

Well, Alpha Hydroformed Aluminum anyway. There she folks, my new mofo commuter bike. My ticket to fitness and freedom from fossil fuel dependancy. Er, three days a week, weather permitting.

I've been trying to take Ruby (aka Kid Furious) on bikeseat-rides this summer and my old DiamondBack mountain bike had seen better days. Brought it in for a tune-up and it needed new tires, brakes, and various other things and it was going to run me like $160. I wandered around a bit in the store and started thinking about just moving to a new rig instead.

A week of test rides at lunch and obsessive online research later I made my choice—the Trek 7.3FX. Part of their "fitness" line. Sort of a hybrid, but more on the road side of things, without the drop bars and lower riding position. Much faster and lighter than my old bike, and I am confident it will serve me well as a commuter bike and dragging the kids around.

Over the last month, with smarter eating and modest treadmillin' I've lost about seven pounds, and am poised to re-enter the 170s. My target is the 160s—territory I probably haven't seen in over a decade. Hoping the new bike regimen will get me there quicker and will get me the cardio I so desperately need now that I'm pushing 40.

I just dug out my old bike threads and threw them in the washer. What're the odds they will actually still fit me? Probably should've tried 'em on first...