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Thursday, November 30, 2006
2006 Holiday reading list
When I find the time, I'll peruse this list of 2006 books to give for the holidays. (0) comments
On reading a novel
The Guardian Unlimited recently published an article entitled Feel free to browse on how to select a novel to read. Turn to page 69, and it you like what you read, you'll probably like the book. (0) comments Sunday, November 26, 2006
Virginia Bike Map
Virginia Dept. of Trans. just published the new Virginia Bike Map. It is a very basic map of bike routes in the state. In the N. Va. inset it includes the Cross County Trail as a route. That's true if you have a mountain bike and like fording streams. (0) comments
Bike safety info in Spanish
Our bicycle advocacy group is working the local police to promote bicycle safety among the Hispanic community. We're looking for bike safety information in Spanish, like this brochure at the FHWA site. If you know of any other good info, please let me know. (0) comments Friday, November 24, 2006
Chris Ware New Yorker covers
The Chris Ware New Yorker covers are available online at the New Yorker site. (0) comments
My Morning Jacket
I've heard lots about the group My Morning Jacket but know nothing about their work. That's where Amazon comes in handy, providing the ability to listen to snippets of songs. It's not much, but is usually enough to get a feel for what a group sounds like. I may get their live CD Okonokos. (0) comments Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Edge City
Attended a lecture this morning by Joel Garreau, author of Edge City: Life on the New Frontier. Edge cities are outside of urban areas, have lots of retail and office space, and are relatively new. Places such as Tysons. He stated the obvious in saying that most stores will not be needed in the future, that people will go to buy objects that can't easily be shipped such as fresh produce or services such as bike repair. The main attraction of many thriving stores such as Starbucks, is the ability to interact with other people. He thinks that Tysons Corner will need 5 or 6 reinventions before it becomes a viable city, and that each time the mistakes of the past will be fewer and it will be a livelier place. (0) comments
Fierce Grace
Saw the video Fierce Grace last night. It's a documentary on Ram Dass, the author of Be Here Now and former Harvard professor who turned on, tuned in, and dropped out with Timothy Leary. It's an excellent look at his life, past and present, including his struggle to recover from a disabling stroke. Highly recommended. (0) comments Sunday, November 19, 2006
Streets without signs
Going on the assumption that without traffic signs, motorists become much more cautions when they drive, Europeans are experiementing without them as described in European Cities Do Away with Traffic Signs. (0) comments Saturday, November 18, 2006
Frame sizing
I recently purchased an old Raleigh Record 10-speed steel bike for $15. It's white with orange in the head and seat tube panels. The frame is in very good condition. The bike feels heavy, but once the steel wheels were removed, the weight was reduced by half. In trying to figure out which wheels will fit the frame, I needed to measure the current frame dropout spacing, and the width of the axle with locknuts (Over Locknut Distance or OLD). As usual, Sheldon Brown has compiled rather detailed information about frame spacing on older bikes. I haven't decided whether to rebuild new wheels with alloy rims using the old hubs, to get new wheels, or to just use the old wheels. Don't know what I'll eventually do with the bike, but it's been fun working on it. The bottom bracket and headset grease was so old that it had almost solidified. Once cleaned, the bearings and cups were like new. The bike has probably sat for many years unused. Maybe I'll just mount it on the wall to admire. (0) comments Thursday, November 16, 2006
(0) comments Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Sheldon Brown has M.S.
Sheldon Brown is probably the most knowledgeable (and opinionated) cyclist in the U.S. He has written for many bicycle journals over the years while working as a mechanic and now parts manager for Harris Cyclery. He recently experienced a loss of balance which turned out to be weakness in his legs which prevented him from riding his two-wheel bikes. Turns out he has been diagnosed with M.S. He can still ride a trike. When we rode on the 2005 ‘BentRide, we passed him while he was riding his Greenspeed trike. I hate to think what it would be like not to be able to ride a bike. (0) comments Saturday, November 11, 2006
Metheney/Mehldau
A while back I mentioned three recently released jazz CDs that were on my wish list. Today we rode into Leesburg, about a 40-mile round trip. A favorite stop there is the CD Cellar. It's one of the few places that stock quality used CDs. Among the miscellaneous jazz recordings was the latest from Pat Metheny, Metheny Mehldau. Brad Mehldau is one of the most creative pianists working today, and he complements Metheny's lyrical guitar perfectly. The CD is already on my favorites list. I hope the collaboration continues for many years. (0) comments Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Thatched house
Going through a CD of scanned slides from Dad's collection I came across this image of a thatched house in England.  (0) comments
NYC cyclists
There's a long article in New Yorker on New York City cyclists. I was a DC cyclist today, riding into the District to attend the regional 2007 Bike to Work Day meeting (May 18, 2007). It's about a 50 mile round trip, mostly along the W&OD Trail, Custis Trail, and Mt. Vernon Trail. The rest is on-road, much of it in the city. Contrary to what you might think, riding in the city is much better than here in the suburbs. In the burbs many of the streets are cul-de-sacs, forcing through traffic onto busy major roads without shoulders. In the city most motorists are accustomed to driving with cyclists, and there is usually enough room to ride comfortably. (0) comments Sunday, November 05, 2006
Southern Culture, Stories and Songs
Saw one of the best shows in a long time last night at The Barns of Wolf Trap. Southern Culture, Stories and Songs Show consists of Rodney Crowell and friends performing songs and poetry in a relaxed living room-like setting. Will Kimbrough has performed with Rodney in the past and was his lead guitar accompaniment as well as performing his own songs. He played blistering guitar solos on his acoustic guitar; he was so good that I purchased his latest CD, Americanitis. Minton Sparks is a wonderful performance poet, telling tales derived mostly from her Southern family. She walked slowly to the stage in her cotton print dress and large white purse on her arm and proceeded to captivate the audience with her funny, poignant stores. Elizabeth Cook performed with her husband Tim Carroll, a decent guitarist and songwriter. Elizabeth sings in a high-pitched, wavering voice about strong women, the power of her mother's prayers, and the vagaries of love. Rodney played too few of his own songs, but the ones he performed were left us wanting more. Highly recommended. (0) comments
Southern Culture, Stories and Songs
Saw one of the best shows in a long time last night at The Barns of Wolf Trap. Southern Culture, Stories and Songs Show consists of Rodney Crowell and friends performing songs and poetry in a relaxed living room-like setting. Will Kimbrough has performed with Rodney in the past and was his lead guitar accompaniment as well as performing his own songs. He played blistering guitar solos on his acoustic guitar; he was so good that I purchased his latest CD, Americanitis. Minton Sparks is a wonderful performance poet, telling tales derived mostly from her Southern family. She walked slowly to the stage in her cotton print dress and large white purse on her arm and proceeded to captivate the audience with her funny, poignant stores. Elizabeth Cook performed with her husband Tim Carroll, a decent guitarist and songwriter. Elizabeth sings in a high-pitched, wavering voice about strong women, the power of her mother's prayers, and the vagaries of love. Rodney played too few of his own songs, but the ones he performed were left us wanting more. Highly recommended. (0) comments Friday, November 03, 2006
Lucerne
Here's a sketch from our trip to Switzerland, of the covered bridge in Lucerne, looking toward Mt. Pilatus:  (0) comments |
