modest niche

a blog in progress
Nov 13
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First things first, I got a new job. Yay! Second things second, it’s so close to my house, I’d like to mostly ditch my dying car and bike it. So I am going to invest in a half-way decent commuter bike. I’ve narrowed it down to two different bikes: The ‘09 Bianchi Milano Alfine and the ‘10 Globe Haul 01 (by Specialized). I’ve included pictures of both above: The Bianchi is on top, and the Globe is below. Here’s my problem: The Bianchi is clearly a better bike. It is also cheaper—one of my local bike stores has it on sale at $550. However, the Globe is just really aesthetically beautiful to me—the colors are taken from the original VW bug and there are no horrid logos everywhere. It is more expensive at $660, and while it’s not a piece of junk, the components just aren’t as good. Both are 8-speed though the Bianchi has Shimano Alfine components and the Globe has Shimano Alivio components. Both have aluminum frames and steel forks, though the Bianchi fork is steel and CroMoly. I want a rear rack, and the Globe’s is built in and can hold 100 lbs. I’d have to add one to the Bianchi. Of course, I need all the basic bike supplies too: helmet, lock, etc. So, are there any bike people out there? Can anyone help me with advice?

First things first, I got a new job. Yay! Second things second, it’s so close to my house, I’d like to mostly ditch my dying car and bike it. So I am going to invest in a half-way decent commuter bike.

I’ve narrowed it down to two different bikes: The ‘09 Bianchi Milano Alfine and the ‘10 Globe Haul 01 (by Specialized). I’ve included pictures of both above: The Bianchi is on top, and the Globe is below.

Here’s my problem: The Bianchi is clearly a better bike. It is also cheaper—one of my local bike stores has it on sale at $550. However, the Globe is just really aesthetically beautiful to me—the colors are taken from the original VW bug and there are no horrid logos everywhere. It is more expensive at $660, and while it’s not a piece of junk, the components just aren’t as good.

Both are 8-speed though the Bianchi has Shimano Alfine components and the Globe has Shimano Alivio components. Both have aluminum frames and steel forks, though the Bianchi fork is steel and CroMoly. I want a rear rack, and the Globe’s is built in and can hold 100 lbs. I’d have to add one to the Bianchi. Of course, I need all the basic bike supplies too: helmet, lock, etc.

So, are there any bike people out there? Can anyone help me with advice?

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Jul 15
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Phoenix is too hot

As my husband and I are lacking in furniture, we decided to go to the nearest ikea, which is sadly a good eight hour drive to Phoenix. Why there’s not one in the Denver area, I’m not sure.

We rented a Nissan Altima that had no key, but a start/stop button and drove over to Flagstaff and then south through the mountains to Phoenix. It was a very pretty drive, though when descending I started to notice that if I moved my body out of the direct flow of the AC, it was really hot. I freaked, thinking the car was breaking down, and then I put my hand on the window.

We got to Phoenix and found out it was 112 degrees. It was awful, and the very definition of oppressive.


In other news, Santa Fe ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. My job is AWFUL, and am looking for a new one. This would include relocating ‘cause there’s not really anything to do in Santa Fe other than drink and mock tourists.

Hopefully, I’ll keep the blog up a bit more. I have a couple of album covers out / coming out soon, so that’s cool. It’s nice to see your work on itunes, even if it isn’t all that difficult.

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Mar 16
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MIst over the basin 2. You can barely tell, but that’s the moon in the very top middle of the photo.

MIst over the basin 2. You can barely tell, but that’s the moon in the very top middle of the photo.

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Mist over the basin.

Mist over the basin.

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Sunset over the basin.

Sunset over the basin.

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Sep 13
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You're right D—you do smoke too much dope

A few weeks back, Rob Nelson was waxing philosophic about some movie—I forget which; I really wasn’t paying attention and I smoke too much dope. I don’t know why I kept reading it, ‘cause I wasn’t planning on seeing the movie anyway, but them Mr. Nelson decided to draw a parallel between the film in question and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, mentioning the “banana blow-job scene” in the latter. [Editor’s note: The movie in question was Celebrity (Film Clips, 11/25).]

Man, what crack was he smokin’? There ain’t nobody goin’ down on no banana in Fast Times! Jennifer Jason Leigh was wrappin’ her delicious little lips around the sleek orange shaft of a carrot (under the strict, sensual tutelage of the late, grate Phoebe Cates). True, the shape and curve of he carrot is not as anatomically correct as the banana (and thus the banana would have been a better choice), but Mr. Nelson, in his esteemed position as arbiter of cinematic greatness/foolishness, should get his shit straight before he goes tossin’ it off so flippantly. Or not. Whatever.

-A letter to the editor from my beloved D in 1998. What the hell did I get myself into?

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Sep 09
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» Words They Used - 2008 Political Conventions
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» Near Future Laboratory » Drift Deck

I used that very same laser cutter on my MFA project. I didn’t know you could engrave paper though—they used a 6-ply stock from Dick Blick. I always thought it would have been awesome to use the laser cutter to engrave wood and then make a multi-layered woodblock print out of it.

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Sep 03
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“ I wish I was the person that I imagine myself to be when I am listening to my favorite albums.
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NSFW! But funny. Via Bob Torres, via DailyKos.

“It’s about to start raining shards into the hearts of the American people”

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