I plan to start buying one piece of equipment for my bicycle per week for the next few weeks. Early on I purchased a new air pump and a basket with a lid for the rear rack. Today, I bought a stainless steel water bottle (for only $4). On Friday I’ll order a mirror (made in Germany and nicer than any other I’ve seen in stores). After that, I need to get lights, a repair kit, an emergency air pump, and a bottle carrier that doesn’t require a frame with holes in it. A hub generator would be nice to have, too.
Shopping List for My Bicycle
August 31st, 2009The Black Swan Reviewed
July 29th, 2009One of the most entertaining courtships in the history of swashbuckling films is that of Tyrone Power as buccaneer Jamie Waring and Maureen O’Hara as Lady Margaret Denby in 1942’s The Black Swan. Although opposites attract, and socially they could scarcely be in greater opposition, they are far more similar in temperament, which leads to an amusing tug of war amongst the backdrop of warring pirates and privateers in the Caribbean during the reign of William III in England and Captain Henry Morgan in Jamaica. The fencing is excellent, as can be expected with Tyrone Power in the lead, although it suffers in at least one scene from the film having been unnecessarily sped up, which is certainly dismaying for those who appreciate Power’s swordsmanship. Beautifully filmed and scored, The Black Swan ranks as one of the genre’s enduring classics.
- Writing: Good
- Directing: Good
- Acting: Great
- Cinematography: Great
- Stunts: Great
- Swordplay: Great
- Panache: Great
Overall Rating: Great
Swashbuckling Rank: Great
Bicycle Wine
July 29th, 2009This is the label of the bottle of wine I bought two nights ago:
I’ll be keeping the bottle (and the wine was good, too).
Back on the Bicycle Seat
July 13th, 2009Here are two pictures of my new (old) bicycle, which became mine on Friday the 10th. It is a Schwinn World Tourist of undetermined age (so far), but I know it was made in Taiwan with certain parts made in Japan.
Left Side
Right Side
Roses After Rain
July 2nd, 2009The roses on the east side of my house after a rain:
Ditty Bops Report
June 18th, 2009After seeing the Ditty Bops at the Ark in Ann Arbor last Friday I can guarantee one thing: I’ll never miss a future Ditty Bops performance that’s within reasonable driving distance again (and if I had the means I’d see every performance in the Great Lakes region (plus Portland)).
I was hoping to buy a copy of their last calendar, which is no longer available on their Web site, but I didn’t see any for sale after the show. I was, however, able to buy their latest CD, Songs for Steve, and a CD from 2007 that I didn’t even know existed, Pack Rat. I think that makes my Ditty Bops collection complete at five CDs.
Several of the songs they performed have not yet been recorded, and two were songs made famous by the Boswell Sisters. If they would release a Boswell Sisters tribute CD I would be in seventh heaven. Do you hear me, Ditty Bops? Seventh heaven! Their rendition of Shout, Sister, Shout! was a burst of joy that still makes me smile, and their finale (the title of which I sadly do not know) was an indescribable, explosive delight. Please, please record these songs!
That is all. For now.
Poppy
June 18th, 2009I photographed this poppy earlier this month at my parents’:
White Peony at Night
June 11th, 2009A white peony photographed at night in my parents’ front yard before the thunderstorm:
Nightshade 2
June 11th, 2009Here are two more photographs of the nightshade in my front yard:
Columbine (Aquilegia)
June 9th, 2009A columbine growing along the east side of my house:
