In with the new, out with the old.

After nearly 15 years, it's time for a new pair of mountain bike shoes:

Those Sidis held up well, but it was time.  The soles were still holding up, but were badly gouged from years of use with Eggbeater pedals.  (Fortunately, a new stainless steel sole protector plate has been introduced by Crank Bros.  Won't have that problem again.)  The cleats were shot, with the soft rubber overlays recently departed.  The velcro tabs were de-laminating from their leather covers.  And finally, the leather uppers were getting some rot-tears near the nose.  It was time.  But for all that, they were still serviceable to the end.
Still not the end of the line for these though, not entirely.  One of the buckles on my road shoes has recently broken, so there's going to be an "organ donation" from these to the road shoes, with a spare buckle left over.

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.

Not cheap, but for a decade and a half of solid service, Sidi shoes deliver value.

Confounding Product Recommendation Bots Since 1997

Following up on two earlier posts, I ordered a couple of CDs: James McMurtry and Dead Boys.  If your Amazon service seem a little delayed over the next week or so, it's probably because their AI systems are still in therapy.

ps Saturday: now Amazon won't stop sending recommendations for David Bowie and Hank Williams Jr.  Think I'll browse their store for Lydia Kavina theremin music next.

CBGB Documentary from 1978

Features the Ramones, Blondie, and the Dead Boys.  The cheesy narrator adds to the overall effect.  His tone is deadpan but also shocked – shocked! – throughout.  Totals to 51 minutes, you'll want to watch it through if only to see the clueless music critics trying desperately to commentate on the whole glorious mess.  You might want to embiggen.

Meanwhile Way Up North...

Nephew and family build a snow fort... and then a ski slope in their driveway.  As seen on TV:

Leave it to those folks to make something fun out of a mess!

More Music, this time from the Sun

A recent post over at the SWLing Post goes into detail about a small station in the Austin TX area that is (a) 100% solar powered, and (b) actually plays music worth listening to.  So, here are the links:

• Sun Radio
• Sun Radio's online streaming link
• A recent article on them in the Austin Chronicle

Because solar powered radio, all the cool kids are doing it.

But then I was listening to SR and heard this gem of a song:

Well all right!  Guess I'm out the price of one of McMurtry's CDs.

Meanwhile, out along Tuxachanie Creek...

The main part of deer season is over and it's back to riding.

Still a few phases of deer season left – archery, primitive weapons, etc. – so wear bright colors for a few more weeks, just to be on the safe side.

Shortwave Music Listing

Here's a relatively complete listing of music currently available on the shortwave bands: LINK  Of course all this will change as the days begin to lengthen, but if you find something you like now, you can stay current with the show by checking the broadcaster's web site.

Yes, I am going mountain biking this morning.  Just waiting for the thermometer to cross the freezing line.