Fall's Here

Rainy days have turned to chilly, sunny days. The leaves know it. The foothills are dusted high up with snow. What a great day for a ride.

Awesome coffee from... Eagle?

Anyone tried Full Circle Exchange coffee? They're a roaster in Eagle, apparently quite the socially conscious, justice-seeking, community-active local business. And they've got pretty pro marketing, too.

I bought this bag over at Cafe de Paris, and I LOVE it. It's got a delicious and mild hint of the strong chocolate flavors that made the Mexican coffee served at Ruta Maya and some of my fave breakfast Mexican joints in Austin so wonderful.

You can shop online or stop at the Cafe de Paris. Grab a loaf of bread while you're there--best in town, I think.

Jens Goes to Luxembourg

Hard man Jens Voigt will join beanpole bros Andy and Frank at the new Luxembourg team being built around the Schlecks. I feel for Bjarne Riis. His team's been decimated.

Some great stuff in the comments section of the VeloNews article, like this:

"Some people wear Superman pajamas. Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas....and Chuck Norris wears Jens Voigt pajamas."

3 Bears Burnt

Rode 3 Bears on Friday and got a good look at the burn from late last week.

Looks bad, but it seems like it blew through pretty fast. Lots of the sage has one or two branches scorched and the rest left intact. There were still a few plumes of smoke smoldering on Friday.

It Gets Better

Everyone should watch this. From The Dish.

Holy F*ck: Cool Cats

In a Nutshell...

This NY Times op-ed pretty much says it all.

Mr. [Ron] Johnson, on the other hand, proudly proclaimed recently that he doesn’t “think this election is about details.” That’s as good an explanation as any of why — in Wisconsin as in so many states — candidates like Mr. Johnson are ahead in the polls. Insurgent Republicans don’t need details when they can play on the furious emotions of voters who have been misled into believing that positive changes like the health care law are catastrophic failures.

The guy's ahead of Russ Feingold in the polls, and he knows nothing. Nothing. And he's proud of it. He's mad as hell and he's taking the right-wing rubes for a ride, like so many if not all of the tea party lunatics, er, candidates. It's sad and pathetic and will do great harm in the long run. Losing a workhorse like Feingold for an idiot like this. But hey, we're mad, right? We're not sure why, or at whom, or anything, but we're mad dammit because Glen Beck says we should be.

I know that parties in power always lose seats in midterms. It's good to remember that, and to avoid the typical Democrat hysterics and handwringing over the end of the Obamaworld as we know it. But still, this has to piss off anyone with a lick of sense.

Take heed, spineless handwringers! Before it's too late!

Around the country, the Obama voters who were so energized in 2008 are rueful and dispirited, taking their cue from the timid races run by so many fearful Democratic candidates. Mr. Feingold is making the case that there is a choice to make on Nov. 2 and that there is a need for thoughtful voices in Washington.

Basil Harvest

Had to harvest basil ahead of the first frost today--so we made a mess of pesto.

And by "we" I mean me and Theodore.

He kept a good grip on his own branch and really loved the smell, not to mention the busy process.

Turned out really good. Now to bust out that shiny new pasta maker.

Matthew Dear :: The xx

Another great remix of The xx track VCR, here by Matthew Dear.

Theo Goes to Gernika

Cathy and I took Theo for his first trip to Bar Gernika on Saturday. Rigged the carseat, loaded the boy into the sidecar, and off we went.

He loved it. Well, he cried on the way, but that's because he didn't like the big bumps on the sidewalk. On the street he did just fine. And once we got there, he settled right in.

Pardon me while I brag a bit: A woman sitting at a table next to ours was watching him and smiling, as people tend to do when you're with a baby. As she got up to leave she came over to our table and said "I've been a labor and delivery nurse for 20 years, and I've seen a lot of babies, but I have to tell you that your baby is unusually cute."

Of course we think so, but it's nice to have objective verification now and then.

Four Tet :: The xx

The xx - VCR (Four Tet remix) by Four Tet

Four Tet remixes The xx's VCR. So good.

Windstorm

A pretty cool video from the new one by School of Seven Bells. The record, Disconnect From Desire, is not as immediately gratifying or as emotionally soaring as their first, but there are some great moments on it. I love the swirling feeling of this song.