Exergy Tour

That's Evelyn Stevens on the top of the podium at the end of the Exergy Tour.

Amber Neben talks about her experience in the race in this very nice interview with VeloNews.

We had a blast watching and volunteering this year. From the awesome and horrible prologue where the whole race changed in an instant, to the cold downpour of the Kuna ITT, to Sunday's queen stage up the Banks-Lowman Road and down Hwy 21, right to the sprint finish in Hyde Park, the entire thing was as tight and pro as you could hope for.

The Specialized-Lululemon team dominated in Armstrong's absence, but there were plenty of other great performances, including the final stage being taken in a sprint by Claudia Haussler (who rolled a water bottle to Theo as we cheered from the side of Pierce Park Rd.!). It was a tough break for Neben to lose the overall lead on the last day to Evelyn Stevens, but great to see such a performance on the last day.

Let's hope the universally positive reviews of the Tour help turn the event into a Boise Memorial Day tradition for years and years to come.

Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, John Hardy

Hats Off to Hesjedal

The Canadian pulled it off to become the first ever from his nation to stand on a podium (let alone on the top step) at the end of a grand tour.

 Ryder rode a beautiful race and gained the respect of the peloton. He made it fun to watch, and he brought his Garmin team into the ranks of the top international teams, capable of more than just winning the team classification. And the fact that he so often had help in Vande Velde or Stetina high in the mountains is almost as important.

With Vande Velde riding into great form throughout this race, July in France is looking very interesting. 

Code Year

I signed up for this today. JavaScript, HTML, CSS, all in a year. Just the basics, one lesson a week, but at least I'll be able to speak the language.

It's free. Anyone want to join me?

Marriage Movement: One Step Forward, One State Backward

Hooray for Obama. For shame, NC.

CFCF

Here's something new that I love: CFCF's brand new album, the Exercises EP. Quiet, gorgeous, minimal.

Another thing I love: coming across an artist I've not heard before and then finding out there are a whole mess of other albums I still get to hear for the first time. This is very exciting.

A Very Sad Friday: RIP MCA

MCA, the scratchy-voiced third (and my favorite) of the Beastie Boys, died this morning of cancer of the salivary gland.

He was diagnosed in 09, and it appears the last two weeks saw a fast decline.

This is a huge loss. The Beasties mean a lot to a lot of people, myself included. So many memorite wrapped up in their music, from License to Ill all the way through Hot Sauce Committee II. A rap or hip hop group that stays this good, this vital, for this long, is definitely something special.

MCA will most definitely be missed.