Scooter Season 2009
Today we get our first real snowstorm of winter. What that means, among other things, is that the 2009 riding season is officially over. I winterized my Vespa several weeks ago, but this makes it...
The red tile
A colleague of mine recently returned from a long weekend holiday to Arizona. In their travels, she and her lover toured the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright. I'm not an architecture nerd, so my knowledge of FLW is incomplete at best. I know very little about his actual work, other than how my my mother — who actually is an architecture nerd — will never forgive him for the popularity of the split level ranch house and how it has "single-handedly ruined the neighborhood curb appeal of most of America." In describing his Arizona winter home...
NS Recommends: Absinthe & Flamethrowers
I can't remember just how I came across William Gurstelle's Absinthe & Flamethrowers: Projects and Ruminations on the Art of Living Dangerously, but I'm extremely glad that I did...
Tinkering is in the bloodline
The week of Christmas, 2007, I learned an essential truth about myself. I am born with invention and discovery in my pedigree. I was sitting in my parents' new house holding a small, silver alarm...
Quick thought: Brake Job
Last night I did half of a rear brake job on my MINI. I wanted to do both sides, but decided I'd rather sleep. This was my first time doing rear brakes at all and I don't yet own a factory service...
Ride log: Make up your damn mind!
I'm talking to you, Winter. Show up or shut up.
October 31, 2009 — With The Mrs out of town visiting friends, the nearly 60º weather today meant I simply had to get on my...
Jonathan Coulton + Paul and Storm live!
Last Monday night The Mrs and I got to see Jonathan Coulton plus Paul and Storm live at the fabulous Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Amidst a fantastically nerdy group of Coulton devotees, I just...
NS Recommends: Shop Class as Soulcraft
"A lot of people are widely read. Not me. I'm thinly read." — Eddie Izzard
My wife rolls her eyes at me when I say this, but it's a perfect description of my reading habits. I love...
Honda debuts EV Cub concept
Details are light at this point, but this morning my RSS feed is alive with mentions of this new EV version of Honda's iconic Super Cub. With model lifetime production numbers reaching 60 Million, the...
Ride log: Epic autumn meandering
October 17, 2009 — Autumn is here in full force in the Twin Cities. Trees are multicolored, and leaves are falling along with the temperature. Evening lows are starting to flirt...
NS long-term review: 2006 MINI Cooper S
My car turned 50,000 miles this week. With one thing or another needing modest attention, my MINI Cooper S is starting to show its age. Nothing bad, just little things like brake pads and a handful of...