August 28, 2005

The Vladmaster Experience

A hundred people tilt their heads toward the light. A refrigerator towers above us. Stanley lived under the refrigerator.

Ding!

KerCHUNK!

A giant cockroach looms in front of our faces, its translucent exoskeleton gleaming. This is Stanley.

We are all pressing View Masters to our faces, guided by a narrated soundtrack. These are 3D stories created by Vladimir, a film student from Portland. The Vladmaster experience includes three stories, the last one accompanied live by three teenage boys whose newly-formed Apt Ensemble juxtaposes classical instruments with folk and novelty instruments. Fun!

Maybe I should have a View Master to go along with my Victorian stereoviewer. Ebay, here I come!

August 26, 2005

Need a new bike

Wow, it's been over a month since I've blogged. Many important events have occurred! And I'm going to skip right over them.

Last night I took Magma Lou on a scenic after-work ride. From my new workplace by SBC Park, we rode to Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio, Clement Street, Golden Gate Park, and finally home to the Lower Haight. I ought to do that more often; it's quite satisfying.

But poor Magma Lou is heavy and has only seven gears—not enough to manage some of the climbs required to reach the more scenic spots. I had to hop off and walk her a couple of times. Although, one of those times was because I couldn't find my way from the toll plaza to Lincoln Boulevard and ended up pushing her along a narrow, brambly hiking trail and then scooting across the top of some old bunkers at Fort Scott. That was me spazzing instead of pulling out my map, as usual.

Now I'm actively looking for a second bike. Whereas Magma Lou is a destination-oriented, utilitarian bike, my new bike will be strictly for exercise and adventuring. I need something lightweight and minimalist, with a granny gear and maybe even clipless pedals. Hopefully Craigslist can help me out with that.