“Basketball player turns triathlete”

Rule nr. 1 in (sports) journalism: comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Since I cannot run, I found one journalist to comfort me. Of course I took the opportunity to plug our upcoming race. Read the whole article here.

The mother of all papers

is now available online. The complete work of Charles Darwin. Read and rejoice.

Confessions of a dope fiend

I have just purchased some first class doping. Walked in the pharmacy, asked for a common cough syrup, payed for it and left. Quick, easy and only €9.95 for a 200ml bottle. “Three tablespoons a day, sir.” Let’s hope the codeine and pseudoephedrine work their decongestant magic.

Mark Deuze interview

Fresh off the printing press: the latest edition of Tekstblad, which features my interview with Mark Deuze. Turned out well me thinks, in no small part thanks to Felix’s firm editorial hand and Jenny’s illustrations.

Wax on, wax off

Thanks to a belated birthday gift from I&E, I am now the proud owner of not one, but two 8oz bottles of White Lightning self-cleaning wax lubricant. For a small fee, I am prepared to demonstrate how you too can have a shiny, dirt-free chain. Year round, rain or shine. This gift makes the hellish train ride from Utrecht a bit easier to stomach. Let the record show that I feel the same way about Dutch eating habits than I do about gonorrhea.

Branding Bart

Wanna see talent? Then check out my ace boon koon Bart, whose portfolio is now online. Some of his previous work adorns this blog’s image header.

My umi says it’s soul sunday

In one intoxicating appraisal of his mother’s creative influence, Mos Def’s Umi Says heels, feels and unifies. This soulful, blue track is a testimony to what hip hop can be at its best: contemplative, intimate and visionary. With lyrics like ‘Shine your light for the world to see’, Mos sings of freedom, solace and hope.

Mos Def – Umi says (Rawkus, 1999)

Buy on MTV or sample (in lower quality) on zshare.

Dig deeper:

• Check out Zero7’s mesmerizing remix
• Read Cameron Patterson’s paper ‘Composing Freedom‘ (in the comments section)

Carbon fiber is out, bamboo is in

Feast your eyes on the latest in cycling technology: a race frame made out of bamboo (that’s right, bamboo). Meet Nick Frey, US collegiate time trial champ and freshly minted pro who’s racing and promoting bamboo bikes. Commenting on his bamboo bike, Nick says it “is like wearing comfortable loafers and having the efficiency of track spikes.” That’s because bamboo offers better “stiffness (for power efficiency) and compliance (for vibration dampening)” says bike designer Craig Calfee. I can’t wait to try this out.

Dig deeper:

• Newsweek
• The Daily Princetonian
• Sol Cycles blog
• Velonews

Lefto is hip hop

Highly recommended Lefto mixtape.

get your splurge on

Your favorite record label is about to open a digital music store.