If you’re super bored, try this, scooter memory game. For you non-French speakers, click the “Au Jeu” button. Also, check out the screen savers and e-postcards that you can send.
2sb Mascot Under the Knife
Get well soon, Cannonball!
Excedrin is giving away money
TSS100K!
Congratulations to Two Stroke Smoke on its 100,000th post today. Dana had the honors, though Bill shoulda had it with this one. Man, do we know how to waste time!
R.I.P. Mary Hansen
Mary Hansen of Stereolab was hit by a truck while riding her bicycle in London last week. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Stereolab has songs for every occasion in my life, “Jenny Ondioline” was on at the Artful Dodger as I asked Vina to marry me, “Super-Electric” is often stuck in my head as I’m driving or riding, and every time I see a cute girl across the record store that I know I shouldn’t be interested in, I hear that organ part from the beginning of “Lo Boob Oscillator.”
Vespa of Baltimore’s web page
Vespabaltimore.com. Turn up your speakers! (Thanks, Rich!)
Wild Ones vs. Mild Ones
Another note from Ana: This week’s People magazine featured famous stars who ride motorcycles
(Wild Ones) and scooters (Mild Ones) on one of the last pages in the issue.
Scooterists include Jerry Seinfeld and his wife on Vintage Vespas,
Matthew Broderick on a sweet GS (if I remember correctly), and 2 other
stars on more modern scoots (posing, I think). Motorcyclists included
Harrison Ford.
Takara “Blythe” Vino Toy
Our friend Ana noticed this Ebay auction: a Yamaha Vino for the Takara “Blythe” doll. It’s pretty neat, but I wondered how something like that could be “rare” already. Turns out they came out this summer, but they are actually pretty hard to find in Japanese stores, and were never sold in the U.S. YS Shop has some for $65, but you could buy a real Vino for that. The dolls themselves are pretty fab, too, in a mod-Keane kinda way.
Au Revoir, Mobylette!
Another French icon down the tubes. They’re cute, but I’ll stick with Le Speedfight2, Santa, are you listening? Thanks to Andrea, who now has more spare time to find me links.
It’s official
TSS is having a bad hair day.
Doors, Durso reunite.
Dave Lucash found this news photo of a Doors press conference. From left, former Police drummer Stewart Copeland, with original members, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger, and So1o Scooter Club founder Mike Durso in place of the late Jim Morrison. Asked for comment, Durso replied “Between reality and perception, there are the doors. Preferably early-sixties smallframe engine side doors.” (photo: CP Archive/AP/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Will Lester)
Airbag Vest
An idea as compelling as it is frightening: an airbag vest for mtorcyclists that inflates instantly with an unsafe change in momentum. So crazy and wrong, it just might work. Thanks, Scott Baxter!
I (heart) Colleen
Driving to work sucks. I’d rather take the bus/train combo even though it takes a half hour longer and I have to stand out in the cold for ages. But some Mondays and Wednesdays I wake up late on purpose and drive so I can listen to Mary Nisi and/or Colleen McHale’s Nerd Alert on WLUW. I have the WLUW phone number programmed in my cell phone, but I’ve never called because I’ve never been able to think of anything to request that’s better than what they’re playing anyway. WLUW is the only place I ever hear any good new music, or find out about stuff I missed when it was new. Today was Colleen’s last solo show (She’s moving to Brooklyn right after the Monday morning show with Mary). When she played “Something Big” By Burt Bacharach, I started to tear up. When I heard the beginning of Velocity Girl’s cover of “Tales of Brave Aphrodite” I lost it and really started to cry. I had to turn it off when “Let’s Get Lost” came on. I’ll really miss you, Colleen. You rock. Good Luck.
New Peugeots coming soon
After a year of supply and import problems, PeugeotUSA hopefully has its act together. Andiamo! Motorscooters reports that 200 new Peugeot scooters are due to arrive on Dec. 19th, including the new Elystar and Looxor, both available in 50 and 150 cc models. I think I have a secret crush on the Speedfight2. I feel dirty.
Chmiel, schlimazel, hasenpfeffer, incorporated.
Speaking of scooter art, I finally met Scooterworks/Genuine graphic designer P.J. Chmiel at the Scooterworks open house. What a nice guy, and a kick-ass designer. Check out his weblog.