you can buy them here, but it’s priced in Euros

[via Uncrate]

They list it as one of the 50 ways to improve your life in 2009.

I agree with them. My life is awesome even though I started to ride to work in 2008. And I really only do it a couple of days a week. And it’s not a terribly far ride, either. But still. Awesome. Life.

I tend to keep both wheels on the ground but I sure as heck enjoy watching these guys jump all over everything.

Will Stroud Cinematography Reel from Will Stroud on Vimeo.

[ via Prolly Is Not Probably]

This is pretty sweet!

If you’ve received a gift card from a national chain store that carries music or video (Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Circuit City, Borders, Barnes & Noble, FYE, etc.) then bring that gift card* to Plan 9! We’ll gladly exchange it for its full amount on any merchandise we sell: CDs, DVDs, gift items or anything else in the store excluding concert tickets.

If you bring in one of our national chain competitors’ gift cards* to exchange, PLEASE bring it up to the counter before you begin shopping. We’ll be ready for you when you’re ready to check out.

* There are a few rules (aren’t there always?) The gift card’s value must be able to be verified by Plan 9 via phone or internet. The gift card must be from a national chain like those mentioned above – no indie competitors, please! Unfortunately, we regret that we cannot accept gift cards from businesses no longer in the area (like Tower or Sam Goody).

Support an independent, locally owned business and let Plan 9 help you get what you really want this year!

I do love spending locally and this promotion makes it dead-easy.

I wonder if or how this might be related to the economy being in the toilet which has forced the national chains to make good on the gift card somehow, even though the consumer-side of the purchase is made elsewhere. Interesting.

I think I need to set some temperature parameters when deciding to ride to work or not.

My poor, poor little piggies are still thawing. I might need a ride home…

I’ve been using this Oxo travel mug for a couple of years now and while it has served me well (I’ve gone through 3 of them, the seal doesn’t last forever but it’s awesome while it does) I want to make a move to a regular thermos. While that Oxo mug seals really well I have, on a couple of occasions, forgotten to engage the seal and soaked everything in my bag with delicious, delicious coffee.

Anyone out there have and use a thermos that love or would recommend? It’s got to be 100% leak-proof. That’s my only requirement.

I’ve enjoyed everything 50 Foot Wave has done so you know I’m streaming the hell out of the new ep.

Go here to hear!

I love the bright colors and the density of the linework in his gigposters. It doesn’t sound like it should work but he pulls it off. They’re expensive but my guess is that they’re worth it when you see them up close. He’s having a year-end sale, so if your fancy is tickled you should pop by and check out what he’s got.

December brings the annual comb through the music library to get as many of my favorite songs together as possible. This process has, in the past, generated a 2-disc mix that overwhelmed anyone I would try to give it to. I do love my historically kitchen-sink approach but I took a different tack this year by limiting myself to 10 songs, total. My goal with these is to try to turn folks on to music that they might not have heard in a given year so the tighter playlist just makes more sense. I forget where I saw this “tight list” idea last year but I am totally stealing it. I think maybe it was a yewknee idea? That guy has all the good web ideas so I could do a lot worse than to bite his style.

These aren’t my Top 10 songs of 2008, I couldn’t pick just 10, but they’re definitely some of the Heaviest Rotated in a mix that I have been spinning for the last week or so. I hope you enjoy.

Time Well Spent – 2008

1] Starlings – Elbow
2] A-Punk – Vampire Weekend
3] Dancing Choose – TV On the Radio
4] Waiting For the Rapture – Oasis
5] Gardenia – Stephen Malkmus
6] Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? – She & Him
7] Creator – Santogold
8] Lightning Song – Blood On The Wall
9] Furr – Blitzen Trapper
10] Wucan – Black Mountain

It’s 15′-20′ of 550# paracord tightly woven into a bracelet.

I have zero use for this in my everyday life, but I could totally see wearing one of these if I was a serious hiker or even on some way-off-the-beaten-track mounting biking. In fact, I kinda wish I was a serious hiker so I could justify one. Survival Straps offer a bunch of colors, but black would be the only choice for me. I like my paracord classy.