(A) Green Party Presidential Candidate. I would maybe vote for her. The only candidate so far that has really impressed me. She had a great interview on DNow a while back.

Other cool things!

1.5 yrs ago in Salem, OR, I was at the Humane Society Thrift Store. After rummaging through the bins of used puppies and cats, I found a gas powered compost shredder. Butter. So awesome. Better sleep on it, it is 15 whole dollars. Came back the next day, fucker sold. Why is that implement so cool? Why have I regretted not buying that for over a year? Because it helps you turn out the dankest compost ever. More surface area, quicker decomposition, less smell, finer grade end-product, ability to use things like blackberry canes, chop watermelon rind, bananas, everything. It is just good.

Fast forward to almost today. Got a 2.5 HP electric shredder (almost as pictured):



for $50 off Craig. Shredded the entire compost pile and it lets me sleep easier at night knowing that there are not pieces of straw longer than 1.5 inches. I am so excited about the prospects of even better fertilizer. This compost system here has been better and more productive than any I have had before. I credit Dr. Earth's compost starter, red wigglers from Pistils, turning it every other day, chicken shit, and burdock leaves.

Other conspicuous consumption!



I bought this amazingly pretty Hujsak (Hee-sock) 61 cm bike frame. Retiring my red bike. Feel wierd about it, like I don't really need a new bike. I was taking lovely 30 mile rides in Salem every weekend (not spent climbing) last year, plus a 175 mile trip and that bike served me fine. Its only 5 years old. Built it for $450. I am inspired to sell it for what I can get, while the fixed-gear-backlash is in full swing. I am comforted knowing that all of my bike friends have bought and gone through several bikes in the time of my owning the old red bike. I can treat myself too. Catholic guilt.

Gonna get it powder coated! Yellow! Got some wheels! Brakes! Campy! Fancy! Shooting for keeping costs under $500! The frame builder is cool, high-end, and helpful to this day. It is steel. I love it.

He's the cutest and sweetest. He mainly likes to perch on your shoulders, nuzzle his face under your ear or hair. This manouvre he must redo often, which makes it sweeter. He also climbs onto you and sleeps in your hoodie pocket, tail-out. Trilling noises. He has my heart, but alas, will be crowing all the time soon. His special chicken breed is Self-Blue Old English.

Today I get to go to Cascade Surplus Electronics in Gresham. Sounds bad for one big reason (greeesh) but I have been ordering from this place since living in Tivoli. Full circle. They have the bomber deals on DPDT stomp switches.

I am seriously considering building a new bike. I found a fancy handmade steel frame on Craigslist. I think it could really be a near-zero investment, selling my old (3 yrs young) bike. The builder is Hujsak (built the bike that broke the bike speed record(+153 mph drafting a race car)), and his new frames are like $1,200+, this dude wants 250. Seems real. Seems weird. Money is the weirdest.