That's "roadie" as in cyclist. Decidedly non-PC and bound to offend folks who object to coarse language, but pretty funny for the rest of us.

Riders, or the contracts laying out what rock groups require for their performances, can range from straight ahead to the ridiculous&mdash;as in Van Halen's famous "no brown M&Ms" clause. Iggy Pop's backline rider is <I>intentionally</I> hilarious.

On our daily rides, Jeff Wong and I have watched a few of these abandoned bikes disassembled part by part as they serve as donor bikes for urban scavengers. Ultimately, all that's left is a lock and a frame&mdash;or, sometimes, just part of a frame.

Jeff Wong sends along this smokin' version of "Perdido" by the Duke Ellington band. About midway through, after some great solos by band stalwarts Jimmy Hamilton and Ray Nance, the camera pans back and we see Paul Gonsalves sound asleep on the bandstand, forcing Hamilton to cover Gonsalves' tenor sax solo.

<I>Furinkan High School Kendo Club</I> posts a spirited two-part attack on science fiction clich&#233;s. Erik Even's right that most of these are tired&mdash;but Joss Whedon has proven time and time again that a new spin can make even the lamest plot devices come alive. So add a codicil to all of these rules: "unless you are a genius."

On Saturday, September 30, Ayre Acoustics founder and president Charlie Hansen sustained serious injuries while bicycling in the foothills near his Colorado home. Hansen is currently recovering in Boulder Community Hospital ICU, following surgery.

You call those <I>dark</I> ages?