Some other innovative bicycle lights have come across my computer screen. I haven’t tried any of them, but they are worth considering if you’re in the market for such a thing.

Magicshine bike taillight seems to be in a similar vein to the Dinotte light. It has a 3-watt LED, O-ring attachment and external battery pack much like the Dinottes. I haven’t seen one in person, but it seems like a less-expensive imported light that may be nearly as bright. The downside that I see is that it runs on 4 18650 batteries, which are a little obscure to find. I do believe they are available in rechargeables, though, so you could make it a one-time purchase.

This light isn’t strictly a tail light. But it adds spectacular visibility to a bike in a very unique way. They’re not cheap, but not outrageously expensive for what they offer. Give ‘em a couple years and Wal-Mart will carry them and get the price down to $10! They are a commercial product that is an outgrowth from a Make Magazine series of projects called Spoke POV (for persistence of vision) that draw an image in the air using the wheel’s rotation to move them.

Make Magazine Online describes one such project as such:

This project consists of three circuit boards with a row of 32 LEDs on each (actually 64 LEDs because they’re double sided). The circuit boards are mounted radially in the spokes of a bicycle wheel and batteries near the hub supply power to them. The LEDs are controlled by a microcontroller that measures the rotational speed of the wheel by way of a hall effect (magnetic) sensor. As the wheel rotates, the microcontroller turns the individual LEDs on and off in such a way that a static image appears to float inside the wheel.

Another similar product is available at Hokey Spokes. Kits are available for the DIY types at Adafruit Industries as well.

A new and promising tail light coming out soon is called Lucid Brake. This looks like a standard bike tail light at first, but with one important difference: it functions as a brake light. Some kind of sensor inside the unit (probably an accelerometer chip) detects when the rider applies the brakes and goes from the standard flashing mode to full-brightness solid red. And it does it without any external connection to the brakes. There are a couple other bike tail lights that function as a brake light, but they need a kludgy switch added to a brake to switch the brake light.

This light isn’t available yet, but looks like an instant hit when it does. The brightness looks good, still commanding some attention even in daylight and the brake light really stands out, as it should. They’re recruiting dealers now and promise to start selling it through home shopping channels first. Eventually, it should get to retail stores.

One thing these lights all show, one way or another, is that new technology is reaching into even everyday items. Whether it’s a super-bright LED instead of the old, anemic ones, to circuits powered by sophisticated microprossors (the Spoke POV lights are Arduino-based) and sensors, they show how cutting edge technology improves mundane products when applied in innovative ways. Even improved battery technology, like the Sanyo Eneloop makes these lights practical.

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A very short video of the two taillights on my trike. The one on the left is the Dinotte 140R and on the right is the Cateye LD-1100. Despite having six rear-facing LEDs, the Cateye is outshone by the Dinotte. The vertical streaks are artifacts from the lights overpowering the video camera. (It’s a good still camera, but a very mediocre video camera.)

But the artifacts are interesting in themselves. Notice the Dinotte’s streak turns into a dotted line while it is in it’s dimmer phase. This tells me that they are pulsing the LED on and off to reduce the brightness by lowering the amount of time it is on, or duty-cycle. This is a very good technique with LEDs that ensures consistent operation overall.

I have the utmost respect for the Native American culture and beliefs. Unfortunately, I don’t see where exploiting a situation where certain commodities prices have become high, in part due to taxes, should be exploited for the profit of a few Native Americans. That’s not what we should learn from their culture. Maybe it’s what they’ve learned from ours…

And just what is a “Native American” anymore, anyway? I was born here. My parents were too. So were my Grandparents. I don’t know how many generations I would have to go back to actually find an ancestor from Europe. Am I as much a “Native American” as some blonde-haired, blue-eyed person who has a Great-great-grandmother that was born on a reservation?

We all live together. Many of us work together. I worked with several card-carrying Native Americans where I was formerly employed and they were hard-working, honest, good people. But New York is in a jam, financially and needs to collect the taxes, rather than think up new ones.

Native Americans – at least around here, I can’t speak for the rest of the country – enjoy the same government services as everyone else, roads, schools, welfare, police protection, and on and on. Sure there are some Indian Schools on the reservation and Tribal Police, but they’re a small, token part of those services. Native Americans should contribute their share towards the cost of those services as being the right thing to do. I know they are a proud people and wouldn’t want it any other way.

And, the state isn’t even talking about the Indians paying taxes. It’s about collecting sales taxes on sales to non-Indians who go to the reservation to escape the sales taxes elsewhere. It’s hurting non-Indian businesses and creating an unfair advantage for businesses on the reservation.

I think it’s time to just say no to this fight and not do it at all. Let’s not fight over who gets to pay taxes and who has to collect them. They’re an inevitable part of life here. Let’s stop this us vs. them thing and become all one tribe. I’m not saying to dissolve the Indian Nations, or to assimilate them. Heck, maybe they should assimilate us. I think in many ways their values and teachings would be better than ours. They might do a better job than our politicians in Albany. Lets just say we’re all in the same boat and deal with it together.

Of course, they’re not perfect either. Some of the guys in Armani suits with bolo ties I’ve seen on the news with some of the casinos are probably just as shady as any politician. I guess money corrupts universally. But I still think rather than dividing us, we should be working out these issues together. Let’s stop this fight over taxes and do the right thing. We all benefit from the services the taxes provide, so let’s all pay our share, do our share to collect them and work on getting rid of the corruption in Albany so we can get the most for our tax dollar and maybe someday lower those taxes for all of us.

[I know I'm gonna get some hate mail for this post, but it's got to be said. This separate nation, treaty thing just isn't working anymore and we're headed towards some ugly conflicts because of it. The reality is, we are all living together, lets start acting like it.]

Mike introduces Penny Whiskey.

[Click any photo to go to album]

Well, after two days of riding 40+ miles, topped off with the Big Sugar concert Friday night, you’d think I’d take a day to rest. No, not when the Amherst Scottish Festival is the next day!

I’ve enjoyed this festival many times over the past years and didn’t see any reason not to go again this year. I always enjoy the music, whether it be the bands on the main stage or the pipe bands marching on the field. There’s just something about a couple dozen pipers and drummers marching towards you that just grabs you until you feel it in your gut. No wonder they went to battle that way, it sure intimidated their enemies.

From Amherst Scottish Festival

It was good too see so many friends there that I’ve come to know over the years, all fans of the music. Even a few others that I knew from other places. There was a pretty close-knit community of fans of the band Kilbrannan who all seemed to be there. Of course, that group has become two, Penny Whiskey and Stone Row, both of which played at the festival.

From Amherst Scottish Festival

Kirk McWhorter, leader of Penny Whiskey, seemed to be in charge of the show, and had a great set of acts there. I didn’t get there early in the morning, so I didn’t see them all, but was there in time for those I really wanted to hear.

Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without something new to me and this year didn’t disappoint. I was introduced to the music of HarpBeat, a collaboration of a harpist, Carol Farrar and a duo, known as Step In Time. (Monte and Marcia Jones)

From Amherst Scottish Festival

Both accomplished acts, they were on the bill separately, but as the story was told on stage, they were appearing on a morning TV show where they were told there was only time left for one song and asked if they could do a song together. They rehearsed during a commercial break and pulled it off so well, they decided to work together.

Here’s a video of Stone Row

[Left: Jeremy Hoyle Band/Strictly Hip at Finnans in 2006]

Tuesday: Artpark: Foreginer, Free Henry!
Wednesday: Artpark: Sloan, David Nolf
Wednesday: Gateway Harbor: Dreamland and That ’80s Hair Band
Friday: Gateway Harbor: Bleeding Hearts
Friday: Canal Concerts Lockport: Big Sugar,  Johnny Nobody,
                          Beggar's Best, Jeremy Hoyle Band 
Saturday: Amherst Scottish Festival (Amherst Museum):
     ($10 admission to festival)
     Penny Whiskey, Celtic Circle Ceilidh Band, Stone Row,
     Harpbeat, Hobson's Choice,  Step in Time, more

It’s hard to believe, but the Thursday at the Square shows put on by Buffalo Place are already over. It is just me, or didn’t they go until September in the past? But they had some geat shows this year and more Rocks The Harbor shows on the weekends than ever before.

As far as local bands, Free Henry! get’s their shot at Artpark today. Well worth seeing again, if you caught them at the Hard Rock recently. I had them on my podcast a few years ago and they are even better now.

David Nolf is new to me, but sound really good on his web page. If you’re going to see Sloan, be sure to get there early and check him out. you won’t be sorry.

The Bleeding Hearts have a web site, but I still really came away not knowing much about them. I did learn that there is an interesting Rock/Punk band in North Carolina with the same name and that Roger Waters had a band called The Bleeding Heart after he left Pink Floyd. It really is true, all the good band names are taken…

But for local music fans, Friday’s Molson Canal Concert in Lockport is a treasure trove with three great local bands.

Johnny Nobody, Beggars Best and Jeremy Hoyle Band are all some of my favorite area bands. Johnny Nobody and Beggars Best are hard-rocking bands that should get the crowd pumped. The Jeremy Hoyle Band, a band that impressed me years ago at one of the North Tonawanda concerts can be great. They frequently play local bars as “Strictly Hip” or “Toby Live!” and are a great cover band, but really shine when they bring out their original material. I hope they do for this show!

I’m a Big Sugar fan, so you can guess which show I’m going to try to be at this week. I remember Big sugar playing pretty regularily around Buffalo years ago, but was sad when they broke up. I saw half of the band as Grady in Buffalo a while back and they were absolutely the LOUDEST band I’ve ever heard. They played an outdoor stage and literally cleared out a space in front of the stage for a couple hundred feet as people moved back. It was ear-bleeding loud, but great music! Be prepared for anything at this show: bring earplugs!

For a change of pace, try the Amherst Scottish Festival being held Saturday at the Amherst Museum. Food, Highland Games, exhibits and lots of Celtic music make it well worth the small admission. Hours are 9-5, so get there early and make a day of it.

Photo from last week’s Canal Concert: Jamie Moses Band ft. Michael Hund

From Jamie Moses Band

Buffalo native Willie Nile plays at Artpark, plus a homecoming show for Peter Case (Wikipedia bio) at the Sportsmen’s Tavern on Friday, Aug. 13 makes it a week for reunions. The Sportsmen’s show is neither an outdoor festival or free, but should be on any local music fan’s wish list. Read the bios on these two guys and look at the names they’ve worked with and you’ll see if they’re not musical royalty, they’re at least in the King’s Court!

Top that off with some local bands playing with histories going back into the ’70s and you’ve got a local music week that’s hard to top.

Tues: Artpark: Doobie Brothers, Mick Hayes Band
Wed: Artpark: Willie Nile (Wikipedia bio), Alison Pipitone
Wed: Gateway Harbor: Fat Brat, Weekend Party of Nine
Thurs: Lafayette Square: The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Hit and Run
Fri: Lockport Canal Concert: Tears For Fears, Missing Star,
                The Pillagers
Fri: Gateway Harbor: Naughty Dawg

On a sad note, Weekend has had to cancel their appearance Wednesday due to the serious illness of their keyboardist, Ned Wood. A benefit in Ned Wood’s honor is being planned for Sun. Sept. 26 at Frog Hair on Transit Rd. Weekend is one of those bands embedded in Buffalo’s music history and a BMHOF inductee. (2000, the same year as Peter Case)

Once again, time is short and I’m writing this on Monday. The week has already started and I want to get this posted.

Headliners-wise, you just can’t go wrong. You won’t hear me say anything against the Doobies, the T-Birds, or Tears For Fears, but because of the Buffalo Connection, I really like the Willie Nile show at Artpark. Kudos to them for bringing him back and for bringing Alison Pipitone to open for him. I’ve seen Willie several times and he’s a great performer. That’s no hyperbole, I mean GREAT. He’s played Buffalo many times in recent years, but don’t let that stop you, on that great stage in Lewiston, it will be an awesome show. Alison Pipitone is a perfect fit as an opener. I always hate when they put bands together and you wonder if the promoter has ever listened to their music. Not here. Alison is the rockingest girl in Buffalo and a great choice to play before Willie Nile.

Missing Star and The Pillagers open for Tears For Fears at Lockport this Friday. Again, this is a week you should get there early. These openers are well worth checking out before the main show. I don’t know who the early opener at the Canal Concert was last week, or if there was one. I got there late due to the rain, but did enjoy Reign of Kindo and Kansas.