We're in Trouble Now

I was disturbed enough when I read the strangely unnerving headline, "Monkey Controls Robotic Arm With Thoughts" on NPR yesterday.

But a cat smart enough to run a Japanese railway station? This is just too much...

Half Price Books = Happiness

As a resident of the Village in Dallas, I have the privilege of living within walking distance of the largest Half Price Books in the known universe. When I open that door and am overcome with that mystical aroma of old, musty paper mingled with freshly roasting coffee, I wish I actually enjoyed reading...it really is a shame. I don't really mind reading, unless I do it for longer than 3 minutes. I guess I got my fill with summer reading back in high school. I tell you, the best way to take all the fun out of something is to force you to do it ad nauseum when you should definitely be doing other things.

In the last couple months, I've made a walk down to Half Price somewhat of a regular thing, and I've bought 4 books. How many pages have I read? Probably 3. (That's an average of 0.75 pages per book!) But hey, this time I'm reaping more immediate benefits. I'm listening to Jimmy Page wail "When the Levee Breaks" and "Going to California"...on vinyl! (That's Led Zeppelin for those of you who have better things to do than know classic rock bands' lead singers. Album cover at the left.) Not only that, but a few minutes ago I heard the Stairway to Heaven guitar solo, complete with all the crackly imperfections and slight changes in key normally associated with an old vinyl record.

Which got me thinking a little bit. It's time we re-embraced this medium of music. In the age of iPods, Bose speakers, and perpetually convenient music, we need to not forget how to appreciate the older methodologies of media. I'm telling you, it's like hearing a whole different song; it's just so much richer and has its own character, not being all perfect and digital.

I guess today's age of highly convenient music has its good and bad. If you have a song stuck in your head that you absolutely have to hear, chances are you have the ability to scratch that itch pretty quickly...all thanks to the convenience of portable music. But at the same time, music has now become highly individualized. People used to gather round the ol' radio and just sit around listening to whatever. How often does that happen nowadays?

Ah, it's times like these I wish I was alive in the 70s. But then I guess we wouldn't have Half Price.

Or Taco Cabana.

Boo Chrysler

And a happy memorial day to you.

Have you seen those ads recently by Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep commercials on TV lately? They're telling people to buy a new Dodge Ram or Jeep Grand Cherokee, and until 2011 they will not have to pay more than $2.99/gallon. Details are at their ironically (in my opinion) named website, www.letsrefuelamerica.com.

Will this really help? I'm no economist, but it seems that capping the prices will boost demand for gasoline, which is probably the worst thing that can happen right now. Prices are going up for a reason (i.e., we're kinda running out), and this offer is just going to fool us into thinking that it's OK to consume gas just like we've been doing for another 3 years.

We were in the right direction: once it stops being profitable to keep producing gasoline, the players in the market will react by finding an alternative energy source, right? Plus, higher gas prices will cause ordinary people like you and me to push harder for said energy source. This has already started happening (hooray), but promotions like this whole $2.99/gallon thing will send us in the wrong direction again.

If we really want to refuel America, lets work on that electric stuff, eh?

And if you argue with me then...

...I will smash your face into a jelly!

Kidding. (Feel free to disagree...the last thing I want to do is sound preachy and condescending here.)

Have a good four-day week ya'll. And on a side note, please suggest a more creative name for my blog. I wasn't feeling real creative the other day.

So It Begins

Alright. So I'm writing now.

Why? Because I'm self-indulgent and pretentious enough to think other people care what I think? Perhaps. Because I need somewhere to nostalgically recall Mitch Hedberg quips? Maybe. Because I have nothing better to do? Probably.

I think mostly it's because I was inspired by other bloggers. Whether it be professional and useful (e.g., Joel On Software) or for observational humor and commentary (shameless plug for my brother's blog: Kips Bay Texan), I've kinda always wanted to say stuff. Maybe someone out there will listen.

I know not exactly where the content of this blog will wander right now, and I'm tired. Next time, I promise far better material. Peace.