Time to drop out!

A rare opportunity is coming our way!  With the American transition from analogue to digital television comes the opportunity to not move on at all.  No need to buy a sixty dollar converter box for your old television.  No need to buy a new television.  No need to buy anything!  Read a book! Ride a bike! Start a blog! (ok, I guess I’m giving primacy to the internet, but I have my reasons)  Let’s give the networks the same fits that corporate music has been going through.  Thanks for listening to this alternate possibility. 

Thank you, Artsy Clarke

When one has created so much with imagination (worlds, literally worlds) it is only fitting and beautiful when it is his time to join them, Bon Voyage Arthur C. Clarke. Creator of ideas, stories, essays, inventions and explorer of space and sea.  Most recently he has been on my mind when I think of his story IMPERIAL EARTH, where he imagined an America in the not-distant future where all automobile traffic is automated and traffic accidents are completely extinguished.  He is a genius.  THE SONGS OF DISTANT EARTH is so beautiful and I will re-read it in his honor.  Also, you can’t miss any of the collections of his essays, including GREETINGS, CARBON-BASED BIPEDS!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Float Like A Butterfly

Barack had to come out swinging today, and having read the transcript, he gave a compelling speech where he attempts to take the bull(sh*t) by the horns on the issue of ‘race’ in this presidential campaign. He does his best to show perception on ‘both’ sides (“white and black”) of the issue, which fortifies his push for unity.

Have a look.

Detroit X-Pats

I came back to Chicago in 2005 (my first stint 1998 – 2000) and I have noticed one distinct difference from that earlier era:  A much higher concentration of Olde English D baseball caps and Michigan license plates.  Sure, the tigers are a team more worthy of honor these days (of course most of us never gave up wearing the Olde English D even when they shtank, ’cause it rox) but it is simple  to surmise that there is a great influx of economically depressed Michigainians who are making their way through Chi-town.  For Detroiters and other Michigainians (sounds better than ‘ganders, right?): Welcome to the Wind.  Now, please remove those caps.  I love the tigers too, but it’s in bad taste to be walking around in your adopted home with another city’s colors: leave that crap to the cheeseheads.  And for my home city that I abandonded I have two suggestions:  Public Mass Transit and switch to High Tech.  Discuss.

Banks: Can’t live with ‘em.

So the week after I open a Chase account, JPMorgan Chase gobbles another bank. And now that Bank of America is pulling out of sponsoring Looptopia, I want to close those accounts quick. Time to re-open the security box…

Join up the VinylQuest

Grab a record bag and jump on your bike and join me and Mono and other vinyl-lovers as we storm the best record shops on the north side of Chicago. All in the name of supporting our diverse slate of local record stores. Check out our group-think on vinyl in Chicago for more info: www.vinylquest.wikispaces.com

Why blogging is cooler than a journal

Because sharing is caring, gang!