weeatwhatwelike: tldr

Digital or Physical?

This may be a dumb question, but when all is said and done which sale puts more money in the artist’s pocket - me downloading their album from itunes or me going to a brick and mortar record store and buying a CD?

I am sure hardly anyone considers this when purchasing music but if this information was made more available (by the bands) perhaps their more concienscious listeners would opt for the purchase that is most beneficial fo the artist.

i(need)pod

My ipod was stolen approximately 2 weeks ago and I am just now noticing that a general malaise has been creeping into my life in the absence of this music emitting device.  At first, this realization frightened me - am I really that dependent on an stupid electronic machine?  Can I not “quit my ipod cold turkey?” (note the Al-Anon vocabulary…my subconscious propensity to use it in this situation is Exhibit 1a for my later observations)  We are constantly told (by psychologists and ‘concerned adults’…mainly via the TV, ironically enough) that dependence on electronics (cell phones, TVs, computers, blackberries, ipods, iphones, GPSs, calculator watches, etc) is a terrible thing and that such ‘addictions’ are a sign of weakness, that we have somehow ceded our souls to a gilded Silicon Calf.  I just don’t think that is true.  Specifically in the case of me and my ipod, I believe it to be a benevolent relationship, as it brings music into my life in situations where music would otherwise not be available to me.  Sure it sometime prevents me from experiencing the sounds of the world around me (screeching of subway brakes, sneezing homeless men, other people’s ipods at volume 11, dirty water dog vendors playing the drums with their tongs, etc) on my commute to and from work, but I truly believe that a gadget that brings music into my life is of great benefit to my psychological and spiritual well-being. 

Has commercial technology (recreational, data-transmitting technology as opposed to transportation/architectural/medical technology) always been viewed as an affront on our souls?  Were people this threatened by phonographs, color TVs, and VCRs as to diagnose their overuse?  Or is our current Code Red paranoia against ‘technology addiction’ a product of years of inching closer to the ‘Mark of the Beast’ where technology will no longer be a peripheral to our bodies but rather embedded under our skin?

All I want is a device roughly the size of a deck of cards that can allow me to listen to Alanis Morisette on my way to work, is that so wrong?

Blinker

After entirely too many cheek to cheek sidewalk sambas with other pedestrians while trying to walk past them, I embarked on a small empirical study of body language and its use within the context of the flow of foot traffic.  What subtle signal could I employ to decisively communicate my intended direction to oncoming walkers?  Directing my eye gaze in the direction I wished to go proved ineffective, as direct eye contact is rarely made.  I did not attempt verbal cues or hand gesticulations for fear that I would sound like a fanatically hardcore jogger (‘right!’) or cyclist (elbow at right angle, hand pointed down). 

After many days of failure, I finally found the ultimate body language turn signal - the head tip.  When approaching an oncoming pedestrian, I bend my neck, pointing my head towards the path I intend to take.  I do so firmly to prevent confusing indecisiveness, yet the motion is subtle and natural enough to only be detected by the approaching walker.  I have found this method significantly improves traffic flow and prevents those West-Side-Story-esque choreographed dance fights in which each person jukes back and forth in an attempt to get past the other. 

(Note: This head tip should be used only to signal a veer to the right.  Emulating the flow of automobile traffic in the United States of America, one should always attempt to travel to the right of oncoming traffic.  Only under extenuating circumstances should one signal, and consequently pass, to the left of an oncoming pedestrian.)

I don't buy (kn)it