Read this and come back…

I know it's just a blurb, but it makes me wonder about other bands attitudes about the iTunes Music Store. I'm predominantly an album buyer, so I use the iTMS for singles. I used it to preview the new Steely Dan album, but bought it at my local CD Warehouse for $6.99 used. Some albums I buy for the collection factor: I want liner notes. Other music (especially pop) I will only buy as singles.

I agree with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on albums vs. singles. Their recent albums are great as a “straight-thru listen” so I'll be happy to buy them as album format. I'd even consider some it from the iTMS, but I'm most likely to buy hard copy somewhere. It's not the cover art, just the liner notes, song lyrics and comments by the band.

Comments?

A new wireless RF remote control for the iPod called the RemoteRemote, which works via a receiver module plugged inbetween your headphones and the iPod. Currently works only with the new third-generation iPods. Read [Via MacMinute]… [Gizmodo]

This is definitely what *I* need. It's hard to drive with the iTrip running the iPod and not being able to flip songs without having an accident…

Read this and then think about the courage of the founding fathers. The Declaration of Independence is really a big “bite me” to Britain. I wonder if people's hands shook when they signed it.

Mine would have.

From Boing Boing Blog:

…They must renounce their old self, espouse the programme's belief system, display gratitude for their salvation, and police fellow students who resist.

This reminds me of another camp with an entrance bearing a false promise: Auschwitz

No, this isn't as severe, but it was a place where one part of society that deemed themselves above others sent it's “problem children”. It's disgusting that some think that you can buy your way around a human behavior problem. Brainwashing. How long will that really work? What kind of kid will you get back? Why is child something that has to be solved with this kind of school? Where's the parent's responsibility?

More about Auschwitz here, here, and here.

I'd like to take a moment and thank Userland for adding the category feature in Radio. Right now, I'm using it for the main site (Home category) and a separate feed for Pottery (My Hobbies category). Today, I'll spend time added two new catagories: Austin-Healey Sprite restoration and Weight Watchers.

Frogeye

I'm in the process of purchasing a 1960 Austin-Healey Sprite, a “frogeye” from a trusted member of the local car club. It's in pieces (of course) so I'm going to give the restoration a go. Parts are cheap and most anyone with patience and general mechanical aptitude can reassemble one. Most of all, it will bring back some of the glory days of my youth (I'm not that old–I'm in my 30s) when my dad rebuilt a Triumph TR3B.

Weight Watchers

I've been attending Weight Watchers meetings in my area now for about six months. I've lost 20 pounds of weight and trained myself to eat less and enjoy it. The problem? The groups are 95% women and, being a man, I find it hard to relate to them when I need to share my frustrations or successes. I'm starting this category to give me an outlet and maybe others too. Most technical people I know are overweight and don't exercise. Some are moderate (by conventional standards) and others are worse and that scares me. As a society consumed by bigger is better (don't get me started on SUVs) we've fallen face forward and mouth open into Super Extra Value Meals and All You Can Eat food bars. I'm hoping that this category will change things a bit for someone. One person helped will make the difference in my own life. Read this from Chris Sells to understand that teaching someone helps you to learn something yourself.