My iPod (and iPhone) makes me sane

I always knew there was a reason that I spent all that money on those cool little devices... much cheaper than therapy.

As David Bull says in the article:

The iPod allows people to control their environment, more so than any other technology. In a world where we have little sense of control over our everyday lives, it can be very satisfying to control how you interact with your environment. You have a playlist that you listen to while you're out walking around New York ... certain songs that remind you of the city. But the real sound of New York is shut off. You're controlling what your image of the city is. We are fine-tuning the relationship between our own feelings and environment.

There's a paradox between the cosmopolitan nature of a city and the iPod, which signifies something else. As users become more locked into their increasingly subjective pleasure, they ... (are remaking the) world in their own image. It's the idea that, "I don't want to hear loud people; I want to be left alone," and the iPod allows that. The paradox is, cosmopolitism resides in the person's iPod. It's often the most amazing array of music from around the world; the rich mix of songs around the world contrasting with the chilly nature of the city.... Where does diversity go? In our pocket.

This is how I survive the Subway and all the crazy people.

Apple is trying to surround me

First, they seduce me with their products. Then they open a HUGE store less than a block away from work. Now, they are opening one in the UWS.

How will I escape... and more importantly, how will Nina keep me from buying even more Apple stuff?

Me likey

Seeing as how Nina and I are going for less expensive gifts for each other post "First Wedding Anniversary" - this big poster makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Because I love skyscrapers & because I studied architecture in college (and used to scribble skyscraper designs in all my book margins).


I swear I am not compensating for anything. My lovely wife - I have given you the best gift idea ever (and shared it with the world).

What if YOU seceded and no one cared?

Seriously... like, what is the second biggest source of oil in Latin American behind Venezuela had like a third of it's land mass decide to declare sovereignty.

Also, what is none of the press in the Free World seemed to give a damn?

This is pretty funny. That's my short and sweet post for the weekend.



Indians on Facebook. Great.

Not to mention Penn Masala. Brilliant.

Any takers?

Nina and I are going to several weddings in 2008 (4 or 5 I think), so I hope one of them decides to do this:

glumbert - Best wedding first dance ever

Rob/Sarah?

If only Nina and I had thought of this... Damn!

Shoot me

...if I ever sound, act, behave like this.



Really.

I am building a theme I think...

Politicians are dumb. Maybe that's not news to everyone, but I keep finding confirmatory evidence. Since I am lazy - here is a much more well-thought out response to the "open letter" by Danny Sullivan. As he says:

You want to have hearings? Take a look at that. But this waste of time exercise over Google-DoubleClick? Approve the deal, and let's move on.

It is challenging when politicians can't accurately represent what companies like Google and DoubleClick actually do yet feel the need to comment on it and make mis-representations in order to urge action.

The Real Issue with Social Security

In further proof that most people have absolutely no idea what they are talking about... I give you Social Security. The discussion around this government program strikes me as similar to the discussion that surrounded "global warming". Here is an excerpt from Paul Krugman's article in the NY Times:

But the “everyone” who knows that Social Security is doomed doesn’t include anyone who actually understands the numbers. In fact, the whole Beltway obsession with the fiscal burden of an aging population is misguided.

As Peter Orszag, the director of the Congressional Budget Office, put it in a recent article co-authored with senior analyst Philip Ellis: “The long-term fiscal condition of the United States has been largely misdiagnosed. Despite all the attention paid to demographic challenges, such as the coming retirement of the baby-boom generation, our country’s financial health will in fact be determined primarily by the growth rate of per capita health care costs.”

The real reasons are shrouded in half-truths and convenient lies by politicians who don't know otherwise and are too stupid to think for themselves.