Counterpoint

Dr Cook, I stumbled upon your last post, and I have to say that your concerns are unfounded. If I have understood you correctly (and please, tell me if I have not), you feel that with the digital age, which you discuss vis a vis iTunes, popular songs will be overplayed and quickly discarded. Downloading makes this very easy and therefore, there is less incentive for the listener to find new music, try new things, or, as you very nicely put it, "to explore."

Doctor, regardless of the phenomenon of iTunes, there will always be one-hit wonders. There will always be bands that are known for one song or two and then forgotten. Herman's Hermits? Soul Asylum?

iTunes isn't responsible for a handful of songs being overplayed and subsequently thrown out. The same thing happened when vinyl singles, cassette singles, cd singles, top-40 radio stations, and MTV music videos were the musical medium of choice.

Rather, I think the digital age has made it infinitely easier to explore music. Especially in the last year, I have made a real effort to find new, good music, and this is so much easier with the internet. Without it, I'd have to go see fifty crap bands for that one gem, and I'd end up buying hundreds of worthless CDs. Now, when I read a review or get a recommendation, I go to the bands website, listen to a few samples and decide if they are worth pursuing. I can find out who they are, where they come from, when they are touring. I've learned so much thanks to the internet, not only about the local scene, but about what's going on in other places as well. Don't be so quick to dismiss the web. One-hit wonders and overplayed songs will come and go no matter what. But the internet has opened up new worlds to both musicians and music lovers.

Digital...

I like music. I like music a lot. Old, new, mixed, remixed, or somewhere in between, chances are I will listen to it and appreciate it. But I fear for the future of an industry.

This morning, while perusing my iTunes collection, I decided to purchase something new. I typically buy an album every few weeks as another form of compensation for my cubicle-dwelling lifestyle. This time, I had my eye on Gnarls Barkley's debut album, St. Elsewhere. I listened to a few samples (liked what I heard), read a couple of reviews (liked what I read), and then "googled" Gnarls (disliked what I read). Here's what I found from our good friend - cough, cough - Wikipedia: "Crazy [by Gnarls Barkley] is the first ever single to top the UK singles chart purely on download sales as it was released online a week before it was released as a CD single." You've probably heard the song - it's saturating the air waves - and you more than likely enjoyed it. I'm not surprised at all it's spent 9 weeks at the top. But is that okay?

In my opinion, probably not.

For quite some time now, I have been concerned that the "digital era" poses serious problems for the music industry. Products like iTunes makes it far too easy to download a hit song, listen to it as much as want to, and then ignore it once you've over-played it. There's no strong incentive to explore music. An obvious example is the album. Once considered a life's work, the album has become a vehicle for one, maybe two singles, five skits, and then a whole bunch of bad filler. It's as if many artists only bother with a solid 15 tracks because they're contractually obligated to do so. If singles pay the big bucks, why worry about the much harder task of creating an album?

Sunday morning musings

- A new video store recently opened up near my house, which means that I can continue to postpone joining Netflix. Not that I have a problem with Netflix or other online companies per se, but I feel that Netflix takes some of the fun out of renting movies. I always enjoyed the act of going to the video store, seeing what was available, and getting a random movie that I had always planned on seeing but never did (like I did with Casablanca last night). With Netflix I feel that watching a movie becomes something that you need to do, not something you want to do. It would be a chore, a homework assignment.

- After much deliberation, my roommates and I have decided that we are sick of ironing our clothes on the kitchen table and we will finally purchase an ironing board. I will keep you posted on any developments.

- I had made it through all of May, June, and most of July without getting a single mosquito bite, which I think is a rather impressive feat. I certainly made up for it yesterday, when I was bitten at least 15 times.

- Lower Manhattan will be under water before anyone in the conservative establishment takes global warming seriously.

- Is it wrong that I find myself thinking of Mr Lee's love life?

Top 5

Top 5 albums for an early morning at work:

1. Nebraska - Bruce Springsteen
2. Workingman's Dead - Grateful Dead
3. Unplugged in New York - Nirvana
4. The Ghost of Tom Joad - Bruce Springsteen
5. White Ladder - David Gray

brief writing assignment

For all you enviornmentalists out there, here is a link to the Exxpose Exxon campaign. Check it out, and if it's up your alley, fill out the petition.

Shower

I just showered in the backyard with a hose.

My Bathroom

I have to pee, and I don't have a toilet right now. My townhouse, which predates running water, only has one bathroom, and it's currently under construction. As I type I can hear the workers installing new tile in the shower basin. The toilet I normally use is actually on the curb in front my house. Needless to say, it's out of order. The sink suffered a similar fate. I've been showering at the gym since Monday, but it was only today that I lost my toilet. What's worse, I won't have a new one until Sunday. Aaargh.

So what's a guy to do, you ask? Well, the Potomac is only a stone's throw away...

Wiki This!

It is impossible to "surf the net" nowadays without encountering Wikipedia. Indeed, one scroll down Mr. Lee's blog, and you'll have enough links to Wikipedia articles to last a lifetime. But if you will allow me to indulge both the technologically inept as well as the readers of the print version of The Recipe, I will offer a brief explanation of this new phenomenon.

At its heart, Wikipedia is an internet encyclopedia, which claims to have over 1.25 million English language articles, ranging on virtually every subject one could think of. What makes Wikipedia unique, however, is the fact that its submissions are created by its users. Anyone willing to take the time to create a username is allowed to edit or create articles. Thus, articles are constantly being updated, changed or deleted. For some, Wikipedia is freedom of speech at its best, since anyone, or rather everyone, has the ability to claim authority on a subject and espouse their opinion. Wikipedia doesn't ask for credentials. While factual inaccuracies are bound to pop up, the assumption is that other users will correct past mistakes, thereby creating a "more perfect article."

While some may see this site as the perfect mixture of technology and journalistic freedom, it does have its pitfalls. The theory behind Wikipedia is that anyone can be an expert. But if anyone can be an expert, than by definition, everyone is an expert. Thus, people can and do use this website to provide their own opinion on very sensitive subjects. Try looking up a sensitive topic, Kashmir, zionism, Stalin, heck, even the final episode of Seinfeld, and you will find entries that are far from unbiased. Moreover, I've often found that this bias is not critical but rather apologistic in its tone, as if written by someone who had something to gain from portraying its topic in a more positive light.

I'm not arguing that Wikipedia is a bad thing, but if it is to be used for more sensitive subjects, it opinion and authority must be taken with a grain of salt. With that said, I leave you with a final treat from our darling internet encyclopedia...

Time To Chill Out

Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2
Marcel Duchamp

I Hate The Auto Industry

I stated earlier that I wasn't going to "name names." Well, after yet another miserable experience with yet another Jeep dealership, I am going to name names. The following "certified five star" dealerships are absolute crap:

• Farrish Jeep
• Darcars Jeep

As intelligent consumers, I ask all my readers to not visit either dealership unless absolutely necessary - they are unworthy of your time and money. Neither business has any business being, well, in business.

Allow me to explain my most recent adventures with Darcars. After electing to drop my short-lived relationship with Farrish, I located Darcars, which was willing to perform the fuel pump recall. Last Sunday, I scheduled an appointment for Wednesday (yesterday), expecting - based on their estimate - to drop Rhonda off in the morning and pick her up after work. No dice. My "personal service center representative" called Wednesday afternoon to inform me there was a "recall on the recall," so they wouldn't get the part in "for 3 to 4 business days," which really meant "Monday at the earliest." Are they serious? Wouldn't any sensible, profit-driven business order the part on Monday if I have an appointment for Wednesday? C'mon, folks, the automotive industry is a service industry!

Considering my earlier failures with other dealerships, I thought it best to wait it out and let Darcars do what they needed to do. How foolish I was. You see, my Jeep doesn't have a top, so I asked Darcars to keep it indoors in the event of rain. They willingly complied, offering no objections or concerns. This afternoon, however, they called to tell me that my "Jeep is outside without a top, and it's raining." I called back, stating - not questioning - "You said you would keep it indoors." To this my representative said, "Well, yes, but we did not have room." And then it got worse: "Oh, and there is a fifty dollar per day lot fee for holding cars," which really meant I've already been charged fifty dollars to have my Jeep rained on because of their gross negligence.

Let me say it again: I hate the automotive industry. If I've insulted you, consider yourself part of a problem that could prove wildly profitable if someone would @#%$ing fix it.

So now, in order to avoid another fifty dollar charge, I have to pick my Jeep up, only to drop it off again at 7:00 am on Monday with the hope they can fix it in one working day. But I don't think that's the case. I am going to pick it up, yes, but I will not take it back; Darcars has lost my business.

She's a Witch!

I don't care what they say, I trust not one of them...

Up Yours!

I stuck it to the man this weekend - I stuck it to him good. I tilted my head, looked him straight in the eye, and said, "You, sir, are out of line."

Well, it didn't go down quite like that on Saturday, but it felt awful darn close. You see, I've been having problems with my Jeep for the past few weeks, and it got to the point where I had to burn a solid gallon of gas in order to turn her over. Needless to say, Rhonda - that's my Jeeps' name - was sick and needed to see the doctor. Now in the past, I've done all my own wrenchin' - it's a very relaxing and rewarding way to spend an afternoon outdoors - and wouldn't consider a garage. However, given the pressing nature of the problem, coupled with my otherwise busy schedule, I thought I would consult the professionals.

So I dropped her off at a local garage and told them, "Run a diagnostic and let me know if you can pinpoint the problem. Call me before you do any work." A few hours later, they phoned and said my fuel pump and sending unit were not holding pressure, which, in turn, prevented Rhonda from getting the juice she so readily devours. As a compliment to the technicians, they said my entire fuel assembly was covered by a part recall, so any Jeep dealership should fix it for free.

Hooray, a free repair! How excited I was! I must admit, I was astonished that they volunteered this information, let alone didn't discover a "loose belt," "bent ball joint," or any of the other little things that seem to break whenever you take your vehicle in for servicing. They have won my business, but I digress...

After they gave me this wonderful information, I researched the recall online and confirmed that the fuel pump, was, in fact, covered by an official manufacturer's recall. Apparently a few 1997 Jeep Wranglers leaked fuel and caught fire. Ouch. So I then phoned a Jeep dealership (I won't name names), and they told me, "We don't perform recalls without a manufacturer-issued recall notice." I then explained that I was the second owner, I never received any recall notifications, and it's quite possible the original owner still does. This didn't seem to make a difference. Following my fruitless conversation, my inner jerk kicked in, and I thought to research laws on vehicle recalls. And sure enough, vehicle recalls are closely regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

After 20 minutes at the keyboard, I discovered that there is no law requiring a recall notice, and, in fact, dealerships are mandated by law (and a severe fine) to perform any and all pending vehicle recalls, whether or not the owner requests them. This, my friends, was my golden ticket! I called the dealership back and said, "I called earlier regarding a vehicle recall, and I was told that you won't perform a recall without a recall notice. Is that correct?" The man replied, "Yes, that is correct." Being the empowered consumer I was, I responded, "Well, according to the Federal Code of Regulations, you are required to perform recalls free of charge, regardless of the supporting documentation." His response: "Hold, please."

Another man answered the phone, and he began, "Yes, we cannot perform a recall unless you received a notice first." I then rattled off the law verbatim - and asked to speak with someone "who could fire him." Now, in my own defense, I am normally extremely mild-mannered and polite on the phone, but this was too much: they had lied to me twice. It was time to put on a show.

Finally, on the phone with the third man, I informed him of the large penalty for noncompliant dealerships, warned him that I had the documents in hand to file a formal complaint (you can download them from the NHTSA website), and I was more than willing to take the time to fill them out. He politely responded, "I'm so sorry, sir, we can have your vehicle in for service next week." Now this is where my blood got really angry...

He didn't question my statement; not one bit. He completely changed his position and offered to fix my Jeep, which leads me to believe he knew the law full-well, and simply took the risk of playing on people's ignorance. It's hard to believe - or is it? - that someone would conduct business that way. But long story short, I declined the man's offer, stating that his company had already "proven their dishonesty," and I did not trust my vehicle in their hands.

I took my baby elsewhere.

Happy birthday to whom?

A funny little story...

While at work on Friday, my boss mentioned to a co-worker and myself that it was the birthday of a certain client that happened to be in the New York office. That said, he thought it would be nice to get a cake to be served at lunch (we were informed of said birthday at 12:45; they were having lunch at 1:30). Thus, we had to find a bakery in midtown that would make and deliver a cake within 45 minutes. A few frantic internet searches later and we found a place located conveniently around the block that could fulfill our last-minute requests. We ran out and picked up the cake, which, after a round of the obligatory 'Happy Birthday', was presented to the Birthday Boy. It was a nice little treat on an otherwise dull Friday.

End of story? No.

A few hours afterwards, another coworker, who was conveniently looking after the client's passport while he was in town, discovered a shocking fact. It was not, in fact, the man's birthday!

Like other bits of small information, birthdates are easy to forget/confuse. I do not think that the client went out of his way to start a false rumor that it was his birthday in a lame attempt to gain a piece of cake. Most likely, my boss was mistaken but unknowingly took a step to surprise his client.

Now my first reaction was disbelief that a man would have the nerve to be served cake and be sung to while all the while knowing full well that he did not deserve the attention. It seemed dishonest and a little cheeky. I mean, who does that?

But giving the client the benefit of the doubt, I put myself in his shoes. I am in a foreign office with a large group of people, most of whom I've never met, much less spoken to in my life. For reasons unknown, they are singing 'Happy Birthday', and bringing out a large cake. I have two options. One, come clean, or two, go with it and hope no one finds out. Option number one would result in an intensely awkward situation for everyone involved, as the truth would undoubtedly kill the festive mood. But with option number two, everyone gets a piece of cake, as well as the pleasure of a nice surprise. All I have to do is smile and keep my mouth shut. I choose option number two.

My conclusion: At times, ignorance can be blissful.

Hello?

I miss my office spouse - he is on vacation without me...

Oh, and yeah, I did eat babies, but I washed them down with a cold, frosty Budweiser. That said, all this hububbery about warring factions and beer calls for a coalition government. I say we make peace, have a big group hug, and, as a "concerned citizen" and the Angry Roommate suggested, join hands in harmony, pick up a cold one of our choice, and praise this great land of opportunity (and choice). After all, wasn't there discussion of a celebratory night on the town?

I leave you with this extremely crude - yet undeniably funny - picture of the downfalls of over-service.