Life, Love, and the pursuit of Vinyl

Wow, my second blog ever is here. I guess it's official that I am not amongst the multitudes of twitterers popping up in the world. I find the phenomenon interesting, that and the general idea of how quickly people seem to need information more and more. I am waiting for the end to arrive, when the masses get so sick of having entire encyclopedias available instantly, that the inevitable revolution ensues. I'm talking about carrier pigeons, messages sent via sailing vessels, and the resurgence of the pony express. Maybe it's because I'm getting older, so I automatically start saying things like, "Man, things are so messed up these days." or, "This wouldn't be happening twenty years ago." but I'm starting to think that the immediate dissemination of information around the globe plays a big role in the problems we're facing right now: Food shortages, energy expenses and fossil fuel depletion, environmental chaos and uncertainty, you name it. People are finding oil fields in their backyards and within weeks have cashed in and allowed drilling companies to install equipment and suck out the oil to be purchased by refineries instantly. The positive side is that as soon as problems crop up, there are people willing to take them head on and figure out alternatives and solutions. People have finally stopped calling me a hippy or a tree hugger for recycling or actually giving a shit about the environment because of the sheik color that's in everyone's mouths these days, which is also good. Because I am not a hippy. Some of my favorite things to do might classify me as a hippy like, riding my bike to work or being a vegetarian, but my outlook on the rest of the world doesn't match with the tie-dyed longhairs of old. I also get super-excited about cooking and even more so if there are ingredients right out of my garden, but I think self-sufficiency is a distinguished attribute, not a reaction against "the man." I recently learned how to bake bread and I have to be honest, it was the best bread I've ever had in my life, if not mostly because I made it myself. To me, there's a lot more romance in that than a loaf of white bread. Think about the convenience stores in our neighborhoods, the very name expresses our impatience and confusion of want versus need. What's really going to happen to someone if they don't get a coke asap, like yesterday? Nothing. Well, maybe they'll feel a little better from not having put a big sugar spike in their system, but they're gonna live. Don't get me wrong, I love being able to google data to settle arguments, but there has to be a certain limit. 

I've always been into records, (the vinyl kind, not medical or dental) but over the past year I've fallen in love with them all over again. The physical presence of holding a cover and staring at the artwork while I listen to an entire side at a time gives me a greater connection to the music. It hits me harder and everything else goes away. I think about records all the time now, sharing them with friends, borrowing theirs, finding gems at swap meets and garage sales or the motherload online score of an ad on craigslist from someone moving into a small place where they can't take their records and they only listen to their ipod anyways. Oh hell yeah. One thing is certain, I will never move into a place where I can't take my records. That's like giving away your dog because your new landlord doesn't allow pets. It's criminal. Honestly though, records stand for people that care about music more so than the average person, and I am one of those people. A total nerd about music of all kinds. I have to make concerted efforts to avoid the subject at social gatherings so as not to exclude people. It's that bad. I enjoy lots of things, but music is different and records are the best format to enjoy it other than live. I keep thinking about this Rahsan Roland Kirk record that I didn't buy the other day due to funds, but I am excited about it. I can't wait to go into the store and get it next week. I just think the whole process is more gratifying than buying a 15 second ringtone in three seconds.