Lord, I'm Discouraged
A conversation with Nate the other night has left me saddened. Dallas' own CD World, the last of the great used CD stores, has closed up shop.
So what's left for the discriminating music lover in DFW? The once fairly good chain CD Warehouse has dried up - there may only be the two Arlington locations left. Forever Young is still around, but their niche is still vinyl and catalog items - like having 35 of the 40 some odd Frank Zappa CDs in stock. Although they do have a huge selection of used CDs.
I guess Nate and I agree that the old business models doesn't work anymore. Going into a store and spending an hour just flipping through the racks - eyes lighting up when you find the unexpected - like John Lee Hooker's Never Get Out of These Blues Alive. No clerk to ask about the new Joe Strummer / Elvis Costello / Wilco / something different. Or just jaw with about great bands you've seen live or debate the classic Cheap Trick albums. [Sorry Joe, if you're out there - In Color just isn't my fave!]
I guess CD World will be cataloged and eventually find its way onto Ebay like everyone else. Not that I don't appreciate Ebay, but I wouldn't buy a used CD that way. The one I did, which was listed as "mint, played twice" had a big ol' scratch. Still played okay, but I 'neutral-ed' the seller.
But again, you can't find the unexpected on Ebay. You kind of have to 'know' what you're looking for. You can't just be walking by 'Blues' and decide to check for John Lee Hooker or Lightnin' Hopkins. You can't be checking the new arrivals rack and find the out of print Sing It Again, Rod.
And at Best Buy, you can't find anything interesting. I went in to get the new Killers [10.99] and checked for a couple of other things I was looking for. Elvis Costello - no catalog, only two of the most recent Best Of. Cheap Trick - two different hits collections. Paul Weller - nothing. Zappa - 2 CDs, didn't look at titles. And the guys in their Dockers and golf shirts asking "Are you finding everything okay?" Well.. no not really, but nothing you can do about it.
And let me say this: Since Amazon added downloads, I can't find anything on their site. I have just given up.
Borders, once a haven for catalog, has cut way back on their stock. Barnes and Noble is still too proud of their product, though I have occasionally bought really off the wall stuff there.
Yes, the big box store cut into them by undercutting them. This is not helped by the Wal Mart and Target exclusive deals now beginning [Eagles, AC/DC, Christina Aguilerra]. And yes, the old music business model is flawed in the light of the Internet and Ebay. The 'product' is now truly the music, not the packaging and not the disc, whether vinyl or CD.
Still, for old schoolers like me who like shopping for their music and like buying that piece of plastic or CD, our choices just got narrower.
On the Good News side, Nate's recovery and therapy is going well. His wrist is still locked up, but he's starting to get feeling and motion back in his fingers. The boy has managed to be able to hold a pick and he is now grooving on bass and has found a new appreciation for Cheap Trick's Tom Peterson.
Monday, November 24, 2008
A moment - recorded, but for whom?
It's my bookmark right now, but it's also my receipt and a marker of a moment. It tells me at 12:57 Nov 18 08 I bought a copy of The Fountainhead at Simply Books at Charlotte Douglas Int'l Airport. The book itself was 8.99, tax .65 for a total of 9.64. I handed clerk 6168 Joshua a ten and got .36 cents change.
Which brings up a question: If one had all of their receipts - and they were as well documented as this - how much of one's life could you reconstruct? Could you remember or be reminded of such a date and time and scour one's memory to recall the details?Could you recall the waitress or the conversation or how annoying the trio in front of you were paying for each of their own things while you're in a hurry?
It's my bookmark right now, but it's also my receipt and a marker of a moment. It tells me at 12:57 Nov 18 08 I bought a copy of The Fountainhead at Simply Books at Charlotte Douglas Int'l Airport. The book itself was 8.99, tax .65 for a total of 9.64. I handed clerk 6168 Joshua a ten and got .36 cents change.
Which brings up a question: If one had all of their receipts - and they were as well documented as this - how much of one's life could you reconstruct? Could you remember or be reminded of such a date and time and scour one's memory to recall the details?Could you recall the waitress or the conversation or how annoying the trio in front of you were paying for each of their own things while you're in a hurry?
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Oh My...
16 games into the season, Tampa Bay has fired former ESPN analyst and one time LA Kings coach Barry Melrose. Granted, the Bolts are 5 - 7 - 4 and still seem to have no plan on how to win games. Melrose told ESPN News, "a lot of nights the team just didn't compete hard and that's my responsibility."
So, Barry and his three year deal are gone - how long before the Dallas Stars [at 5 - 8 - 3 now dead last in the Western Conference] consider dumping Dave Tippet? Yes, the Stars made a hell of a run LAST season - but it's 2008 - 2009 now and this team has just not competed, hasn't looked like a team many considered to be one of the contenders in the West. Usually when you get to this point, there's either a big trade or the coach gets the axe. I don't think Dallas has a bad group of players, but I think their run last year left some over confident and they've forgotten about the work. Jere Lehtinen's return will shame some into working harder, but there's still concern [at least at Brinks] that Marty Turco has lost his mojo.
It's odd to think that the Stars, who once held a stable of up and coming goalies are now tied only to Marty Turco. If you can't trade him and you won't move Mike Modano because it will upset your fans, then you're stuck like Chuck.
But I think the pieces are there, they just need a new voice - the same thing that happened in 2001 - 02 when Ken Hitchcock was dumped after two runs to the Stanley Cup finals [winning in 98 - 99, losing to the Devils in 1999 - 2000] . The players just tune a coach out and a change is needed.
Maybe it's too early to make that call, but 3 - 5 - 2 run in the next ten games means there's something terribly wrong that needs fixin'. So long, Dave, it's been good ta know ya!
16 games into the season, Tampa Bay has fired former ESPN analyst and one time LA Kings coach Barry Melrose. Granted, the Bolts are 5 - 7 - 4 and still seem to have no plan on how to win games. Melrose told ESPN News, "a lot of nights the team just didn't compete hard and that's my responsibility."
So, Barry and his three year deal are gone - how long before the Dallas Stars [at 5 - 8 - 3 now dead last in the Western Conference] consider dumping Dave Tippet? Yes, the Stars made a hell of a run LAST season - but it's 2008 - 2009 now and this team has just not competed, hasn't looked like a team many considered to be one of the contenders in the West. Usually when you get to this point, there's either a big trade or the coach gets the axe. I don't think Dallas has a bad group of players, but I think their run last year left some over confident and they've forgotten about the work. Jere Lehtinen's return will shame some into working harder, but there's still concern [at least at Brinks] that Marty Turco has lost his mojo.
It's odd to think that the Stars, who once held a stable of up and coming goalies are now tied only to Marty Turco. If you can't trade him and you won't move Mike Modano because it will upset your fans, then you're stuck like Chuck.
But I think the pieces are there, they just need a new voice - the same thing that happened in 2001 - 02 when Ken Hitchcock was dumped after two runs to the Stanley Cup finals [winning in 98 - 99, losing to the Devils in 1999 - 2000] . The players just tune a coach out and a change is needed.
Maybe it's too early to make that call, but 3 - 5 - 2 run in the next ten games means there's something terribly wrong that needs fixin'. So long, Dave, it's been good ta know ya!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Well... It's Over
Finally. Of course there will be a lot of people going into work with hangovers - Dems from sipping champagne, Repubs from just drinking.
I was, of course, at work when the race was called about 10:00 CST. By 1030, the National Socialists that I work with was calling for Bush to be on trial by February first for Treason and whatever else or picturing the scenario where he would would resign effective January 19th so President Cheney could pardon him. And lining up oil company and insurance company executives and shooting them. How fitting, how Stalinesque of them.
I will say this: Obama lit a fire under a base that hasn't been seen since Clinton in 92 or Reagan in 80. But I feel sorry for those who bought the myth. "95% of all Americans will get a tax cut." Until we cancel the Bush tax cuts or let them expire in 2010. "Health care is a right!" Pshaw.
What ever happened to personal responsibility? What ever happened to "Ask not what your country can do for you...?"
What I don't get get is why there wasn't more turnover in the House. Congressional approval ratings in the single digits yet, how many of these clowns got re-elected. "Ahhh, they all stink! Except my guy - he brings home the pork!"
Finally. Of course there will be a lot of people going into work with hangovers - Dems from sipping champagne, Repubs from just drinking.
I was, of course, at work when the race was called about 10:00 CST. By 1030, the National Socialists that I work with was calling for Bush to be on trial by February first for Treason and whatever else or picturing the scenario where he would would resign effective January 19th so President Cheney could pardon him. And lining up oil company and insurance company executives and shooting them. How fitting, how Stalinesque of them.
I will say this: Obama lit a fire under a base that hasn't been seen since Clinton in 92 or Reagan in 80. But I feel sorry for those who bought the myth. "95% of all Americans will get a tax cut." Until we cancel the Bush tax cuts or let them expire in 2010. "Health care is a right!" Pshaw.
What ever happened to personal responsibility? What ever happened to "Ask not what your country can do for you...?"
What I don't get get is why there wasn't more turnover in the House. Congressional approval ratings in the single digits yet, how many of these clowns got re-elected. "Ahhh, they all stink! Except my guy - he brings home the pork!"