Just like Sesame Street

I've decided, the Letter of the Day is "B"

Therefore, today's Playlist of Productivity includes:

• Band of Horses
• Band of Skulls
• Beirut
• Belle & Sebastian
• Ben Folds
• Ben Harper
• The Beta Band
• Beulah
• Blue Merle
• Bon Iver

Not too shabby...

City sounds are humming around
I'm sitting on my doorstep
Watching the world go round

When the crowd is dragging you down
I'll give you my street address
You'll take a ride downtown

The sun is out

Plenty of Hiding Places

1,018 pages. That's plenty of room to hide unsavory regulations and edicts.

Interestingly enough, only 16 pages into the massive "health care for all Americans" bill, there is a restriction that should outrage any free people. Walking hand-in-hand in the setting sun of a democratic republic are mandatory state-run health care and individual insurance deemed illegal.

Shouldn't we, the people, be concerned by the incredible amount of pressure and force applied by the Obama administration and leaders in Congress to get this bill passed in an expeditious manner? Why such a huge document? Why push it through so fast? Is it cause you're afraid people might figure out what you're really up to? Afraid the warm, fuzzy feelings will wear off and your starry-eyed faithful will finally start questioning you and your motives?

“To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.”

-Thomas Jefferson

Where is the healthy cynicism and distrust of a rapidly expanding federal government? Where is the accountability and transparency?

25 Steps to a More Perfect World

I like this guy's ideas... Also the Ralph Steadman picture.

Ok. Maybe not all of his ideas, but most of them. Here are my faves:

#1 - "No more bathroom attendants. They're just creepy. And hell, no more charging money for stuff that used to be free. Now give us our little bag of peanuts, airlines."

• Not just creepy, bathroom attendants also create awkward situations in a place where awkward situations should be avoided like the plague. Do I tip you for doing something that I can do myself? Do I feel obligated to buy your little travel size mouthwash and then tip you? Why does this make me feel like I am in pre-civil-rights Alabama?

#2 - "Carpentry, plumbing, and electrical courses would be mandatory for all boys in middle school."

• Couldn't agree more. I would add basic auto repair to the list. Our generation does have to (or get to) work on cars the way our dads did and I think that ultimately that is a bad thing. And don't get up on your high horse (or any horse for that matter) about "how come it's only for boys?" It's because boys grow up and become men (theoretically) and are immediately expected to know all of this stuff. If Sally wants to work in the machine shop to pay for her Doc Martens and Godsmack concert tickets, have at it.
  

#10 - "Men would be permitted to admit uncertainty, and women would find this hot."

• Why are we expected to have everything figured out all the time? Also, do we always have to be thinking about something deep and philosophical? I submit that "Nothing" should be an appropriate answer to "What are you thinking?"

#12 - "Women would start with the climax of their stories, and then go back and fill in the details (if we ask)."

#19 - "Singing 'Happy Birthday' at the office (with or without cake) would result in immediate termination."

Corvette Still Best GM Product

This is really good news. To have JD Power & Associates rank the Corvette as the best product in the GM line, in spite of the tough economic times and the push for greener, more efficient cars, is a ray of hope for the car industry. The Corvette also made Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars of 2009. And with the Z06 and ZR1 (Nurburgring Record) models continuing to catch the attention of global media, Chevy/GM need to ride the popularity of this car to the bank.

It shows that people still want power and style. The Prius has its own benefits, but it is not powerful and it is not sexy. The worst thing that GM could do in this restructuring time is to back off the development of the Corvette, emasculate it, and release some toned-down, super-efficient version. On the flip side, I don't know much about the promised, but delayed Volt, but there is no reason why they couldn't make that car fast, powerful, and "green." That is not the Corvette market, but there is definitely a desire for that. I think plenty of people would buy a stylish electric car that was easy to use and recharge, even more if that car had some kick to it. The old EV1 was apparently very fast, especially the acceleration. And just look at what Tesla has come out with. We are Americans, we love our cars, but I think we love to feel like we are driving a real car more than anything.

I have been shocked at how many people have jumped on the Prius bandwagon, seemingly out of necessity instead of desire or to feel better about themselves or better than other people. Sure, gas prices were skyrocketing, but it felt kinda like the Emperor's New Clothes where no one stood up and said "This car is ugly and boring. I'm not buying it. Give me a better option." And high-quality American muscle cars have gone by the wayside. Uber-generalization: Domestic cars in recent years have been cheap and crappy and feel that way. By comparison, when you get in a BMW or Benz or even VW, you feel like you're sitting in a car that was well-designed, well-engineered, and well-built. You feel like the additional cost of buying a foreign car is more than justified by the quality of the product. I just don't get that feeling in American cars. And don't tell me "that's like comparing apples to oranges, you can't compare a Ford to a BMW." Why not? Why can't you? Isn't that feeling the fundamental problem in all of this? Domestic cars are not competitive with imports because they aren't even on the same level. Doesn't that need to change if GM or Ford or Dodge is to succeed going forward?

Go watch a couple episodes of Top Gear (one of my favorite shows) and see and feel the passion the Brits have for cars that are impressive and inspiring and combine breathtaking beauty with exhilirating power. GM should hire Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond to restructure their product line cause I think it's that kind of love and passion that has been lost amidst a push for profit and productivity and economy.

I think the bankruptcies will be a good thing as long as the companies that emerge on the other side of these restructuring processes are better and have focus and drive. American cars had an image and purpose back in the day, but politicians and the EPA neutered them and the result was low-cost, low-quality vehicles that all look the same. I think the Corvette was the one exception (or one of the few) and I hope that GM realizes that people want power and performance and are willing to pay for it. Don't forsake your heritage, don't eliminate the one good thing you've got going for you. Go back to making exciting, badass cars that are stylish and can haul off the line.

Just found this page about the C7. Don't know what I think about the style of the nose and grille, but it sounds like the "SS" model will be quite a beast. Good work GM. Keep it up.