Souper Discussion

Posted inAmerica, Columns, Food

About a year ago, my wife and I had a spirited discussion about the boundaries of soup season. To boil things down, I think outdoor temperature, not the calendar, should determine when soup fits on the menu.

Of course, we had soup the other day when the weather during the day made me think about breaking out my shorts so I have obviously lost this whole battle.

But the topic of soup has gotten me in hot water in another area of my life. My feelings on the topic may have cost me a few friends.

The True Necessities

Posted inAmerica, Columns

The cost of air travel can sometimes get out of hand, especially since airlines have found more and more ways to take money from their customers. From bag fees to charging for food on many flights, the perks of flying the friendly skies have largely disappeared.

But on a recent trip for work, I re-discovered something which makes up for all of that. Well, at least for me.

I got a chance to peruse the Sky Mall catalog.

Why the Go-Go’s Matter to Me

Posted inAmerica, Columns, Music

A number of years ago, I went to the mall to purchase a CD. I only had the songs I wanted on cassette and wanted to upgrade my collection.

After I handed the disc to the clerk at the register, he sighed. Now this was no sullen teenager bothered by some older guy’s nostalgic purchase. This guy was at least my age, maybe older. This will sound mean, but he looked like the guy they would cast in a movie about a 35-year-old guy who worked at a music store in the mall.

While he finished the transaction, he looked down at the CD and said, “Well, I guess some things never come into style.” Yes, this was someone I was willingly giving money to telling me that my taste stunk.

I don’t think I said anything. Maybe I was stunned. Maybe I was in a hurry. But most likely, I really didn’t care what Record Store Guy thought about my purchase of the Go-Go’s Greatest  Hits. I knew the songs were awesome without his input.

Suitcase Paranoia

Posted inAmerica, Columns

I generally like change. People who cower at anything out of the ordinary bother me. But some changes make me step back and wonder what’s going on.

When I came home from work one day last week, something new sat in the dining room. We have started to look at a bunch of repairs we need around the house, so I had grown used to new things around the house. This one, however, stood out.

My wife bought a new suitcase.

On its own, I might have dismissed the whole thing. After all, she did say she just happened upon a really good price. She wasn’t wrong when she said that the one suitcase we mainly use for travel has seen better days.

So the whole concept made complete sense. Except if you have an underlying paranoia like I do.

Hooray! Another Singing Competition

Posted inAmerica, Columns, Music

I was just sitting around the other week thinking, “We don’t have enough television shows which judge people’s singing ability.”

Well, to be honest, I didn’t say that. I would never say that. But some television executive said it at some point because NBC has started hyping a new show to find a hidden talent.

I can certainly understand the need for another show like this. After all, singers around the country have no way of letting others discover their talent. America certainly suffers from a shortage of performing venues, karaoke nights and web sites which allow people to promote their own work.

And the agents and talent scouts certainly don’t have the ability anymore to go beat the bushes and find someone who they think can develop into a musical superstar. Why work hard when they will audition for you like trained seals?

Besides, we all know success comes down to someone standing there singing. The band which actually plays the music and – gasp – may even write their own songs doesn’t really make a difference. We only care about young, pretty people singing.

At least we used to. The new show coming to TV tonight should solve all of that. The judges will take a massive step and listen to the performers … are you ready for this … with their backs turned so they only make their judgement based on what they hear.

I wonder why some people think we have failed to progress as a society.

Navigating Like It’s 1981

Posted inAmerica, Catonsville, Columns

I had to take a different route than usual home from work the other day. I had an event to attend in downtown Baltimore so it just made sense at the time.

Luckily, I left before the real bad part of the afternoon rush hour started so I figured I could potentially cruise home with no problem. Once again, I don’t know why I trust my instincts.

I hadn’t even merged from I-95 to the Baltimore Beltway when I saw the first sign of trouble. Cars were already backed up after I passed the point of no return for that exit. I quickly turned on the radio to try and suss out the trouble.

An accident ahead had limited traffic to one lane. I listened to the location of the problem and made a quick decision. I had to pretend I was 13 years old again.

Packaging Our Secrets

Posted inAmerica, Columns

The way things go these days, we hear a lot about national security and how we have to protect the secrets which keep us safe.

I don’t really believe in conspiracy theories or anything. I think the government puts the best people it can in the jobs that matter. Of course, this doesn’t always work out how everyone hopes.

No magic solution exists. However, I think I know how we can better develop a system from keeping our secrets out of the hands of our enemies. We need to bring in the people who package our electronics.