A quick question for everyone (music)

On September 3, 2016September 3, 2016 By Luther M. SilerIn Music17 Comments

As I was driving home I was listening to music and reflecting on how I really need to find a way to put a car into my living room somewhere. Either that or I need to invest in a really high-quality pair of headphones.

Why? Because more and more lately the car seems to be the best place for me to absorb music. I still buy at least two or three new albums every single month, and some are heavier than others. I seem to be rather unique in that among the adults I know; I just asked my wife when the last time she bought new music was and she thought for a long time and said it might have been before our son was born.

He just turned 5, remember.

So, yeah: I still spend a decent amount of money on music. In fact, other than books and comics, music is the thing I spend the largest share of my discretionary income on. And what I’m finding is that until I’ve listened to a new album in my car, it’s as if I haven’t heard it at all. This was driven home recently by the first time I listened to a recent Hopsin album in the car. I’d listened to it over and over again at home, and I mean it: it was like I’d never heard it before. I appreciated that album so much more after keeping it in rotation in the car for a while than I had when had just listened to it on my computer– and my computer has good speakers!

(You might be wondering why there’s a picture of Kendrick Lamar at the top of this post. Same deal. I never properly appreciated Kendrick until listening to him while I was driving.)

Anyway, here’s the question: Are you, as a presumed adult (and if you’re not an adult, let me know and then answer anyway,) still buying music? And where’s the best place for you to listen to it?

A FAQ on Hillary Clinton’s Nomination for the Presidency of the United States, for Those Who May Be Confused

On June 7, 2016June 7, 2016 By Luther M. SilerIn Politics1 Comment

So. Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States of America.

WASN’T THE AP JUMPING THE GUN JUST A BIT?

Well, maybe, if only because I kinda suspect Hillary had a plan for the whole “I’m the nominee” announcement. But the AP is not required to consult her campaign before repeating the truth. There are some states today, yeah. She’ll win a couple and lose a couple; the announcement might have changed some people’s plan– on both sides– to vote today. But all in all? Nah.

BUT THE SUPERDELEGATES!

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States of America.

BUT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE VOTING!

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States of America.

BUT CLOSED PRIMARIES!

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States of America.

THE PRIMARY ISN’T–

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States of America.

BUT THE CONVENTION–

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States of America.

THE SUPERDELEGATES HAVEN’T–

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States of America.

BUT BERNIE MIGHT–

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States of America.

BUT WHAT IF–

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States of America.

BUT–

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States of America.

WHAT ABOUT–

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States of America.

Hope this helps.

In which somebody knows the answer to this

On January 19, 2016 By Luther M. SilerIn Geek, idiocy7 Comments

This question is a bit too long for Twitter, and I’m not prepared for the torrent of mockery I’ll receive if I put it on Facebook, so quickie blog post it is:

There used to be (it may still be around; I kinda doubt it) a website where you’d be paired up with some random yahoo on their webcam, and you yourself would be some random yahoo on your webcam, and you could chat with that person or click and be sent on to the next random yahoo. My recollection was that the site was about half thirteen-year-old girls having slumber parties and half masturbating old men who were hoping to con those thirteen-year-olds into taking their shirts off. There was no chatting; only horror.

This predated both Snapchat and Tinder by a good margin– I want to say I lived in Chicago during its heyday, which would put it in the early-mid 2000s– but you can see how it might have informed both of those services. In fact I’m pretty sure it was mostly pre-smartphone, since it relied upon having a webcam.

I cannot construct a Google search that helps me, and I can’t remember the name of the site. Just don’t ask me why I want to know; I just remembered it existed last night and for some reason it still bugs me that I can’t recall the name.

Site redesign question

On December 27, 2015December 28, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn Blogwanking6 Comments

(NOTE: If you’re one of the “visits the site directly” people, this is pinned for a couple of days. Scroll down for new stuff.)

If you’re a regular reader (I’ll leave the definition of “regular” up to you; if you think you’re regular, you are) I’d really, really appreciate an answer here:

A question

On August 27, 2015August 26, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn Teaching9 Comments

Who was the best teacher you ever had? Tell me about him or her in comments. Define “teacher” as widely as you like, from preschool to your Ph.D advisor.

Quick politics/policy question

On May 31, 2015May 31, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn Uncategorized6 Comments

secret-service-obama — Clones! The secret service is using clones!

This feels a bit more like a Twitter thing than a blog post, but it’s a bit too complicated for Twitter to handle, so you get it instead.

John Kerry broke his leg while cycling in France today, and it got me wondering: What level of bodyguarding/security do we provide people like upper-level Cabinet members and members of Congress when they go overseas? The article mentions Kerry’s motorcade but doesn’t give any indication of who was in it. Does the Secret Service handle stuff like that, or do they just work with the President and VP?

Yes I know I could Google this. I’d rather ask y’all; somebody out there knows.

Later today: Saleswanking!

Question for the authors

On May 16, 2015May 16, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn Writing25 Comments

I asked this last night on the Twoodle and only got one response, so I’m trying again here: if you’re reading this, and you’ve written a book (or, preferably, more than one) how many copies of your books do you have lying around in your house? Not “I’m going to sell these sooner or later” copies, but actual shelf copies that you are more or less keeping permanently.

Just curious.

This morning’s embarrassing revelation

On May 15, 2015May 14, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn movies14 Comments

…beyond the fact that I can never remember how to spell “embarrassing.”

So the new Mad Max movie is getting hella good reviews. I startled myself after the first trailer when I realized I wanted to see it, because, and this hurts to say, because as a proud geek this shouldn’t be true, but I’ve never seen any of the Mad Max movies. I don’t even think I’ve seen parts of any of them. I have a hazy awareness that Tina Turner is in the third one but that’s it.

My wife feels that this cannot be allowed to stand.

I know I’m not the only one of my people out there. What have you not seen, or not read, that you really ought to have seen or read by your advanced age?

(Here’s the trailer. This looks good! I am surprised.)