This may be a coincidence but I am going to take it as a sign - something to do with the power of National Public Radio.
About one year ago my car stereo was stolen, shortly after I moved to Austin. My locked truck was parked at a library at the time. NPR had run a report that day saying that the frequency of people stealing car stereos had dropped.
As I told people of my car stereo being stolen the majority of them noted the coincidence of the timing, most bringing up the NPR report before I even alluded to it.. I was less amused. I penned and submitted this letter for NPR to broadcast, essentially informing the car stereo robber that a) since it was no longer trendy to steal car stereos and b) I would miss that and other reports - not to mention the hoped-for reading of my letter - because of this crime.
NPR did not run the letter and the car stereo was never found.
I later penned this piece chronicling the affect of not having a car stereo had in my life, namely a dramatic reduction in my consumption in music, signaling a change in my relationship with music.
Sure I still had occasional moments with NPR, often as I woke in the morning but these were short affairs, nothing like the long drives we used to take together. I talked, in my interview at Blogcritics with Lisa Phillips regarding her book about NPR personalities, about some of my favorites there and the fact I have missed some of them during this year away.
Over the weekend I came into possession (legally, for the record) of a used car which had two things going for it. At the time, the one that excited me the most was the fact the vehicle had air conditioning. As other Austinites including Blogcritics' own Dave Nalle can attest, living in Austin without air conditioning is a bit like being a politician with a fear of public speaking: possible but difficult. It also has a car stereo, albeit with cassette tape technology, but I immediately tuned in NPR.
Article comments
1 - Arch Conservative
NPR sucks!
2 - roger nowosielski
I can understand, Archie, that the syntax can be a challenge, and the air of pseudo-intellectualism and snobbery a big turnoff.
After all, who can measure up to good ole Rush or Sean or the great Mark Levin?
3 - roger nowosielski
And BTW, Arch, if you think NPR sucks, try "BBC World Update" with Dan Damon. It will give you the gibbies.
It's foreign language besides.
4 - Scott Butki
Thank you for the feedback, Arch.
5 - roger nowosielski
Perhaps Arch will expand on his cryptic remark and treat us to incisive analysis demonstrating his wisdom.
The ball is in your corner, Arch. Go for it!
6 - Dr Dreadful
There are certain trigger words and phrases (pro-life, New York Times, Kennedy, illegal immigration etc) which have much the same effect on Arch as a doctor's little rubber mallet on a human knee.
7 - roger nowosielski
You're talking beyond Arch's comprehension quotient
Don't forget: he graduated from the Bible college in Midwest.
8 - Dr Dreadful
Nah, Rog, Archie's from New Hampshire and going by what he's written on BC, isn't particularly religious.
He's not the deepest of thinkers - which makes him easy to tease :-) - but as much as I usually disagree with him I do respect his honesty and passion.
9 - roger nowosielski
I was just teasing him, Dreadful.
10 - Jet Gardner
Frankly Doc I'm shocked he hasn't reacted to my $25 bill article!
11 - Ruvy
Sorry Scott,
Had it been me, I would never have tuned into NPR (national palestine radio) again. The pseudo-intellectualism of a bunch of nasty Israelis pretending to be NPR (Voice of Israel - Station A, or Ha'aretz) got me prepared for the shallowness and lack of substance of NPR's reports out of the Middle East when I was able to figure out how to access them. They have a couple of funny shows (at least I hope they still do), but otherwise NPR is one big Zero (just like Obama is one big Zero) in my book.
That's the longer version of the statement, "NPR sucks".
12 - roger nowosielski
I suppose BBC is off limits too for being fascist.