Me and NPR

Well, two weeks in (minus time spent back in Michigan last week), I find that I miss hearing the voices of CMU Public Radio announcers John Sheffler, Ray Ford, Susan McTaggart Dennis, and Rick Westover during my daily listening to Fresh Air and All Things Considered (and On The Media every Tuesday night). It’s funny the things you miss, huh? I mean, I used to plan my running schedule around whether or not Terry Gross had a good guest on that day (and she usually did). Of course, I also miss being able to actually LISTEN to public radio. I barely get it up here, and certainly not on my running headset. Oh well. Add it to my list of reasons why I someday hope to return to Mount Pleasant. I’m not kidding. :) I really wish I hadn’t had to leave. Sniff. :)

Of course, moving a bit closer to Chicago a year from now, like say to Lake Zurich or maybe even Palatine, might do the trick on most of the things that bum me out about living up here in the sticks. I just need a little civilization (and cell phone service). I don't need to be in Lakeview. That would be an impossible commute. but being halfway between school and Chicago might be the best of both worlds. Or some other cliche.

Rove = Benedict Arnold?

Ruben Bolling, in his Tom The Dancing Bug comic, compares Karl Rove and traitorgate to, um, Benedict Arnold-gate in his latest strip.

My DVD Dealer

I've been a Netflix customer for almost four years now. My queue is forever full (500 movies). I love Netflix. And so does the writer of this article.

I have to admit, though, that now that I've moved an hour northwest of Chicago, Netflix has become only slightly less awesome. You see, previously, when I lived in Mount Pleasant, Michigan (sniff), my Netflix shipping and receiving center was in nearby Lansing, and I guess there aren't too many people in that region renting, say, Born into Brothels or the latest indie or documentary flick. There, I was a hip guy in multiplex world. But even though I am now in an even more rural locale, all those smart, hip wonks down in Chicago are competing with me, apparently, for the best items in my Netflix queue. For example, Fearless Freaks, the Flaming Lips documentary, has a "very long wait" here, but I'm quite sure I could've gotten it no problem if I were back in Mount Pleasant. Since I moved here, a lot of items long in my queue suddenly developed waits of varying lengths. Also, my one-day turnaround for returned and shipped DVDs seems to be gone forever. Ah well. Add it to my HUGE list of reasons why I love and miss Mount Pleasant, Michigan. But I still love you, Netflix. :)

Republicans Must Choose: Bush or America?

Here is another thought provoking editorial from patriotic cartoonist and editorialist Ted Rall.