So we're driving more, and that's ultimately what's causing the accidents. Distracted driving is certainly a problem, but the fact that we're driving more than we have before is what correlates with vehicle deaths. Here a visualization of the data from the article.

What does this mean for me? Nothing, really. What it means is that I don't need to feel so bad if I change songs on my phone while it's playing through the Bluetooth speakers in the car. If I behave in a safe manner, my distracted driving on my phone should cause an equivalent amount of distraction as eating a breakfast sandwich while driving.

The other thing I take from this is that I'm not the only person who's spending too much time in the car. I often feel some guilt about the amount of time I spend driving; however, it appears I'm not alone in my iniquity.

For the last month or so, I've been trying to slowly put together a recorded version of LSU's "Pound of Flesh" for some upcoming Michael Knott tribute album. I doubt I'll be able to get it to top notch quality in time, but it would be pretty cool if I did. Here's what it's looking like right now:

Here's a confession: I stole a cassette copy of LSU's Cash in Chaos World Tour from a cassette clearance bin years and years ago, like back in 1993 or so. (I've since bought a legitimate CD version of the album). I'm pleased so see that you can order Cash in Chaos World Tour on Bandcamp. And you should order it. It's one of the most enduring albums in my CD collection; I've been listening to it consistently for the last 20 years or so.

"Pound of Flesh" was the first song I really connected with on the album. The groovy bassline and echo-box vocals really jived with me and I enjoyed the way it was a long song that had enough melodic variety in it that it kept my interest while it also maintained a consistent tone. Its lyrics meshed perfectly with the music. I'd often listen to it over and over again; it truly inspired me to think about the way bass guitar can drive a song.

I doubt that I'll be able to do it justice. I've replaced all the digital chorus-y guitars with wah-wahs, and replaced all the flange-y guitars in the chorus with some straight Marshall distortion; the bass is a clean Jazz Bass doubled with the Rhodes; there's a touch of high-end synthesizer helping to release the recording from the classic "mud" that usually permeates my recordings. But it still sounds like me, doubtless.

I wouldn't be surprised if I don't get to record the vocals before the due date, but it's worth a shot. It's sounding OK right now.

The most frightening thing about it is the following part of the instructions that Joshua Lory posted on Facebook:

You see, I've never sent anything sorta' professional to a stranger. I don't know if my mixes sound real or if they sound absultely, completely amateur. I'm a little freaked out that, if I get it finished on time, I'll send the mix to the guy and he'll laugh at its utter ineptitude. I mean, Joshua Lory's mixes sound pretty good:

So we'll see. Here's to hoping I get it done.

I've had it for a month. I'm not very impressed. It hasn't converted me. It's just another screen. I don't like tapping screens; I don't like the small scale of apps; I dislike the need to constantly revisit the App Store.

Now, to be honest, I've never cared much for Apple. I preferred PCs at University through my bachelor's degree and very much prefer using Windows-based laptops and computers. I've worked through two iBooks in my teaching career and now I'm using this iPad. My wife bought an iPhone 4 a few years ago and now has an iPhone 5, and I use them now and then. But the OS doesn't connect to me. I imagine part of it is my bias-by-upbringing, but I nonetheless would never choose to use an Apple at this point.

This has been a little bone of contention between my wife and I. She'd like me to get an Apple phone of some sort so we can take advantage of all the "features" of paired devices. I don't like paired features; I prefer to manually load devices without having to consider any other devices. And, as I mentioned, I really could care less for the interface and whatnot; if I haven't reached for her iPhone for the last three+ years, I don't see why I would want to have one in my pocket at all times.

And I would like to upgrade my phone as well. I need to replace my Blackberry Torch 9800. It's old. It's all scratched up. It works fine, but it's backwards and archaic. I'd like to have a post-iPhone styled phone that works a little more effectively.

But I also understand that it's a pricey thing to get when it's so weird. I mean, If I'm gonna' fork out the cash, even on a contract, for a fancy-dancy new phone, shouldn't I get something more accessible, something that everybody recommends? Like an HTC One M8? Or at least I could wait for the upcoming Blackberry Classic so I can keep my keyboard and trackpad on a much, much-improved phone?

Or I could just get an iPhone?

The thing is that I could care less for apps. I use my phone for phoning, for Internet access, and for notes and a calendar. I don't have any desire to go through the annoyance of Apple updates, iTunes, the App Store, or any of that stuff when I won't be using it to its full potential. The hang-ups of an iPhone severely beat out my desire to have one. Hell, I could probably handle using a Windows phone, considering the ways I use my device. 

Crazy as it seems, I might end-up just holding on to my trusty Blackberry Torch. I don't know if I can handle the stress of these constant upgrades, of always knowing that the new, better phone is just around the corner, that my newfangled device will be obsolete in a couple years. 


Then again, all that might change when I finally get to hold a Blackberry Passport in my hands.