Tom Friedman is back and he's on fire.
It is great to see that we finally have some national unity on energy policy. Unfortunately, the unifying idea is so ridiculous, so unworthy of the people aspiring to lead our nation, it takes your breath away. Hillary Clinton has decided to line up with John McCain in pushing to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, 18.4 cents a gallon, for this summer’s travel season. This is not an energy policy. This is money laundering: we borrow money from China and ship it to Saudi Arabia and take a little cut for ourselves as it goes through our gas tanks. What a way to build our country.
Read his column -- it'll take all of five minutes and you'll be glad you did.
In other news it turns out teenage boys today -- as in right now, spring 2008 -- listen to the same exact music teenage boys listened to in 1988. And probably 1978 for that matter. If you'll think back to this post here, you'll remember that I took a group of our young men to Conference.
It's a 12-hour drive one way and so, as you can imagine, we listened to a lot of music. We outlawed headphones in the car so that we could all have the same experience driving there and back. And we each brought music to share.
Anyone want to guess what the boys brought? That's right, Boston, Journey, Guns 'n' Roses, Foreigner and Weird Al. I think there was .38 Special and Blue Oyster Cult in there as well. And Billy Squire.
FullAlbumcover.jpg)
The point is, this is the same exact stuff I was listening to when I was in junior high. And a little bit in high school. Which reminded me of an arguement I've made many times before. As a teenager, I had terrible taste in music. I'm not saying that there's anything really wrong with schlock rock bands like Journey and Boston -- well, yes I am.
The point is, it's nice to know that as quickly and greatly as times seem to change, so many things remain so very much the same. It's like the wheel in the sky keeps on turning and we don't know where we'll be tomorrow.
Or something.
In other news it turns out teenage boys today -- as in right now, spring 2008 -- listen to the same exact music teenage boys listened to in 1988. And probably 1978 for that matter. If you'll think back to this post here, you'll remember that I took a group of our young men to Conference.
It's a 12-hour drive one way and so, as you can imagine, we listened to a lot of music. We outlawed headphones in the car so that we could all have the same experience driving there and back. And we each brought music to share.
Anyone want to guess what the boys brought? That's right, Boston, Journey, Guns 'n' Roses, Foreigner and Weird Al. I think there was .38 Special and Blue Oyster Cult in there as well. And Billy Squire.
FullAlbumcover.jpg)
The point is, this is the same exact stuff I was listening to when I was in junior high. And a little bit in high school. Which reminded me of an arguement I've made many times before. As a teenager, I had terrible taste in music. I'm not saying that there's anything really wrong with schlock rock bands like Journey and Boston -- well, yes I am.
The point is, it's nice to know that as quickly and greatly as times seem to change, so many things remain so very much the same. It's like the wheel in the sky keeps on turning and we don't know where we'll be tomorrow.
Or something.
4 comments:
Glad to have you back, Rob. Did you enlighten any of those boys with good music? When I was in junior high, Spence got on a kick of Queen and Scotty was listening to the Black Album of Metallica. So, therefore, that's what I listened to.
Rob, you say you had terrible taste as a teenager, but I submit we may well be saying the same thing in about 20 years about the music we listen to now.
Not Wilco, though...they'll stand the test of time!
:)
my hubby Spencer totally listened to the that stuff as a teenager, and also Billy Joel. Are we saying there's no more tough guy music? Or perhaps you're all geeks? Who knows...
I think you may be on to something there, Diana. I mean, how cool can you be when you idolize a geeky little leprechaun like Bono.
Post a Comment