The Mainbrace

I have quite a large music collection. And I am quite anal about keeping it organized. I use various tools and utilities to manage the file names, directory structure, and id3 tags in order to keep a lid on the chaos. I try to convert all the files to vfat-safe file names and try to keep the tags in UTF-8 encoding to make them more accessible across various platforms and applications. Why? One because I hate a disorganized catalog, and two because I have this collection cataloged in at least two applications.

Here is the problem.

Is our money ugly? I think so…and so do millions of others around the world. Check out this blog…it is a site dedicated to colors, they make pallets from everything…including money from around the world.
Color + Design Blog / The Color of Money from Around the World

We have started to make our bills more attractive and less counterfeit-able, if you will, at the expense of good taste. I think that we should either go all the way or stay home. Unfortunately that view is not shared my many Americans apparently…and specifically one of my cubical-mates.

Maybe it’s me, but I feel special…and insulted. I mean, to have all the hundreds of men and women in Hollywood cater to just me is flattering, but now it starting to get annoying. I am in the demographic that no one seems to care about. Cell phone companies don’t want me, if they did they would make a phone that was camera-free. Clothing companies aren’t concerned about me, I really am not interested in trendy fashion that makes me look like those guys in the back of the Maxim magazine. (with the small exception of all those vintage tee stores on the internet).

SEA CHANTEYS
It has finally come to me. What kept sailors of old cheery at sea and working together? (Other than the rum) A rousing chantey! I recently watched JAWS again, and copied down the words to the great song Quint sang

Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies.
Farewell and adieu you ladies of Spain.
For we’ve received orders for to sail back to Boston.
And so nevermore shall we see you again.

Then my son sang a song today at school that can easily be converted to a great sea chantey…

I must send my thanks to whoever sent me the one about rat poop in the
glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet towel with every
envelope that needs sealing.

Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same
reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny
Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive
the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for
participating in their special e-mail program.