[geeks] MP3 in car

[Jeff Borisch]

Dave McGuire wrote:
> It's cool that you're studying this.  I'd be interested in reading
> your results.

Thanks Dave, that's affirming coming from you, Really.
No, Really (-:

> Though I must say...I find it frightening, and frankly disheartening,
> that the idea of an individual designing and constructing something on
> his or her own has become so rare and unusual that it is considered a
> phenomenon to be studied!

You know, I have to agree with you. Even though as a researcher I probably
should not be exposing my judgement too much.

> I say...If you're able...go forth, design, build...CREATE!  Shun the
> conformal "molds" that mainstream society tries to force you into.
> Remember, "mainstream" doesn't always mean "good"!  If you find that
> you're in need of something, your first thought should of course be
> "do I already have this".  But the second, for too many people, is
> "where can I go buy it?" when it arguably should be "can I create this
> reasonably?"

To your second thought: I was once at a table of what I thought were
sympathetic geeks, and brought up how I wanted to learn some antenna design
theory. They actually thought I was weird, and if all I was trying to
accomplish was a cleaner TV signal, I should go to the store and buy
something. 

This commercialism (my hypothesis) is just what has caused people to lose
their toolmaking skills.
OTOH the glut of parts caused by forced obsolescence has also caused some of
this abundance of raw materials to play with.

It used to be, lack of raw materials* encouraged this reuse and creativity.
Today, in this MP3 car instance, it is a lack of an off the shelf,
affordable solution. People have been hacking together things forever, but I
see this instance as especially illustrative of creative builders filling a
product niche. And doing it quite nicely with recycled parts. One of my
informants thinks in two years this "fad" will have passed. That the
manufacturers will have delivered a product to bring everyone back to the
'why bother making it' state of consumption.

> Just a [very strong] opinion...if you disagree, remember how much
> you paid me to share it with you! ;)

Thanks Dave! I appreciate it. (-:


best regards,
jeffrey