Virtual Everything

I must admit, I am a huge participant in the virtual world of music. Files are really the everyday medium of musical interaction I take part in. But recently, I have become infatuated with records-45s, your larger-scale albums, all of it. I adore it. To me, there is something so fantastical about the audible crackle of time filling the uninhabited space of a room, a thought, a mind. I feel as if I am taking part in yesterday's present and making it today's present. These thoughts were inspired a good time ago but were brought to the top of the pond by the unsettling current of virtual books. I was on a lovely site, www.readprint.com, and had tucked in to "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde. Now, not even a quarter of the way into the first chapter did the empty feeling begin its gloomy descent. There is absolutely nothing like holding a book in one's hands, turning the pages saturated with thought, and the scent of hard work wafting around your head like a tangible cloud of life. The essence of reading is being left behind by today's warp-speed society. Like time with family, holding a real book is far for satisfying than a screen. Now, I plan on going out and supporting, say Barnes & Noble, and purchasing "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde because, personally, I like to feel the knowledge and the stories, not just see them. I would, however, suggest checking out the linked site. It's very interesting and, although it does not boast a myriad books, it does have a great collection of classics. The Austen's, Bronte's, yes, they are there. But the next time you really want to delve into a literary work, support the author, the company, the bookstore, the economy-and buy the physical work. Trust me, it is very much worth it.

The same goes for albums. Try it out. There's nothing like that "vintage" crackle (^_^)

~T

(Music of the day: check out Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean" or "Hey Lady"...I don't see how one could go wrong with this band....
Book of the day: Lord of the Flies by William Golding...wonderful description)