SOUNDTRACK: ——-
The CD player in my car died.
Evidently the CD Error screen in the Prius’ 6 disc changer is not completely uncommon. And I am devastated. (And looking at a pretty penny to replace it). In the past, I have installed stereos in at least three different cars. But man, not only don’t I want to interfere with the sleek Prius console, I can’t even find the screws!
I also have 2 CDs in the player, and they won’t play or eject! The one disc is no biggie, Sabotage by Black Sabbath, easily replaceable and for cheap too. The other one, however, is The Tragically Hip’s Live from the Vault Vol. 4 which came free with their new album, 
We Are the Same. I don’t think it’s available anywhere (not even on their website yet). When I go in for my 60,000 mile tune up next month, I’m going to hope they can rescue it.
Until then, I must switch to, gasp, the radio. Which isn’t that terrible. However, it means I have no place for scrutinizing music (it’s hard to get absorbed in a CD when you have two kids), and the car was my only place for music as more than background. Alas.
[READ: May 6, 2009] The Autobiography of J.G.B.
My only exposure to J.G. Ballard prior to reading this has been in the Divine Comedy song “The Booklovers” in which Neil Hannon states “J.G. Bal-ARD”–“instrument binnacle” (which is from his novel Crash). I did see the movie of Crash, but that’s neither here nor there.
This story is very short, barely one page long, and it shows the main character, B, wandering around Shepperton as he realizes that no other living creatures are around. Anywhere. And so, B slowly adjusts to his new life. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 