"Substance"

I had a complaint that there wasn't enough substance to my blog entries.  That brings to mind what the purpose of the blog is.  I enjoy putting these entries together to share what I have found to be funny or intriguing or curious.  I could provide some opinion on something each day (I certainly have plenty of them), but perhaps I am softening in my advanced age, as even though I enjoy expressing them, many times they fall on deaf ears.  Bathing in my futility, I will continue to provide a sampling of what I think is funny or intriguing or curious along with a little bit more of my thoughts expressed into words.

Lately, we've all been seeing issues with Toyota.  They have fallen into the same trap that consumes most big companies on a regular interval.  They have lost touch with their most important product: consumer confidence.  In Toyota's zeal to become the largest producer of automobiles in the world it lost control of quality and reliability.  Will they ever come back ?  Of course they will.  They will have to prove, however, that there are no electronic issues with their cars that would tend to preempt fixed to the gas pedals or floor mats.  I tend to side with the consumer here: it will be a long time before I would consider buying another Toyota.  That isn't to say that similar problems don't exist with other brands.  We are all suffering from the surge of additional complexity of replacing functionality that was previously mechanical (reliable) to the latest-and-greatest electronics.  Used to be that I could work on cars in general, but as the complexity went up, and the need for electronic rather than mechanical tools, the fun was eliminated.

Finding time and money to follow some of my favorite activities has been really tough.  I don't have the energy or money that I once had.  I love to roam about and even hike with a camera.  I have always been amazed at what you can coerce the camera to see that is just not readily showing to casual observer.  Now with tools to manipulate the pictures electronically, one can actually make everyone believe that you are a much better photographer than you really are.  There is so much beauty to capture "on film"....

Isn't it interesting how the business plans and products of the largest and most successful companies have been falling apart ? Apple has just about done-in any kind of media recording of music.  It won't be long before video is only available the same way, electronic.  Now, the whole printing industry is being challenged by electronic publishing and new hand-held tools to read them.  I predict that within five years, we'll be reading magazines and newspapers electronically ONLY, and getting a paper version will be the exception.  One can already see the Apple effects on stores like Borders.  The number of CD aisles have shrunk by probably more than 90%.  Soon, the book aisles will have the same malady.  I predict we will no longer see stores that sell new books.

Well, I've probably been going on long enough for one day's worth... so on to a couple of funnies...