Professional Killers and Killer Systems

Over the weekend, I got an opportunity to wake up early on a Saturday morning and peacefully kick back and watch a movie. For reasons unknown, I selected The Road to Perdition, quite possibly the most under-rated movie in Tom Hanks’ portfolio. At Oscar time it came and went with little fanfare – just 1 win for the much-deserved cinematographer Conrad Hall – but that doesn’t take away from this beautiful film.

Fresh off a three-post Friday, I sat there on the couch looking for something, anything, to sneak in a weekend bonus post to lessen the backdating gap some more. But a movie about death, crime, and Daniel Craig whining offers little opportunity to bring the funny. As Tom Hanks drives his son far, far away from the only home he’s known, knowing well they’d never return to it, the serious look on Hanks’ face and the lack of conversation highlights just how serious this movie is. These two are on a 6 hour car ride to Chicago, and both father and son are just staring intently forward into fields of Illinois winter. How can I be funny when they’re so damn grim(m)?

Then it hit me.

Road to Perdition was set at the height of Al Capone’s power, setting the scene in about 1924. The Galvin Manufacturing Company didn’t invent the car radio until 1930. No wonder no one’s having fun in Tom Hanks’ car – they’ve got no tunes. Nevermind that the two remaining members of the Sullivan family are clearly grieving in a state of muted shock; the real reason no fun is being had is they’ve got nothing to rock out to.

This is why a car radio is important.

Car audio systems have come a long way since the one the Galvin boys came up with in 1930 (which would mark the founding of Motorola, by the way.) Most people are cool with the factory-installed models. However, back in the summer of 1997, something inside me decided that the old factory wasn’t up to snuff in the sweetest ride a high school kid could have – a 1990 Volvo tank – yes, the Garden State Warrior.

The creative team behind my makeshift supercomputer named Cameron, teamed up to install brand new speakers and a CD-deck into the tank. When it came to employing the services of Justin Morea, Chris Smith, and Aaron Boblitt, it really doesn’t take much when one is meddling with electronics.

For those who are considering running new speakers and radio into their vehicle, please consider the following:

1. If you’ve got friends who ARE willing to meddle with electronics, take every opportunity. Provide pizza, soda, whatever. It’s going to be cheaper than letting Best Buy do it.
2. If you do take it to Best Buy, Karen Yelito can vouch that they have a tendency to steal things from your car – especially bobblehead turtles.
3. I made that last part up. Best Buy is a good company. And Karen is gullible.
4. Have a contingency plan ready when your mom pulls into the driveway and sees that the passenger door of her previous car has been dismantled completely and is lying in the grass. Trust me on this one.