According to a new study, the average person consumes about 34 gigabytes of data a day, much of it in the form of video pixels. Pfft, amateurs. 34 gigs is probably what I consume before lunch on a typical Saturday. Oh, stop looking at me like that. Most of it isn’t even pr0n.

Actually, I wish I could chart my data consumption from the mid-90’s to today. The trend line probably spiked about seven years ago when I got my broadband connection and has steadily risen ever since then. And even though I should be used to it by now, I continue to be amazed by the sheer vastness of this digital universe we have created for ourselves. One day, the Internet is going to become sentient and we’re all going to be shipped off to the mines, so we’d better enjoy the party while it lasts.

Even though the remake of Tron won’t be released for another year, Disney has already decided to mine the pop culture artifacts of my childhood for another movie. This time, it’s The Black Hole, a 1979 movie that swung wildly between being cartoonish and terrifying. The basic plot concerns a spaceship crew that encounters another ship in a close proximity to a black hole (the movie wasn’t big on scientific accuracy). There’s a mad scientist. There’s a menacing red robot and a friendly robot that sounds like that guy from Planet of the Apes. Bad stuff happens.

Done right, a polished remake could be fun for us grownups who remember the cheesy original. But the evil, silent robot must stay evil and silent. Children need to be reminded that not every robot has to turn into a sports car with an unfortunate tendency to mimic racial stereotypes.

So when do I get my Short Circuit remake?

Here’s a sampling of my current musical obsessions.

“Repeaterbeater” by Mew — Who says prog rock is dead? This Danish group channels the spirit of Yes to craft a baroque bit of pop that doesn’t once mention wizards or spaceships. The song has a grandeur that one doesn’t encounter much in today’s world of manufactured teen idols and morose indie singer/songwriters.

“Catamaran” by Candy Claws — This band reminds me of Air France in its capacity to create sweet, sweet ear candy. Like the rest of the album, this song has a sun-drenched tropical vibe that conjures up images of blue water and white sand. Highly recommended iPod listening if you ever find yourself sipping a daiquiri on the shore pf some privately owned island in the Caribbean.

“Breaking Into Cars” by The Raveonettes — I’ve been a fan of The Raveonttes ever since I first heard their signature sound, a curious mix of grungy guitars and old-school AM radio pop that shouldn’t work but somehow does. This song starts out with a menacing bass riff but then shifts into a darkly exuberant chorus that will have your inner teenage rebel jonesing to go break something.

A couple weeks ago, I did a basic introduction to my vent and assorted accouterments for my work colleagues. The idea was to give them enough information so they would know what to do if my tube disconnected in the middle of a meeting or how to silence me should they get annoyed with my blather. Everyone was very attentive and asked good questions, but it reminded me that the everyday aspects of my life–the chair, the tubes, the personal bodyguard–must seem really strange to the typical observer. I mean, how many people do you see in your office who look like me?

It also got me thinking about a more advanced-level course that covers topics such as how to feed me Pringles and how to intervene when I start totally geeking out.

In my darker moments, I sometimes think the country would be better off ruled by a bunch of artificial intelligences with zero charisma but a far better grip on reality. Our policy decisions are too easily swayed by emotion and we have almost no capacity for thinking of long-term consequences. Ezra Klein’s post on taxes and the Afghan war reveals just how far we have to go towards a day when our leaders behave like sober, responsible adults rather than eager-to-please indulgent parents.

Rep. Dave Obey is proposing a surtax to pay for a small portion of the costs of the war. More specifically, it only pays for one year of the war. Of course, most of Obey’s colleagues–including fellow Democrats–have already declared the idea dead on arrival. Congress seems more inclined to fund a war effort of dubious merit (to put it charitably) that will likely add hundreds of billions to the deficit than to pass a health care bill that actually reduces the deficit. Military spending has always gotten a pass from both parties when it comes to any discussion of fiscal responsibility and that doesn’t seem likely to change soon.

I’m all for sensible defense spending. If you pressed me, I could probably even come up with some arguments for sticking it out in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, it’s dangerous to have an electorate be completely disconnected from the consequences of the leadership’s policy decisions. Our collective refusal to have a rational discussion about taxes and national priorities has created a wall between us and economic reality, but it’s a wall built on quicksand.