Being a non-top 40 radio guy, I really didn’t buy into the world that is Justin Beiber. It was really unbearable for me to listen to.
On the other hand, I’m very open to making bad music good. So world here is my offering of Justin Beiber -Boyfriend – Luv Dlux Feat- J-Dilla.
Peace and Blessings
Dj Luv Dlux
Song of the Day – Love is the Way … Blaze
The title says it all. Love in the perspective, of Love of Fellowman, or Love of Self. So much wasted energy is given to, hate and lying and scheming to get over on the next person, IT IS A TAUGHT WAY OF LIFE. Every man or Woman for themselves or, Kill or be Killed, Self-Gratification, and many more.
There have been times when I have given a co-worker a hug just because I knew or the lack thereof; it would possibly brighten their day. NO, everyone can’t pull this off, because you’d get tacked up for HARRASSMENT! But how easy is it to REALLY LISTEN when you ask someone “How is your day?”
Don’t be STINGY, Love is free, Brings no Stress, Makes you cry, and at the same time purges out ALL PAIN, helps you breathe easy, you smile more, people want to be around you, and you like yourself all the more for TEACHING LOVE!
You have a call on line 1… Love will be there in 10 minutes!
Dj Luv Dlux
The band is Middle Class Rut (also known as MC Rut). They are a Sacramento alternative rock duo consisting of a vocalist/guitarist and a vocalist/drummer.
The song is “New Low.” Awesome song.
I first heard these guys on a local show months ago while driving home after dropping my mother off one Sunday. In the same show I heard Civil Twilight (another cool band I have written about) and these guys came on with this song and I turned up the volume and thought about driving faster (although tough to do on golden gate bridge).
Regardless. Being a local radio show they skimmed over the name of the band and all I heard was “Sacramento” and that was that.
Months later and an Atlanta radio station drops the song into rotation.
The following quote summarizes these guys sound:
“…it’s mind-blowing to witness the sheer depth and complexity of the sound these two guys are capable of unleashing on their own…but once the novelty subsides, you’re left with incendiary post-rock with visible traces of ‘90s alternative.”
Here is the song and video:
New Low: http://vimeo.com/14815536
The following is a bonus.
This was the first song they released that was worth a shot and was a cult favorite:
Busy Being Born: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prwWpwDGyeM
Enjoy.
“In law a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so.”
Immanuel Kant quotes (German Philosopher one of the foremost thinkers of the Enlightenment. 1724-1804)
Since Bruce is on leave, I get to drive for a while. I steer clear of what could result in the worlds largest finger point, but as I’m reading an article on my shuttle ride from the garage, I have to say “We do this do to ourselves” … so goes the pointing of the finger. (Please keep all hand inside the story as we move on)
A woman is going to be put to death in Virginia for plotting and darn near succeeding to kill her husband and son for $250,000 ( in this economy what could this do, nothing if your living beyond your means in the first place, but maybe pay down your house note) but is this worth the result? She also said she was going to give the other losers a cut of the money, so again I say was it worth it?
Now in this country, we live by a law of “if you did the crime you do the time” or in this case “you take a life, we take yours”, but the pot stirring come in to play now, because she is a woman. I always and have believed that a man will die sooner than a woman for committing murder, it’s a pill I gag to swallow on crazy levels of ‘ let’s make the playing field level for everyone’, ranging from work and pay to Jail and death (another discussion for another day).
The report says she is a changed woman because of testimony from former chaplains and inmates, They say she is singing gospel hymns, and helping others with her testimony, well knowing you’re going to die will bring about a cold turkey effect of change. Alas the other side.
This issue has reached over seas to YEP, to our pals in Iran. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said “The U.S. has a double standard.” The stoning of a woman for committing adultery is looked at as being law in Iran. In the U.S it’s viewed as cruel and an extreme form of punishment, for an event that occurs everyday here.
Putting someone to death for cheating (I’m sure some women would like to toss a few cannonball size stones at a few men) that IS pretty extreme, but is it what they do there… yes, is it a law there… yes. When you kill someone in the U.S be it man or woman … is it our law we put them to a standard of death … yes, even though we have the same rules on murder here as over there, and we do have one’s that are against a women being put to death.
I understand playing big brother when the little ones are being picked on, but understanding what is by law correct and ethically wrong, leads us back to the top of the page … does it bother us to put someone to death in the U.S., no, not if it’s warranted, they (Iran) feel the same way, death is base on the country … it’s law not ethics. I believe if you took a life (base on my beliefs) you have to pay up and yours be taken also, plus I feel that it’s totally asinine and stupid what she did. I told you to hold on.
Well.
(this is how Bruce starts a lot of his posts, and I didn’t want to startle anyone since I’m just “guest-ing”)
Is it just me, or are women’s magazines really just ONE magazine with different covers? Granted, there are a few exceptions out there (Oprah readers, just stand down…), but after a week cooped up with the world’s worst sinus infection and every magazine I could find, I can confirm that many, many, MANY women’s magazines are indeed little clones of each other.
Let’s run down the list. Health news: same. Beauty news: same. Fashion highlights: same. Diet news: same. Pick up any June issue and I bet you find a “summer beach read” list. With the same books! Try November’s “stay on your diet for the holidays and gift giving guide” or January’s “get your life organized for pete’s sake” double jumbo issue. And don’t get me started on the “get ready for your summer bikini” madness.
Another weird thing: They use the same pep-talk-y happy/upbeat vibe, the same choppy sentence structure, the same weird words — seriously, when was the last time you used “dollop” in a sentence?
It’s bugging me. Are these insanely narrow topics truly the only things women are interested in hearing about (month after month after month)? Is my brain degenerating, insisting I consume magazine “junk food” to keep up with my cheddar cheese Goldfish habit?
So.
(another Bruce-ism to keep you comfy…)
In the true spirit of American protest, let’s send a letter:
Dear Clueless Editor People,
As loyal readers who (for reasons unknown to herself or others) continues to plunk down $5 every month to read the EXACT SAME THING in every women’s magazine (seriously, how do you DO that?), and who are slightly ashamed to admit they read enough of your publications to make this request, we nevertheless hereby request an immediate BAN on the following:
ALL WEIRD WORDS
Slather, dollop, scrunch, quench, toss, slick, slake, frazzle, tresses (also “mane”), pop-of-color, sparkle, glide, frizz, spritz, dust, glam, smooth, sprinkle, glow, silky, drench, stress-busting, sun-kissed, (clearly this is a partial list…)
SNOOZER TOPICS
- Lose weight (in a second, a minute, whatever)
- Dress slimmer (in case the previous topic doesn’t work?)
- Just 5 minutes a day for “instant” results (for smooth skin, brighter eyes, better health, blah blah)
- Best beauty products (strange how the list CHANGES every month)
- Have better sex (well…maybe this one is ok…)
- How to attract a boyfriend/spouse
- How to relate to your boyfriend/spouse
- How to break up with your boyfriend/spouse
- How to relate to your ex-boyfriend/ex-spouse
- Look younger now (!)
- Be happy now (!)
- Be friends with the mom/dad/family/in-law/children/best friend you hate
- Buy these crazy clothes in non-matching combinations no one would ever, ever wear out of the house.
- Pair the crazy clothes with shoes no sane, life-loving person would put on her feet
- Identify with all the 16 year old, size 0 models who do NOT look like any version of you who ever lived outside some alcohol-induced delusion.
- Etc. (you KNOW what we’re talking about!)
We realize this involves re-thinking 90% of your content, but zillions of women will thank you for not considering them lemmings headed toward the cliff whose happiness and self-confidence depends on losing 10 pounds in a day, looking 10 years younger right now, or having their thirst “slaked”, their moisturizer “slathered”, and their lip gloss “slicked”.
Sincerely,
The Women of America
And there you have it people.
You know, I really could be a modern day crusader — fighting for the right of smart women everywhere to choose and enjoy well-written, intelligent content. I’m thinking I’m that one sheep in the Far Side cartoon, shouting out to the flock, “Wait! Wait! Listen to me!… We don’t HAVE to be just sheep…”
On the other hand, I gotta go finish reading “Walk off your Jiggle” now. Plus the Fall apple pie recipes are out and my cheddar cheese Goldfish just might make a nice crust.
Ok. This song could possibly be called “part 2 of Fireflies” (because it just sounds like some producer said “hey can we cut out three and ½ minutes of that 7 minute firefly song you wrote and call it something and release it as a song?”).
But. It is just as addictive as Fireflies.
Now. I may have been tempted to call it something other than “The Bird and the Worm” but what the hell. This kid wrote most of these songs in his basement so he can call them anything he wants.
Anyway. If I was right about Fireflies being addictive (and I was as it worked its way to numero uno at one point) I am gonna be right on this one.
It’s fun. It’s catchy. It’s incredibly easy to listen to. It doesn’t have that same infectious hook that Fireflies has, but it is so frickin’ listenable all the way through its sickening. Happy. Bounces along and kind of makes you feel good about life.
“You and I left all our troubles far behind but I still just had one more question in mind”
It ain’t Mozart. It ain’t even U2. But is sure is addictive and fun to listen to. I can almost guarantee it will become a radio regular in the near future.
So. In 1993 a pretty smart couple of guys wrote a book called The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing (the smart guys were Al Ries and Jack Trout).
Here are the first two of The 22 Immutable Laws:
1. It is better to be first than it is to be better.
2. If you can’t be first in a category, set up a new category you can be first in.
Uh oh. Apple has mastered making these laws unimmutable. (I am concerned that is not a word).
I am not sure people have noticed (because I believe when you break one of these laws they don’t make any sound) but Apple has been quite successful by not being first at anything they have done nor created any new categories. They have possibly become the absolute best “follower” in the history of business.
Apple is regularly voted the most innovative company in the world. But I am not sure that is the award they should be winning. Its inventiveness takes a peculiar form in that it is “renovation” rather than building. They should be voted the best “renovator” company in the world (boy, that sounds like a shitty award to win, huh?).
What do I mean? Rather than developing entirely new product categories Apple is excellent at taking existing ideas which may not be optimally implemented and showing the rest of the world how to implement them in a much more appealing way.
It has already done this three times.
In 1984 Apple launched the Macintosh. It was not the first graphical, mouse-driven computer, but it employed these concepts in a useful, pleasant appearance product (they kind of not only understand the usability function, but they also understood that their product – most often seen as a desk accessory – was a fashion statement for the user).
In 2001, came the iPod. It was not the first digital-music player, but it was simple and elegant, and carried digital music into the mainstream (and once again they understood the “fashion” aspect of the product).
In 2007 Apple launched the iPhone. It was not the first smart-phone, but Apple succeeded where other handset makers had failed, making mobile internet access and software downloads a mass-market phenomenon (and fashionable again).
As competitors rushed to respond to Apple’s approach, the computer, music and telecom industries were transformed.
Here comes their fourth attempt at renovation. The iPad — a thin, tablet-shaped device with a ten-inch touch-screen. Hey. Who knows if it will be successful. Apple has certainly had their share of failures but even in their failures they have been spectacular.
But this isn’t a post on whether they are good at these things. This is about Apple breaking Immutable Laws and being good at something else – Renovation.
So. In the end I believe I like, really like (although I don’t own an i-pod and I hate Macs), Apple because they are a renovator and not a builder (sort of like me but they are bigger and better than I am).
As a great ‘Renovator,’ Apple has this innate ability to identify the essence of an existing or emerging product category, identify the parts (or pieces…whatever) and then put usability at the core of these pieces, making them famous with a really cool façade feature. Somebody called it “re-hashing half baked concepts” but I call it Renovation.
Apple is the ultimate Renovator.
So. With all that said…I think that stupid sounding award I suggested earlier is a valuable award. And nothing to be embarrassed by. Being the best at something is nothing to be embarrassed by.
I vote for Apple as Renovator of the Year if not the century.
Metric is an indie pop rock group from Canada led by singer-songwriter Emily Haines. Their music is best described as a mix between new wave and modern dance rock. Suffice it to say it is energetic. The band’s sound is glammed-up 4/4 synth rock, with songs within songs and complex rhythm changes.
“The idea is, we’re taking [René] Descartes and kicking him down,” front woman Emily Haines said of the French philosopher who said the psyche and body were mutually exclusive. “We’re saying soul, mind and body are together and kicking him where it hurts.” (Awesome manifesto even if you don’t like their music).
Back to the addictive song. “Help, I’m Alive” is from the newest Metric CD Fantasies. The trouble with showcasing “Help, I’m Alive” is that the cd has maybe 5 or 6 addictive songs (the radio is just playing that song now – and “Gold Gun Girls” just last night).
Metric’s Fantasies has turned out to be one of those rare gems that you can enjoy all the way through. Beyond the incredibly addictive “Help, I’m Alive,” I highly recommend “Gimme Sympathy” (which is frickin awesome), “Gold Gun Girls” (which is frickin awesome), “Twilight Galaxy,” and “Blindness.” The album ranges from mellow rock to slightly edgy, never harsh. Perfect for driving or if you need something to get you going in the morning beyond the strong cup of coffee.
I subscribed to trendwatching.com for two straight years at my last company. We wasted the opportunity to appropriately use the information as a company, but I personally used the information throughout client and company experience all the time.
Incredibly interesting, forward-thinking consumer trend information that is delivered in interesting sound bite fashion. While I highly recommend buying the full report if you use this kind of stuff, I even more highly recommend watching for their free stuff (old and new). It makes for great thought fodder on general issues and they are very good at spotting interesting things that are happening globally. (And what they call their trends is worth the visit alone).
I am not a theologian nor particularly religiously knowledgeable. However Christianity, and its role around the world, is very important to a number of people I care about and respect. Through work and some friendships I have been on the periphery of the religious discussion and Christianity’s place in today’s world. I have an opinion and this point of view shares it. You will see some numbers which I have used to provide some perspective. I have used as sources a variety of online/USA Today articles and research.
The situation (or challenge)
There is absolutely a decline of Christianity (no matter how you look at the numbers). Suffice it to say within the world’s largest democracies Christianity is a declining portion of the population in all but South Korea and Japan. Conversions away from the faith are the mainreason. From 1990 to 2008, the portion of American adults who self-identify as Christians has dropped 10 percentage points (from 86% to 76%), while the portion of those who report no religious affiliation has almost doubled — from 8% to 15%. All the while Atheism and other forms of non-belief have been expanding in the United States.
The total number of Muslims is a little more than one fifth of the world’s population, over a billion Muslims in the world, a majority in 50 nations. Just 2% of the world’s Muslims live in the West. The growth rate of the Muslim population, which averaged 1.9 between 2000 and 2006, is also far higher than the world’s population growth rate, which averaged 1.2% in the same period. It is also much faster than any other major religious group.
Nevertheless, even if a Muslim majority is coming it probably will not be soon. Over the last six years the Muslim population has grown only about two thirds of a percentage point a year faster than the world population.
It is interesting to note (and relevant to this writing) that a conference of Muslim leaders in Mecca in 1899 was called to discuss the decline of Islam. From then the second half of the twentieth century has seen a Muslim revival.
Possibly most importantly, Islam is growing in organizational strength, not just numbers. It has undergone massive restructuring in the last five years. Mosques and other institutions are proliferating, and Muslims are exerting their influence in such fields as education, censorship and politics. This is no accident. A document produced by a prominent Muslim leader in the UK in the early 1980s described the Islamic movement in the West as ‘an organized struggle to change the existing society into an Islamic Society with the Qur’an and Sunna as its base’.
Islam is organized and focused and has momentum.
Okay. Let’s not haggle over the exact numbers. Christianity has an issue and Islam is taking advantage.
Attacking the Issue: Separate Religion from Church
I believe Christians need to separate their belief in the religion from their bias toward a particular church. To me religion is the practice of believing in a higher power, or at minimum, subscribing to a particular set of values while the Church is simply a place, or a construct within, you go to learn these things.
I believe church (or churches) are confusing people. Each church seems to have a different set of rules as well as a different interpretation of the bible. Most critically it has become difficult to understand what is unifying between all the different church groups (and I admit .. it may be there .. that unifying aspect .. but the individual church rhetoric is so noisy I cannot hear it). Suffice it to say the current situation has discouraged even some of the faithful.
Let’s get more people to consider Christianity (then offer a specific church group).
Hey. I am not against competition. And I believe every spiritual path has the right to be passionate with regard to their beliefs and their path. What I do believe is troublesome is when the “in fighting” creates confusion and the entire industry suffers in totality.
Every Christian church group should be passionate about their path to God. BUT. It shouldn’t come at the expense of the bigger issue – Christianity.
The best example I can think of at the moment is the US Armed Forces. I am quite sure that behind closed doors the Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy (and maybe the National Guard and Coast Guard and whatever) are pushing and pulling for their own self interest. And each branch has an identity and does whatever it can do to remind people of the difference. But come war the objective is clear, differences put aside and they work together to win. They understand the overall objective is more important than the individual constituents. Is there some chafing? Sure. Is there alignment on doing what is best for US interests? Sure.
There will be debate. There will be arguments. People will get pissed at each other (or whatever version of pissed off Christian leaders are permitted to be). But in the end the whole is stronger than the parts. I am confident no one, and I mean no one, can beat an aligned focused US Armed Forces initiative. And I would argue the same for Christianity.
Discipline. Rules.
One of the people I admire most in the world is a Marine highly decorated from his service in Vietnam. But my admiration and respect has little to do with decorations (although I admit it earns my ultimate respect), but rather with the man himself. He is a master coordinator, organizer and inspirer. As a CEO of a global franchise organization, he put in place the discipline and set of rules that defined who could be on his team and be successful. But that was the basics. He set out a framework of attitudinal “rules” and values as well as defined an organizational attitude. Instilled with these additional parameters, this organization, and others he has been associated with, clearly defined itself in the marketplace, gathered likeminded people and ultimately became globally successful and wealthy. So rules can include attitude as well as “things we have to do.”
Maybe Christianityneeds the same discipline and rules as a successful franchise organization.
I apologize to theologians by comparing religion to a global franchise organization but the parallels are too great to ignore by a non-believer such as I. Disparate locations with a common goal and an objective to be more successful than the competition. If a 3000 unit franchise organization can figure out how to remain aligned enough globally to be efficient focused and successful, surely a Christian organization can.
