It's not a matter of true or false.
It's not a decision between right and wrong.
It's not good vs. evil.
It's simply a matter of integrity.
Painting anything as something it is not is a deliberate act of deception.
Passively allowing millions of people to believe something that you know isn't true is lying.
Even worse, encouraging those people to defend you from attackers is so incredibly twisted.
When everything you stand for is inflated, and incorrect. And you know it, yet you continue to perpetuate the old story. I guess you don't want to jeopardize your income and that of so many of your friends and family members.
How do you sleep at night?
Eventually it will all be exposed.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
10 months
Just what are they so miffed about?
That 40 million Americans with zero health insurance will now have a doctor like a normal 1st world nation?
Are they pissed that their insurance companies can't deny them coverage for a pre-existing condition anymore?
Or are they just mad because their party lost the battle?
They can't be mad at the 900 billion dollar price tag over 10 years...considering these teabaggers didn't say a peep when Bush invaded the wrong damn country and cost us twice that amount, right?
Naw, I think their guy lost last November, and they're just a bunch of sore losers.
And it obviously chaps their hide to see the graceful winners get right to work and pass, in 10 months, against substantial resistance, a piece of legislation that most Americans find themselves favoring.
I have avoided gloating for exactly one year now. That time has ended. My guy won, and he was a good choice. The American way of life will be better for the strong, bold movements and actions taken by President Obama and the 111th Congress.
That 40 million Americans with zero health insurance will now have a doctor like a normal 1st world nation?
Are they pissed that their insurance companies can't deny them coverage for a pre-existing condition anymore?
Or are they just mad because their party lost the battle?
They can't be mad at the 900 billion dollar price tag over 10 years...considering these teabaggers didn't say a peep when Bush invaded the wrong damn country and cost us twice that amount, right?
Naw, I think their guy lost last November, and they're just a bunch of sore losers.
And it obviously chaps their hide to see the graceful winners get right to work and pass, in 10 months, against substantial resistance, a piece of legislation that most Americans find themselves favoring.
I have avoided gloating for exactly one year now. That time has ended. My guy won, and he was a good choice. The American way of life will be better for the strong, bold movements and actions taken by President Obama and the 111th Congress.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
An Open Letter to U2
Fully plagiarized, cut and pasted from a post on www.atU2.com by BenHur1999.
I just happen to agree, more than I can possibly express with my own words.
An open letter to U2.
Here's the deal.
You've been doing this for a while & you are very good at what you do.
I've been to a number of your concerts and love them.
Now I assume that you are aware of the numerous requests for you to vary your set.
And I respect your creative decision, up until now, to take a different approach.
I realise that since ZooTV, your shows have been more like broadway shows. With planned 'movements' and themes.
BUT and here's the rub.
If the U2 Live show wants to remain a hot ticket for the next 10 years.
Things have to change. Why?
Because the world has changed.
Zoo TV, Popmart & Elevation, 95% of people who went to a U2 concert had to wait until the DVD of the tour came out if they were to get an another perspective on the tour.
Now, more and more people will know your exact moves before they arrive.
If this is the case. I reckon the next world tour you do will end up being your last.
Why? No element of surprise.
Now let's face it. You have done everything you can to surprise us with the staging of this tour. It is incredibly ambitious. But where do you go from here?
Back to Arenas? nup, you did that with elevation. Worked well then. Predictable now. You could try to go bigger. But really it will start to get ridiculous.
So, to maintain interest. You need a new approach.
I know it may be very difficult for you as a band.
But what you need to do is SACK Willie Williams.
Williams is a genius. Don't get me wrong.
But once you have Williams and a whole team of creative directors.
The creativity of U2 is no longer necessary.
You don't feel you have to be creative.
So what happens?
You get lazy.
Or you work really really hard on your set-pieces.
And you pull off a brilliant show that can be taken around the world.
But with Youtube, instant access, more and more people who buy tickets to U2, will take a peek at what the tour is like.
And when the rest of the world see you are doing the same thing, night after night.
You're game is up.
But here's my prediction:
if this is not U2's last world tour,
U2360 will be the last world tour U2 will be able to 'get away with' a set-piece-show, and still draw the crowds. It will mark the end of a 19 year tradition for the band.
If they keep doing a set-standardized-show, they will be in a Vegas equivalent contract very, very soon.
1989 you went away and 'dreamed it all up again'. You reinvented your songs, your music your approach to life, you made a brilliant stage show. And you have reinvented your music a number of times since then.
BUT
You now (for the first time in your career - a bit risky I know!) reinvent your approach to playing together live.
You need to spend a year NOT recording an album.
But playing your entire back catalogue, together as a band.
Learn to be bit impromptu as a band,
Learn to be able to scribble a setlist out in the dressing room.
Be the first band that can fill stadiums AND be different every night without relying on a Willie Williams magician.
learn to be able to pull off any song (within Bono's vocal range) at the drop of a hat.
It will be hard.
But it will be worth it.
U2 shows will once again have a buzz about them.
They will no longer be known for themed sections of the show, but for the uniqueness of each individual show.
Now, you say, this only appeals to the hard core fans.
Perhaps. But don't under value your hard-core fans, they are the only people you can guarentee (for the time being) will actually turn up to your concerts.
If you lose your fan-base, you've lost your tour.
U2 are not beyond their ability to generate a buzz, create mystique and fill stadiums.
But they have to work really hard on lifting their live game.
If the adrenalin is pumping because they are about to play Last Night on Earth and straight into Heartland, followed by a sped-up version of Pride. That won't be too bad will it.
They need to get the fans to do the promo for them.
You have so many fans, that they can mobilise for PR.
If the set-list is changing every night, there will be a buzz, because fans will want to chat again.
And when millions of global U2 fans chat.
U2 comes back.
Mystique is regained.
The world is a better place.
Come on U2.
Stop songwriting and start playing properly.
Don't outsource your creativity.
Come on U2. Do it.
I just happen to agree, more than I can possibly express with my own words.
An open letter to U2.
Here's the deal.
You've been doing this for a while & you are very good at what you do.
I've been to a number of your concerts and love them.
Now I assume that you are aware of the numerous requests for you to vary your set.
And I respect your creative decision, up until now, to take a different approach.
I realise that since ZooTV, your shows have been more like broadway shows. With planned 'movements' and themes.
BUT and here's the rub.
If the U2 Live show wants to remain a hot ticket for the next 10 years.
Things have to change. Why?
Because the world has changed.
Zoo TV, Popmart & Elevation, 95% of people who went to a U2 concert had to wait until the DVD of the tour came out if they were to get an another perspective on the tour.
Now, more and more people will know your exact moves before they arrive.
If this is the case. I reckon the next world tour you do will end up being your last.
Why? No element of surprise.
Now let's face it. You have done everything you can to surprise us with the staging of this tour. It is incredibly ambitious. But where do you go from here?
Back to Arenas? nup, you did that with elevation. Worked well then. Predictable now. You could try to go bigger. But really it will start to get ridiculous.
So, to maintain interest. You need a new approach.
I know it may be very difficult for you as a band.
But what you need to do is SACK Willie Williams.
Williams is a genius. Don't get me wrong.
But once you have Williams and a whole team of creative directors.
The creativity of U2 is no longer necessary.
You don't feel you have to be creative.
So what happens?
You get lazy.
Or you work really really hard on your set-pieces.
And you pull off a brilliant show that can be taken around the world.
But with Youtube, instant access, more and more people who buy tickets to U2, will take a peek at what the tour is like.
And when the rest of the world see you are doing the same thing, night after night.
You're game is up.
But here's my prediction:
if this is not U2's last world tour,
U2360 will be the last world tour U2 will be able to 'get away with' a set-piece-show, and still draw the crowds. It will mark the end of a 19 year tradition for the band.
If they keep doing a set-standardized-show, they will be in a Vegas equivalent contract very, very soon.
1989 you went away and 'dreamed it all up again'. You reinvented your songs, your music your approach to life, you made a brilliant stage show. And you have reinvented your music a number of times since then.
BUT
You now (for the first time in your career - a bit risky I know!) reinvent your approach to playing together live.
You need to spend a year NOT recording an album.
But playing your entire back catalogue, together as a band.
Learn to be bit impromptu as a band,
Learn to be able to scribble a setlist out in the dressing room.
Be the first band that can fill stadiums AND be different every night without relying on a Willie Williams magician.
learn to be able to pull off any song (within Bono's vocal range) at the drop of a hat.
It will be hard.
But it will be worth it.
U2 shows will once again have a buzz about them.
They will no longer be known for themed sections of the show, but for the uniqueness of each individual show.
Now, you say, this only appeals to the hard core fans.
Perhaps. But don't under value your hard-core fans, they are the only people you can guarentee (for the time being) will actually turn up to your concerts.
If you lose your fan-base, you've lost your tour.
U2 are not beyond their ability to generate a buzz, create mystique and fill stadiums.
But they have to work really hard on lifting their live game.
If the adrenalin is pumping because they are about to play Last Night on Earth and straight into Heartland, followed by a sped-up version of Pride. That won't be too bad will it.
They need to get the fans to do the promo for them.
You have so many fans, that they can mobilise for PR.
If the set-list is changing every night, there will be a buzz, because fans will want to chat again.
And when millions of global U2 fans chat.
U2 comes back.
Mystique is regained.
The world is a better place.
Come on U2.
Stop songwriting and start playing properly.
Don't outsource your creativity.
Come on U2. Do it.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Random
I just thought I'd post something.
Things are crazy. Busy. The pace of this year has served to wear me out. I'm gonna need some winter rejuvenation time.
I'm going out this weekend to see a concert or two and to work on a tribute for a famous entertainer who passed away this year.
Time to head for work.
Rock On!
Things are crazy. Busy. The pace of this year has served to wear me out. I'm gonna need some winter rejuvenation time.
I'm going out this weekend to see a concert or two and to work on a tribute for a famous entertainer who passed away this year.
Time to head for work.
Rock On!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
They Played My Song!
I publish this knowing the considerable risk of being called a fanboy or groupie...
I was lucky enough to go see a concert in Chicago last weekend. I've been saving up and hoping my work schedule didn't prevent it for months now.
Well, as of Wednesday night, I was able to clear all little conflicts and pull the proverbial trigger.
We flew all day, landed in the Windy City just in time to change our shoes and head on over to the gig.
We hung out outside the gate, watching the band arrive:
And a little thing it was. 200 tons of lighting, audio, video and effects equipment dangling over an 80 foot round stage.
So as we wander the floor, my lovely wife hooks us up with passes for the center section. WOOHOO!
This was our view of Snow Patrol. It was cool. I got to stand behind all the Snow Patrol audio and stage crew off the side of the stage, watching them do all the stuff that I (sometimes) do at work. Approx. 4 songs into Snow Patrol's set, I decide that the whole trip is already worth it. I don't know how things could get any better.... Unless perhaps U2 play my song....
A little backstory: I have been a U2 fan for over 25 years now... I've been waiting most of that time to hear my favorite U2 song live (the song is called 'Bad') I saw the Vertigo tour shows several years ago more than once. In fact, I saw it 4 times in 4 states. Hoping. Nope. Although in Denver I would have seen/heard it if I had stayed for the second night. Grrrrrrr.
We are pretty close, but not in the crush of being down front. We get numerous (I mean 20+ close encounters with the band (the Mrs is particularly happy to have made eye contact with Mr. The Edge more than once.)
So the concert is going along, and I'm having a great time, not expecting much, but I see one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen:
Show cruising along, I'm still hoping to hear it. Things start winding down. Certain things happen that almost preclude the playing of the song I'm here to hear. I give up, decide to walk to the back to take a few pictures. As we walk up the stairs..... I squeal like a rusty hinge and head back into the pit. This is the vantage point I was able to secure:
So then.... The show ended. Things were good.
I should sometime tell you about night #2....
I was lucky enough to go see a concert in Chicago last weekend. I've been saving up and hoping my work schedule didn't prevent it for months now.
Well, as of Wednesday night, I was able to clear all little conflicts and pull the proverbial trigger.
We flew all day, landed in the Windy City just in time to change our shoes and head on over to the gig.
We hung out outside the gate, watching the band arrive:
And a little thing it was. 200 tons of lighting, audio, video and effects equipment dangling over an 80 foot round stage.
So as we wander the floor, my lovely wife hooks us up with passes for the center section. WOOHOO!
This was our view of Snow Patrol. It was cool. I got to stand behind all the Snow Patrol audio and stage crew off the side of the stage, watching them do all the stuff that I (sometimes) do at work. Approx. 4 songs into Snow Patrol's set, I decide that the whole trip is already worth it. I don't know how things could get any better.... Unless perhaps U2 play my song....
A little backstory: I have been a U2 fan for over 25 years now... I've been waiting most of that time to hear my favorite U2 song live (the song is called 'Bad') I saw the Vertigo tour shows several years ago more than once. In fact, I saw it 4 times in 4 states. Hoping. Nope. Although in Denver I would have seen/heard it if I had stayed for the second night. Grrrrrrr.
We are pretty close, but not in the crush of being down front. We get numerous (I mean 20+ close encounters with the band (the Mrs is particularly happy to have made eye contact with Mr. The Edge more than once.)
So the concert is going along, and I'm having a great time, not expecting much, but I see one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen:
Show cruising along, I'm still hoping to hear it. Things start winding down. Certain things happen that almost preclude the playing of the song I'm here to hear. I give up, decide to walk to the back to take a few pictures. As we walk up the stairs..... I squeal like a rusty hinge and head back into the pit. This is the vantage point I was able to secure:
So then.... The show ended. Things were good.
I should sometime tell you about night #2....
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Coincidences
I've noticed lately a disturbing trend:
It seems like when I see someone that either annoys me or attracts me, that person will be a major factor in my short term life experience.
An example: I can't count the number of times that I have seen a family or person in an airport that annoy me: a family of uppity high-maintenance ski people... They get in my way in the ticket line. I can barely hold back my disgust as they butt into the security line in front of me. They end up taking 30 chairs at the departure gate, and eat stinky food (think Cin a Bon or something with extra onions.) The same family ends up sitting around me on the plane, being generally obnoxious- wrinkling wrappers, whiny kids and the poor tortured mother trying to keep everyone happy. Believe it or not- they are usually the people, 2000 miles away from home, that try to snag my bag. Arrrrgh.
Or what about the lady that gets on the parking shuttle in her obnoxious rayon leopard print shirt? Holds up both the ticket and the security lines. Takes half an hour to decide what kind of burrito to order, ends up right in front of me on a plane and LEANS BACK HER SEAT!!!! After trying to avoid her at the other end, she barrels through me to get her zebra print luggage off the roller before I can get mine.
Here's a completely true story that happened the other day:
I was approaching a parking spot at Costco. Suddenly, a minivan comes screeching around the corner, almost hits me and races toward the door. A person jumps out and hurries to the door of the store. Meanwhile I calmly exit my vehicle and walk inside.
The person from the minivan suddenly realizes that she has forgotten her purse, so she runs loudly to the van (which is blocking my walking path) and gets her purse, wallet, shopping list and the Costco mailer ad.
She hustles into the store. I think to myself: "That person is in such a hurry, I'd be willing to bet we have several issues here.
Sure enough. In walking around the store, this lady is stomping and grunting from sale item to sale item with all the grace and finesse of a stampeding herd of water buffalo.
I get some bread- here she comes- a high-speed, u-turning mission to pick up the sale muffins.
I go to find some paper towels, she screeches up behind me and nearly plows me over while picking up some cat food.
When I escape to the frozen food area, I can hear the distinctive tromping of her pseudo-designer shoes, coming to cut me off, to u-turn in front of me and then stop suddenly.
After no less than 5 near-death experiences, she finally races off to the checkstand. Wow. barely survived that one...
So what is it? Why do I have repeated encounters with the people who bother me the most?
I do have the same thing occasionally with people that I like or don't bother me. But usually it is people that make me craaaaaaazy.
Coincidence or cosmic conspiracy?
It seems like when I see someone that either annoys me or attracts me, that person will be a major factor in my short term life experience.
An example: I can't count the number of times that I have seen a family or person in an airport that annoy me: a family of uppity high-maintenance ski people... They get in my way in the ticket line. I can barely hold back my disgust as they butt into the security line in front of me. They end up taking 30 chairs at the departure gate, and eat stinky food (think Cin a Bon or something with extra onions.) The same family ends up sitting around me on the plane, being generally obnoxious- wrinkling wrappers, whiny kids and the poor tortured mother trying to keep everyone happy. Believe it or not- they are usually the people, 2000 miles away from home, that try to snag my bag. Arrrrgh.
Or what about the lady that gets on the parking shuttle in her obnoxious rayon leopard print shirt? Holds up both the ticket and the security lines. Takes half an hour to decide what kind of burrito to order, ends up right in front of me on a plane and LEANS BACK HER SEAT!!!! After trying to avoid her at the other end, she barrels through me to get her zebra print luggage off the roller before I can get mine.
Here's a completely true story that happened the other day:
I was approaching a parking spot at Costco. Suddenly, a minivan comes screeching around the corner, almost hits me and races toward the door. A person jumps out and hurries to the door of the store. Meanwhile I calmly exit my vehicle and walk inside.
The person from the minivan suddenly realizes that she has forgotten her purse, so she runs loudly to the van (which is blocking my walking path) and gets her purse, wallet, shopping list and the Costco mailer ad.
She hustles into the store. I think to myself: "That person is in such a hurry, I'd be willing to bet we have several issues here.
Sure enough. In walking around the store, this lady is stomping and grunting from sale item to sale item with all the grace and finesse of a stampeding herd of water buffalo.
I get some bread- here she comes- a high-speed, u-turning mission to pick up the sale muffins.
I go to find some paper towels, she screeches up behind me and nearly plows me over while picking up some cat food.
When I escape to the frozen food area, I can hear the distinctive tromping of her pseudo-designer shoes, coming to cut me off, to u-turn in front of me and then stop suddenly.
After no less than 5 near-death experiences, she finally races off to the checkstand. Wow. barely survived that one...
So what is it? Why do I have repeated encounters with the people who bother me the most?
I do have the same thing occasionally with people that I like or don't bother me. But usually it is people that make me craaaaaaazy.
Coincidence or cosmic conspiracy?
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