You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who’ll decide
Where to go…
In an effort to distract myself from the current stressful situation, I’ve decided to try to rekindle the interest in my blog again. Writing is cathartic and even if it’s all mundane B.S., at least I get to express myself. Right? Right!
So I’ve been listening to a LOT of music lately which just goes hand in hand with bad breakups. It’s super cliche! But for a reason. It helps. I guess.
Anyway, the point is that I’ve rediscovered some old music I haven’t listened to in a million years or so, give or take a decade. Most of it is stuff from well-known artists or at least artists with major record labels. But a few songs are by people I know, personally. Back when the world was different and I ran witha different crowd, I was surrounded by artists. My friends were all into music or art in some form or another. None of them ever became well-known or rich and famous, but they were still talented. When one of their songs pops up I think about them and memories just wash over me. It takes feel good music to a whole new level.
I’ve lost touch with all of these people over the years. Something I thought would never happen at the time, I’m sure. I wonder about them when I hear their songs. One moved on to Nashville, I know. But I wonder if he is still there. The other, I think, moved back to Canada, but I can’t be sure. Doesn’t matter anyway, I wouldn’t reach out to them even if I knew how. That’s a long time gone from where I am right now and I don’t need or want to go back again.
Still, when their music comes up it makes me smile and it makes me wistful and besides evoking those personal memories, they’re just good music. The lyrics are thoughtful and well-written. The music is mellow and just right. It makes me proud to have known them at one time. And I wonder if they realize it? It kind of makes me sad to think about how good their music makes me feel and they will never know. Neither of them hit it big like they thought they would and isn’t that always the way? I’m sure they are probably respectable adults with “regular” jobs now. I’m sure they have 2.5 kids and a mortgage. I’m sure they grew up. I hope they are happy and content in their new lives and I hope they don’t regret the choices they made. I just wish I could let them know how much their music meant to me and still means to me and I want them to know that they made a lasting difference and mark on someone’s life.
What are you, effin’ kidding me? Read this and then explain to me how come it’s the year 2011 and we’re still living in the Dark Ages.
I am really digging this guy. Matt discovered him and shared with Jake who then shared with me. We think it’s a sin not to share music around these parts.
Try this one as well. Good stuff!
Off to Savannah, Georgia tomorrow for a conference. Looking forward to being back in the south, I miss it an awful lot.
Wish me luck. Wish me safe travels. Wish me happy flight attendants and no delays. Wish me home safe again.
I’ll do the best I can.
Read an interesting article by Conrad Fischer, M.D over on Pyschology Today about the rising cost of insurance. In a nutshell, the author says doctors aren’t getting rich off of those premiums, and neither are the hospitals. Indeed, more and more hospitals shutter their doors every day because, without a bailout from the government, they just can’t continue to operate. I know from a recent experience in a Las Vegas Emergency Room, some hospitals are in sad shape. Dr. Fischer blames the insurance companies and claims they are lining their pockets with our hard-earned dough.
Maybe. It’s a nice thought and one I’d like to believe. I don’t want the guy who is supposed to make me feel better also simultaneously jacking me up for his own, personal gain. I want to believe my doctor is just another hapless victim of the corruption of greed.
But here’s the thing: I find it hard to believe that doctors are unable to do anything about it. If they are truly that outraged, I don’t understand why things don’t change. I fully admit there’s a lot I don’t understand and I could be missing something really obvious, but if I am, feel free to set me straight. I don’t get it. The whole thing hinges on doctors. If doctors won’t give the diagnosis or prescribe the pill or order the x-ray — then everything stops. Does it not? If they refuse to cooperate until insurance companies start playing fair then wouldn’t the insurance companies at least have to make a half-assed attempt at being decent? As it is now they are just brazenly bending us over and sticking it up our backsides. They’re not even sorry. They don’t even have the decency to look away while they do it.
So, I entreat Dr. Fischer: prove it. Put your collective money where your mouth is. If you and your medical brethren are so outraged about the way things are going in the insurance industry then fight back. Help us. We can’t do it on our own. What are you doing to fix it?
For reasons I cannot even begin to comprehend myself, much less explain to you, I just read this article about Tiger Woods who I could not possibly be less interested in.
However, it did leave me to an interesting thought and I think maybe I’m on to something. Just hear me out. Humor me.
WHAT IF…what if Tiger is like some kind of super hero whose super power was playing AMAZING golf but a lack of sex with strange women is his kryptonite and now that he’s been busted and no longer has a different partner every five minutes, all his power is gone?
What if that’s the case?? I think this should be looked into. Studies should be done.
Very interesting and well-written article on the evolution of web media and some of the lesser known facts about the way the tide is turning. I admit this hadn’t been on my radar before this article, but since reading up on it, I’m going to be keeping up on what happens here.
Nobody had to buy a license from Tim Berners-Lee to use HTML or transmit information using HTTP. Nobody had to pay Vint Cerf and Robert Kahn to use TCP/IP. Nobody had to license Javascript from Brendan Eich or pay Håkon Wium Lie to use CSS in web pages. Their contributions were free and open, and the entire world benefited.
Allstate apologizes for Zodiac confusion
Oh seriously? They’re sorry? For what? Is this how stupid we’ve become? Ever see that movie Idiocracy? No? Watch it. No, no, go ahead. I’ll wait here while you drive to the rental store, rent it, drive back and watch it then report to me here.
I KNOW, RIGHT!?
I’m afraid we’re already there. : /
A Woman's Manifesto
Because a woman’s work is never done.
and is underpaid, or unpaid, or boring, or repetitious,
and we’re the first to get fired,
and what we look like is more important than what we do.
And if we get raped its our fault
and if we get beaten we must have provoked it
and if we raise our voices we’re nagging bitches
and if we enjoy sex we’re nymphos
and if we don’t we’re frigid
and if we love women it’s because we can’t get a real man
and if we ask our doctor too many questions we’re neurotic or pushy
and if we expect childcare we’re selfish
and if we stand up for our rights we’re aggressive and un-feminine
and if we don’t we’re typical weak females
and if we want to get married we’re out to trap a man
and if we don’t we’re unnatural
and because we still can’t get an adequate, safe contraceptive, but men can walk on the moon
and if we can’t cope or don’t want a pregnancy we’re made to feel guilty about abortion
and for lots and lots of other reasons
we are part of the women’s liberation movement.- Joyce Stevens, International Woman’s Day, 1975.
Man Vs. Heart Attack
I am somewhat worried about the dude on Man v Food. He isn’t looking so good these days and putting that food away like that can’t be good for him.
