Why is it the same knee-jerk Republicans freaking out about ISIS are fostering terrorism in the homeland? Recruiting and influencing loonies to do their dirty work to eliminate the evil scourge known as abortion? Imposing their beliefs upon a populace that may not agree, in a nation founded upon religious freedom, never mind personal liberty?
Welcome to 2015, wherein people in the hinterlands are fearful of Islamic terrorists, willing to give up personal freedoms to make themselves feel safe, while their brethren are running around with weapons terrorizing the rest of the populace.
I don't get it. I understand that not everyone agrees on everything. That not everyone approves of Obama's efforts, never mind the right wing's systematic decimation of the safety net. But we're a nation of laws, where people vote and we adhere to the results. Otherwise there'd be chaos.
There's chaos in the streets right now. And the problem isn't college students agitating against microaggressions, or the underprivileged demanding equal rights, but the so-called law and order party, which under the rubric of creating a safer America is making most citizens feel anything but.
Words have consequences. And the media has influence. And they're both trumped by corporations, who do what's right for themselves, not the country. Did you read the recent "Washington Post" story about companies' influence upon the public's belief in climate change? Turns out, by funding studies, energy producers muddied the water, they made people believe climate change wasn't real. Just read "Why are so many Americans skeptical about climate change? A study offers a surprising answer." for edification: http://wapo.st/1jh0v6c
And now we've got fanatical anti-abortion zealots demonizing Planned Parenthood, creating false videos, all in the name of eradicating abortion, which is the law of the land, even though it's nearly impossible to get one in many red states. Locations are few, and the underclass is poor. And doctors and patients are both afraid of being shot.
But taking the law into your own hands is a feature of the west...
Back in the 1800s. We've progressed. Or maybe we haven't. What if we got all those shooters to give up their mobile phones and videogame consoles. Then they might realize that times are different.
And you might say that the shooters are mentally ill. I'd say that ten percent of the public is crazy and we don't know who they are, but by sending messages of terrorism we are incentivizing them to take action, to become famous, to become martyrs for the cause.
I don't stop hearing the Republicans saying that Obama isn't tough on ISIS, that he isn't forceful enough, that Muslims are evil, and our national way of life must be preserved.
Then I see these same people under the banner of Christianity inciting disorder in our communities, insisting the rest of us must adhere to their beliefs. Sure, the Middle East is destabilized, sure, it's scary. But does that mean we have to sacrifice all our personal freedoms here at home, does that mean we can substitute the fear of religious rule by one faith for the domination of another? There's a supposed war on Christmas, which is like saying the NBA is challenged by tiddlywinks. The minions incited by the blowhards on Fox News are creating unrest which results in shootings but the meek and unarmed are the true problem?
That's right, this is a right wing problem, a Republican problem. You don't see lefties shooting up churches and you don't see Democrats insisting that everyone smoke dope. The white population is declining in influence and through a weird alliance of rich and poor, we've destabilized our entire nation while these same people keep protesting their innocence and deflecting attention upon ISIS and other bogeymen.
ISIS is real. I'd be lying if I said I was not afraid.
But I'm more afraid of some Bible-toting idiot worried his tax money is being used to fund sin deciding to shoot up my neighborhood in an effort to restore order.
A shooter descended upon my neighborhood a couple of years back, and when the sirens go off and the police cars scream and you've got no idea what's happening you realize not only can it happen here, it does.
I did not get shot.
But innocent students at Santa Monica College did. Those who were just going about their business, trying to improve their lives, bothering nobody in the process.
Your right to bear arms is no threat to a hacker who can threaten the government with the click of a mouse. And the more you try to protect yourself with arms the more you destabilize our entire community.
We all are responsible for what happened in Colorado. Because we refused to have not only effective gun control, we've been fanning the flames of discontent for decades, polarizing those in this great nation of ours, when the truth is we're really more together than apart.
Donald Trump has no chance of becoming President.
But the media follows him because he sells advertising.
Irresponsibility is rampant. How do we expect people to do the right thing when corporations are avoiding taxes and everyone believes they have the right to have things go their way all the time?
Compromise and understanding, not stand your ground with your hands covering your ears.
But that's not what happens in Congress.
And that's not what's happening in the streets.
We should be ashamed of ourselves. We destabilized an entire region to impose our way of life on others.
Turns out our way of life is riddled with problems, a good hard look in the mirror is necessary. We need to lay down arms and respect the legal wishes of others.
In a nation where everybody believes he can become a star, and is entitled to untold riches, where religious martyrs are lionized, we've got a lot of looking at ourselves to do.
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Saturday 28 November 2015
Wednesday 25 November 2015
Broken Together
What if perfection doesn't exist? What if what you're looking for can't be found?
They tell us we can be anything we want to be, even President.
Then not only do we not want to be CEO of the country, but we just can't grab the brass ring, as we get older we can't even see it, and then we're not sure what we want anyway.
But society keeps telling us we can win.
When the truth is nobody can. Triumph at the Super Bowl and the good feeling soon fades. All victories are evanescent. As we get older we realize the only thing we can count on, the only thing that rewards us, is our relationships.
But they're so hard to keep. Never mind find. You're looking for a picture in your mind, someone who understands you, who gets you, who won't challenge you, but just accept you. And you throw your lot in with someone who gives you hope, and then those are hopes dashed.
That's the essence of divorce. Someone wants out because their dreams have gone unfulfilled. You're just not successful enough for them, there's someone better-looking, there's got to be something better on the outside. And then the bond is broken and...
The searchers keep on searching and those left behind lick their wounds and build up their courage to play once again.
And then when your body is lumpy, your ass falls, your skin starts to wrinkle, you find someone new. But it's so different. You've got so much baggage. And if you're lucky you realize this is what life is all about, not only compromise and understanding, but hewing the path, being broken together.
"What do you think about when you look at me"
Am I not who you expected me to be? Do you see my imperfections? Do you weigh my pluses and minuses? I'm already riddled with self-doubt, I envy the confident, I can barely accept myself.
"I know we're not the fairy tale you dreamed we'd be"
Disappointment... When the flash of new love disappears. When your hold over them has evaporated. Do you measure up? Are you a keeper? Or are they just figuring out how to let you loose.
"You wore the veil, you walked the aisle, you took my hand
And we dove into a mystery"
I got married. My ex said she tricked me into it. But once I put that ring on my finger, stood up in front of friends and family, I knew I would never pull the trigger on a divorce, because that's just not my style, I honor my commitments, to the point where sometimes I can't get out of my own way.
And after the party fades into memory, you end up with the car accidents, the money troubles and the disappointments, when your life stops resembling the fantasy and you delve deeper into the darkness.
"How I wish we could go back to simpler times"
That's what the serial monogamists desire, that hit of first love, they know how to begin and end, it's the middle that gives them trouble, the heebie-jeebies, this is when they jump.
"Before all our scars and all our secrets were in the light"
Sharing, it's the essence of a relationship, but no matter how connected we might be we're afraid of judgment, of freaking our partner out. How much can we complain? Is this gonna be a deal-breaker?
"Now on this hallowed ground, we've drawn the battle lines
Will we make it through the night"
It always happens at night. I don't know if I've ever had a serious fight in the morning. But lying in bed, one desirous of falling asleep, the other unable to keep their mind from racing, the past is rehashed and analyzed to the point where there's no agreement, but an eventual exhaustion, hours later, when you hug and hope that tomorrow will be better.
"Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete"
This is the starting the point, this is what most fail to realize, that being a pair is nearly impossible, that it's a struggle to stay together. You were sold a bill of goods, there's no such thing as soulmates, and those who say they are are either lying or one step away from divorce, one party dominating while the other accepts the undue burden. Relationships are never equal, nor are breakups, but unless you stand your ground, even while oscillating, you're never going to know true love. Relationships are about the dividend, not about beauty, status or riches, rather the knowledge there's going to be someone home at night, someone there for you, when you're at loose ends. This is all you can hope for, along with some skin on skin. It's not about becoming one, but just being together.
"You can bring your shattered dreams and I'll bring mine"
Line 'em up. If you're over thirty you've got 'em. Hopes and dreams that did not come to fruition. You didn't make the pros, you didn't get into the right college, you didn't make partner, you got dumped, you struggled, even lied, just to make it through. No one told you life was gonna be this tough. How come in school they care about your every move, but when you grow up no one cares about you at all? You carry all this crap with you in life. And it's not about casting it aside, but throwing it into a pile with someone new, picking through the detritus and building a life, being broken together.
That's the name of the song, "Broken Together." It's by Christian rock band Casting Crowns, whose name I knew but whose music I was unfamiliar with. I became enraptured by the first few piano notes when it started to play in the Discover Weekly playlist. In an era where everything is fake, not only the music, but the people, where image is everything although truly nothing, a piano cuts to the bone, announces an honesty and truth we so desire but too often avoid. The vocal was good, but the lyrics were a surprise, they contained such wisdom, and with the ensuing changes and the heartfelt emotion I was touched.
We all want to be touched. Metaphorically and physically.
"How it must have been so lonely by my side"
That's what they don't tell you about relationships, about the time you're alone together. You've got the commitment, but sometimes that's the only thing you possess.
"We were building kingdoms and chasing dreams and left love behind"
You think you're just living your life. But then intimacy dries up. And the other person becomes a cipher. Is there a way back from this?
Always.
As long as you're willing to be broken together.
It's the only way you'll last forever, if you're broken together.
Spotify: http://spoti.fi/1NPRRnr
YouTube: http://bit.ly/1qeXAKI
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They tell us we can be anything we want to be, even President.
Then not only do we not want to be CEO of the country, but we just can't grab the brass ring, as we get older we can't even see it, and then we're not sure what we want anyway.
But society keeps telling us we can win.
When the truth is nobody can. Triumph at the Super Bowl and the good feeling soon fades. All victories are evanescent. As we get older we realize the only thing we can count on, the only thing that rewards us, is our relationships.
But they're so hard to keep. Never mind find. You're looking for a picture in your mind, someone who understands you, who gets you, who won't challenge you, but just accept you. And you throw your lot in with someone who gives you hope, and then those are hopes dashed.
That's the essence of divorce. Someone wants out because their dreams have gone unfulfilled. You're just not successful enough for them, there's someone better-looking, there's got to be something better on the outside. And then the bond is broken and...
The searchers keep on searching and those left behind lick their wounds and build up their courage to play once again.
And then when your body is lumpy, your ass falls, your skin starts to wrinkle, you find someone new. But it's so different. You've got so much baggage. And if you're lucky you realize this is what life is all about, not only compromise and understanding, but hewing the path, being broken together.
"What do you think about when you look at me"
Am I not who you expected me to be? Do you see my imperfections? Do you weigh my pluses and minuses? I'm already riddled with self-doubt, I envy the confident, I can barely accept myself.
"I know we're not the fairy tale you dreamed we'd be"
Disappointment... When the flash of new love disappears. When your hold over them has evaporated. Do you measure up? Are you a keeper? Or are they just figuring out how to let you loose.
"You wore the veil, you walked the aisle, you took my hand
And we dove into a mystery"
I got married. My ex said she tricked me into it. But once I put that ring on my finger, stood up in front of friends and family, I knew I would never pull the trigger on a divorce, because that's just not my style, I honor my commitments, to the point where sometimes I can't get out of my own way.
And after the party fades into memory, you end up with the car accidents, the money troubles and the disappointments, when your life stops resembling the fantasy and you delve deeper into the darkness.
"How I wish we could go back to simpler times"
That's what the serial monogamists desire, that hit of first love, they know how to begin and end, it's the middle that gives them trouble, the heebie-jeebies, this is when they jump.
"Before all our scars and all our secrets were in the light"
Sharing, it's the essence of a relationship, but no matter how connected we might be we're afraid of judgment, of freaking our partner out. How much can we complain? Is this gonna be a deal-breaker?
"Now on this hallowed ground, we've drawn the battle lines
Will we make it through the night"
It always happens at night. I don't know if I've ever had a serious fight in the morning. But lying in bed, one desirous of falling asleep, the other unable to keep their mind from racing, the past is rehashed and analyzed to the point where there's no agreement, but an eventual exhaustion, hours later, when you hug and hope that tomorrow will be better.
"Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete"
This is the starting the point, this is what most fail to realize, that being a pair is nearly impossible, that it's a struggle to stay together. You were sold a bill of goods, there's no such thing as soulmates, and those who say they are are either lying or one step away from divorce, one party dominating while the other accepts the undue burden. Relationships are never equal, nor are breakups, but unless you stand your ground, even while oscillating, you're never going to know true love. Relationships are about the dividend, not about beauty, status or riches, rather the knowledge there's going to be someone home at night, someone there for you, when you're at loose ends. This is all you can hope for, along with some skin on skin. It's not about becoming one, but just being together.
"You can bring your shattered dreams and I'll bring mine"
Line 'em up. If you're over thirty you've got 'em. Hopes and dreams that did not come to fruition. You didn't make the pros, you didn't get into the right college, you didn't make partner, you got dumped, you struggled, even lied, just to make it through. No one told you life was gonna be this tough. How come in school they care about your every move, but when you grow up no one cares about you at all? You carry all this crap with you in life. And it's not about casting it aside, but throwing it into a pile with someone new, picking through the detritus and building a life, being broken together.
That's the name of the song, "Broken Together." It's by Christian rock band Casting Crowns, whose name I knew but whose music I was unfamiliar with. I became enraptured by the first few piano notes when it started to play in the Discover Weekly playlist. In an era where everything is fake, not only the music, but the people, where image is everything although truly nothing, a piano cuts to the bone, announces an honesty and truth we so desire but too often avoid. The vocal was good, but the lyrics were a surprise, they contained such wisdom, and with the ensuing changes and the heartfelt emotion I was touched.
We all want to be touched. Metaphorically and physically.
"How it must have been so lonely by my side"
That's what they don't tell you about relationships, about the time you're alone together. You've got the commitment, but sometimes that's the only thing you possess.
"We were building kingdoms and chasing dreams and left love behind"
You think you're just living your life. But then intimacy dries up. And the other person becomes a cipher. Is there a way back from this?
Always.
As long as you're willing to be broken together.
It's the only way you'll last forever, if you're broken together.
Spotify: http://spoti.fi/1NPRRnr
YouTube: http://bit.ly/1qeXAKI
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Monday 23 November 2015
Adele Sets Sales Record?
This is not a victory for the rank and file.
The artists railing against streaming applaud Adele's success after keeping "25" from Spotify, et al...they just don't know it's the last gasp of a dying paradigm and the birth of a new one. That's right, you won't see albums released in the fourth quarter for sales impact anymore, but we will see the most popular acts dominate the chart.
Hope. That's what people want. And if Adele can play by the old rules and win, by golly, so can I! But this is untrue. Not only is Adele a phenomenon, she and her superstar brethren are hoovering up all the profits in music. It's no different from Apple winning in mobile handsets, she's an iPhone and you're HTC or Microsoft or Sony or one of the manufacturers who've left the business.
How did it come to this?
First and foremost, mindshare. It's nearly impossible to get in today's cluttered, cacophonous society. Used to be you got on radio and then MTV and you reached everybody. Now, except for Adele herself, no one can do this. Quick, sing a 1D song! You can't, but they just won big on the AMAs. And you can pooh-pooh that awards show, or you can just admit that music has changed. It's not that you're old, it's just that the biggest acts are niche and if you're not one of them, god help you in making a living.
Even radio... There's pop and everything else. Quick, what's number one on the Active Rock chart? You probably can't even name one of the tracks in the top ten!
And the popular squeezes out the less popular and you end up holding the bag, and there's nothing in it, only shattered dreams.
Same deal in touring, where the real money is. You can't get a good seat at the arena to see the star and you can't get anybody to come see the barely known in the club. Hell, the clubs themselves have given up, the record companies pulled their support and their financials caved. Furthermore, most people are drive-by fans, they're not so passionate that they want to underpay to see you in a small venue coming up, they'd rather wait until you make it and pay through the yin-yang for a good ticket on StubHub. Hell, Sam Smith played arenas, after one hit. You can criticize this career move, say it's too much too soon, but the truth is there was demand.
The people want stars.
And the corporations do too. There's endless sponsorship money for household names. And none if you're unrecognizable.
You think Adele holding her album back from streaming services is a victory for you, but the truth is it's only for her. And I'll argue all the hype about her potentially breaking sales records is more important than the sales themselves. They give her the imprimatur of importance. And people love a horse race. For a while anyway. Come on, what was the name of that horse which just won the Triple Crown?
That's how fast it all moves. And to have staying power is incredibly difficult. Do I think "25" will have staying power? Probably. Maybe, just like Taylor Swift, when Adele goes on the road there will be continued press.
But there may not be.
This is where we're now at. People love statistics more than the underlying art. And it's not only in music... We want to know how much money "Star Wars" is gonna make, and if your flick doesn't break six digits it's irrelevant.
Or is it?
The key is to have self-respect and do it your way. Know that you cannot win at their game. You're a pawn, if you're on the board at all. A true artist doesn't complain, he or she creates. But why should we expect any different where accumulating friends and likes on social media is the main game?
And if Adele breaks the sales record... Quick, how many copies did "Sgt. Pepper" sell? And "Back In Black"? Nobody knows, not even the bands themselves, who were accounted to poorly. But that music has maintained a hold on the public consciousness, unlike "No Strings Attached."
Have some perspective people. We're witnessing the Super Bowl of Music. And there's only room for one act. And it may be a fun movie to watch, but you're not on the field.
And what's worse, in music today, all the acts that should be retired are still playing. Not only are they on the road, their music is up front and center online, which is testimony to their greatness.
So when you sit at home and see Adele's sales success as a victory for the little guy, a poke in the eye to streaming services, you're delusional.
Yes, she made all that money. It's just funny that she left all that cash on the table the last time around.
As for doing it her way, we all know the rich and powerful write their own rules, that they live in a rarefied air that we don't have access to.
So put your music on streaming services, which not only dominate today, but will kill sales like the aforementioned iPhone killed the BlackBerry.
And know that the big wheel of progress keeps turning. All those acts that stayed off of iTunes are on there now. And it will be true of Spotify and the rest. This is a moment in time. One which will be noted endlessly in the future, how Adele set a sales record in a dying era.
But she's not an athlete, this is not about numbers, but music.
Never forget that.
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The artists railing against streaming applaud Adele's success after keeping "25" from Spotify, et al...they just don't know it's the last gasp of a dying paradigm and the birth of a new one. That's right, you won't see albums released in the fourth quarter for sales impact anymore, but we will see the most popular acts dominate the chart.
Hope. That's what people want. And if Adele can play by the old rules and win, by golly, so can I! But this is untrue. Not only is Adele a phenomenon, she and her superstar brethren are hoovering up all the profits in music. It's no different from Apple winning in mobile handsets, she's an iPhone and you're HTC or Microsoft or Sony or one of the manufacturers who've left the business.
How did it come to this?
First and foremost, mindshare. It's nearly impossible to get in today's cluttered, cacophonous society. Used to be you got on radio and then MTV and you reached everybody. Now, except for Adele herself, no one can do this. Quick, sing a 1D song! You can't, but they just won big on the AMAs. And you can pooh-pooh that awards show, or you can just admit that music has changed. It's not that you're old, it's just that the biggest acts are niche and if you're not one of them, god help you in making a living.
Even radio... There's pop and everything else. Quick, what's number one on the Active Rock chart? You probably can't even name one of the tracks in the top ten!
And the popular squeezes out the less popular and you end up holding the bag, and there's nothing in it, only shattered dreams.
Same deal in touring, where the real money is. You can't get a good seat at the arena to see the star and you can't get anybody to come see the barely known in the club. Hell, the clubs themselves have given up, the record companies pulled their support and their financials caved. Furthermore, most people are drive-by fans, they're not so passionate that they want to underpay to see you in a small venue coming up, they'd rather wait until you make it and pay through the yin-yang for a good ticket on StubHub. Hell, Sam Smith played arenas, after one hit. You can criticize this career move, say it's too much too soon, but the truth is there was demand.
The people want stars.
And the corporations do too. There's endless sponsorship money for household names. And none if you're unrecognizable.
You think Adele holding her album back from streaming services is a victory for you, but the truth is it's only for her. And I'll argue all the hype about her potentially breaking sales records is more important than the sales themselves. They give her the imprimatur of importance. And people love a horse race. For a while anyway. Come on, what was the name of that horse which just won the Triple Crown?
That's how fast it all moves. And to have staying power is incredibly difficult. Do I think "25" will have staying power? Probably. Maybe, just like Taylor Swift, when Adele goes on the road there will be continued press.
But there may not be.
This is where we're now at. People love statistics more than the underlying art. And it's not only in music... We want to know how much money "Star Wars" is gonna make, and if your flick doesn't break six digits it's irrelevant.
Or is it?
The key is to have self-respect and do it your way. Know that you cannot win at their game. You're a pawn, if you're on the board at all. A true artist doesn't complain, he or she creates. But why should we expect any different where accumulating friends and likes on social media is the main game?
And if Adele breaks the sales record... Quick, how many copies did "Sgt. Pepper" sell? And "Back In Black"? Nobody knows, not even the bands themselves, who were accounted to poorly. But that music has maintained a hold on the public consciousness, unlike "No Strings Attached."
Have some perspective people. We're witnessing the Super Bowl of Music. And there's only room for one act. And it may be a fun movie to watch, but you're not on the field.
And what's worse, in music today, all the acts that should be retired are still playing. Not only are they on the road, their music is up front and center online, which is testimony to their greatness.
So when you sit at home and see Adele's sales success as a victory for the little guy, a poke in the eye to streaming services, you're delusional.
Yes, she made all that money. It's just funny that she left all that cash on the table the last time around.
As for doing it her way, we all know the rich and powerful write their own rules, that they live in a rarefied air that we don't have access to.
So put your music on streaming services, which not only dominate today, but will kill sales like the aforementioned iPhone killed the BlackBerry.
And know that the big wheel of progress keeps turning. All those acts that stayed off of iTunes are on there now. And it will be true of Spotify and the rest. This is a moment in time. One which will be noted endlessly in the future, how Adele set a sales record in a dying era.
But she's not an athlete, this is not about numbers, but music.
Never forget that.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
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