It was the gleam in his eyes that told me this was something to see.
As I was working on production this past Thursday, Mojo from our sister station Q-106 stopped in the doorway and said, “CNN…Channel 35…right now. You won’t believe it!”
I turned on the TV in the 92-X studios and there it was…a huge Jiffy Pop tin flying in the skies over Colorado. The news heads were saying that a 6-year-old boy was inside this thing as it was cruising out of control. My first thought was this was surreal. Then as it sunk in that this was really happening, I thought that somebody blew it and didn’t wait until next month to have this happen during TV sweeps. But then I thought what if there really IS a little boy in this thing? That would be terrible! Oh, the humanity!!!
Then the background on the boy and his family began to come to light; it turns out the family was on the ABC reality show “Wife Swap”. Then CNN shows a clip of the dad…who turns out was an iReporter for them. Then the thing comes down, and no boy inside. All of a sudden I began to smell a rat.
As it turns out, the boy was hiding in the attic…supposedly, by the boy’s account, under instructions from dad for “a TV show”. The kid was so conflicted that he threw up on live TV Friday morning several times on several interviews. Cops get warrants to search the family home for financial records, phone records, notes and computers. Then earlier today (Sunday), an announcement that it was truly a hoax and felony charges being brought. The family’s motivation? A shot at reality show stardom.
It’s no secret I’m not a fan of “reality” television. However, since the first episode of “Survivor” came on the boob tube over a dozen years ago, we have been mesmerized by it. “Real” people in “real life” situational drama. “Survivor” begat a huge entourage of like-minded shows that had people locked up in a house together, challenged into doing incredible stunts, losing weight, having nannys come into your house, vie for the affections of a member of the opposite sex to marry them, and attempt to succeed in doing corporate tasks so that they won’t hear the fateful words, “You’re fired!”
This type of programming is just what networks began salivating about. Shows where they don’t have to hire a writing staff, hire union actors, have low production costs, and make the networks huge profits. Market them to the masses and you’ve got hits. Problem is, the participants of these shows tend to be star “wanna bees” and somewhat left of center. Richard Hatch…Sanjya…and all the rest. And now these folk.
I firmly believe we have a psychological condition here I like to call “Reality Show Syndrome”. People wanting that 15 minutes or 15 gigabytes of fame and willing to do anything to get it. And, no thanks to the network’s marketing mentality, people wanting to be “voyeurs” into this glimpse of supposed “reality” programming. People who are glued to their sets to see what happens on their reality shows this week, and the next, and the next.
But finally it seems the meltdown has begun. John and Kate, and now Richard and Mayumi Heene (who, by the way, met in acting school in Hollywood before getting married). My hope is that we’ve finally “jumped the shark” when it comes to reality shows. And hopefully, John Q. Public can finally wake up to what is going on here, and not give credence to the networks desire for economically stingy production costing and huge profit making programming to rule the airwaves.
You want Reality TV? Tune into the Evening News. Now THAT is reality.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Toilet Paper Doppelganger
Being a single dad can be fun, but a lot of times it is exhausting. After time in at work and time with the kids there’s not much me time. What me time I do get I utilize to the fullest to enjoy things that I like…that are my life.
However, with such a hectic itinerary I tend to make shopping a low priority. Besides dealing with my packed schedule, the fact that I dislike large “super center” stores and their U-Scan lanes contribute to this prioritizing of shopping.
So, with this dislike in my psyche, I came home one night earlier this week from a long day. Along the way I was the strategist in taking care of the evening’s proclaimed tasks before settling in for the night; drop off leftovers at work for lunch the next day and pick up a pair of movie tickets for friends so that they can enjoy a movie out on me for their 1st wedding anniversary.
I get home after my extended time on the road, and like any single dad ran to the bathroom to seek relief from road rumble on my bladder. When I enter, I notice it immediately…the item I subconsciously put on the low priority rung of the ladder. I was out of toilet paper. So, with a sigh, I resigned myself to go back out in the car and make the quick drive to the local “super center” to get bathroom tissue on rolls.
Late evening trips to the super center store are always a joy; searching 10 minutes for a parking spot, being held up at the entrance by some fool standing in the middle of the entranceway staring up at the ceiling like they are lost and have never been in a super center ever before in their lives. And don’t get me started on trying to get past people waddling in the middle of the aisle, pushing their shopping cart at a negative 2 MPH.
I get to the aisle with the toilet paper, grab a Charmin™ 12 pack of double roll size because it’s on sale, and spin to head towards the registers up front. It was on the way to check out that I had an unnerving experience.
Halfway up to the check out, a man turns into the aisle in front of me. At first I don’t pay attention and continue my stride. But as I continue to head up front a cascade of thoughts hit me as he’s walking in front of me. He has a green shirt on…just like mine. He’s wearing tan dress slacks…just like mine. And under his arm he is carrying a 12 pack double roll size package of bathroom tissue that is on sale…just like mine! And in that moment, I came to the realization that walking in front of me was MY TOILET PAPER SHOPPING DOPPELGANGER!!!
A warning light flashed in my mind. He and I were walking in perfect lockstep…like marching in formation in the infantry. My brain flashed back to Air Force Basic Training in San Antonio and my T.I. with the thick Mexican accent as he called off cadence while we did marching drills. He also used to tell us constantly to “keep yur choos pit chined” (Keep your shoes spit-shined) and to not take forever in the latrine in the morning when we went to “chit and chave” (obvious…do I need to translate?). Add the fact we had similar clothes on and both of us the same 12 pack of toilet paper under our left arm, and you have a weird visual.
This was too freaky of a coincidence for me to want to be affiliated with. People just can’t process seeing such an occurrence as this without jumping to some oddball opinion. I’m mimicking the guy in front of me. I’m lost and following him to lead me back to the parking lot. Or we’re a two-man space alien army from another planet come to deplete Earth of all its bathroom tissue. In less than a second my brain freaked out and put into effect a plan of evasive action…execute a bob, weave and navigate away.
I immediately ducked left through the pallet sale items in the middle of the main aisle, nearly knocking over a methodically and artistically stacked mountain of chicken noodle soup cans – something some employee took hours of his day to create. Unfortunately, the maneuver put me in the path of a large woman in a power chair nearly running me over.
I then took the long way to the checkouts, into the frozen foods, through produce, a quick trot through the cleaning products aisle where I find they actually carry the replacement bulbs for my lava lamp, up through produce and past the bakery. The U-Scan is up ahead and no sign of my doppelganger. Home free!
As I stand in line for the U-Scan, I notice a young woman looking at me and smiling. So I smile back. Then, she smiles even bigger. I begin to wonder if she is really smiling back at me or someone else? My brain tells me to turn around and look behind me. Right behind me in line is my toilet paper doppelganger, smiling back at the young woman.
Automatically, my eyes darted to the ground. Of course, my “choos were pit chined”.
However, with such a hectic itinerary I tend to make shopping a low priority. Besides dealing with my packed schedule, the fact that I dislike large “super center” stores and their U-Scan lanes contribute to this prioritizing of shopping.
So, with this dislike in my psyche, I came home one night earlier this week from a long day. Along the way I was the strategist in taking care of the evening’s proclaimed tasks before settling in for the night; drop off leftovers at work for lunch the next day and pick up a pair of movie tickets for friends so that they can enjoy a movie out on me for their 1st wedding anniversary.
I get home after my extended time on the road, and like any single dad ran to the bathroom to seek relief from road rumble on my bladder. When I enter, I notice it immediately…the item I subconsciously put on the low priority rung of the ladder. I was out of toilet paper. So, with a sigh, I resigned myself to go back out in the car and make the quick drive to the local “super center” to get bathroom tissue on rolls.
Late evening trips to the super center store are always a joy; searching 10 minutes for a parking spot, being held up at the entrance by some fool standing in the middle of the entranceway staring up at the ceiling like they are lost and have never been in a super center ever before in their lives. And don’t get me started on trying to get past people waddling in the middle of the aisle, pushing their shopping cart at a negative 2 MPH.
I get to the aisle with the toilet paper, grab a Charmin™ 12 pack of double roll size because it’s on sale, and spin to head towards the registers up front. It was on the way to check out that I had an unnerving experience.
Halfway up to the check out, a man turns into the aisle in front of me. At first I don’t pay attention and continue my stride. But as I continue to head up front a cascade of thoughts hit me as he’s walking in front of me. He has a green shirt on…just like mine. He’s wearing tan dress slacks…just like mine. And under his arm he is carrying a 12 pack double roll size package of bathroom tissue that is on sale…just like mine! And in that moment, I came to the realization that walking in front of me was MY TOILET PAPER SHOPPING DOPPELGANGER!!!
A warning light flashed in my mind. He and I were walking in perfect lockstep…like marching in formation in the infantry. My brain flashed back to Air Force Basic Training in San Antonio and my T.I. with the thick Mexican accent as he called off cadence while we did marching drills. He also used to tell us constantly to “keep yur choos pit chined” (Keep your shoes spit-shined) and to not take forever in the latrine in the morning when we went to “chit and chave” (obvious…do I need to translate?). Add the fact we had similar clothes on and both of us the same 12 pack of toilet paper under our left arm, and you have a weird visual.
This was too freaky of a coincidence for me to want to be affiliated with. People just can’t process seeing such an occurrence as this without jumping to some oddball opinion. I’m mimicking the guy in front of me. I’m lost and following him to lead me back to the parking lot. Or we’re a two-man space alien army from another planet come to deplete Earth of all its bathroom tissue. In less than a second my brain freaked out and put into effect a plan of evasive action…execute a bob, weave and navigate away.
I immediately ducked left through the pallet sale items in the middle of the main aisle, nearly knocking over a methodically and artistically stacked mountain of chicken noodle soup cans – something some employee took hours of his day to create. Unfortunately, the maneuver put me in the path of a large woman in a power chair nearly running me over.
I then took the long way to the checkouts, into the frozen foods, through produce, a quick trot through the cleaning products aisle where I find they actually carry the replacement bulbs for my lava lamp, up through produce and past the bakery. The U-Scan is up ahead and no sign of my doppelganger. Home free!
As I stand in line for the U-Scan, I notice a young woman looking at me and smiling. So I smile back. Then, she smiles even bigger. I begin to wonder if she is really smiling back at me or someone else? My brain tells me to turn around and look behind me. Right behind me in line is my toilet paper doppelganger, smiling back at the young woman.
Automatically, my eyes darted to the ground. Of course, my “choos were pit chined”.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Intelligence challenged Internet troll
Before texting, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and all the other ways people interconnected electronically, there was IM. Straight forward, unadulterated IM…Windows Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN, and the AIM. They are still around, but with all the social networking, texts, SMS messages and all, good old fashioned IM has faded from the stream of consciousness.
Old-fashioned IM has become more like having a published phone number…lots of solicitations. However, unlike the phone, people on IM aren’t trying to get you to switch your long distance service, sell you a magazine, or preach to you why you should vote for them in the upcoming election. Like the phone, though, there are the scam artists.
The newer chats in Facebook, MySpace and so on are more selective than old fashioned IM. On the newer social networking sites, only approved “friends” and chat you up so you don’t get scam artists. On the old IMs people you don’t even know pop up...trying to entice you into visiting a porn site or sending money to Nigeria because they are trapped there from some mishap in their life. IM scam artists, however, lack intelligence. Mostly they are people with limited smarts and even more diminished English language skills.
I’m a fairly smart guy. I know when I’m being scammed. And sometimes I love having fun with them. Like the old days of telephone solicitors that I used to record, edit, and have fun with as comical radio bits.
So, this morning, I was signed into Yahoo! Messenger and a unknown screen name popped up and me. Screen name “single.maggs”. First off, what type of person uses a period in their screen name? Numbers, yes. But a period? Very suspect. Must be an internet troll, one who is demonstrating limited intelligence in language and spelling skills with the first message to me being “helo dere”. So, like the telemarketer phone scams I used to do, I decided to have some fun. Here is how it went…
[09:39] single.maggs:
[09:39] single.maggs: helo dere
[09:39] mikeholder01: yes
[09:39] single.maggs: helo dere
[09:39] single.maggs: hi mike
[09:39] mikeholder01: yes?
[09:39] single.maggs: helo dere
[09:40] mikeholder01: hi. do I know you?
[09:40] single.maggs: how doing you?
[09:40] mikeholder01: how am i doing me? as carefully as possible.
[09:40] single.maggs: ok yes tak to me today?
[09:40] single.maggs:
[09:40] single.maggs: ty
[09:40] mikeholder01: yes?
[09:40] single.maggs: where from you are...name...age?
OK…already the ASL thing (age, sex, location). A red flag…clearly an internet troll of no intelligence and no mastery of English. Time to have some fun…
[09:41] mikeholder01: i'm on the planet earth, have no name and am ageless.
[09:42] single.maggs: what the mean of ageless
[09:42] single.maggs: tell me you nme
[09:42] single.maggs:
[09:42] single.maggs: are you still there
[09:42] single.maggs:
[09:43] mikeholder01: i'm on the planet earth, have no name and am ageless.
[09:43] single.maggs: ok
[09:43] single.maggs: where are u from
[09:43] mikeholder01: planet earth
[09:44] single.maggs: what is mean of planet earth
[09:44] mikeholder01: third planet in our solar system.
[09:44] single.maggs: where country ?
[09:44] mikeholder01: many countries on planet earth.
[09:45] single.maggs: ok
[09:45] single.maggs: what are you looking for a lady?
[09:45] single.maggs:
[09:46] single.maggs:
[09:46] single.maggs: are u there
[09:47] single.maggs:
[09:47] mikeholder01: yes i am here
[09:47] single.maggs: ok
[09:47] single.maggs: what are looking for a lady
[09:48] mikeholder01: something with horns...and maybe can speak venusian.
[09:48] single.maggs: ok
[09:48] single.maggs: tell me about you
[09:49] mikeholder01: they tell me they are female sheep
[09:49] single.maggs: what is the mean of female sheep
[09:50] mikeholder01: a you is a female sheep...oh right...it's spelled ewe they now tell me...
[09:51] single.maggs: ok
[09:51] single.maggs: how far
[09:51] mikeholder01: depends on the sheep
[09:51] single.maggs: ok
[09:51] single.maggs: what do u do right now
[09:52] mikeholder01: talk to you.
[09:52] single.maggs: ok
[09:52] single.maggs: what do u do for a living
[09:52] mikeholder01: and am dissecting a baby pig
[09:53] single.maggs:
[09:53] mikeholder01: yes?
[09:53] single.maggs: do u are cam
[09:53] mikeholder01: you keep saying. are you a doorbell?
[09:54] single.maggs: do u are cam or pix
[09:54] single.maggs:
[09:54] mikeholder01: the cam in my engine is fine. it's the crank that's cracked. is the pix a part on a engine?
[09:54] single.maggs: ok
[09:54] mikeholder01: i need to get it repaired so i can invade Uranus.
[09:54] single.maggs: can i see u on cam
[09:55] mikeholder01: i have to take it out of the motor first.
[09:55] mikeholder01: and that would leave my vehicle useless.
[09:55] single.maggs: ok
[09:55] mikeholder01: i need my vehicle to invade Uranus.
[09:55] single.maggs: ok
[09:56] single.maggs: am maggie my name\
[09:56] mikeholder01: hi maggie my name\
[09:56] single.maggs: ok
[09:56] mikeholder01: i am " ".
[09:56] single.maggs: what
[09:57] mikeholder01: no not "what"..." ".
[09:57] single.maggs: am single looking for a soulmate
[09:58] mikeholder01: i wish you well on your mission.
[09:58] single.maggs: ok
[09:58] mikeholder01: have you cleared you mission with the grand leader?
[09:59] single.maggs: what mission
[09:59] mikeholder01: your quest to search out a matching soul? he needs to authorize first before committing battle ready minions.
[10:01] mikeholder01: have you gone to seek out authorization? you are not communicating as before.
[10:01] single.maggs: ok
[10:01] single.maggs: u talk tommorrow
[10:02] mikeholder01: i speak uranian. what language is "tomorrow"?
[10:02] single.maggs: ok
[10:02] single.maggs: by
[10:03] mikeholder01: it is a dual sex language?
[10:04] mikeholder01: are you still on this channel? what's the frequency, kenneth?
[10:04] single.maggs: ok
[10:04] single.maggs: byb
[10:04] mikeholder01: what does “byb” mean? bring your body?
[10:04] single.maggs: yes
[10:04] mikeholder01: it means yes? "byb" means "yes"? what language is that? i am not familiar.
[10:06] *** "single.maggs" signed off.
Makes you miss the days of plain old IM, doesn't it?
Old-fashioned IM has become more like having a published phone number…lots of solicitations. However, unlike the phone, people on IM aren’t trying to get you to switch your long distance service, sell you a magazine, or preach to you why you should vote for them in the upcoming election. Like the phone, though, there are the scam artists.
The newer chats in Facebook, MySpace and so on are more selective than old fashioned IM. On the newer social networking sites, only approved “friends” and chat you up so you don’t get scam artists. On the old IMs people you don’t even know pop up...trying to entice you into visiting a porn site or sending money to Nigeria because they are trapped there from some mishap in their life. IM scam artists, however, lack intelligence. Mostly they are people with limited smarts and even more diminished English language skills.
I’m a fairly smart guy. I know when I’m being scammed. And sometimes I love having fun with them. Like the old days of telephone solicitors that I used to record, edit, and have fun with as comical radio bits.
So, this morning, I was signed into Yahoo! Messenger and a unknown screen name popped up and
[09:39] single.maggs:
[09:39] single.maggs: helo dere
[09:39] mikeholder01: yes
[09:39] single.maggs: helo dere
[09:39] single.maggs: hi mike
[09:39] mikeholder01: yes?
[09:39] single.maggs: helo dere
[09:40] mikeholder01: hi. do I know you?
[09:40] single.maggs: how doing you?
[09:40] mikeholder01: how am i doing me? as carefully as possible.
[09:40] single.maggs: ok yes tak to me today?
[09:40] single.maggs:
[09:40] single.maggs: ty
[09:40] mikeholder01: yes?
[09:40] single.maggs: where from you are...name...age?
OK…already the ASL thing (age, sex, location). A red flag…clearly an internet troll of no intelligence and no mastery of English. Time to have some fun…
[09:41] mikeholder01: i'm on the planet earth, have no name and am ageless.
[09:42] single.maggs: what the mean of ageless
[09:42] single.maggs: tell me you nme
[09:42] single.maggs:
[09:42] single.maggs: are you still there
[09:42] single.maggs:
[09:43] mikeholder01: i'm on the planet earth, have no name and am ageless.
[09:43] single.maggs: ok
[09:43] single.maggs: where are u from
[09:43] mikeholder01: planet earth
[09:44] single.maggs: what is mean of planet earth
[09:44] mikeholder01: third planet in our solar system.
[09:44] single.maggs: where country ?
[09:44] mikeholder01: many countries on planet earth.
[09:45] single.maggs: ok
[09:45] single.maggs: what are you looking for a lady?
[09:45] single.maggs:
[09:46] single.maggs:
[09:46] single.maggs: are u there
[09:47] single.maggs:
[09:47] mikeholder01: yes i am here
[09:47] single.maggs: ok
[09:47] single.maggs: what are looking for a lady
[09:48] mikeholder01: something with horns...and maybe can speak venusian.
[09:48] single.maggs: ok
[09:48] single.maggs: tell me about you
[09:49] mikeholder01: they tell me they are female sheep
[09:49] single.maggs: what is the mean of female sheep
[09:50] mikeholder01: a you is a female sheep...oh right...it's spelled ewe they now tell me...
[09:51] single.maggs: ok
[09:51] single.maggs: how far
[09:51] mikeholder01: depends on the sheep
[09:51] single.maggs: ok
[09:51] single.maggs: what do u do right now
[09:52] mikeholder01: talk to you.
[09:52] single.maggs: ok
[09:52] single.maggs: what do u do for a living
[09:52] mikeholder01: and am dissecting a baby pig
[09:53] single.maggs:
[09:53] mikeholder01: yes?
[09:53] single.maggs: do u are cam
[09:53] mikeholder01: you keep saying
[09:54] single.maggs: do u are cam or pix
[09:54] single.maggs:
[09:54] mikeholder01: the cam in my engine is fine. it's the crank that's cracked. is the pix a part on a engine?
[09:54] single.maggs: ok
[09:54] mikeholder01: i need to get it repaired so i can invade Uranus.
[09:54] single.maggs: can i see u on cam
[09:55] mikeholder01: i have to take it out of the motor first.
[09:55] mikeholder01: and that would leave my vehicle useless.
[09:55] single.maggs: ok
[09:55] mikeholder01: i need my vehicle to invade Uranus.
[09:55] single.maggs: ok
[09:56] single.maggs: am maggie my name\
[09:56] mikeholder01: hi maggie my name\
[09:56] single.maggs: ok
[09:56] mikeholder01: i am " ".
[09:56] single.maggs: what
[09:57] mikeholder01: no not "what"..." ".
[09:57] single.maggs: am single looking for a soulmate
[09:58] mikeholder01: i wish you well on your mission.
[09:58] single.maggs: ok
[09:58] mikeholder01: have you cleared you mission with the grand leader?
[09:59] single.maggs: what mission
[09:59] mikeholder01: your quest to search out a matching soul? he needs to authorize first before committing battle ready minions.
[10:01] mikeholder01: have you gone to seek out authorization? you are not communicating as before.
[10:01] single.maggs: ok
[10:01] single.maggs: u talk tommorrow
[10:02] mikeholder01: i speak uranian. what language is "tomorrow"?
[10:02] single.maggs: ok
[10:02] single.maggs: by
[10:03] mikeholder01: it is a dual sex language?
[10:04] mikeholder01: are you still on this channel? what's the frequency, kenneth?
[10:04] single.maggs: ok
[10:04] single.maggs: byb
[10:04] mikeholder01: what does “byb” mean? bring your body?
[10:04] single.maggs: yes
[10:04] mikeholder01: it means yes? "byb" means "yes"? what language is that? i am not familiar.
[10:06] *** "single.maggs" signed off.
Makes you miss the days of plain old IM, doesn't it?
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Just when I thought politics couldn’t get weirder
I am not a political aficionado by any stretch of the imagination. I have political views, but I do not debate or pontificate on them ad nauseum. I leave that for the talk shows and my morning partner. But what I have gotten wind of happening to the south of us here in Michigan has me scratching my head saying, “Huh? What?!?” and laughing out loud at the same time.
Just down the road in Detroit we had a mayoral scandal last year with Kwame Kilpatrick. He was convicted of crimes in office, sentenced and had to resign. Because of this, Detroit held a special election to fill the position of mayor, which was won by former Detroit Piston great and successful businessman Dave Bing. But Detroit has nothing on Memphis, Tennessee and their latest mayoral debacle.
Back in June, Memphis mayor Willie Herenton announced he was resigning from office to run for Congress. A special election was called for at that time to occur in October to fill the vacancy. Four weeks ago, Herenton resigned. The candidates began to form and debate. Problem is the candidate field is filled with incompetence and strangeness…none of them worthy to hold the office of Mayor of Memphis.
One of the candidates is very strange to say the least. He calls himself Prince Mongo, hailing from the planet Zambodia…I’m not making this up! Check out this video of Prince Mongo in action…
Prince Mongo proved to be the only bright spot in a recent mayoral candidate debate done by local TV in Memphis, which you can see in the following video…
And just when you thought this couldn’t get any weirder, two weeks ago Herenton, who has made multiple resignation announcements, retired from the Memphis Mayor's position, announced his candidacy against Steve Cohen for Congress representing the 9th Congressional District, picked up a petition to run for mayor in the upcoming special election. Yes, that's right. Willie Herenton who retired from Mayor of Memphis, has picked up a petition to run in the special election to replace himself. Here is an interview where he tries to explain his rationale to Memphis TV 5 anchor Joe Birch…
This guy needs to be out of politics, and should pay the over $1 million dollars to pay for the special election to replace himself. And the sad part of all of this, odds makers say he will win the special election.
All of a sudden I am having flashbacks of the late former Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young riding the People Mover with a bag full of Krugerrands.
Just down the road in Detroit we had a mayoral scandal last year with Kwame Kilpatrick. He was convicted of crimes in office, sentenced and had to resign. Because of this, Detroit held a special election to fill the position of mayor, which was won by former Detroit Piston great and successful businessman Dave Bing. But Detroit has nothing on Memphis, Tennessee and their latest mayoral debacle.
Back in June, Memphis mayor Willie Herenton announced he was resigning from office to run for Congress. A special election was called for at that time to occur in October to fill the vacancy. Four weeks ago, Herenton resigned. The candidates began to form and debate. Problem is the candidate field is filled with incompetence and strangeness…none of them worthy to hold the office of Mayor of Memphis.
One of the candidates is very strange to say the least. He calls himself Prince Mongo, hailing from the planet Zambodia…I’m not making this up! Check out this video of Prince Mongo in action…
Prince Mongo proved to be the only bright spot in a recent mayoral candidate debate done by local TV in Memphis, which you can see in the following video…
And just when you thought this couldn’t get any weirder, two weeks ago Herenton, who has made multiple resignation announcements, retired from the Memphis Mayor's position, announced his candidacy against Steve Cohen for Congress representing the 9th Congressional District, picked up a petition to run for mayor in the upcoming special election. Yes, that's right. Willie Herenton who retired from Mayor of Memphis, has picked up a petition to run in the special election to replace himself. Here is an interview where he tries to explain his rationale to Memphis TV 5 anchor Joe Birch…
This guy needs to be out of politics, and should pay the over $1 million dollars to pay for the special election to replace himself. And the sad part of all of this, odds makers say he will win the special election.
All of a sudden I am having flashbacks of the late former Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young riding the People Mover with a bag full of Krugerrands.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Thoughts on zebra stripes and potential wasted
This past week I've been on vacation. It has given me a chance to think, to reflect, to ponder and to appreciate many things...as well as put up a post on the ol' blog, which I have been neglecting to do for awhile.
This summer has been a unique one...one that will stick in the crevices of my memory for the rest of my days. Unseasonably cool temps and above average rainfall have made me wonder if I will ever see a sunny and hot summer in Michigan again. Of course, that logic is ludicrous. My meteorologist and global warming detractor friends will remind me that it's all cyclical. My hope it that it is. But the things that will stick out in my mind the most about this past summer are not the unusual weather we've had here in Michigan, but these two things...zebra stripes and potential wasted.
Yesterday came word of the death of Adam Goldstein, a.k.a. DJ AM in New York of an apparent drug overdose at the age of 36. This is just a continuance of talented people this year who have meet an untimely demise, as a previous blog post spoke of. As part of the brotherhood of club DJs from my days as an industrial beat mix pioneer back in the 1980s in Detroit, DJ AM’s passing has a strong resonance with me. He survived the fiery plane crash last year with Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, narrowly escaping death, only to succumb to the overindulgence of addiction from trying to deal with the crash.
So let's get back to the two things that will stick out the most in my mind from this past summer. You all more than likely have heard the saying, "A zebra can't change its stripes." Maybe you remember it more as "A leopard can't change its spots." I have been reminded of this saying lately in dealings with some talented folks who have crossed my path in recent history. They have incredible talent, but to progress and to realize the potential they have, they need to make some changes to either their work ethic, the way they treat others, their perceptions, and/or their perceived fears and demons. However, they tend to dismiss gentle reminders that these roadblocks stand in their way between their current mediocrity and greatness, which in essence is wasting their true potential.
Over the years my paths have crossed with many talented individuals. Some have gone on to success in much bigger and better things in many fields and genres. I could "name drop" here with a list, but I won't. Others I've known have failed to realize their potential and either languished in the background of anonymity, became frustrated because they never caught the elusive “brass ring”, chased something that was not in line with their true talent, let their fears or habits hold them back from the success they deserve, fail to listen to those wishing to help them realize their true potential, or foolishly touch that “third rail” and prematurely check out off the planet.
I’ve had the privilege to listen to DJ AM’s last rough mixes. I’ve listened to them several times this morning. Being a beat mix DJ myself, I can hear the thought processes that occur in a DJ’s mix as clear as if they were speaking them in conversation to me. In DJ AM’s last mixes I hear an eclectic thought process filled with questioning and fear. It was a haunting listen for me, reminding me that life is fragile for those dealing with fears and demons. It also reminded me that I have passed through this valley myself years ago and have come through it a survivor to realize my potential in life. In the words of a musician friend of mine, “Life is precious, life is sweet.”
Awhile back I bought a book titled “The Essential Laws of Fearless Living” which opened my eyes to what holds people back from realizing their full potential…not wasting it by being held back by fears and behaviors that tend to sabotage success. I utilize what I’ve read in this book not only to help myself, but to help others I know that have true talent and potential that is being held back by subconscious sabotaging behaviors and fears.
I lent the book out a few months back to a very dear friend who I have seen tremendous talent and potential in, yet they seemed to have sabotaged it over the years and still seem to continue to do so. I hope that they read it…and hopefully I get the book back someday. If I don’t get it back though, no worries…if they keep it and use it to conquer their fears and realize success with their true potential, then it was much more than worth the price I paid for it. That is my hope.
Then I can add them to the long list of people who have crossed my path that have succeeded in realizing their true potential, passing through that valley of uncertainty victorious, and successfully “changed their stripes”.
This summer has been a unique one...one that will stick in the crevices of my memory for the rest of my days. Unseasonably cool temps and above average rainfall have made me wonder if I will ever see a sunny and hot summer in Michigan again. Of course, that logic is ludicrous. My meteorologist and global warming detractor friends will remind me that it's all cyclical. My hope it that it is. But the things that will stick out in my mind the most about this past summer are not the unusual weather we've had here in Michigan, but these two things...zebra stripes and potential wasted.
Yesterday came word of the death of Adam Goldstein, a.k.a. DJ AM in New York of an apparent drug overdose at the age of 36. This is just a continuance of talented people this year who have meet an untimely demise, as a previous blog post spoke of. As part of the brotherhood of club DJs from my days as an industrial beat mix pioneer back in the 1980s in Detroit, DJ AM’s passing has a strong resonance with me. He survived the fiery plane crash last year with Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, narrowly escaping death, only to succumb to the overindulgence of addiction from trying to deal with the crash.
So let's get back to the two things that will stick out the most in my mind from this past summer. You all more than likely have heard the saying, "A zebra can't change its stripes." Maybe you remember it more as "A leopard can't change its spots." I have been reminded of this saying lately in dealings with some talented folks who have crossed my path in recent history. They have incredible talent, but to progress and to realize the potential they have, they need to make some changes to either their work ethic, the way they treat others, their perceptions, and/or their perceived fears and demons. However, they tend to dismiss gentle reminders that these roadblocks stand in their way between their current mediocrity and greatness, which in essence is wasting their true potential.
Over the years my paths have crossed with many talented individuals. Some have gone on to success in much bigger and better things in many fields and genres. I could "name drop" here with a list, but I won't. Others I've known have failed to realize their potential and either languished in the background of anonymity, became frustrated because they never caught the elusive “brass ring”, chased something that was not in line with their true talent, let their fears or habits hold them back from the success they deserve, fail to listen to those wishing to help them realize their true potential, or foolishly touch that “third rail” and prematurely check out off the planet.
I’ve had the privilege to listen to DJ AM’s last rough mixes. I’ve listened to them several times this morning. Being a beat mix DJ myself, I can hear the thought processes that occur in a DJ’s mix as clear as if they were speaking them in conversation to me. In DJ AM’s last mixes I hear an eclectic thought process filled with questioning and fear. It was a haunting listen for me, reminding me that life is fragile for those dealing with fears and demons. It also reminded me that I have passed through this valley myself years ago and have come through it a survivor to realize my potential in life. In the words of a musician friend of mine, “Life is precious, life is sweet.”
Awhile back I bought a book titled “The Essential Laws of Fearless Living” which opened my eyes to what holds people back from realizing their full potential…not wasting it by being held back by fears and behaviors that tend to sabotage success. I utilize what I’ve read in this book not only to help myself, but to help others I know that have true talent and potential that is being held back by subconscious sabotaging behaviors and fears.
I lent the book out a few months back to a very dear friend who I have seen tremendous talent and potential in, yet they seemed to have sabotaged it over the years and still seem to continue to do so. I hope that they read it…and hopefully I get the book back someday. If I don’t get it back though, no worries…if they keep it and use it to conquer their fears and realize success with their true potential, then it was much more than worth the price I paid for it. That is my hope.
Then I can add them to the long list of people who have crossed my path that have succeeded in realizing their true potential, passing through that valley of uncertainty victorious, and successfully “changed their stripes”.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
The Summer That Hasn't Been
Today is August 2. It is eight o'clock in the evening. The current temperature outside is 68°.
So this is summer?
Thanks to the advent of modern technology, and my fancy laptop, I can dictate directly into my computer my latest blog post while sitting on the front deck watching a beautiful Michigan summer sunset. The only problem? I'm wearing sweat pants, a sweatshirt, and I'm freezing my tuckus off!
This summer so far has proven to be the chilliest I have ever experienced. Granted, I've been spoiled spending summers in the past in California and Florida. I have even laughed out loud at people wearing sweat suits in 70° weather in Simi Valley. But so far this summer in Michigan we have only reached a high of 90° one time. For the majority of the summer, we have been lucky to hit 80°.
For some, this cool summer has been perfect. Being able to forgo running the air conditioning has been an economic benefit. "At least it's not humid and hot." some of my friends have said.
For me though, I like it warm. 80° warm and warmer. But this summer has been far from warm in my opinion. I've only been able to take the kids one time to the lake this year because it has been too chilly to go there most of the summer. Going to the beach when it's only 72° is like playing ice hockey in the desert.
So I guess I'll wait and see what August brings temperature wise. So much for global warming.
So this is summer?
Thanks to the advent of modern technology, and my fancy laptop, I can dictate directly into my computer my latest blog post while sitting on the front deck watching a beautiful Michigan summer sunset. The only problem? I'm wearing sweat pants, a sweatshirt, and I'm freezing my tuckus off!
This summer so far has proven to be the chilliest I have ever experienced. Granted, I've been spoiled spending summers in the past in California and Florida. I have even laughed out loud at people wearing sweat suits in 70° weather in Simi Valley. But so far this summer in Michigan we have only reached a high of 90° one time. For the majority of the summer, we have been lucky to hit 80°.
For some, this cool summer has been perfect. Being able to forgo running the air conditioning has been an economic benefit. "At least it's not humid and hot." some of my friends have said.
For me though, I like it warm. 80° warm and warmer. But this summer has been far from warm in my opinion. I've only been able to take the kids one time to the lake this year because it has been too chilly to go there most of the summer. Going to the beach when it's only 72° is like playing ice hockey in the desert.
So I guess I'll wait and see what August brings temperature wise. So much for global warming.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Breaking silence on MJ, celeb deaths and demons
I’ve been quiet for nearly two weeks now as I observed the drama and spectacle that was the death of Michael Jackson. His death came way too young, and his funeral and memorial was the extended fermata at the end of a busy line of celebrity deaths including David Carradine, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays and Steve McNair; each one presenting their own take of despair, irony, and sadness. These are things the media over-extends themselves on to the point of ad nauseum and the general public loves to devour.
Some may argue my including David Carradine in this line of celebrity departures from this mortal coil since his death was nearly a month before the others. Others may debate the inclusion of Billy Mays and Steve McNair in the group as well, disagreeing with my giving them such an iconic celebrity status. My defense in such is that 6 notable deaths of folks in the public eye within 4 weeks are a rarity, and an occurrence that is certainly not the norm.
Deaths of iconic public figures have always been time line events in people’s lives, especially when they are generally unexpected. John F. Kennedy, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Princess Diana; the list can go on and on. Most folk can recant the “Where were you when…” stories that each passing’s milestone invokes in one’s memory banks.
Another part of a death event of a public figure that invokes our emotions is the age at which they die. All but Ed McMahon and David Carradine left us too young than what we are accustomed to as a “death age”. Farrah was only 62, Mays and Jackson just a mere 50 years old, and McNair left us at the young age of 36.
The commonalities that make famous people’s deaths memorable in the public’s minds are life choices and the circumstances surrounding these folk at the time of their death. David Carradine was into erotic asphyxia which reportedly contributed to his death. Ed McMahon was a heavy drinker in life and was near destitution and homelessness when he expired. Farrah was into drug use for a good number of years, which may have played a role in her cancer (something not proven but notable). Steve McNair made the choice to have an extra-marital affair with a 20-year-old, whom we are now finding out was mentally unstable. However, whether you like or dislike him, the biggest of these is Michael Jackson.
Though I never considered myself a fan, Michael Jackson was a talented individual. The Jackson 5’s first single “I Want You Back” was a #1 hit in 1970 for Motown Records and was getting tons of airplay on Detroit radio stations (which is ironic since it was recorded in 1969 at Hitsville West in Los Angeles as Motown was preparing their move from Detroit to L.A. in 1970). The Jackson 5 became a phenomenon. Their first four singles on Motown went to #1 (“I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save” & “I’ll Be There”), the first time in recording history a musical act had ever done this. Tons of appearances, a cartoon show on TV, and marketing galore propelled the Jackson 5 to mega-star status. But the true talented star of the group was Michael, and everyone knew it: his dad Joe, Berry Gordy, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, and even the brothers themselves. Unfortunately, so did all the unscrupulous people that handled Michael's affairs throughout his career.
In my observations through life meeting many celebrities over the years I’ve noticed that many people who reach celebrity status, whether on a global, national or a local scale, seem to have demons that plague them. Broken homes, rough childhoods, psychological stigmas, unhealthy habits and addictions; all tend to have this denominator. And it seems that these demons feed the same things in each of them; ego, insecurity, paranoia, and making a litany of bad choices in life.
The iconic “King Of Pop” status of Michael Jackson shares quite a number of parallels with the other “King” Elvis Presley – even down to the link of Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ daughter and Michael’s ex-wife. Both were mismanaged, had major demons, faced accusations of alleged bad behavior, engaged in unhealthy addictions, had major insecurities, made numerous bad choices, and died untimely deaths. And it seems that the abuse of prescription meds will also be a commonality as both officials in California and the DEA are investigating the circumstances surrounding Michael’s death with reports of his abuse of lethal pain medications.
But the saddest part of Michael’s passing in my eyes is the whoring out of the deceased for either financial gain, political cause, or greedy grabs of face time in the media. The observation by me of so many hitching themselves to a dead “star” disgusted me.
The “heading to Mecca” of every major TV news anchor to Los Angeles for the funeral/memorial in my opinion was a sorry display of our over-indulgence – right down to the multi-hour coverage of the memorial. I’m sure others in the world (especially our enemies) were watching the wall-to-wall coverage in amazement and considering us laughing stocks. He was given the same coverage as the death of a head of state or a princess. In my opinion, he was not anywhere near warranting that level of coverage at all.
What did it for me in reaching my disgust threshold were two quotes from the Jackson memorial service: one from the Rev. Al Sharpton, “Michael Jackson paved the way for us to have a black president.” and from Lansing’s very own Earvin “Magic” Johnson, “Watching Michael made me a better point-guard.” Huh? What?!? That was when I turned it off before I had to reach for a barf bag.
Michael Jackson was an individual blessed with extraordinary talent and sadly, like others so equally blessed, failed to realize that the talent was a gift; whether divine, genetic, or by exposure…causing the rewards and benefits of such a gift to be used and abused by others bent on their own selfish desires, allowing the rewards of the talent to cloud their perception of reality and feed their demons. Should Michael Jackson be honored as an iconic figure in the world of music and show business? Certainly. Should he be revered as a god? No.
The next thing I'm now expecting is a report on Entertainment Tonight of Michael Jackson and Elvis being sighted together at a Burger King in Kalamazoo.
Some may argue my including David Carradine in this line of celebrity departures from this mortal coil since his death was nearly a month before the others. Others may debate the inclusion of Billy Mays and Steve McNair in the group as well, disagreeing with my giving them such an iconic celebrity status. My defense in such is that 6 notable deaths of folks in the public eye within 4 weeks are a rarity, and an occurrence that is certainly not the norm.
Deaths of iconic public figures have always been time line events in people’s lives, especially when they are generally unexpected. John F. Kennedy, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Princess Diana; the list can go on and on. Most folk can recant the “Where were you when…” stories that each passing’s milestone invokes in one’s memory banks.
Another part of a death event of a public figure that invokes our emotions is the age at which they die. All but Ed McMahon and David Carradine left us too young than what we are accustomed to as a “death age”. Farrah was only 62, Mays and Jackson just a mere 50 years old, and McNair left us at the young age of 36.
The commonalities that make famous people’s deaths memorable in the public’s minds are life choices and the circumstances surrounding these folk at the time of their death. David Carradine was into erotic asphyxia which reportedly contributed to his death. Ed McMahon was a heavy drinker in life and was near destitution and homelessness when he expired. Farrah was into drug use for a good number of years, which may have played a role in her cancer (something not proven but notable). Steve McNair made the choice to have an extra-marital affair with a 20-year-old, whom we are now finding out was mentally unstable. However, whether you like or dislike him, the biggest of these is Michael Jackson.
Though I never considered myself a fan, Michael Jackson was a talented individual. The Jackson 5’s first single “I Want You Back” was a #1 hit in 1970 for Motown Records and was getting tons of airplay on Detroit radio stations (which is ironic since it was recorded in 1969 at Hitsville West in Los Angeles as Motown was preparing their move from Detroit to L.A. in 1970). The Jackson 5 became a phenomenon. Their first four singles on Motown went to #1 (“I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save” & “I’ll Be There”), the first time in recording history a musical act had ever done this. Tons of appearances, a cartoon show on TV, and marketing galore propelled the Jackson 5 to mega-star status. But the true talented star of the group was Michael, and everyone knew it: his dad Joe, Berry Gordy, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, and even the brothers themselves. Unfortunately, so did all the unscrupulous people that handled Michael's affairs throughout his career.
In my observations through life meeting many celebrities over the years I’ve noticed that many people who reach celebrity status, whether on a global, national or a local scale, seem to have demons that plague them. Broken homes, rough childhoods, psychological stigmas, unhealthy habits and addictions; all tend to have this denominator. And it seems that these demons feed the same things in each of them; ego, insecurity, paranoia, and making a litany of bad choices in life.
The iconic “King Of Pop” status of Michael Jackson shares quite a number of parallels with the other “King” Elvis Presley – even down to the link of Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ daughter and Michael’s ex-wife. Both were mismanaged, had major demons, faced accusations of alleged bad behavior, engaged in unhealthy addictions, had major insecurities, made numerous bad choices, and died untimely deaths. And it seems that the abuse of prescription meds will also be a commonality as both officials in California and the DEA are investigating the circumstances surrounding Michael’s death with reports of his abuse of lethal pain medications.
But the saddest part of Michael’s passing in my eyes is the whoring out of the deceased for either financial gain, political cause, or greedy grabs of face time in the media. The observation by me of so many hitching themselves to a dead “star” disgusted me.
The “heading to Mecca” of every major TV news anchor to Los Angeles for the funeral/memorial in my opinion was a sorry display of our over-indulgence – right down to the multi-hour coverage of the memorial. I’m sure others in the world (especially our enemies) were watching the wall-to-wall coverage in amazement and considering us laughing stocks. He was given the same coverage as the death of a head of state or a princess. In my opinion, he was not anywhere near warranting that level of coverage at all.
What did it for me in reaching my disgust threshold were two quotes from the Jackson memorial service: one from the Rev. Al Sharpton, “Michael Jackson paved the way for us to have a black president.” and from Lansing’s very own Earvin “Magic” Johnson, “Watching Michael made me a better point-guard.” Huh? What?!? That was when I turned it off before I had to reach for a barf bag.
Michael Jackson was an individual blessed with extraordinary talent and sadly, like others so equally blessed, failed to realize that the talent was a gift; whether divine, genetic, or by exposure…causing the rewards and benefits of such a gift to be used and abused by others bent on their own selfish desires, allowing the rewards of the talent to cloud their perception of reality and feed their demons. Should Michael Jackson be honored as an iconic figure in the world of music and show business? Certainly. Should he be revered as a god? No.
The next thing I'm now expecting is a report on Entertainment Tonight of Michael Jackson and Elvis being sighted together at a Burger King in Kalamazoo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
