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.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
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.
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