music, media & other random musings

Friday's Random Rant

When my brother was blogging consistently, he incorporated a Friday rant into his repertoire. As my mind sometimes tends to work in that way, one thought running into the other, I thought I'd steal his concept and use it myself. As Pablo Picasso said, "Good artists borrow, great artists steal." And with that, my first Friday rant…

On TV: Steven Colbert's Wheat Thins Sponsortunity clip last night should make all of those in branding, marketing & advertising wince. I did. Jon Stewart seems to be tired the last few weeks. Nothing truly inspiring for me. Downton Abbey's season finale was true to the series, predictable, while still being well-crafted, smart, and thoroughly enjoyable. Time Warner Cable has decided to spend lots of money making commercials like the ones with Ricky Gervais and Mary Louise Parker. I think most New Yorkers would agree that they should invest their money instead on improving their services, including the customer kind. In the last 6 months I have gone through 3 DVRs. Each one deciding on it's own, 'it's my box and I'll record if I want to'… TW sucks.

On the political front: The more I listen to Mitt Romney, the more I think that George Bush scared me less. Does he rank right up there with one of the worst campaigners ever? His insightful thoughts on trees in Michigan, proof positive. As for Rick Santorum, I say "Run Rick Run." The more this guy talks, the more he too digs himself into a very deep hole. IF this guy actually were able to pull off the nomination - which I don't think is possible - he'll NEVER be able to win the national campaign with views like the ones he's been espousing on education, women's health, homosexualty, etc. So, I'm all for the Rick Santorum's surge. 

Pinterest is all the rage.  I haven't gotten the bug yet. 

Great article in Vanity Fair on Diner this month. If you haven't ever seen (gasp!), or not in a while, very worthy of repeated viewing. 

"For a little movie without special effects, dramatic reveals, or cutting-edge sex scenes—a movie about nothing at all, really—Barry Levinson’s 1982 comedy,Diner, caused a tectonic shift in popular culture. It paved the way for Seinfeld, Pulp Fiction, The Office, and Judd Apatow’s career, and made stars of Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Ellen Barkin, and Paul Reiser."

Also fantastic article in the NYTimes Magazine section this past Sunday. "How Companies Learn Your Secrets." Truly fascinating (and scary) how retailers are tapping into your online behavior to target you into buying more - predictive analytics. But also just incredibly interesting from perspective of how our brains work & the habits we form - and why are our bad habits are so difficult to break. 

Celebrated my 48th birthday this past Monday. No birthday party, cake or candles - just a few good scotches and dinner with my brother at the excellent John Dory's, while the better part of my day was spent in my pajamas, reading, writing, doing the crossword & listening to music - a few of my favorite activities. Couldn't have been more enjoyable. It's incredible the number of people who follow the birthdays on Facebook. Heard from tons of people I never speak to… FB friends we call them.. but still nice… As my friend Rich said, Facebook is the largest birthday card in the world. 

As for old friends, must be the season… Met up with, Liz Blumberg, my oldest BFF from "home" (as opposed to camp). It's been 30 years, although we were inseparable from elementary school through to high school. We probably wouldn't be friends if we met today, completely different lives and interests - but it's impossible to break the bonds of the past. And sometimes, that's a very good thing. Most certainly is in this case. 

Great quote from Jerry Colonna in a guest post on Fred Wilson's blog. His post was focused on management. But it is true for all of us, in finding ourselves everyday: We forge our truest identity by facing our fears, our prejudices, our passions, and the source of our aggression. 

Oscars on this Sunday. Seen almost all the nominees, except for a few. Predicting The Artist will win Best Picture of the year. 

 

Occupy-apalooza

From NYTimes Op-Ed, Charles M. Blow, October 22, 2011

The Inspiration of Steve Jobs

I keep thinking about Steve Jobs. It's not just because I spend a good part of my day looking at one of the many Apple screens I possess, nor wondering if their future releases will be ones I will covet in the same way I have in the past. Nor because, like many others, I have been reading the countless tributes and articles about his life the last few days. Nor that it is always sad when someone dies much too soon. Of course, all that's a part of it. But I think it's more than that. For me, it's what he did with the 56 years he had. I think about how at a very early age he knew what he loved to do, his laser focus to stay true to that passion, his ability to learn from his mistakes, his vision and leadership, and the insane confidence he must have possessed to bipass all consumer research and even, at times, those in his hand picked team who may have disagreed. 

I've been an Apple fan forever. When the company was supposedly on the virge of bankruptcy and the only core users were artists and designers (neither of which I am), it was my computer of choice. The brains and logic behind Apple products made sense to me. Playing with and figuring out how to use my 270 Duo Dock brought out the techie geek in me. And ever since has made me curious about the convergence of technology, media and entertainment. But as much as I, like the rest of the world, am in awe of his amazing insight into what consumers wanted, the perfectly crafted products he created, and how he changed the business models for music, publishing and the mobile industries - it is his personal strength, conviction, passion and focus that keeps me thinking about him. 

A Steve Jobs comes along once in a generation, if that. And I'm certain there are many who dream of filling his shoes - not just at Apple, or in the tech sector, but also the kid in the garage hoping to change the world and make as great an impact as he did. I am not in that camp. As much as I am inspired by his tremendous success at making a real difference in our world, and in our everyday lives, that isn't what keeps me thinking about his death and his legacy. While reading about his life and watching the clips on YouTube, what I think about us is his passion, his conviction and his strength in staying true to himself. His now famous Stanford commencement speech probably sums up his philosphy best. (And worth 15 minutes if you haven't seen.) Although most are quoting "your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life," what has stayed with me is this: 

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like. "If you live each day as it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for to many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

If, when I look in the mirror every morning, I can honestly ask myself whether I will spend the day doing what I love, with as much focus and passion as Steve Jobs did - and actually do it - then I believe there is no greater tribute to his legacy. Other than continuing to wave the Apple banner. 

 

Best Steve Jobs Tribute

The Colbert Report
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Incredibly Disturbing. Republicans.

Lying in bed, watching my TV boyfriend, Jon Stewart, and saw one of the more disturbing things I've seen in a while. 

When I read or hear Republicans talk sometimes - especially today's right wingers, aka the tea partiers - I can't help but wonder, who are these people? What makes them think like that?  Is it true ignorance, pure ideology or heartlessness that makes them so cavalier about those less well-off than they are? Depending on the context, sometimes I get it. I may not agree, but understand their line of thinking, their reasoning.

Tonight, however, not at all. The topic - the Republic "class warfare" uproar over the audacity of Warren Buffet to suggest gazillionaires pay a little more in taxes. Seeing a montage of clips one after the other does certainly increase the power of these inane sound bites. But it doesn't lessen the fact that they were said at all. Watch - two parts. These people... incredibly distributing.

The Daily Show - World of Class Warfare - Warren Buffett vs. Wealthy Conservatives
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The Daily Show - World of Class Warfare - The Poor's Free Ride Is Over
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In all seriousness

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge fan of Jon Stewart and the Daily Show. After a long day "consuming" media online, then catching the cable news shows in the evening, I love to curl up in bed every night (or at least Monday -Thursday), to watch Stewart and his crew make a mockery of all I've seen, read and heard..  

His shock, awe and sometimes utter disbelief about Washington and those who cover it, is exactly how I see it - albeit with a much funnier delivery. He's the voice of my own reason. More than a few times, I've called out to Jon (or at least the one dimensional version of him on my screen) to say 'No shit, exactly! I'm right there with you."

In some ways he reports the news just as anyone else does. Because let's face it, watching Fox and/or MSNBC has its moments of hilarity as well. But what makes him different isn't that he's funny or sharp or adorable (Jewish NY girls unite in their Jon Stewart crushes), it is that he is what he says he is - he's a comedian. He also happens to be an amazing satirist. And that is what makes him different than the "pundits" - a group he latestly seems to be thrown in with, even by Barack Obama. Stewart knows all too well the topics he covers are serious - very serious - that's clearly his interest. But he can also see the absurdity of it all, turn it around, twist it about and provide the clarity the topic deserves. It's a true gift, a rare gift. One that most don't possess. Which leads me to the Rally to Restore Sanity.

The concept probably was hatched as a punch line in response to Glenn Beck's absurd March on Washington. And that's how the rally itself felt. The three hour rally (yes I watched it all minus a few cat naps) felt pretty much like that one joke gag. It just wasn't very funny, nor very musical. But that, I could live with - it's pretty much what I expected. My biggest criticism - and disapointment - is that somehow while trying not to be political, they tried instead to be somewhat sincere - especially in his last bit, his impassioned speech. The beauty of Stewart and the Daily Shows' cast of characters - aka correspondents & the Best Fucking News Team - lies in the fact that they don't have to tell me how they feel - because through their schtick, their point of view comes through loud and clear. Stewart doesn't have to BE sincere or even try to be sincere. His satire is his sincerity.

Not everyone has the gift of comedy, of satire, of universal likeability.That he is able to embody the voice in all our heads is, well, the reason he's got a television show. And the reason I turn in four nights a week is because I believe that he fundamentally sees the world as I do, that he speaks for me. And because his slant on our 24 hour news cycle and those politicians who feed that beast is downright hilarious and spot on. I don't turn in to see him be sincere. I already believe he is. 

Upon finishing watching the rally, it felt like i just saw my favorite movie star in a major flop. I wish I hadn't seen it, it's something I'd rather forget - but it's been done. So instead of looking back (now that this has been written), I'll go home tonight and turn on Stewart hoping he's back to his old self. That he's lost the sincerity and is back to just being serious. 

Unemployment

After seeing the payroll and unemployment numbers this last week, I couldn't help feel a little bit more dejected that the economists were very right - it's going to be a hell of a long rebound. Americans, by nature, are optimistic and assume it will all be good, soon. Or maybe it's that we're just a bunch of naive, immediate gratification junkies unable to commit to one path, ideology or leader for very long. Even on this, our nation's birthday, I'm going with the latter cynical view of our electorate. As far as I can see it, either way, we're screwed. 

The headlines - and the small type - have been pretty terrible as of late. But it's all numbing news after a while. It's only when reading the human interest stories that I feel the real weight of it - because I've been there. If you don't know or love anyone who has had to go off to war, Afghanistan and Iraq is very far away. And if you've never been unemployed - or more to the point, been unemployed during this tragically deep recession - those human interest stories may induce some sympathy, but if you haven't really experienced or had someone close to you go through it, probably not much there in the way of empathy.

I took the government's money - and am thrilled not to be anymore. And more thrilled that my benefits didn't run out before I found a job I really wanted. Others aren't as lucky. And it is scary as shit to be so uncertain about your future. But being unemployed, like almost anything in life, has it's upsides and down. The obvious up - not working everyday. Sure, looking for a job takes time, but not 50 hours a week. So for a while, free time is good. 

The downside, however, is more complex. And can take a large toll - especially if the time draws out. Even for people connected and still socially in a work-mix, without the job & the paycheck, doubt rears its ugly head. Questioning yourself, your path & direction, self-worth and ability. It's a fun time.  And as with most any other difficult period you go through, it's always interesting to see who shows up - and who doesn't. Some people surprise, most not. But it doesn't change the hurt when those you want to be there, aren't. Or the gratefulness you feel for those who went a greater distance than ever expected, just because they could - and wanted to. 

I am lucky to have had a handful of people I could really count on. But two stand out. David, a childhood friend who only recently became part of my general everyday, truly went out of his way to help, give me advice, be a sounding board. And Christina, one of my very best friends, who I happen to have worked with before, was there to remind me what I liked, what I was good at & with ideas about what I should do now. And as luck would have it, introduced me to her company, where I am now working. Having them around to bounce ideas off of, provide suggestions and help make me see things I'd lost in my own fog - invaluable. A kindness I won't soon forget. 

There's no way around it, being out of work sucks. It's an emotional mind fuck. Having a job, financial & emotional security, along with a million other reasons - it's clearly better to be employed. Knowing it will take a very long time to get this country back to the employment levels of just a few years ago, is quite distressing. But when reading those human interest stories, I can't help but feel quite thankful they're not writing about me. Being a working stiff doesn't always produce a happy day - but remembering how good I really have it, how lucky I am not to be making the headlines anymore, makes it a hell of a lot easier to live with.  

Give Someone A Uniform...

Standing in the security line at JFK this morning, I witnessed a site commonly seen - someone in a uniform believing their attire gives them power - to control, be bossy, be rude. And it never ceases to annoy the hell out of me. I'm sure, as it is with any job, there's some stress involved. And it's probably boring as hell doing the same task over and over again, while standing on your feet. But I'm not all that sympathetic. It' s not a day at the spa for those traveling either.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for safety. And certainly have no problem being that lemming, following the flock, stripping down to my bare feet, removing all the other gear, going through the hassle of shuffling and reshuffling all the gear, IF it actually made us safer. But from all I've read, many (if not most) of these rules and procedures seem to be more about making us feel safer - than actually making us safer. And that I'm not for - at all.

It seems to be generally agreed upon by security experts that our security strategy is ineffective. It was a system designed 40 some odd years ago to protect us from the lone individual carrying a gun with the intent to hijack the plane to South America. Clearly, our threat today is far from that simple. 

Terrorists are aptly named as their mission is to terrorize, with their suicidal tendencies being the most frightening. And our system just wasn't designed to handle this. Our approach to dealing is reactionary - adding on rules and procedures once someone breaches security and makes the news. Liquid the new threat - limit the amount of liquid we can carry-on. Shoes a problem, take them off. Unfortunately, none of these changes statistically affects our safety. 

The fact is, right now there isn't any widely deployed technology that can handle the threat of terrorism. Body scans, all the rage now, are just enraging civil liberty proponents. In the long run, if deployed, it will be millions of dollars spent, without changing the facts. Every new technology or restriction just forces the terrorist to figure out a work around - it doesn't stop their resolve - just their methods. The inconvenience is only for us, it doesn't discourage them. 

Bruce Schneier, a security technologist, says: the new flying restrictions are little more than "security theatre." He says, we've always known you can strap eplosive material to your body with a a metal triggering device and get it on the plane. You need to stop terrorists before they get to the airport. He argues much of what we do, doesn't make us safer - and mostly is misspent money. Essentially saying that the real money should be spent on police work, collecting intel, not on the charades at the gate.  

Having said that, based on the tremendous size of our system and the number of flights that take off and land daily, it is probably somewhat a miracle - or dumb luck - that there aren't more threats or successes. Someone must be doing something right - whether at security checkpoints or through good investigation work (more likely) before the real danger arrives at the airport. 

As my father used to talk about the real nuclear threat that existed in the world - scarring the crap out of the much younger versions of my sister, brother and me - he did provide the caveat that it actually isn't so easy to build a nuclear bomb. And the same is true for blowing up a plane. Thankfully. It's some comfort, but not much. 

I'm all about transparency. We're all adults. Well, those of us that are. I don't want "security theatre." I want to know the truth. And I want our government to spend money on a security strategy that will actually make us safer, not one that just makes us think we are. No, I'm not thrilled about having to get to the airport 90 minutes before a flight. Or the hassle of the bottle limits and the stripping down and re-dressing. Or the incredibly rude, sometimes inept - and at worst, ineffective airport security. And yes, it's true, this post was driven by my annoyance at security this morning. But, like anyone else, I'd deal if it all actually helped. It just pisses me off that I don't believe it does.  

Ushahidi

Just when I'm convinced the world is truly going to hell and a handbasket, all systems, countries and individuals flailing and failing, I find something that provides a little comfort - and hope. An article today in the NY Times provided one of those glimmers. 

Ushahidi is an open-source platform developed in Kenya, originally built as a mapping tool to allow people to anonymously report violence occurring there after post-election fallout at the beginning of 2008. Through mostly cellphones, user-generated reports of violence, rape and riots - as well as peace efforts - were plotted on a map, based on the location data provided by the informants. (The map above is from this effort.) Ushahidi, which means testimony in Swahili, was able to collect data at a faster rate than any reporter or election monitor and had about 45,000 pieces of 'testimony' supplied.

Since then, this platform - essentially a website mash-up of user-generated reports and Google maps - has been re-purposed and used to generate and plot crisis data through other disasters, both natural and political. In the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, Ushahidi received thousands of SMS messages about people being trapped, providing information to emergency workers about where to search. Other projects include: Connection GeoMap which shares information about anti-trafficking activity globally; Vote Report India, a citizen-driven election monitoring of the 2009 Indian general elections; Atlanta Crime Maps which tracks crime in the Atlanta metro area; and recently in Washington, DC a site was built to map road blockages and locations of available snowplow equipment. 

The power to collect and disseminate information provided through social media platforms is enormous, and a given at this point. And as of yet, still probably fairly untapped. In the political area, this past summer, we witnessed its power when Iranian protesters used Twitter as its primary means of sharing with the rest of the world what was really happening in their corner. Ushahidi really just takes the same concept and puts it in an organized structure, particular to an event. What started out as an ad-hoc project for one specific purpose is now transforming into an organization whose goal is to create a platform that any person or organization can use to set up their own way to collect and visualize information. 

The individual threads of information shared on social media platforms paint a bigger picture for us all to read and see - whether it's trending data about the Oscars, Haiti or Health Care. And this platform isn't that different. I think I was just taken by the concept of people sharing information, participating in something that is bigger than themselves, for the greater good, a greater cause.  And so today, after reading through the Sunday paper, instead of throwing my hands up in frustration, I thought - at least for a few minutes - maybe this upside down world of ours has some hope after all.

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Obama Goes Right