Hound Dog Blog

Just Be Nice

I don't mind paying dues. I also don't mind being the last person in line, I know I'll get there if I persist. I also don't mind watching people get what wasn't 'rightfully.' theirs ... but mainly because I know and believe in karma.

What I do mind is, when either someone's 'lack of talent,' or their preponderance of 'talent' is wasted, mocked, or underhandedly exploited.

I do not claim to be anything other than a stranger like you, my credentials extend as far as my about page - but I do have a claim in reality. That reality is the golden rule ... do unto others as you would have them unto you...

I am no saint, and I make many mistakes, but I never take advantage of people - ever. Because we are all the same... and we all are headed for the same fate, someday... It makes no difference what you do or don't believe in ... one thing is certain... we all will have 'the answer.'

So when you exploit a person or when you benefit from someone's naiveté, the joke may be on them and you may laugh and benefit ... for now anyway.

When Pigs Fly

Should I be afraid of the swine flu? I ask only because since 2001 – and I was there, NYC that is – the media (tv and newspapers) constantly pedal fear not news.

Off the top of my head, these are some of the scare tactics that come to mind:

Anthrax and Biological Terror: I remember a good friend of mine actually walked to work in Times Square with a gas mask… not that this was silly at the time – we were all frightened, but a gas mask… what is more frightening? The possibility of being poisoned by a ‘suitcase’ bomb or people walking around in hazmat suits to work.

Terror: I guess this is the same as the above, but one of the reasons I couldn’t live in NYC anymore was because it became tiring… hearing the train conductor warn of ‘suspicious packages’ – not to say this was frivolous, but every day, all day was a bit much… not to mention getting off the train to see the National Guard in Penn Station with and automatic weapon.

Bird Flu: I still don’t understand

Now it is:

Swine Flu: I still don’t understand

The larger point is: fear mongering has the reverse effect upon most people, that is most aren’t heeding their warnings  – sort of like the fire alarm, or the persistent car alarm – both of which are un-alarming, at best – largely because they are almost always false…

Warning! This is not to say don’t take these things seriously!!! I do… You should wash your hands… but you ought to do this anyway – you probably ought not open suspicious envelopes… but I don’t ever get suspicious envelopes–  (this is not to say swine flu is a conspiracy – It is very real and deadly…

It is, however, the reason the media outlets have become irrelevant – the only way people pay any attention is when they are gripped with fear. That is not journalism – nor is capitalizing on the public’s fear – this is what FDR warned us of years ago – and it is not good for society, kids or the world we live in.  

Walk In The Light

I must confess, until about 2 weeks ago I was completely ignorant about ‘fundraising.’ I had never done it before, aside from when I was raising money for my baseball or soccer team as a child – or selling those candy bars (but usually my Dad just bought them for me and I completed my quota).

A friend of mine asked me to walk with her for ALS, which stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – a.k.a. “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” I am participating in this event to help create awareness, to help raise money for a cure, and what’s more is what I understand to ‘happen’ to families afflicted with this tragic diagnosis – or should be called a prognosis, once ‘diagnosed’ because there is no known cure… thus, the walk for ALS.

The main point is not to raise money for a cure (although this is part of it), or for T-Shirts or for a personal goal… but as my good friend that who lost her brother at a very young age pointed out – beware of the next sentence….

The powers that be (bureaucrats) cut off funding for ALS patients because the treatment and care is so costly. The burden is placed on the family which often is unlikely able to absorb these medical costs.

I must point out that this is an incurable disease that does not discriminate between race, lifestyle or sex... I have been able to contribute and ask friends and family alike to help with this cause.

The main thing is awareness… which I think (or presume) why it is called euphemistically Lou Gehrig’s disease – after all – he was the Iron Horse… one of the greatest players to ever play the game of baseball… whose career was cut short because of this degenerative disease.

In short, if asked to donate – more than the donation is the awareness to the cause you are donating to… I confess, I have been guilty of this ALL my life, until now because I have had the opportunity to participate. You can too, here is the link: Florida Walk To Defeat ALS

From the Cradle, You've been Labeled...

'Old School' is movie or a descriptive phrase, not a business ideology or a sales technique.

Sorry - but I don't believe this ever worked, except to intimidate people and to scare them... Unfortunately, to members of the 'Old School,' your time has come and gone... and what's more is this 'Old School' mentality are only hurting the business you are in...

See, Jeff Jarvis has written (what I think) a blockbuster book about you... yes the 'Old School' ones - he goes to great lengths intellectually, statistically and fundamentally to express how the deceptive business tactics are over - largely because of Google (and the free economy). You can pick up the book here. It is worth the read.

I can't tell you his book is what YOU should believe if you are old school, but I can tell you - every chapter is relevant - especially in a world where we are at war with many, our economy is 'about as stable as a drunk on shaky ground,' and people are afraid to let go of their money...

It is time - if you are old school - to go. The tactics will only work on other 'Old School' members... most of which - do not have an email address or know how to get to a webpage.

Failing is not always bad

Abraham Lincoln's Curriculum Vitae

• He FAILED in business in 1831.
• He was DEFEATED for State legislature in 1832.
• He tried another business in 1833. It FAILED. His fiancee died in 1835.
• He had a nervous BREAKDOWN in 1836.
• In 1843 he ran for Congress and was DEFEATED.
• He tried again in 1848 and was DEFEATED again.
• He tried running for the Senate in 1855. He LOST.
• The next year he ran for Vice President and LOST.
• In 1859 he ran for the Senate again and was DEFEATED.
• In 1860, the man who signed his name, A. LINCOLN, was elected the 16th PRESIDENT OF of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Soul

At one point, I discussed this in more detail, but feel free to go back and re-visit.

Upon asking a friend if they considered me 'artistic,' - the answer was 'yes.'

I don't presume this, however. It does me no good to label or stereotype myself. But, I will say it is a tremendous compliment. 

I have had an urgent compulsion to express my distaste for the celebration of Susan Boyle and her meteoric rise to fame.

Here is why: What is it in our MTV culture that makes us so amazed that a woman can sing like that? What is the big deal - while there is no doubt, she has a divine gift, is it not more hypocritical to herald her as the next big thing? Why didn't she have this before? Because she wasn't 'beautiful by tabloid standards'? Certainly, it is not because she wasn't talented enough,... and I'll bet you that there are a LOT of people (minus the youtubers -at this post - and tv addicts) who have been lucky enough to be in Ms. Boyle's presence all along.

The point is these T.V. talent shows - like Idol, etc -  have made stars out of talentless, Ashlee Simpson-esque, pop idols at the expense and mockery of 'true talent' - and it's been happening for a LONG, LONG time. Who, aside from the acts I have pointed out in this blog, really made a cultural impact on our society with music or art as a whole?

Why does pop culture demand an 'image or look' over a 'skillset'? While it is true, I enjoy a 'thing of beauty' in the visual sense, it is not true that I would like to listen to a 'visual beauty' who was devoid an 'aural beauty' (like Susan Boyd).

I'm not saying she doesn't deserve this - she most certainly deserves all this success and attention. What I am saying is that it surprises me that our culture is surprised. 

Who are you?

Dave Matthews said, in an interview with MTV about his new album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, that upon choosing his producer, he didn't care about what 'he had done' - but more about 'who he was'

This speaks to so many different things. . . Namely, do latin awards that most people can't pronounce anyway matter in today's world? In a world where the Google search bar is literally the county seat, the courthouse, your highschool database, and the facebook concierge... does it matter anymore what you did before? or is it more important who you are right now? 

I don't have the answer, I just thought it was interesting... coming from a musician (like his music or not) who has achieved a great deal of success on merits (by that I mean - not by lip-synching). 

Santorini

Originally uploaded by Alex Beattie

Sometimes when I look at this... I wonder if this really was the real Atlantis... if it is... I was lucky to see it . . .

Do you need anybody?

I wrote about the greatest Beatles album and I posted that this was the greatest song they ever wrote, but I was thinking today after I had a 'red tape' moment at work that collaboration is so important... especially in today's economy..., then I came home and read in this book that I've been immersed in and he writes on page 112:

Bureaucracies, task forces, org charts, and formal processes do not breed innovation, they kill it... Innovation happens in spite of the structure of organizations.

I couldn't help but to think of the song 'With A Little Help from My Friends' and how (in my mind) it was composed. Here's how I think it went down (please imagine - no pun intended - your best Beatle accent):

JOHN: Paul, Pepper is released in a week, do you reckon we should pen one for Ringo?

PAUL: I don't think so, Johnny, Ringo's fine.

JOHN: What do you say we write one, just so Ring can have one, he'd like that, Paul.

PAUL: Right John, carry on, I'll throw a few bits of mine in when you come up with your bit.

JOHN: Got it already Paul... was thinking this... "What do you see when you turn out the lights..."

PAUL: Great John, just wrote this bit... "Do you need anybody...."

JOHN: Ok mate, we'll see what Ring thinks and give to him make it cut 2, right after the title track.

PAUL: Good enough John, have you thought about going to India lately? George says the Maharishi is fantastic?

This is my take on 'collaboration,' 'success in groups,' and 'inspiration'... and... I believe in love at first sight.

Help Not Wanted

There is a bizarre symptom of this recession. After seeing and reading of layoffs, which seem to be a necessary function of the whittling away the 'dead-weight' and 'non-producing, attitudinal already miserables' in an organization, it is clear that these people have become a scourge upon the economy.

You (the ones that give attitude and are still around... yes... you, if you think so, otherwise you wouldn't be thinking it) are akin the sector of society that are in their homes and haven't been paying their mortgages for the past 6 months... they are just waiting for the proverbial 'other shoe to drop.'

FYI - It is YOUR fault that the economy is still stagnate. It can no longer be passed off to the real estate market, the banks, the brokers, the lenders, or the Fed.

I don't mean to rant and I am surely sorry for the cliché: but if you aren't part of the solution, (which would be producing something, and that would be anything - excluding YOUR BAD ATTITUDE), than you are part of the problem.

If you are waiting for someone to give you your pink slips, just go - do everyone, including yourself, a favor.