My Responsibility to Produce Quality Music

In my quest for producing quality and enduring products, this intent extends to my creation of music as well. At one point in my life, was almost willing to "sell out" and succumb to writing dumbed down versions of music for the sake of popularity and fortune. I just couldn't go there though. 

As a deep thinker, I just can't make myself write mindless music, the type that I find annoying to listen to. I won't contribute to the static when there is such a broader and deeper world to explore. 

I may sacrifice potential popularity with my writings, but I am positive there are other like-minded people who enjoy music with deeper meaning that is relevant to their thought processes. 

I want to leave a legacy that reflects authenticity, originality, growth and expansion of mind and spirit, not copycat inane lyrics and musical content that is created for the sole purpose of cranking out hits. I refuse to be a product that is manufactured for consumption by a masses who have been conditioned to have a short attention span. 

My music will likely never be among the hits, but I have come to recognize that being a hitmaker isn't necessarily what I want to do, if I have to conform to hit-making conventions that ruin the music and remove any semblance of a meaningful, coherent message. 

That being said... I have songs that have a very simple message and some of them are even humorous or just plain silly. Other songs that I have written are more complex and contain messages that are often poignant, perhaps even a bit disturbing for some people (because they deal with some dark subject matter). I feel the important part about songwriting (or writing in general) is that a writer writes... a writer digs deep into his/her soul and puts it into an indelible, tangible form. Some songs or other writings may never be released publicly and may only be for the benefit of the writer or a specific audience. That... that is what writing is all about. That is what writing means to me.

Validation

Something I've been thinking a lot about lately and trying to apply it to my own life to make me a better person - and to be honest with myself: the need for validation. We all want to feel valued and feel that the decisions we are making are right. We all want to believe we are knowledgeable, intelligent, beautiful, beloved, skilled, accomplished, and so forth. It appears that now, more than ever, there are those who are going to tell us exactly what we are wanting to hear... to give us validation for doing what we are doing (or even not doing anything at all) and everything is perfectly acceptable and everything we do is worthy of recognition - as long as it is accompanied by tangible proof, some sort of certification or approval by an "authority" on the matter.

The concerns I have in this are:

1) We seek validation, even if it isn't truly honest and our egos are boosted by false benchmarks or overinflated measures. The harm this does is that anyone who buys into false or overinflated validation may feel comfortable with mediocrity and this leads to apathy... or actually worse, because when one's self-image is bolstered by fabrications and fantasy, that person no longer feels the need for self-improvement and thereby languishes in regressive thoughts and behaviors. For instance, if someone is told, "you're good enough" often enough, why go through the pain, discomfort or inconvenience of trying harder? I have seen how social media can be a major crutch for those who suffer from a low self-esteem. Rather than getting out and busting hump to try to make a difference personally or in the community, a social media subscriber can simply fish for compliments... and get them. Sometimes, people go to great extremes to try to get validation, even to the point where they could have actually spent the time and effort to accomplish something worthy of praise, rather than just seeking undeserved praise or reassurance.

2) On the flip-side of this, some of us may feel like our efforts are wasted unless we actually get a tangible award or some other kind of proof of an accomplishment. This mentality leads to frustration and makes us believe that unless we have the proper credentials, we are not worthy to bear a particular title... we don't have the bragging rights. I see this with over-competitive people or narcissists wishing to use their credentials as a means to substantiate whatever position they are trying to prove. Once again, the end result could be overconfidence and the feeling of not needing to keep learning or trying harder. For others, it could lead to an endless pursuit of tangible rewards for accomplishments... and endless frustration at never being good enough. So, such a mentality could make a person either feel overqualified or under-qualified for a particular job or situation at hand. The reality is that you can either do the job or not. If you don't have training or experience in a specific field, you are unqualified. The regrettable outcome of this is that with such credentialing, we become divisive. We set up a system wherein there are classes and sub-classes in our society and this gives undeserved power to those with such credentials, even if they are totally unqualified to be in such a position and those who lack tangible awards from an "authorized" source are passed over, scorned and ignored - even though they may be the best qualified to deal with the particular problem at hand.

In making these statements, I would suggest approaching this subject with caution. Are credentials important? Absolutely... if (and only if) they are obtained honestly and through the appropriate efforts. Do we need credentials? Well, it all depends upon what you're doing. If you are a career professional where such credentials are necessary (such as anything dealing with medicine, law or any other field where certifications are crucial), but there are many instances where such credentials are not necessary and I would contend that in some cases a formal "education" could get in the way of progress or kill a creative individual's passion altogether. It is entirely possible for a student to acquire their knowledge and skills independent of any formal academic setting... and to become an expert in their field. We all should acknowledge that people can be "educated" or "experts" without even possessing tangible proof (such as a diploma or certification) and it's time for us to also acknowledge that just because a person possess a document stating they have paid their tuition and passed the necessary qualifiers, they are necessarily experts in that field... or any other field.

This may sound cliché, but "the proof is in the pudding. If you've got it, you've got it. If you don't, you don't... and no amount of validation is going to change anything.  

Privilege

One of the terms I've seen thrown around a lot lately is "privilege" - usually directed at someone else because one is feeling disadvantaged. Let me just cut to the chase and spell it out for those who don't want to read the entirety of this post. We are ALL privileged in some ways and we are ALL disadvantaged in other ways - or should I say, it's pretty safe to say that everyone who has the opportunity to be here... on Facebook, is most likely enjoying privilege that is unavailable to many who truly don't enjoy such luxuries.

Envy is what blinds us to our own privilege and compels us to want something we don't have or can't obtain, even though we have access to privileges of those whom we envy.

We may be inclined to point the finger of scorn or derision to those who (according to a flawed belief system set up by certain sectors of society) are automatically "privileged" simply due to the amount of melanin in their skin or because of their chromosomal makeup at birth. This falsehood not only delegitimizes those who truly ARE disadvantaged, but it also serves as an excuse or limiter to those who claim that others possess privilege. In other words, if you are one who claims that you can't get ahead because others are privileged, you are doing yourself a disservice by sabotaging your own potential.

For those who are still unconvinced and afflicted with ingratitude, let me name a few privileges that most (if not all) of us enjoy in a first-world country.

1) Running water. Clean running water that comes out of a tap... that we don't have to think about and we can drink without getting deathly ill. There are reputable reports that claim that only about half the world's population has access to sanitation and clean drinking water. If you have access to clean water (even if you have to buy bottled water) consider yourself privileged. If you have access to hot running water, you are even more privileged.

2) Adequate heating and/or air conditioning. I know there are a lot of people who need to turn the thermostat down in the winter to cut heating costs or who have to endure warmer rooms in their homes, workplace or places, shopping centers, places of worship, etc... however, there are many people in this world who do not enjoy such luxuries. For them, it is a matter of trying to keep from freezing to death or succumbing to heat exhaustion. If your home is heated or cooled, no matter how, enjoy your privilege.

3) Food. North America (particularly the United States) has a very real obesity problem. This affliction does not come from the lack of food... or starvation, as some who are truly disadvantaged have to endure or die from. We have such surpluses of food in our country that food gets wasted and thrown away in dumpsters. Some communities have food banks where surplus or donated food gets distributed to those in need. We also have programs in each state to help take care of our needy - whether those are government sponsored or by generous donations. I'm going to be frank and say that many of our problems where we *think* we are "starving" are caused by our own mismanagement of resources. If you have money to spend on exotic coffee, tobacco/vape, alcohol, street drugs (to include cannabis), entertainment (including TV and Internet subscriptions), tattoos/piercings, hair/cosmetic services and products, smart phone(s), and so forth and so on... then you can afford to go shopping for food. You may not have money for steak and seafood every meal, but guess what... you may have to buy a bag of beans and a loaf of bread from a bakery thrift store. Very few people in the U.S. and Canada ever experience starvation or malnutrition that is not a result of poor diet choices.

4) Access to medical care. There has been much debate, anxiety and even alarmism directed to this issue recently, but in reality, if you are genuinely sick or injured and you show up at ANY hospital or clinic that is open to the public in just about ANY sizable city, you will be treated. Nobody's going to leave you lying on the side of the road or kick you out of the emergency room and left to die because you don't have insurance coverage. Sure, you will get a bill (because SOMEBODY has to pay for exorbitant medical coverage typical in America), but you're not going to be turned away because you can't afford to pay for it at the time. This is one of your privileges.

5) Employment. Sure, you will most likely have to start out at the bottom (fast food... retail... manufacturing... manual labor) with a dead-end, minimum-wage job, but there are many, many places that are hiring right now. Unless you've already burned your bridges by dropping out (or getting expelled) from school, or by abusing drugs or committing other crimes, or with poor work ethic/attitude... you're a good candidate for one of these jobs. If you have a verifiable disability that prevents you from being employed, there are alternative means of income in this country and many other first-world countries. Even if you have to make your own job, it is not impossible or improbable to do so. One of my first jobs took a bit of startup (an old pickup truck, a lawn mower and trimmer) and it kept me busily employed. Yep, it was hard work, but where there is demand, there is work. Many people are also eligible for military service or other government jobs as well. If you are eligible due to your own circumstances (you have stayed in school and kept yourself out of trouble) consider yourself privileged at the multitudes of opportunities ahead of you.

6) Education. In no state or province that I am aware of has any person of any race, gender or ethnicity ever been denied an elementary education. Take advantage of your privilege and do the best you can. Don't be a slacker (like I was) or a troublemaker and exclude yourself from opportunities like college admissions, scholarships and so forth. Your educational privilege is contingent entirely upon your own merits. When it comes to secondary education, there are scholarships and other educational opportunities for many demographics... many of which I am not privileged to take advantage of. Those are your privileges... use them!

7) Liberty. If you can't see this - being a citizen of a country where you enjoy those privileges - you need to re-evaluate your status in the world. There are some countries that prohibit citizens from speaking, protesting or otherwise redressing the government. There are many people throughout the world who are enslaved... literally. If you complain about slavery or involuntary servitude, and you are not directly affected, all you are doing is drawing attention away from REAL slavery and human trafficking. Stop it! Human trafficking, forced labor (or being compelled to work in ACTUAL deplorable conditions), forced prostitution and the like are VERY REAL and this is a worldwide problem... even in America. If you are working somewhere and you have the option to quit your job AND if you are receiving a paycheck as allowed by law, you are not a slave and you are not working against your will. If at any time you ARE a victim of human trafficking, you can nonetheless escape by calling law enforcement and you will be freed and your captors brought to justice. You have that privilege. Slavery doesn't exist legally.

8) Entertainment/recreation. I added this to the list because this is one of those things that is often overlooked. Most (if not all) of use have opportunities to enjoy life in some way through escapism. We can watch TV, go to a public park or other facility... even to the library. Those public services are provided for all of us. Those who complain there is "nothing to do" need to just step outside and go do... do something. Take advantage of your privilege.

I know I haven't listed everything. I'm sure that there are many things I have left off of this list, but I hope you get the idea. Bottom line - if you feel like you are lacking in privilege, go out and discover your privilege. If you feel you are disadvantaged, overcome that disadvantage. If you are still envious of someone else's "privilege" - get over it! It's not going to do you, or society in general, any good to go around with a chip on your shoulder about how you have been dealt a poor hand. I personally have had to learn gratitude and acknowledge my privilege not by comparing myself to others, but by experiencing hardships and disadvantage in many circumstances. I've lived without running water, adequate shelter and many of the other necessities of life and have had to do some extremely difficult things in order to provide for myself and my family, so I am acutely aware of the privileges I have - the same privileges that MOST citizens of first world countries enjoy, yet do so with ingratitude and without acknowledgement.

(This blog was originally posted to my Facebook page)

Do Animals and Children Have Inherent Intuition?

I want to address something that I have a concern about because I’ve seen some recent memes and headlines about how animals (particularly dogs) have some kind of intuition about “evil” people and I saw a headline the other day about how children have that same “instinct” that somehow adults are not capable of.

Let me just bluntly state that such theories are nonsense. I’m not sure where that myth originated from, but I can safely assert that whatever the indicators are, these are similar to the criteria that were used to convict innocent people in the 17^th century Salem witch trials. Let’s lay these myths to rest before innocent people are wrongly accused of being “evil” or perhaps worse, to lay our trust in a dog or a child who is friendly toward a person with malicious intent.

Let’s take a step back and rationally think about things for a few minutes – starting with the pets. Pets and livestock have their reasons for being afraid of a particular human. They are their reasons and have nothing to do with whether a person is good or evil or has good or evil intentions. Based upon my own experiences, there are dogs that really love me and there are some that want to tear me apart. They are not necessarily bad dogs, but they are simply doing what dogs do. Besides my own personal experiences with animals, I have researched and found information from reputable pet experts to back up my claims. We don’t always understand why dogs bark, growl or run away from certain people but are friendly toward others. It may be a scent or biases based upon the way a person looks. Dogs have prejudices the same as people. You may think your dog is special, but honestly it’s not. Dogs are creatures of instinct and (as all animals) they do possess unique personalities and that’s why one animal will behave differently than another, despite any training from humans. We had a dog once that would go into a barking frenzy whenever one of our friends came over. It may have been because he had a beard or because he looked like somebody that abused her, but the guy was definitely not a bad guy. The dog also hated gloves for some reason and would tear them up if we left them outside. Personality quirks. I’ve also seen dogs that were friendly… even loyal to known felons. It’s not intuition that drives their behavior. It is instinct, personality and conditioning.

The same principle applies to children. This is the main reason why as parents we don’t allow children to make all their own decisions. If we let them act on their “intuition” they could end up in serious, even deadly circumstances. I have raised and taught many children in my life and each one of them has their reasons for feeling uncomfortable around a person. Just as with pets, maybe it has something to do with how a person looks, smells or something in their voice. I can even remember being a child and there were adults who I was afraid of, but I couldn’t explain why. They weren’t bad people though. I also did not possess the wisdom (or “intuition”) to determine whether a person was bad, simply by a “gut feeling” or some kind of supernatural instinct that supposedly children have but adults don’t. In retrospect, there were actual bad people I knew and never even had a clue as a child. My parents would warn me to stay away from certain people because they were pedophiles or those who had committed violent crimes, though they didn’t explain the nature of their wrongdoing in my early years. Children (like adults) use logical reasoning to base their decisions. Their logic may be completely illogical to adults. They may determine that a man is really nice because he gives them candy (and I know of several instances such as this). I’m not saying that all adults that give out candy to children have malicious intent, but children can’t always determine the difference and this is why we warn children not to accept candy from adults unless they are in the presence of a parent or other trusted adult. Contrarily, there are many children who think an adult is “evil” because they are strict or because they don’t give them things they want or because they are not smiling. I’ve experienced many instances like this as well. Even infants are subject to such conditioning. I remember several teachers I thought were “evil” because of such reasoning.

I think it’s time to lay some of these myths to rest and start using adult reasoning as a judge of a person’s character and not rely on “supernatural” criteria from pets or children. As far as having a “vibe” or “intuition” or a “gut feeling” about a person’s character, use your own instincts. What are those vibes telling you? A child or pet is no more privy to possessing special powers of discernment that any adult can have. Something else to think about is the vibes that we give off to our children and pets, which are sensitive to nonverbal cues and unease. Oftentimes, we are the ones that create these vibes that, in turn, transfer to our pets or children.

I’m not going to reference any studies about this, but rest assured that the evidence overwhelmingly supports what I have written. Just do a simple Google search if you’re not convinced. Finally, stop relying on memes, unattributed quotes or theories that are not backed by credible evidence as a basis for your beliefs.

Anxiety Over Selling Online

There are some things that make me anxious about selling things on eBay:

1) Having to make custom packing materials. I have shipped some odd-sized and shaped items and some of them don't fit into standard boxes. Today I had to make a box for a fly fishing rod because no standard mailing tubes or boxes exist. Once, I was sending a vintage, cast-iron motor that was very heavy and I wanted it to arrive unscathed. I spent about an hour building a mounting plate and crate (slicing my hand open in the process) to send it in, but apparently that wasn't safe enough for USPS because some doofus probably dropped it and the buyer sent pictures of the broken item. My heart sank, knowing that this item was irreparably damaged, disappointing the buyer. He paid a lot of money for it, but was willing to accept a discount due to damages incurred in shipping. Do USPS employees care? Nope. So that leads to the second thing I get anxious about:

2) Damages or loss in shipment. I don't send international anymore because I've had such problems when sending internationally. Sometimes it just takes a long time to get there, but other times things just disappear or arrive broken. I had a buyer from Argentina complain that his item hadn't arrived... it was six months after I had sent it. Had it been within a few weeks, maybe we could have made an insurance claim, but after 90 days, the seller is under no obligation. So many hassles with international shipping make it not even worth offering to sell overseas. Most of my rudest, impatient and dishonest buyers were from foreign countries. On the other hand, some of the most pleasant transactions and highest bidders were from foreign countries, so it's a risk... a risk that I don't care to take anymore. Which leads me to another thing...

3) Getting burned by shipping charges. I usually do a good job researching what it will cost to ship an item, but even with all the time I spend, sometimes there are surprises when I go to the post office or UPS, because of hidden charges, unforeseen stipulations or drastic price increases since the time I shipped before. You have to keep up on those things. Many items are not even worth shipping. If you are trying to sell high-volume, low price, forget about it. You might as well just give your merchandise away... and you'd be better off in the long run. Shipping is unreasonably priced and has skyrocketed in recent years. Who wants to spend $7.15 postage on an item that is worth less than five bucks?

4) Letting go. There are some items that are difficult to sell because I just have a hard time letting go of valuable and useful items. Even though I usually sell online because I have surplus or I no longer need the item (or never needed it in the first place), there is that annoying inner voice that says: "But you might need this someday!" I have to take a step back, breathe in and let it out. I then respond to that voice: "If I saw that item at a garage sale or thrift shop, would I pay the same price for it that I am selling it for now?" If the answer is no, then I can let go much easier and never lose any sleep over it. Several years ago when I was preparing to go to school, I sold several items that I now regret selling, so I have to look into the future too, and that's probably where that anxiety comes from.

5) The format that eBay uses for selling constantly evolves... and I don't think I like the newer format. In their attempts to try to make it easier to sell things, they set up defaults (that probably very few people want to use) that you have to change so that you can sell the item the way you want to. Sometimes those defaults are persistent and it is frustrating and time-consuming to set up your auction the way you intended, rather than the way eBay thinks you want it. Long story short: eBay used to be easier... for me anyway.

6) Fees. Even though you sell something for a price that you want to get, doesn't mean that you get that much. There are eBay fees and PayPal fees that eat into your profits. As an easy rule of thumb, count on kissing about 20% of your profits goodbye. There are charts that you can refer to and it's a little complex (because some things have higher fees and there is a sliding scale for final value, etc.) but suffice it to say that you are safe to assume that the accrued fees are about 20%.

7) It's time consuming. In order to get the highest price for your item, you need to be competitive - which means that you have to take sharp pictures of every angle and include defects. You need to write accurate descriptions of your item and be competitive on your pricing. If someone else is selling an item for $5.00, you should sell your item for $4.89 because most buyers will go with the lowest cost, provided that you have positive feedback - and in order to keep that feedback rating high, you need to write accurate descriptions and give the buyers the benefit of the doubt whenever there is a dispute. I take pride in my 100% rating, so I have had to make accommodations at times to keep the buyers happy.

Another thing that takes a lot of time is research. I specialize in selling electronics, tech and sporting goods. Sometimes I get items that I don't know the value of or I don't know much about but I need to add a description. This can be exhausting at times.

Despite the anxiety, there are rewards in the long run. The easy transactions and the high-value items make up for those that are a pain. You can get a little extra money in your wallet to get the things you want, while getting rid of things you don't need.

Low Hanging Fruit

Something I've been thinking a lot about lately is the term: "picking the low hanging fruit." When we use that metaphor, we are referring to the easy targets, but not necessarily those that would be beneficial in the long run. Generally, when we refer to someone "picking the low hanging fruit" we are saying that they are only motivated by taking the path of least resistance. The end results are less than satisfying though because in order to break through the barriers of mediocrity and below, it is absolutely necessary to do things that are challenging... sometimes even terrifying.

In order to excel, we have to reach beyond what our current capabilities are and outside our comfort level and current level of expertise. In so doing, it is important to realize that occasional failure is inevitable, but these are only temporary setbacks. Successful people see failure merely as learning opportunities - and most successful people have failed more times than quitters have even tried. Thomas Edison saw each failure simply as a method that didn't work - or the process of elimination. This process of refinement is helpful in creating a better product. Any reputable manufacturer will prove their products by putting them through a series of rigorous tests and a final "burn-in" that will determine whether the product is ready to hit the market.

We all have a product to produce, even if that product is ourselves... our skills and knowledge... our personality... our demeanor... the things that make us who we are. Those who go through life only picking the low hanging fruit, will never experience excellence in any area because excellence is earned, not bestowed upon a person.

Now, in saying this, I would caution against being an overachiever. I have come to realize that always pushing for excellence can lead to discouragement, especially when the goals are too lofty. Just yesterday I was talking to someone who was experiencing discouragement because he felt he was never able to accomplish or finish anything. I had to point out the little successes that he was able to enjoy. At the time of talking to him, I was also coaching myself. In the past few months, it seems like I have been working and working, but with little or no visible successes. I came to realize that the little accomplishments are important too. In other words, we also need to enjoy the low hanging fruits along the way to tide us over until we experience the rush of the big accomplishments and these also help to moderate  post-euphoric letdown that almost always accompanies any great accomplishment. So, what I'm saying is don't just go for the high fruit either. Pick all of it! Enjoy all of the fruits available to you and never take anything for granted.

Valuing the Laws of the Land

In any civilized society, laws are necessary to maintain peace and domestic tranquility and to protect the rights of innocent citizens. When laws are annulled or not enforced in a community, this sends a message to career criminals and potential lawbreakers that this is a safe haven for criminals, and that they can commit their crimes with impunity. The unintended consequences is that such communities attract anarchists and career criminals, so it instigates an exodus, of sorts, from scofflaws and miscreants. Many citizens who love the law and value their peace and tranquility will naturally move to safer communities where laws are enforced, leaving a vacuum for more lawbreakers to move in and then what is left is a cesspool of crime and lawlessness that can no longer be controlled. Those innocent citizens who are held hostage by organized crime rings, murderous gangs and masses of lone wolf offenders who are most likely to vote for corrupt politicians that would be less likely to interfere with their nefarious activities.

I love the laws of the land because I understand that they are there for our protection... the protection of the innocent and those who believe in prosperity and individual accountability. Laws not only keep us safe, but help communities to thrive and prosper. If you take a look at communities that have lost the governance of laws, you will most often see poverty and suffering. Lawlessness is linked to poverty. Poverty is not the cause of crimes, but crimes are the cause of poverty and this endless cycle leads some researchers to erroneously believe that causes other than crime and lawlessness are the cause of poverty. A micro example of this is that of a young adult who, rather than pursuing an education and working hard for his money, turns to drugs and resorts to theft and violent crimes to pay for his habit. This makes him unemployable, so the only option he then sees is to continue with a life of crime. On a macro level, there are communities that contain many such individuals and are unsafe to live.

As much as I love the law and believe in prosecution for those most likely to reoffend, I also believe in clemency for those in unique circumstances or offenders who show signs of rehabilitation. In some cases, an past offender who beats the odds, is willing to work hard and become a productive, law-abiding citizen and deserves another chance. Those who have made errors in judgment or are unaware of the laws, leading to relatively minor offenses should also be given a chance to redeem themselves, being able to stay "out of the system" that is designed mainly to incarcerate the most hardened and incorrigible criminals and those who willingly break laws in which the rights of others are infringed or harm is likely to occur to persons, property or the community. The punishment should fit the crime and restitution should be made to the victims, not to corrupt bureaucracies and greedy lawyers.

I would like to see our society moving in the direction of peace, tranquility and prosperity. It's going to take a lot of work and it may take some sacrifices from individuals and from organizations that have self-serving agendas. This concerted effort is also going to require those who love and sustain the laws, even those they don't personally agree with. We may not love the laws or actions of organizations, but there are legal and civilized ways that a first-world country can move in a positive direction. Lawmakers and local officials are elected to represent the best interests of their communities. When they cater only to special interest projects and shrill fringe extremists, they are not looking out for the best interests of their constituents. Good citizens vote and make our voices heard through civil communications and we set an example of law, order and selfless acts. I intend to do my part to make the community I live in a better place and I invite all others to take part as well.

True Activism

My method of activism is to get out there and get my hands dirty. If there are problems that need to get solved, I get involved in the community and volunteer my time, services and money when I can do so. This is, by far, the most effective way to solve problems. If there is pollution, we organize groups of people and clean it up. If there are weeds overgrowing the trails, we pull them up. If there are invasive species, we exterminate them. If there is a disaster, we help in restoration efforts and donate to the victims. 

Sometimes, there are troubling issues that need to be addressed that are beyond the scope of what we can do with our hands... or to tackle alone. One of the biggest banes to our communities now, are so-called "protesters" who trample on the rights of others, destroying property, injuring innocent people, disrupting infrastructures and holding disinterested citizens hostage while they block traffic or keep them from passing. These childish intimidation tactics are not only illegal, but these methods are not constitutionally protected. 

Some of these scofflaws or their supporters like to throw around terms like "compassion" or "empathy" without fully understanding what those terms mean or how these acts of insurrection adversely affect the lives of others. They don't know or care about the needs of those they are "inconveniencing" at the time. They don't know that perhaps somebody in one of those vehicles is suffering from a medical emergency and needs to get to a hospital. They don't realize that some of these people are on their way to work, and may lose their job if they are detained, and apparently they don't care. They don't have empathy for the children (or even adults) who need to use the restroom, but can't because there is no place to go or those who miss their flights or travel connections to funerals, weddings, childbirths, performances or myriad of other important life's events. They have no concept that maybe there is perhaps a medical professional on the way to save a person's life, but yeah... it's just an "inconvenience" to those who are not in full support of their petty protest. They don't care about the lost wages or the lost time that people could be spending with their loved ones. No, they have no empathy or compassion whatsoever for the lives of those they have adversely affected... or endangered. What is most important to them is the attention that they get that feeds their own narcissism. They jump on the bandwagon of whatever trendy cause célèbre that comes along, without regard for the rights or welfare of others - except for their perceived goodwill towards controversial issues. Some nut job has erroneously convinced them that unless they lockstep fall in line with whatever media-sensationalized, propaganda-induced faux cause comes into the public view... unless they cause a disturbance and disruption into their otherwise peaceful communities and public spaces, that they're going to end up on "the wrong side of history." This flawed logic is causing more harm to our communities and infrastructure than anything else has or could do at this time.

So, what I am proposing is that we protest the protesters. We disrupt their disruptions and we block their blockages. We inconvenience them in their inconveniencing and make it difficult to carry out their acts of insurrection. We resist their resistance and as a majority, we cease to be silent anymore and put up with their public tantrums. We, as law-abiding American citizens, have rights too. I have some ideas and as an innovator, I have some inventions and plans that will legally disrupt their illegal activities so that we can more rapidly get back to our peaceful lives and shut down their nonsense. Some of this may take some funding and group effort, but I believe that eventually we are going to be forced to take a stand and take back our communities from the anarchists that are destroying them. These lawbreakers need to be brought to justice and be held criminally liable as well as to compensate every last victims of their crimes - and anyone whose life is put in danger or who has been "inconvenienced" or has suffered hardships as a result of these miscreants should be compensated for their time and any damages or suffering that has occurred due to their thoughtless actions. We are a nation of laws and we, as citizens, need to uphold the laws in our communities. This... THIS is a form of activism that is important to ensure peace and tranquility and preserves the rights of the citizens in our communities, our states and this great nation.

What Makes Older Technology So Appealing?

As I mature, I develop a deeper appreciation for specific methods, procedures, devices and raw materials that have stood the test of time. Many of us in first-world countries tend to abandon “obsolete” technology when something new comes along – not appreciating the value or usefulness of those things until we have come to the point of no return, when we realize that the thing we enjoyed before were in many ways superior or had features that were discontinued in favor of convenience, economics, political/social trends or are a product of consumerism.

Unfortunately, I have also too readily jumped on the bandwagon of consumerism and, at times, have been enticed by the allure of newer things, but not taking into account the true costs of conversion. More bells and whistles does not necessarily always equate to a better product. Newer trends and every current cause célèbre that dominate the front pages of the news at any given time should be viewed with skepticism and trepidation, rather than leaping in blindly. There are many inventions, methods and materials that we still rely on that have been used for hundreds… even thousands of years. Though some of these things that are currently in use are controversial and perhaps even dangerous or potentially harmful to our environment, it is nonetheless unwise to turn our backs on these invaluable resources in favor of something simply because it is new or because the current asset has inherent flaws. Remember this: all technology, resources, methods and forms of energy have inherent drawbacks. There are multi-billion dollar campaigns in effect that coax, encourage or even force us to “upgrade” to that which is often inferior, costly or inefficient. Consumerism, corporatism and “Political Correctness” cost us – big time. Rather than keeping the good things and improving on their strengths, we have been subject to losses because we have little or no control over the new products and resources that we have available to us to use.

The only viable recourse is to cling to and preserve our legacy assets and to never let them die. For some things, we have experienced somewhat of a revival of that which was considered obsolete. There are many examples, but one clear example that most of us are aware of is the return of vinyl records. When digital audio hit the market in the form of CDs and subsequently digital downloads, there were still holdouts that kept their vinyl and refused to succumb to consumerism. In the past decade or so, there has been an increasing market for vinyl recordings. Manufacturers have even started producing new turntables and pressing new albums, however their prices are exponentially higher than other media. All the classic vinyl has all but disappeared from the shelves at thrift stores due to increased demand.

Though I am not vinyl connoisseur or audiophile who needs vinyl, I appreciate the reasoning behind the revival. Over the years, I have found several specific items that have disappeared from the store shelves and are only available (for a high price) online – if at all. One of these things is an Ecko Flint Arrowhead potato masher. Anything that even resembles this cooking utensil is cheap and breaks down under normal use. The vintage one is sturdy and lasts many years. I still have one that I picked up at a garage sale decades ago. The cheap ones I have bought in the meantime are long gone.

A couple years ago as I was preparing to go to school, I sold a bunch of my musical equipment. There were several items I really should have hung onto because now I have found that since I am repurchasing them at a much higher price. Apparently, I am not the only one who has recognized their worth. In many respects, this value is in the simplicity and durability – disappearing attributes in modern devices. Many people view these purchases as “going retro” and don’t really understand the purpose of why I have been doing this. In a consumerist world, these are difficult things to try to explain. In simpler terms, though, many people were upset because the iPhone 7 was missing a very important item – the headphone jack. Apple has disappointed many professional users as well by not including necessary features o their “professional” computer line.

In light of all of this, what can we do? As mentioned before, never let go of that which is important. If you value your vehicle that burns gasoline, keep it maintained and in use. If you value your headphone jack, refuse to purchase the iPhone 7 and keep using your older model. If you aren’t ready to give up on your older technology (even though what you have is not technically obsolete), refuse to buy anything new. Let your manufacturers know your displeasure. Blog and vlog your opinions. Even though it may take a few cycles for corporations to get the message, corporatism will adapt to the desires of consumers and perhaps we will see revivals and preservation of that which is important to us. We can also, as innovators, inventors and engineers, refuse to give up on that which has a proven history of success and we can continue a legacy of success, not to give in to flighty trends and consumerism - to improve on that which is already good. To add to the good and make it better. 

Here's to a successful and prosperous 2017!

Higher Education and Critical Thinking

I emphatically advocate education - in all its forms (whether formal or informal). During most of my adult life, I have been active in learning new ideas and skills. Actually, even during the K-12 years (when my formal schooling was marginal, at best), I was always working on some extracurricular projects that involved learning.

An important part of the learning process has to do with challenging old ideas or concepts by applying critical thinking skills. In other words, by exploring and discovering alternative, yet viable and practical methodology to reach your conclusions or procedures. In many instances, there is more than one way to do something... more than one right answer and sometimes it is more effective to "do it your own way" than to adhere to a method that is prescribed and approved by curriculum at hand.

To discourage a method that works, simply because it is unconventional is squelching critical thinking. To penalize students for their alternate views and arguments that may make other students (and professors) feel uncomfortable undermines the educational process and dumbs us down to a simple common denominator. That is not higher education, but rather it is indoctrination that limits progression and the very academic evolutionary process. Your progress is damned when you disincentivize the free exchange of concepts and ideas - no matter how unpopular those views may be. To regulate free speech and punish "offenders" because their views may be construed as "inflammatory" or "objectionable" in respect to the establishment is diametrically in opposition to the meaning of higher education. To tell students that they are wrong, even though they have found methods that work for them is a disservice not only to the students but also to that student's institute of learning and academia in general. If a student discovers an alternate method or a more effective way to do something, wouldn't it be in our best interest to study that student and his/her method(s) for possible inclusion, rather than shooting those ideas down?

Open-mindedness is not one-sided in that it doesn't only apply to learning from the elite and "enlightened" in our society. Everyone is a student. Everyone is also a potential teacher. I truly believe that every person has something valuable to contribute to our society. We ALL just need to be humble enough to listen and observe.

The Art Skill of Recording Sound Effects

It's probably no big secret by now that I am an avid sound effects enthusiast. Looking back, I've been doing this for probably well over 40 years. Part of it started with an interest in recording sound effects for pranks or background for dramatic productions (taped "radio" shows).

I've learned a lot about recording sound effects in the past few years. I bring a sound recorder just about everywhere I go and look for instances where I can record sounds to add to my ever-expansive sound library. I like to call it "sound mining." One thing that helps me identify what sounds to record are watching movies and video clips. Some of the best resources for this are animated films because they are entirely built from the ground up - or in other words, EVERYTHING has to be produced, every visual is created and every sound is drawn from a sound library. Even the most subtle sounds are needed and some of the sounds that are used are not exactly what is depicted on screen.

There is a "Hollywood standard" in the expectations of what onscreen sounds are supposed to be - and the genre of the film determines what these sounds are like. For instance, in a slapstick comedy, the sound of a person getting hit on the head will probably have a hollow "coconut" sound, while in a horror movie, it may be a smack accompanied by a cracking or crunching sound. In essence, ever time I watch a movie, I use this experience to not only enjoy the story, but to pick it apart and try to learn how the movie was put together technically. Sometimes I comment on this, which makes me a horrible movie-watching companion.

As for actually recording sounds... I will often go out of my way to capture an existing sound. Sometimes I need to bring items into the studio to record in order to isolate the sound. Most of us don't even realize just how many layers make up ambient sound and in many cases, recording something outside a studio setting is unsuitable for a sound library because there are vehicles, birds, machinery, birds, aircraft, people talking, wind... oh, and did I mention birds? A studio presents a different challenge though, because it needs to be virtually anechoic, otherwise it sounds like it has been recorded indoors and won't be convincing to sounds that are supposed to be outdoors. If you watch older movies and television shows, you can tell which ones were recorded on a soundstage for this very reason.

There is a lot to learn about recording sounds, but suffice it to say that it is an art form and skill in and of itself, and I constantly learn new things.

Hard, Dirty Work

I remember one of my first official jobs (besides the occasional odd job). I was a newspaper carrier for the Bellingham Herald on a rural route. I was about 11 or 12 when I started.

Newspaper delivery was difficult, especially for a scrawny kid such as myself. The route was about 7 or 8 miles total (including picking up the papers at the drop-off point) and I had about 44-45 subscribers on my route. I delivered the papers after school and on Sunday mornings - 6 days a week. I had to deliver in all kinds of weather. It didn't matter if it was rainy or dark. I still had to deliver the papers riding my bicycle on these rural roads, sometimes even being chased and bitten by dogs. In the winter months, I often had to try to get up a steep hill that was covered with ice, which was no easy feat and sometimes slipped and fell.

My parents usually had to answer angry calls from crotchety subscribers because they didn't get their paper on time or their paper was wet because it was dumping down rain. Most of the time I was late was because the person who was supposed to drop off the papers was late and I had to wait around at the drop box (sometimes for what seemed like hours) for the delivery person to show up with the papers. When he did show up, it was obvious he was dealing with a hangover. My least favorite part of the job was trying to collect the money from subscribers. Some of them were rarely home or they never seemed to have the $4.00 for their papers. I had to knock on doors of some scary places... secluded houses on long driveways with attack dogs and grumpy subscribers. I seriously feared for my life every time I would go to collect the money every month... alone.

As difficult as this job was, I was thrilled to get my pay - which amounted to about a dollar per subscriber (that is if I could get them to pay for their newspapers). My job came to an abrupt end when my parents decided I couldn't do it anymore... not because it was difficult or dangerous for such a young child, but because I didn't keep up my grades in school. They felt the 2-3 hours I spent every night would have been better spent working on my homework. I was distressed that I had lost my only source of money, as I valued the freedom that having a little spending money gave me. My parents were not in a position where they could shower their children with money and gifts, and they never would have given us unearned money either.

I have had many jobs throughout my life, starting as a child, and most of them were hard work in nasty conditions with low pay. Some of them were downright dangerous or hazardous to my health.

If anyone ever wonders where I side in terms of entitlements, you may well know that I believe that I believe in work. Sometimes work may not even be directly related to a paycheck or the paycheck is retroactive to a hard life of work or compensation for having put one's self in a position to work but having a career cut short by a work-related condition or injury. Suffice it to say, that I believe that every person who is capable of work should do their best and do whatever the job entails. If you need to get up early or work all night, that's what you have to do. If your work is physically demanding, you work hard and be grateful for your employment. If your job requires you to put yourself in harm's way, understand the dangers and exercise safety. If you feel discomfort while working in your job, congratulations - join the ranks of the working class!

I've held some of the dirtiest jobs imaginable. I've shoveled crap out of chicken coops that were years overdue for cleaning. I've crawled into bilges on boats to get every drop of oil from underneath the engines... and had to apply vaporous paints and solvents in those confined spaces. I've gone to work, never knowing if that would be the night I would lose a limb... or my life. I've worked in live electrical panels and literally with fire and devices that had a tendency to explode in my face. I've had to confront my phobias of heights and hornets and do the job anyway. Many times I've had to delve into a project, not feeling confident in what I was doing, but learning as I worked. I've worked for low pay and sometimes no pay... and sweet moments where there was a substantial payoff. I've worked outside in below zero weather and in the triple digits... rain, snow, hail, storms... venomous spiders, wasps, dogs, snakes, deranged lunatics. I've crawled into septic tanks to unclog things that should never have been flushed. Folks, these are real jobs and somebody has to do them. I wouldn't consider myself a hero, by any stretch of the imagination but I do believe in work and I believe that no honorable job is beneath my dignity. I despise elitism and the sense of entitlement that has crept into our society in recent decades. I believe that every person who is capable, should contribute their fair share of work... I mean REAL work... to not only pay their way through life, but to make our society a better place. I don't believe that every job has to have direct compensation connected to it. We all benefit from the fruits of someone else's labors, so each of us should contribute in ways that are positive and constructive - even if it doesn't directly benefit us. It all starts by putting on the work shoes and making those steps in the direction of productivity.

The Power of the American People

Borders are defined as a result of economic and political disparity. Millions have immigrated legally in pursuit of the American Dream. Most of those who claim to want to flee because the election didn't turn out  the way they wanted have either already reaped the benefits of the American Dream or have never experienced the hardships that have compelled immigrants to flee their homeland in pursuit of a better life.

It's not the president that makes this country great, but the people... the ideal of  a government by the people and for the people. When we relinquish that power, opting instead to allow figureheads,
unnecessary litigation and bureaucracies to make those decisions for us, this government for and of the people ceases to exist and nothing short  of a bloody revolution could ever bring it back.

So those who threaten to leave, by all means, please make good on your  promise, as you are not the solution, but part of the problem. Keep in mind that for your vacancy, there are many more who would gladly leave everything behind, learn a new language and struggle with cultural differences filling the void where your ungrateful soul resided.

Never take the privilege of being an American citizen for granted.

Preserving Your Treasures

Days like today, I find myself missing my children and grandchildren. At church, I was watching the children and the interactions they were having with their parents. They grow up so fast... as if it was a passing dream. It's been almost 30 years since I became a parent and the time has slipped swiftly by. Fortunately, I have many photos, videos, audio recordings and I have written about things we have done as a family or things that our children have done so I can have a tangible connection. We've also kept special things that our family members have made, as these are most precious.

One of the things I have done throughout the years (and I have made somewhat of a side business of it) is preserving, archiving and sharing these treasures. I would like to offer a bit of advice to those who are starting out in their families and maybe some help for those like me who like to savor those memories, yet have regrets about not preserving anything tangible. The first part is for those starting out in their families:

1) Take photos, lots of them. Take a camera everywhere. If you use your phone camera, learn how to transfer the photos on a more permanent device and do so frequently.

2) Take audio recordings of significant phone messages, family gatherings and so forth. Sometimes, a birthday or Mother's Day greeting can mean so much when played back years later. Record vocal performances as well... no matter how technically flawed you believe the performance is.

3) Don't forget to take video recordings of children playing, school events or major life events. At the time, you may think these moments are kind of silly, but years later they are priceless.

4) Save letters and emails from family members. You may want to scan them and save them digitally so you don't have boxes of papers taking up attic space or that get tossed when you are cleaning house.

5) Keep a daily journal or at least write about some of the more significant happenings in your life. Be factual and include details about the events as well as your feelings and directly quote what people said. Your memory isn't as reliable as you think it is, however the things you write now are indelible.

6) Have everything archived digitally and in formats that are "future proof." For instance, save documents in an easily recoverable text format and photos as JPEGs. Save videos to DVD and audio to WAV format and/or CDs and don't get rid of your DVD player or device with an optical drive just because you watch all your movies on cable or online now. I would recommend an older computer away for that specific purpose, even though you think it will become obsolete. Keep in mind that obsolescence is merely an industry fabrication - a ruse designed to keep you buying new products.

7) Keep copies of those archived files in a separate location, other than your home. My recommendation is to have several copies in different formats and different locations. Your primary location is at the home. Frequently back up your computer to an external hard drive. Additionally, back up your files to archive quality optical disks (DVD-ROM media) and seal them up and have them kept by a trusted friend or family member. Also, copy all your files over to an external hard drive and keep it in a safe that is in a separate location than your house... maybe in a briefcase that can be grabbed in case of evacuation. Finally, if you are in such a financial position, back up your files online, but don't under any circumstances upload materials that could be compromised for the purpose of identity theft or cause embarrassment for you if hacked.

And advice for those who regret not preserving these things:

1) Start now. Ask (beg pester or bargain if you have to) family members who have taken photos, videos or have other items of sentimental value that you can copy and carefully and respectfully copy them for yourself.

2) Write down memories that you have. Don't worry about trying to keep a chronological record because it will drive you crazy and you will get frustrated and give up. The beauty of word-processing is that you can go back later and edit and organize your journal as you remember details.

3) Talk to your family members and perhaps get audio recordings of their perspective of things that happened. Not only will you be able to have these documents or recordings of what happened from another perspective, but this is also good bonding time with your family members.

4) Don't be stingy with your memories. Share your stories, your pictures, videos, recordings, journals and so forth with your posterity. It may not mean much to them now, but you never know which of your children or grandchildren will crave for something tangible from you. Write heartfelt letters to your children... give them something to open up and cherish when you are gone.

5) Don't wait until you are dead to give your children and spouse meaningful things. It's good to draft up a will and keep it in a safe place, but as you advance in years don't be too attached to your possessions so that they have to wait until you are dead so they can have things. In my opinion, it is much more meaningful to give these gifts while you are alive and still have your sanity than for your family members to squabble over what they perceived were your intentions. I've seen a lot of unnecessary heartache and strained family relations over such arguments and misunderstandings. Finally, DO have a will and don't let anybody convince you to alter it out of their convenience. If you have strong feelings about what should be done with your possessions, have your will done up while you are in sound mind and preserve it in a safe place. Don't broadcast your intentions to your family members. Let them unseal it after you are gone.