What's going on

May 21st 1971 Marvin Gaye released his 11th studio album. The record was made at in the Motown studios in Detroit. Berry Gordy, the man behind Motown, didn't approve of this record containing counter culture messages. He thought this was too politically charged, and while he gave in to Gaye's record, he was certain it would flop. Whats going on shot to number one where it stayed on top of the charts for 5 weeks. If you have not listened to all of it, you are missing out on some of the most beautiful, moving songs ever made. I was listening to this record this morning and even to this day it moves me to tears when I hear "God is love".

As I was listening to the rest of the songs I couldn't help but think "are things as bad or worse today as they were in in the early 70's when Gaye sang "whats going on?" His songs were done from the view of a soldier returning from Vietnam. Would a soldier returning from Afghanistan today not mention all of the things the Gaye sings about in his record. Ecology, War, Pollution, Unemployment, Poverty, Drugs. The record could have been released May 21, 2010, yet if I tune in to MTV or surf the radio for pop songs of today, there is not a hint, nor whisper of whats going on. Songs today are way out in fantasy land. I caught a disturbing video of two of the biggest pop stars today, Lady Gaga and Beyonce, where Beyonce springs Gaga out of prison, they go to a diner and poison everyone (I'm not making this up) and dance around them in red white and blue outfits as they die. Whats going on? Why is it no one is singing about Haiti? Why are we not singing about ending THIS war? Has there been one War song in the last 10 years we have been at it? Its truly mindblowing. Thousands of People are losing their homes every day to foreclosure, and unemployment has not been this high since the 30's, yet no is singing about it. It used to be the silver lining in the cloud about bad times was, the music got better, as it did in the late 60s and early 70's. Instead, in this "the worst of times" we have Beyonce singing about "All the single ladies". Its actually quite fascinating to me we could have so much trouble in this world and pop culture today seems to have put a blind eye to it. Maybe in this day in age people do not want to be reminded of their problems... instead they want to escape them. I believe there is a song racing up the charts now call "Billionaire by Travie McCoy" about a guy who dreams of being a billionaire". We do have pockets of passionate people trying to bring awareness to some of the problems in the World. (Sean Penn's all out effort to help those in Haiti comes to mind), but by in large there is little or no outrage over much of anything today. Too busy listening to Travie McCoy I guess.

What's going on?

With wings like eagles.

Hi Gang.

I didn't write this particular blog. I didn't take the picture. I did though stumble on it and felt it was so beautiful, it needed to be "re-blogged". Enjoy.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:28-31)

Say Goodbye to... - Further thoughts on what's next, and some less than perfect predictions from the past

In my obsession with 2050 and beyond, I could not help but add more thoughts on the future. I have always loved reading about the future and enjoy looking back on what people thought the future might look like. For some reason the oo's did not hit me as living in the 21st Century. 2010? Now that seem futuristic. So bummed the Jetsons appear to be so much farther out. How many of us believed we would have flying cars some day? I did. While it does seem in some way things have not change that much at all ( Air travel and Home Interiors for instance), things indeed are a changing. I was thinking about a Top 10 list, but after reading so many over the last week, I've become sick of all things "Top 10"- So instead, here is a peek at what I see years from now.


Say goodbye to - Payphones- Phonebooks - Checks -Cash -Privacy - Lying - US Mail Service, Newspapers - Books - Magazines - Big Cars -Commuting -The US Dollar -Marriage - Signatures CDs and Blue Ray DVDs- Blackboards- Car Crashes - Driving - DUI's -Getting lost - Amber Alerts - Car Chases - Real Movie Stars - Suburbs - McMansions - Oil and Gas

Say Hello to - GPS/Personalized Advertising (Walk by a store and the store will text you or send you information) -100 Percent E-Bill/Pay - Working from Home - Global Currency - Vacations in Space and Under Sea - Stem Cell Organ/Teeth/blood replacement- Biometric IDs - Privacy Consultants (Will have to pay for Privacy) - Driver-less Cars - Robots as Chefs, Servers, Police, Soldiers, Nurses and eventually, Friends - Thought Police for crime prevention - Digital Movie Stars - Africa as a major tourist destination - Greater influence of Asian and Chinese Culture on the World (and US) as China grows to become the #1 World Power and as the US works its way out of debt - The continued development of the North American Union (US, Mexico and Canada further align, benefiting all three Nations) - The Dead (Family members images and memories brought back to life in 3D) - A New Reality show that gives practically EVERYONE 15 minutes of fame - An even greater view of real time War -Green Homes (Tiny Green Homes)- and my boldest prediction... the Queen NEVER dies.

And for fun, here are some past predictions that didn't pan out. (Hopefully mine will not be as bad as these)

“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” — Western Union internal memo, 1876.

“The Americans have need of the telephone, but we do not. We have plenty of messenger boys.” — Sir William Preece, chief engineer of the British Post Office, 1876

“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” — Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.

“There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will.” — Albert Einstein, 1932.

“There will never be a bigger plane built.” — A Boeing engineer, after the first flight of the 247, a twin engine plane that holds ten people.

. “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” — Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.

“Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and weigh only 1.5 tons.” — Popular Mechanics, 1949


“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” — Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977.

While theoretically and technically television may be feasible, commercially and financially it is an impossibility.” — Lee DeForest, inventor.

“So we went to Atari and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got this amazing thing, even built with some of your parts, and what do you think about funding us? Or we’ll give it to you. We just want to do it. Pay our salary, we’ll come work for you.’ And they said, ‘No.’ So then we went to Hewlett-Packard, and they said, ‘Hey, we don’t need you. You haven’t got through college yet.’” — Apple Computer Inc. founder Steve Jobs on attempts to get Atari and HP interested in his and Steve Wozniak’s personal computer.

“Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?” — H. M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927.

The 2000's - and whats next

Happy Holidays to all! I hope everyone had a wonderful Hanukkah and Christmas. My five year old loves it at this time as most kids do. She is especially lucky in that she gets both a Hanukkah and Christmas. She seems very comfortable with both celebrations. Its organic to her and she embraces both with such enthusiasm. Being a 5 year old digital native, she is also very comfortable with computers. Don't you wish you had such ease with a computer the first time you ever used one? For her, using a computer was like my first trip to the playground. No one had to tell me what to do, I just played. That's how my Daughter is with technology. The first time she pried my iphone from me, she just KNEW how to use it. Have you given any thought to the impact of technology on our lives in the last 10 years? Its really amazing. With our phones and the internet, many of us now have "friends" all over the World thanks to social networks... many we have never met. (probably never will) I expect this to continue in a big way. More and more friends (1000s of them) as we build our personal Network with people who share the same likes and dislikes as us... and the friends we have known?, we may connect with them more, but less in person. Speaking to my Nanny, she felt she is "more" in touch with her friends, calling and texting, but I told her there was a time when you hung with your friends endlessly, in person. Our very definition of "friends" and "close friends", oh boy that's going to change, if it hasn't already. Even the modern design of most streets (made wider so 2 fire trucks could pass each way) in some suburbs took away the natural connection with your neighbors. (Think when you were a kid, you knew everyone pretty much on your block) I barely know my neighbors today. So now we are making connections and friendships so easily over the Web leaving our shyness at home, and the time of these interactions (some lasting only seconds) with lots of strangers the World over. Think of the long range impact. "Face to Face" might be reserved for family, very important business affairs, and the closest of friends. (and even that will go away - I'm waiting see one of my friends get married online" Seriously, this stuff is coming (for those who cant make it to the wedding in person please visit John and Jessica get married.com ) Our definition of face to face may be with Avatars and not in the flesh. Yes, technology had its biggest impact on how we interact within society over last 10 years and it seems it will only be more so in the next 10 years. So I know... I only focused on one aspect of technology's impact over the last decade. And yes we will make more connections, and yes, it will redefine our friendships, but with new technology we also we will find ways to live much much longer (Only if you are very very rich). I do think the impact of Stemcell research over the next 10 years will be mind-boggling. In 20 years, growing organs for replacement will in common almost commonplace for those rich enough to afford it.

I think in addition to saying goodbye to face to face friendships, say goodbye too to all Newspapers and Magazines in paper form. And everyone knows about the death of the Newspaper, but did you know, we will also see the beginning of the end of meat consumption? (and it may take 30 years but its decline will begin). Its going to get too dangerous (Swine flu is not the end, but just the start) and it will become too expensive for most. (strangely enough as it began, when meat was only consumed by the very rich) In this decade we will see the 100 dollar Steak and the 20 Dollar hamburger. Meat substitutes (many today are amazing) will go mainstream as "becoming healthy" really healthy becomes the next big status symbol. Older people will look younger and younger people will look older as the environment takes its toll on those who fail to take care of themselves. There will be a further divide not only between the rich and the poor, but between the healthy and the unhealthy. Living healthy is a lifestyle choice and healthy lifestyle will be marketed and product-ized of sorts as boomers get even older.

I think the one thing as I ramble through my thoughts about this decade and the next is, the 2000's took away our ability to be shocked. Nothing seems shocking anymore. After 9/11, Katrina, Tsunami's, earthquakes, Virgina Tech, The bailing out of AIG and other financial institutions that helped caused the financial crisis, and then to see everyday people lose their homes (with no bail out), the events in and around War in Iraq and the 4,282 US Soldiers and Sailors who have died in combat, its very difficult to shocked by anything anymore. And I don't know if we are just numb to all of these events, but I think most of us are just about ready for anything.

And with that, lets say goodbye to the double OOs and say hello to the next decade~!

Peace to you and happy 2010!

Good Times!

Good Times! I was watching reruns of this hit show from the 70's and couldn't help but think of how desperately America needs another "Good Times" kind of show. You know, a family with some legit struggle, real struggle... ALL the time... and making the best of it. I think Caucasian folks in particular need this the most. My Dad told me this week that in NYC "White is the new Black". The struggles that Black people have known for far too long, now belong to a new class of people, and I'm not talking about "Rosanne" either. Some folks I know are struggling for the first time in their lives, and they need lessons on living "day to day. This is nothing new to us. Just ask people in Detroit. Detroit has been in a permanent recession since the 60's, maybe earlier. Double digit unemployment? Nothing new. This recession feels like a depression to some because they never felt struggle. Enjoying simple pleasures, like playing monopoly, the board game and not MONOPOLY, buying and owning 2 or 3 real homes (odd how that felt normal - the summer home, the winter home yada yada)... appreciating non material things like your health, and not getting a shoppers high from blowing thousands on a pair of shoes (ok, a couple of nice pairs of shoes) with your Amex Platinum Card. What was great about "Good Times", was we could relate, but we were never as down and out as they were. My Mom once said, look, you got it better than JJ (Jimmy Walker, the ultra skinny dude on the right in the Blue hat) you should thank your lucky stars you have it so good". Guess what? I bought it. Why not have a show of a once prosperous family that fall victim of the economy and find happiness with each other. But instead of a Super poor family in Good Times, how about a Madoff like family? (without the crime thingy) I was thinking about the remake of "Fun with Dick and Jane" with Jim Carrey, Téa Leoni. The only problem with that movie, just like real life, Dick and Jane lost stuff, but the stuff is what gave them happiness. Some of us have not let go of the "stuff" it seems. The great American Consumer's appetite for more has taken some serious hits, in the last year and a half, but like the creatures in "night of the living dead" the shoppers come back from the brink, looking for SOME way (like Layaway), to get more stuff. (and ok, maybe not layaway, that involves patience). And lets not pretend that a recovery is just around the corner. Pa-lease! I see this thing lasting another 15 or more years. Its going to take a long time to get this economy back in shape. The tricks that propped up American Consumption for so long (Cheap credit, corporate thievery in the stock market, and an ultra inflated housing market) those gimmicks are mostly played. I'm not go any further on it in this blog the ills of the Nation, but its crazy ugly. What the Country needs is to see the cast of say Dynasty, or Dallas, pulling themselves together, and getting by on less and having fun along the way. I'm serious, the Country needs this. There has to be a reason people are lining up to see Sarah Palin. She has that fallen from grace, going from Vogue to Rogue thing going for her. Ok, that just messed up my blog...nevermind the thought.

Just imagine, A family that had it all (or so they thought) and found it all by losing it all and having each other. Loving each other for who they are and not for how much money they make. I'm sure JJ Walker would say DYN-O-MITE! to that. I know I would. Its a good lesson for everyone. Good times!

Health Care for all....what is there to debate?

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan plans to increase the rates for about 163,000 people under certain plans by an average of 22 percent. Blue Cross is also increasing certain supplemental Medicare policies held by about 210,000 Michigan seniors by an average of 4.7 percent.

In Southern California, The billionaire chairman of Los Angeles-based Mercury Insurance Company is sponsoring a ballot measure that would legalize surcharges of hundreds of dollars for automobile insurance, penalize good drivers for accidents that are not their fault, and lead to more uninsured motorists. Under the proposal, aimed at the June 2010 ballot, people who stop driving for more than three months or were previously uninsured would be forced to pay more when they restart their insurance. These include laid-off employees, recent graduates, retirees forced back to work, people buying insurance for the first time and residents who move away from cities with good mass transit systems. Such surcharges are currently unlawful under the 1988 insurance reform law, Proposition 103, but Mercury has repeatedly violated that and other state insurance laws.

These are few two of MANY examples of how quietly Insurance companies are out (as much as they can) to minimize claims and maximize profits. The bizarre thing about this sleazy business is somehow in the Press, the current state of the Nations Health Care is being made to look as if it actually WORKS for YOU! I am simply dumbfounded by the tone of the National "Debate" on health care. Who are these freaks speaking up for the Insurance companies that are out to do as little as possible, charge as much as possible, and eliminate as many risks as possible? Who are they? A Government option will force the insurance companies from continuing their "mission statement" to rip off insurance policy holders as effectively as possible. "Big Government" is being blathered on right wing talk radio as a bad thing. Its NUTS, absolutely NUTS! Wasn't the strategic National response to Pearl Harbor "Big Government"? Wasn't FDR's New Deal "Big Government?" Those projects like the Hoover Dam, Tennessee Valley Authority, Social Security, the Interstate Highway System and don't forget the Space Program, yes Virgina, we got to the MOON with the help of "Big Government". How American and Patriotic is THAT??? And if we do not ALL participate and ALL pitch in, what is the opposite of "all"? Wouldn't it be "one person" and wouldn't that be a Dictatorship?

The fact that the press (and insurance companies, and right wing nut jobs) have convinced many that we should keep this rigged system as is, should be a wake up call. As the so called debate goes on, I think the masses will wake up to the facts and wake up to the truth, the Insurance companies don't care about you, only that your premiums and your Employer's premiums, are paid on time. That's it. They are in it for the money. No pretty ad can cover up the stench of these sleazeballs. Let your Congressman know where YOU stand. Let them hear your voice. scream louder than the loonies...and let's fight back!

Once we GET a public option, the next thing we should do is go after the FDA. The Food and Drug Administration is the flimsiest Government body ever. Its RUN by the Food Corporations! Colonel Sanders and General Mills call the shots baby! and there is no governance. Anything and everything that can fit in a tube, bottle or box, IS made for human consumption in the USA. I would say that 9 1/2 of 10 Aisles in the average grocery store are packed with ingredients that will kill you and end your life sooner than it should. These ingredients cause cancer, heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease. Its a mess! and the odds are stacked against the avg. fast food eating, grab some more chicken wings and beer American. The Worlds Greatest Country deserves better. Our kids deserve better. Don't you think? Preventative Doctor visits, diet and exercise, all the things suggested as the optimum American way of life, Corporations, are out to eliminate. There is more money in "treating" everyone for being sick. And if your not sick, there is a VERY strong media to convince people they just might be. Come on, who are you kidding? You HAVE to be sick, you ate Twinkies!!! Lots of them! They have a shelf life of 600 years!...its going to get you. Its Jet Fuel! There is NO money in a cure...the cash is in treating the symptoms. The big money is in the testing, but only after its too late. With so called "Modern Medicine" You would think things might get better, but the recession, (The GREAT recession) oh it set us back, big time. cheap "comfort" food "dollar menu baby!!!" Staying home and "cocooning" is in. Reality TV (which had nothing to do with the recession), the reality, many people stay in and watch people live so called "real lives" on TV (Who in the Hell is this "Kate" person anyway? and WHY don't they call HER the Octomom??? How did she get center stage on "People", and who reads this crap? You know who? Fat Americans, thats who!!! when in actuality, the new reality is a trip to the couch (is that couch paid for? ok that's another story)... a trip to the fridge, back to the couch and then back to the fridge... to the couch... to the fridge and off to the bed. (and the modern American cant sleep anyway) There is a pill for that, too!

When and where does it all end? I'm counting on you to do something about this mess. I'm sick of writing. This subject, ah it makes me sick to my stomach.

I promise a happy story next blog.

An iTunes kind of life?

Oh our ipods! Dont we just love them?! Me, I have a older ipod with over 9000 songs (yes Nine zero zero zero and counting). At first thought you would think that all this electronic access to music would be great for the music business, but we found out it actually hurt sales, and changed the way we buy music forever. I could go into all of the terrible byproducts of downloading music (the biggie being stolen music downloads), and this is has also hit the movie business, but I wanted to focus on one aspect.

See when I was a teenager, I went down to the record store. My little shop actually wasn't a record store, it was really a Smokeshop that sold records. The owners Son was really into music, and he gave his son some space to sell records, and over time the Son sold more records than his Dad sold pipes and cigars, but it still went by the smoke shop name. I spent a LOT of time in the smoke shop talking about music with the owners Son and anybody who would walk into the store and wanted to talk about music. The thing we were all trying to find was the next big band, and those hidden gems on the B-side of the records. This was SO fun. I remember running into the store to tell Sam (the owners son) about this killer song "Train in Vain" by the Clash. "Train" wasn't even listed on the record! A gem! later a HIT!

I guess since the music that came out in the late 70's and early 80's was so fantastic, for me, it was magical. Unlike today, there wasn't an easy way to preview music, unless you heard it on the radio, OR in the record store. (Off topic, I'm still waiting for that great recession music to arrive, as the way it has gone, the worse the economy the better the music (that is until now, and I have a few theories, but I digress) The records didn't cost much back in the day, and even a teenager could take a chance on a band you didn't know. Literally, I bought a record simply for the cover (and beautiful covers they were (sob)) or read about it in Rolling Stone. For me, Rolling Stone was the music Bible, the good book! I remember buying "Dire Straits" sight unseen. RS said it was good and that was good enough for me. "The Clash", "Blondie", "Talking Heads", "Devo" "PIL", "Cheap Trick" "The B-52's", "U2" and "The Cars" It seemed almost like a new must -have band came out every week! When I listened to all this wonderful music on my Sears Special record player and my Koss Headphones, all bought on McDonalds wages, I listened to ALL the music on one side of the record. flipped it and listened ALL of the flip side (aka the B-side). Looking back, some of the BEST music ever was found on the flip or B-side. It was too difficult to pick up the needle and go from song to song although, people did try (usually at parties). This was where you heard the big scratches (RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP!) when the person changing the song had been drinking too much and would utter something like " Oh you GOT to hear this song...Ugh let me find it") (Ah, you younger kids will never know how your Parents lived before The Internet, Facebook, ipods, iphones, Tivo, and cars with AC, OnStar, and Navigation. trust me, you had think on your feet every now and then. ;))



Fast forward some 35 years later and look how we buy and listen music today. Itunes sells music by the SONG! Little kids with Itunes accounts are cherry picking Jonas Brothers songs. (of course that may not be a bad thing). No really, this IS a bad thing. If at the end of the day, Sally Sue only buys so called "hit" songs, plenty of Artists works will go without a listen (Songs back in the day a person would discover on the B-side) Many of these songs became hits. "Train in Vain" a hit song by the Clash, wasn't even listed on the record! The only way you found it, was listening to the entire record. Who didn't listen to ALL of London Calling? Those who might buy it on iTunes and may not know better. I'm certain "Thriller" would not be as big had it been released first on iTunes...even the best selling record of all time is being cherry picked. Oh yes. When was the last time you listened to an ENTIRE record, er, gee, I mean downloadable collection of songs that would have been a record or CD?



The World spins just as fast as it did 40 years ago, but things "appear" to be moving much faster. In all this hectic living, are we cherry picking more than songs on iTunes? Are we not taking the time to listen to an entire conversation, message, Class or Meeting? Do we cherry pick some of what we hear and tune out the rest? We are missing out on some "life's" greatest hits! lifes greatest little moments....the B side. Immerse yourself into whatever your doing. Listen to the entire conversation. Stay until the end of the game. Buy the entire download! Listen to your kids! Finish the book! Be in the moment...and stick around and smell the roses, the coffee...you just might find a Gem!. :)