Music Monopoly - Liberate the Music!

I wandered over to Apple and discovered a link on the home page to an essay by Steve Jobs on music. He makes many good points. Among them

• iPod users are not locked into buying their music from the Apple iTunes Store,
• billions of CDs are sold by the major music companies (who control 70% of the music) every year with absolutely no protection at all, and
• DRM (Digital Rights Management) has primarily created an international game with cryptographers creating increasingly difficult locks that uncrytpers (primarily thieves) keep trying (sometimes successfully) to break.

Steve's recommendation:

Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat.

Great decision! If you'd like to know more about his argument then hie thee to the link. I'm a sucker for great writing, facts and consistent logic. If you are too, you will find reading the essay time well spent.

Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it. – John Lennon

the 20-year cycle of life

There is research to suggest that settling into retirement takes about 20 years (including the planning). Well, actually it only takes about a year to get reoriented once you retire. I have heard stories about it taking from 3 to 6 months. I think it depends on how many years of stored up "to do's" you have on your list. You know, that stuff you always meant to get around to and never did; i.e., visiting the grandkids, cleaning out the attic, checking out the local dance club, etc. What all that means is we need breaks. It takes time to get into a life routine: finding a job, getting comfortable with the routine and expectations, enjoying your new found economic freedom and having fun with it. Eventually the routine gets boring and then constricting. And it's time for a break.

Since we only live about 100 years that means a life break. According to this same research after about a year retirees begin finding a second life. Some secondary interest that they kept shoving into the background comes to the front. After a year (or 3-6 months) of playing a retiree can look at that avocation in a new light with renewed energy and start life all over again. Most entrepreneurs go through a similar cycle of creating an enterprise, watching it succeed, selling it, resting, and then starting over again with something entirely different. If we lived forever we might find ourselves making new lives about every 10-20 years, depending on interest level and circumstances.

Other life roles play out in 20 years, for example: most marriages (which last for 15-20 years), child rearing, many mortgages, acting and sports careers. So, no need to feel that your first job has to be the one that you will have forever. Let's say you're 24 and you get a job and keep it (or stay in the same industry) for 20 years. You'll be 44 at the end of that. And while that may seem old (to a 24-year-old) it's actually quite young when you consider that you may be around for another 40 years or so. And, yes, there is life after 50.

I'm ready for my big break and new lifestyle (which I may have mentioned once or twice). In fact, I've already got an album cover and song titles.
New release featuring: I'm Not From Around Here and I Intend to Stay That Way, It Most Certainly is All About Me, and Going Where the Weather Suits My Clothes. On sale NOW! Void where prohibited.

Song of the Day: "Timid Frieda (Les Timides)" by M. Shuman, E. Blau, J. Brel; from the album Jaques Brel is Alive and Living in Paris.

even better is the real thing

I enjoy reading Mr. Mortenson's public blog, Perceval Press's "In Other Words", which is interspersed with snippets of poetry from writers that presumably Mr. Mortenson feels a connection with. There's a sort of chaotic anarchy in the placement of the poems interspersing news items about politically incorrect happenings. His blog is almost like a work of art, which it wouldn't be if Mr. Mortenson were something of a normal person. If he were normal I guess he would have become a doctor like his other family members.

Anyway, Mr. Mortenson's blog would be more effective if he were to comment on the news items rather than just post them. I suppose the poetry could be construed as comments but it's too esoteric for me (if they are indeed meant to be comments on the news items) and if I don't get it then about 90% of his readers don't get it. Except maybe for those who know him intimately and they don't need the blog to know how he's going. Also, it would be very helpful if Mr. Mortenson took time from his busy schedule to translate the items in Norwegian, Spanish and whatever that other language is into English. I, for one, am still dying to know what the socialized health plan in Sweden has to do with "health shoes" and old people. PP did not reply to an email request for more information.

I sure hope these changes are made because as much as I enjoy being informed of news that really matters, I'd enjoy it even more and would perhaps find it more motivational if I knew what I was reading – in particular, what Mr. Mortenson would have us see. Otherwise, I'm sure I will lose interest entirely. Or is that the point? As a former Art instructor once said about a vague allegorical painting, "If you're going to pontificate, then be clear about it."

Side Note: After reading Mr. Fisk's article about diseased language, I'm afraid to use the word "workshop" but have yet to come up with a suitable alternative. Suggestions?

Current Fads
Listening. my iMixes/Playlists 60's (mostly The Beatles) and For The Road (unpublished); ringing in ears
Watching. Aeon Flux: The Complete Animated Collection (Director's Cut) (1995 originals remastered for 2005) and K-PAX (2001)
Activity. learning how to sleep
Gadget. Palm Zire 31
News Source. the news feeds in Safari and Perceval Press
Reading. Misery Loves Maggody - Joan Hess; The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers - John Gardner; Writing the Breakout Novel - Donald Maas; The Wisdom of No Escape - Pema Chodron; Wired; MacWorld; Fortune. (Yes, I really am reading them all right now – I'm a reading addict. What can I say?)

The Best 20 Years of Your Life (A Cautionary Tale)

A few years ago as I was standing in line at the post office I had a serious epiphany. It was a rainy day. I was more than damp. I was next in line. The clerk suddenly reached behind the counter and proffered an umbrella with a big smile on his face.

"Here. Take this," he said holding it up in my direction. I beamed a smile at him (thinking it had been a long time since anyone had shown such kindness) but before I could do anything I heard a voice behind me. I turned around to see a young, beautiful woman animatedly talking to the clerk (who was about 20 years older than her and had a pot belly for heavens sake). At that moment I took an entirely new view of my past.

I had gone blissfully through my younger days thinking of myself as one of the luckier people on earth. My life went well and many things fell into place. Others were kind and caring. Life was good. I wondered sometimes about the harsh attitudes of some others I saw in the distance but decided they were just that way. I seldom worried too terribly much about anything as someone was always there to take care of things. Often just what I needed arrived at just the right moment. Clerks were kind to me. Men spoke gently with me.

I'm sure I was lucky. I'm pretty sure I have some people skills (on a face-to-face basis) that can soothe the troubled beast and bring out the best in others. I know I'm capable of avoiding some of the obstacles many blunder into and that I'm better than some at getting out of snarls.

But ...

The real reason my younger life went so well was that I was young and beautiful (or at least strikingly attractive). As I have looked back since that day, I have understood that puzzling behavior of my ex-husband when we entered a crowded room. I understand now why others suddenly turned their heads, swiveled their eyes in my direction and often smiled. I understand why it was so easy for me to find a man willing to love me. I see now that my easy ride through many situations was greased by biology and youth. I'm now able to translate those expressions I once saw on women when I entered a group for the first time. I know why many of them later softened because I was unaware of my effects and because I was nice. Oh, I knew I wasn't ugly. But I figured I looked okay, you know, just okay.

Undoubtedly some of you women are snorting and clicking on to other more significant pages. But that was me, unaware, coasting through life without a second thought. That's just the way life worked – in my favor.

My advice to those of you in this predicament is take advantage of your assets. Parlay the good will of others into opportunities to build skills you can use later when you are old(er) and less attractive. Build your brains and develop useful talents because some day you will lose your looks and need to stand on your merits alone. Gone will be the kind drivers willing to hold the bus for you, forgiving policemen will vanish and men will be a lot harder to come by. Like me, you may wonder where you luck has gone. On the plus side, women will be miraculously easier to deal with. Although I have to admit, when surrounded by women in my same age group, I sometimes still get those looks.

Of course, my life wasn't totally charmed and I have had my share of grief, but that wonderful magical carpet ride is most definitely over. You take advantage of it while you can and good luck!

The Ultimate Valetine's Day Greeting

This really is the way to go: over the top and a lot more than any woman expects. Meanwhile, I'm planning a short essay on taking advantage of the best 20 years of your life to leverage all 100 years you will be around.

Happy Birthday to Me (yesterday)

For those of you too shy to enter your birthday in those online profiles, you might want to reconsider. I put my birthday right in those fill-in forms with reckless abandon. Because of that I got online birthday cards from my insurance agent (animated) and Pepsi (flash with music and the option to run it again with another character or to mail to a friend). I got an email greeting from Mensa and a free 11-card Tarot reading from Tarot.com. Woo hoo!

Is the airplane secure?

Yes, it is because my toothpaste (under 3 oz, never opened, still in the original glued box), my eyeglass cleaner and a tube of hand cream have been removed and thrown away. All because I did not have them in a baggie. Like that makes a difference. The security of the plane is based on maintenance and the training of the pilots, not what I've got in my bag. A man wearing blue plastic gloves pawed through my bag, grinning at my second best undies that I brought along in case my checked-in bag didn't show up. He never thought to check the "secret" compartment where I put my dirty clothes on the return trip. Hah!

I can just imagine the conversation that led to the one quart baggie idea.

"Uh, sir, we can't just let them have those 3 oz liquids and gels loose. Is that secure enough?"

"Uh, no, you're right. Make them put it all in a baggie. Better make it a big baggie. That will make them more secure in case anything breaks."

On the return trip I made the mistake of taking my filled bins and transporting them from a slow x-ray line to a faster one. I was ordered to return my bins to the original line and then treated to idiots making stupid jokes about how they aren't fast enough. See, that's the problem with giving anyone authority of any kind—they take advantage of it. They think that the little power they get somehow makes them better or wiser. There is no getting above the laws. Sooner or later they get you. ... and you're little dog, too.

The Opposite of Drama

... is me! There must be something in between. Very tempting to jigger the test and find out what it is.

You Are As Cool As They Come

Rational and relaxed, no one could accuse you of being dramatic. You roll with the punches, and nothing ever gets you too worked up. You are able to maintain perspective and see the big picture. And even if you're emotional inside, you don't let it show. You're great at keeping it together, and you're rewarded for that. People see you as an ideal friend, employee, and partner.

Are You a Drama Queen (or King)?

Mom and Dad have stopped fighting!

Yes! Apple and Apple are happy together at last! Certainly this must mean that music of The Beatles will be available through iTunes any day now. I can't wait!

Back From the Sun

Had a lovely vacation in sunny Orlando. You will note that the city advertises as sunny Orlando not warm Orlando. It was 57 one day but eventually reached 77 by the end of the week. Today it's back to 57. Apparently it's colder than usual but not less sunny. I feel much less frantic about the arrival of spring now. I've been there and it's lovely.