Artists don't like online music sales. Meh.

You know, I think they're very misguided in thinking they can force the public to buy music only on their terms, but truthfully I only buy albums--online or not.

What I have done is become much more selective--especially with CDs priced higher than I would like. Kid Rock would absolutely lose out with me, because I wouldn't buy his hit single under any circumstances. Maybe he doesn't care about me (and that's fine, because I don't care at all about him, or his crappy music), but he's really not looking at the big picture.

He should want the most number of people to listen to his music, because by maximizing the total number of ears hearing your stuff, you will automatically have the best chance of also maximizing your long-term earnings potential. By insisting the only way to "enjoy" his music (an exercise I leave up to the reader) is via the CD, then he's leaving out a rather large number of ears.

For the learning impaired, more ears equals more earnings potential. That is all.

Great post about religion vs survival

I just found this post and had to cite it here. It's a really well constructed argument for why we should put away this debate about religion and the One True God, and focus instead on using our brains (and science) to enhance our survival.

It's not reasonable to assume anyone is "out there" who will come rescue us at the last moment. We know what we need to survive; why don't we do it? My idea of god would want me to use the tools given to me--all of them, and in any ways I can imagine (and probably in ways I can't even imagine, yet). We're not animals with no volition or choice.

The universe doesn't give a damn about me, or us, or anyone or anything. It's actually hard to say that we care, either, but I know some of us do. Let's wake up, people.

*Psst!* It's a secret ... pass it on

I know the secret to success. (I am citing this article about Lloyd's Bank, in the UK.)

It's not even difficult to understand. In fact, it's dirt simple. The only trick is that it's kinda hard to do. It's not effortless, but it absolutely works if you know how.

I am an IT architect, and I am constantly in situations where I'm both the technical "expert" and the business newbie who's trying to learn. So, in the same sentence I can both be right and also very wrong. But this is almost beside the point. What I know and what I do is concentrate mostly--only, actually--on providing good service to my customers.

I pay attention. I listen, and I talk when asked questions. If I don't know, I say so. Then I offer to go find out, and when I know I absolutely always follow up with the information. When I forget something or mess up, I apologize and move on. I keep their needs in mind, treat them like good people who are the reason I have a job, instead of the bother preventing me from doing my job. I also keep my sense of humor and try my best never to take anything personally. It's not always easy, because I'm human, but I really try to remember that they're human, too. As fellow human beings, we can usually find common ground in which to get things done.

I stay away from silly rules and regulations. Rules are the last refuge of the incompetent. I recognize the reality of navigating the organizational hierarchy, while trying valiantly not to become part of the hierarchy that needs navigating.

I always strive to do right. I have Mark Twain's quote in my email footer: "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." It's like telling the truth, something I also do. You never have to justify doing right; you never get caught in the truth. It's simply simpler as a lifestyle.

My company is trying to turn around the culture and create a company where customer service is important. I'd mention their slogan, but I want to keep them out of my blog, at least by name. I'm hugely in favor of this effort, by the way. I think it's critical to our long-term success and survival. We have to compete both on price, at some level, and on service. And it's the service where we can really differentiate. Unfortunately, they are a lot like Lloyd's, sometimes, with foolish rules and ways of dealing with customers. Old habits are hard to break, it seems.

My previous employer sold software and services, but we were easily the most expensive vendor in our market. How did we compete? With our really good service. We could customize the hell out of the product, and we had lots of people who did nothing but travel around and help customers with their implementation. I was one of those people, for a time.

What's my point? Being successful in many things in life boils down to a very simple understanding: do a good job of satisfying your customer, and you won't go wrong. Be it your company, your job, your wife (or husband), your family, or yourself. Figure out what's important to them (and why you have to provide for them, of course), and then simply make sure they have it. Pay attention. Do right. Apologize when you get it wrong. I think you'll be surprised how well that can work out.

It works out amazingly well for me.

Suzanne Somers vs Christina Applegate

This is a lighter look at the whole "fiasco." The money quote:

Do you realize that if Steve McQueen hadn’t gone to Mexico to treat his cancer with coffee enemas and peach pits, he would have been 68 today? That’s almost as old as you!

Oh snap.

Christina Applegate vs Cancer Woo

I have to post about this. Christina Applegate has had a double mastectomy rather than continue with the very real risk her cancer could worsen significantly. She has a mutation in the BCRA-1 gene that predisposes her to both breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Not good news.

First, I really feel for her. I've always thought she was smart and funny, and cancer is not something I would wish on an enemy. So this is why the blathering by Mike Adams is so egregious. He seems to think that by simply believing you won't get cancer--then you won't get cancer.

Yeah, I know he says to take anti-cancer supplements, eat a healthy, anti-cancer diet, and all that. But truthfully, what he's proposing is so ludicrously inadequate to the task of battling cancer, it's tantamount to telling her to freaking pray. No offense. The placebo effect is real, it's just not consistent. It also depends on belief in order to work. Your mileage may vary. Hugely.

My ex-wife got colo-rectal cancer about 6-7 years ago. I know it was difficult for her, but she's still alive and (apparently) healthy today. I'm pretty sure that would not be the case if she hadn't allowed science-based medicine to do its thing. There may be a few doctors out there who are thinking that harming patients is good business, but when you think about it, how could anyone with a normal conscience and a desire to do good ever intentionally do harm to someone? No, I'm sure her doctors are trying to do the best, most-right thing for her. And so are Ms. Applegate's doctors. As she is, for herself.

It's a common tactic among politicians to ascribe to their opponents exactly the same characteristics that they themselves possess. Let me suggest Mike Adams wants to harm people, and get rich off their suffering. It's unconscionable and evil, and I am condemning him for his words. Because it's probable that someone will listen to him, and be much more greatly harmed as a result.

Give me facts, not fairy tales. Facts are god's native language, and he is not trying to deceive us with the universe. That part is just people.

Signs

Stolen from cectic.com.


FSM FTW!

Moon landing a hoax?

Somehow it's not surprising 35% of Brits think the moon landing was a hoax. No--this has nothing at all to do with the fact they're British, just that they probably haven't been to Cape Canaveral in Florida, and seen all the old hardware on display there.

Trust me, no one would build that much really huge and really expensive stuff for no reason at all. Launch pads, control rooms, assembly building, ginormous crawlers. I could go on and on. It's all there for anyone to see, and I've seen it.

Now, I watched the moon landing on TV (the Neil Armstrong one, back in 1969), and I'm pretty damn sure it was real. Particularly when you connect the images from then with the reality we still have, now. It all fits into a nice, continuous stream. It's an amazing achievement for us--mankind. Truly one of our finest moments, particularly if you consider the level of technology we had.

Unfortunately, it's not quite possible to see a lunar lander from earth, but you can see the shadow of Apollo 15's lunar lander. No, not compelling. Enough. But regardless, no one builds something that large and expensive for no good reason. There's no way a cover up this large could succeed.

We haven't gone back for several reasons, not the least of which is that it's pretty damned expensive. And people are bored with the idea, and have no appetite for spending cubic money for something that's already been explored. It's too bad, because I still want my Pan Am flight to the moon (ala 2001: A Space Odyssey).

Recently one of the astronauts "came out" saying space aliens are here and are being covered up, but he's old. And he's the only one saying it. And he has no new evidence. Too bad. I'd really like to see what the aliens look like. You'd think he would be talking about the big moon landing hoax, but no, it's just flying saucers and little green gray men.

Update: It seems Mythbusters is going to do a show on the moon hoax. Can't wait to watch it. Those guys are good.