Diatribes by Joah

Isn't this why Zuck built it?

Admit it. You sometimes use Facebook to check up on people you used to know. Old elementary, middle, and – most definitely – high school friends. College classmates. Former coworkers. Exes. Yes, exes. No, they don’t all live in Texas. That’s why Facebook is such a wonderful application of technology, isn’t it!?

Anyway, my point is simple: Facebook is a good stalking tool. But this isn’t stalking in the sense of following someone into their apartment building or grocery store. No, that’s real stalking. Like what happens to movie stars. Or Erin Andrews, bless her heart. No, I’m talking about Facebook stalking.

I know you won’t believe me, but this isn’t something I make a habit of (who wouldn’t say that, I know), but I promise you I’m being honest. Long story short, I ended up spending a couple of minutes…seriously, just a couple of minutes…searching around to see what was going on with some girls I dated in the past.

Not to name names or point fingers, but I ended my Facebook stalking session in a weird place because of what I found. I have three main conclusions: 1) I’m definitely at that age where all my exes start getting engaged (I counted three in the last 6 months alone). 2) I'm happy for them, but (and this is the crudest, cruelest thing I’ll ever say) I think I got the best of them, 3) I am a rather pathetic person. I mean would I want my exes looking at my Facebook pictures and making conclusions about my level of happiness, the person I’m dating, the life I live, the places I travel, etc.? Probably not.

But this damn Facebook thing is too damn powerful. I feel like it’s a waste of good technology not to catch up on old friends and flames. I mean that is why Zuck built it, right?

Maybe I should think about creating a category of blogs for regrettable posts. What do you think?

 

[Post-Disclaimer: My girlfriend says she doesn’t read my blog because they always seem to rub her the wrong way, so I’m going to chalk this one up as one of those blogs she won’t lay her eyes on. That, of course, means she will. As The Wire’s McNulty would say with a dumbfounded look, “what did I do?”]

This is a great idea...

Go to the image via Transit Authority Figures where you can see each stop through a scroll-scope.

Thankful for this new music...

Here are some artists and albums you won't hear everyone talking about that you should check out. I've gone so far is to give you the links to YouTube to listen to a couple of songs from each artists, but I'm not at all a fan of illegally-downloaded music. That said, if you find something here that you like, please respect the craft and make the purchase either at your local record shop - Waterloo in Austin, Melody in D.C., etc. etc. - or on iTunes. Forward this email however you'd like.

Joah
@JoahSpearman

Hip-Hop/Rap

David Dallas (1st album called Something Awesome and new album called The Rose Tint Deluxe) - Check out the songs: "Caught in a Daze" and "Life Is"

Phonte (new album called Charity Starts at Home on iTunes) - Check out the songs: "Life of Kings" and "Everything is Falling Down"

Electronic / Dance

The Field (old album called From Here We Go Sublime, new album called Looping State of Mind) - Check out the songs: "It's Up There" and "Is This Power?"

Rock

MuteMath (old album self-titled, new album called Odd Soul) - Check out the songs: "Equals" and "Quarantine" [you have to listen to them in order to get the full effect]

Challenging the "It" Factor

I don't have the "it" factor. Seriously. I question it's existence the way atheist question God's existence. But I work my ass off with the few talents I have, make the most of the relationships the man upstairs has blessed me with and pray that opportunities will present themselves if I put the work in.

Michael Jordan was talented, but so was Earl Manigault. What Jordan had was timing, help and hard work, and more timing. Same with George Clooney, who could've easily peaked on the television the same way David Duchovny has. And I'm pretty sure people like Michael Jackson or Beyonce who were the leaders of their respective packs (or families), were beneficiaries of timing and persistence moreso than this elusive "it"-ness. 

And that's just pop culture talk. People like to believe that JFK had "it" and that MLK had "it" too. Hell, even Obama seemed to have "it" a few years ago. But all this talk about some special concoction of greatness is just a shortcut to the truth.

The only "it" factor anyone has is their ability to apply their unique mix of interests, relationships and talents to a very particular time.

Michael needed Scottie Pippen. JFK needed Bobby. MLK needed SNCC and other organizations and leaders. Beyonce needed her dad. And all of them needed those people not necessarily to develop their talents, but to accentuate and amplify them in the perfect way at a very precise time.

You mean to tell me Michael was that much more talented than LeBron James is today? Sheeeeeit, as State Sen. Clay Davis from The Wire would say. You think JFK was any smarter than his brother, Bobby? Or that Dr. King didn't have his shortcomings? Exactly...it just can't be. 

These men, and women, are responsible for their own success just like my watch is responsible for keeping me on schedule. There were, and continue to be, several key factors contributing to this "it" factor concept.

Some of us may find it easier to focus on some mythical characteristic that few men and women amongst us seem to have naturally as children, and even fewer seem to foster in adulthood, but the idea that you have to possess something outside yourself to succeed to great heights is bogus.

You can do absolutely anything and everything you want to do in this world. No, not if you put your mind to it. No, you actually need to put your energy and focus and your dedication and persistence and your time and talents to it as well. And, quite possibly, your friends and colleagues too. You have to put it all in.

The difference between people who become great and are viewed as special versus those who do and are not is rather simple: they have a much more clear definition and understanding of what it means to be all the way in. Everyone else is just guessing; most likely they guess themselves halfway in, at best.

Are you halfway in in your life?

If so, don't expect "it" to happen for you.

It is only what you make it. You can make "it' great, but greatness does not happen to you.

Not that greatness is something that means you'll become rich or famous as the people I've mentioned above have done. Sometimes, this concoction of dedication, hard work, key relationships and timing is applied to something that will make your life and others' lives better without any special attention or recognition.

Perhaps you figure out a way to lose weight or commit yourself to doing a century bike ride. Maybe you're turning the corner on your career and re-dedicating yourself to school or learning a new skill that will get your more happiness in your professional life. "It" could even show itself when you're deciding to get out of a bad relationship or taking a risk and getting into a new one.

My point is this: while there's no such thing as the "it" factor, there are plenty of characteristics that can help you achieve the kinds of things that people who are believed to have some special quality achieve. These can be things of worldly significance, a la MLK, or things of daily consequence, a la your career. Regardless, the moment you stop worrying about "it" and starting applying everything you have...giving your all...is the moment "it" will become who you are.

Broadening Your Music Festival Horizons

[The following blog was originally posted on HuffingtonPost.com]

After back-to-back years attending Coachella, it was plain for me to see that festival fashion was at a premium in the California desert every April. But where can a style-savvy festival fan go to get their fix the rest of the year? Here's a hint: book a flight to Austin and be prepared to get on stage.

Rest assured, I'm here to give you a preview of what festivals to check out in 2012:

March: South by Southwest - 25 years down and SXSW keeps getting bigger and better, with a new style component (wink, wink) that has a little something to do with it. Don't be mistaken, though, fashion has been a SXSW mainstay since Austin's own Stevie Ray Vaughn wore his hi-roller hat and continues to this day with the likes of Julian Casablancas of The Strokes belting out lyrics while wearing the kind of black leather jacket that rock stars seem to be born in. Whether you're a budding blogger or fashion photographer, SXSW is a content creator's dream because of the 200,000-plus people walking the streets in their crowd-favorite garbs; just make sure to pack a comfortable pair of sneakers.

April - Coachella, duh.

May - New Orleans is legendary for its culture from the Cajun food and Creole speak to the brass bands and Mardi Gras. But if you're more blues fan than Bourbon drinker, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage fest may be the place for you to bring out your live music Sunday best. A combination of this colorful culture and humid weather lends style here to lightweight fabrics and a myriad of hues, meaning you won't have to wait for Jimmy Buffett's performance to feel like you're on a Caribbean island.

June - Speaking of color, you can be sure to see a sea of red in Madrid if you check out the 2012 installment of Rock in Rio. With no Glastonbury Festival in the UK this coming year (you can thank the London Olympics), Rock in Rio may end up being the most coveted festival ticket in Europe next summer. Elton John, Rihanna, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, and Shakira gave this event a distinctively popular sound in 2011, and 2012 is certain to take it up yet another notch. Popular artists lend themselves to popular styles so stock up at your nearby Zara and look the part of a live music loving Spaniard.

July - July is a good time to take a break...relax. And if you need some assistance to do so, plenty of Pitchfork (Chicago) or Rothbury (Michigan) attendees are sure to offer it. Dancing to G. Love & Special Sauce or Cut Copy requires a certain amount of liberal-ness to maximize the moment to let loose, which means different things to different music fans. To me, it means wearing some comfortable shorts, a graphic tee by Das Monk and letting my bare feet feel the barren ground.

August - Lollapalooza isn't the most fashionable festival...something about Midwestern values that doesn't always get the forward part of fashion (us Texans can relate). But with Chicago as the backdrop there's plenty of shopping to do to stand out. Allsaints and Topshop have opened up shops down Michigan Avenue and boutiques like Sir & Madame and St. Alfred's complete your look with some local flair...something Chicagoan Kanye West has mastered over the years.

September - Electronic music is all the rave these days, literally, and it's plain to see why: everyone loves to dance, jump around and party. After all, most of us have the rest of the year to a) sit in class and listen attentively or b) sit behind a desk and work tirelessly. If we really do live in The Matrix, Electric Zoo is that crazy party in Zion that the hedonists attended just before the machines came to destroy everything. Armin Van Buuren, Deadmau5 and Diplo -- one of the most stylish DJs in the world -- will make sure we go out in style if destruction is upon us.

October - ACL - The festival that stays in the black financially, stays light and colorful stylishly. With Austin temperatures going north of 100 degrees, it's pretty easy to justify a tank top, headband and sandals as the go-to look, but what you'll also find is plenty of Cowboy hats (to keep the sun away), long skirts (rather than bringing a blanket) and naturally tanned skin (thanks to the Texas summer). Fashion at Austin City Limits Festival is not at a premium, but the range of style is certainly at a maximum.

November - Sticking to Austin, the music festival capital of the U.S., makes even more sense now that Fun, Fun, Fun Fest has joined the ranks of SXSW and ACL Fest as yet another reason to trek down to the Lone Star State for great live music, good eats and a gander at festival style. This weekend featured multi-talented, emerging acts like Childish Gambino/Donald Glover and legendary acts like metal giants Slayer and Public Enemy, the hip-hop group stylistically-linked to Flavor Flav's clock-wearing antics and military uniforms. Like ACL, diversity is the name of the game here, but the metal music stage earmarked for acts like The Damned and Black Lips ensures a bit more doom than daze at this fall festival. Dress accordingly.