There is a special place in hell for those who would sell, drugs and alcohol to children. A corner of Hades is now being prepared for the marketing wonks who named the Cuervo tequila character J.C. Roadhog. J. C.? What's that all about? If this artwork isn't for kids who IS it for?That said, let's talk about belching bullfrogs and cool Camels and kids.
It should come as no surprise that the internet is the latest connecting point between potential lifelong customers and the dealers. As my grandfather, a tobacco blender by trade used to say: "Once you have a customer, you have a customer for life." I've forgotten the exact quote a barley pop industry fellow made about branding a guy in college--that whatever beer he drinks in his frat house he'll drink the rest of his life.
What a life.
The providers of psychologically and physically addictive drugs are being allowed to target your children, as future consumers. Without your children, these companies would cease to exist.
See if from their side. They NEED new customers, since the OLD ones seem to be dying off on a regular basis. Everything on earth is primarily concerned with its own propagation and drug and alcohol companies are no different. But I think they should pick on somebody their own size.
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At some point somebody figured out the normal college classroom lecture could be videotaped and have much the same educational impact as a live experience. Thus was born lazy professors--and--distance learning!
It had to happen eventually and it's here today from Southwest Missouri University, the first accredited college master's degree you can earn on the internet. The thought of earning a degree in my pajamas appeals to me. For that matter, the thought of studying "in" Missouri without having to physically BE there appeals to me immensely.
They still (and this should pass quickly) insist online candidates show up for at least a week so they know the individual actually exists, but the rest is ftp and email and probably chargeable on your VISA card. Earning a degree electronically makes perfect sense these days. Especially to the institution: no parking problems, no unreturned reference books and scalability is infinite. Does your diploma arrive by fax or email attachment?
America is a great country because everybody has the right to get upset about something. There is a stone monument with The Ten Commandments carved into it sitting on the Capital grounds here in Denver. Some Wisconsin atheists ( god luv' 'em) want to erect a stone monument right next to it that suggests not only is there no God, but there are no gods, no Heaven and certainly no Hell.
You'd think these people had never seen The Fox Network!
The proposed atheists' monument would set in stone their belief that "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." Not that I want to argue with an atheist but Joseph Campbell opened my eyes to the Power of Myth and how recurring stories consistent across cultures in metaphor and meaning actually open and free minds, not the opposite.
One just has to be tuned in--apparently the atheists are scrambling the signal. In any event, I think that the monument should go up. Why not? People should be encouraged to believe in what they want to believe in, even if it's nothing. That's what freedom is all about.
I feel I can gush about The Beatles since the group's work just copped a few Grammys. Although I consider The Grammys to be artistically irrelevant I make exceptions.
What brought on my sudden resurgence of Beatlemania-flashback was hearing "When I Get Home" in the car one sunny afternoon and it blew me away. It's on the English version of the "Hard Days' Night" LP and the American release "Something New." (That's vinyl talk for you young folk.)
It's a kick-ass pop tune. The lyrics aren't much to ponder but I judge my books by how many pictures they have and I judge my music by the feel, not the words. "When I Get Home" feels great. A lot of The Beatles' music feels great. I cannot understand how someone could say that they don't like The Beatles' music (as R.E.M. front man M. Stipes did, calling it "elevator music") since it covers so many styles.
So please, if you haven't already, check out The Anthology video and at least the last Anthology CD set. Do it for The Grammys! (Why isn't it "Grammies?") In a day when melody seems to have gone out the window and angst is the only emotion being widely represented, The Beatles have a place in everyone's music collection. Even Michael Stipes.'
In life he wanted to be light. (Some might say a black light.) The late Dr. Timothy Leary's ashes will soon orbit our planet. For a while anyway, until the tug of gravity pulls the lipstick case-sized canister of Dr. Leary's ashen remains into earth's atmosphere where they will incinerate upon re-entry. Refried Leary, if you will.
That he so deeply wished to enlighten his culture with his own brand of psychedelic-soaked revelations, may peace and an everlasting smile be with him, for I feel Dr. Leary had our collective best interests at heart. However, many who lost sons and daughters to the drug-crazed Sixties need a focus for their angry heartache and Leary was often cast in this role.
Radical times call for radicals. Then-college professor Leary managed to figure out how to experiment with mind-altering drugs, for the government, on grant money. It was the dawning of the Age of Aquarius Ivy-League style.
The Leary Ash-bearing Projectile will eventually come flaming through the atmosphere. Perhaps this tiny streak of light will be caught in the corner of an eye of a 21st Century jester who will carry on the merry mischief that Leary began.